Charlotte stood by the doorway while watching the scene unfold with growing curiosity. She had barely stepped outside to catch her breath when the exchange between the man and woman caught her attention.“Why are you alone?” the woman asked, her voice sharp but tinged with questions. “I thought you would be happy to see me,” the man replied. The woman was clearly upset and raised her voice. “Sebastian Gray! Don’t argue with your mother! I told you that you are not allowed to appear in front of me if you don’t have a wife!” In the next moment, the woman appeared to lose control, her breathing became shallow and rapid. Panic flashed in her eyes and Charlotte saw the man’s expression shift immediately from frustration to concern.“Mother!” he exclaimed, rushing to her side.But the woman waved him off. “Don’t touch me, Sebastian,” she snapped, her voice trembling. “Just go.”The man’s face fell, and Charlotte could see the guilt and helplessness written all over him. He stood there fo
“I think we need to take a seat,” the old woman said, and her family followed her. Sebastian remained standing while Charlotte confidently followed the woman, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her back.He growled. Yes, literally growled at her. “What do you think you are doing?”Charlotte casually adjusted his tie while her smile unshaken. “Come on, I’m saving your ass.”He raised an eyebrow. “Do I need saving?”Charlotte glanced at the family walking ahead, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “I think you do.”Sebastian's face hardened. “Leave. I can handle my own life, and you have no right to interfere. You’re a psycho.”Charlotte shrugged nonchalantly. “You need me, whether you like it or not. That brother of yours is using your misfortune to sabotage you. And his wife? She is just looking for any chance to look good in front of your mother. I’m not entirely sure about your family dynamics, but it is clear you are in deep trouble. Your mom wants you married, which means there is a
At this time, Charlotte’s phone rang, and she said, “Excuse me.”As she went to take the call, Elizabeth’s fake smile faded, and a disgusted expression took its place. “You are not marrying this girl!”She hated everything about Charlotte. From her job to her peasant family to her clothes and mannerisms! This girl looked so wild and not elegant at all. They were rich people with noble backgrounds. How could they accept this woman? The society would laugh at them! She looked at Daphney was the perfect daughter-in-law, her maiden family’s heritage is connected with a royal family as the latter’s mother was the daughter of a prince. Although Daphney had no title, she still was considered blue-blooded as her grandfather was a prince. But this wild girl who had neither looks nor family… eww. Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “What is wrong with her, Mother?”Aside from being a weirdo and stupid, there was nothing wrong with the woman. She looked quiet beautiful and shall he say cool? Elizab
As they left, Charlotte felt a shiver run down her spine. She had encountered many bad people, but they were worse. When she turned around, she saw Sebastian standing there, a hard look on his face. Once again, she felt a twinge of sympathy for him. Maybe it was his pretty face that was tugging at her heart.Before she could speak, he said, “Don’t say a word.”She fell silent.A while later, Pierce appeared, calling out, “Charlotte, I told you not to disappear!”Charlotte replied, “I didn’t leave. I’m still here.”Pierce looked at the handsome man standing next to Charlotte and asked, “Who is this eye candy? I would say he is even more handsome than your brother!” Then, with a teasing grin, he added, “Is this your new boyfriend?” He laughed. “Better than the one who dumped you in the city of love! Pitiful Charlotte got dumped in Paris!”Charlotte grabbed Pierce by the neck and twisted it. Sebastian shivered. How much training had this girl done in martial arts to be this skilled?“Apo
“What will we do?” Charlotte asked with wide eyes. Her hands were shivering as she looked at Sebastian. Panic surged inside her as she realized the whole situation. She felt like jumping from the building and dying right now. Sebastian scoffed, looking at her like she was a frightened rabbit. With a cocky raise of his brow, he said, “Who was it that said, ‘Scared of what?’”Charlotte made a face. She closed her eyes, and the image of the villainous Sabrina Taylor appeared, making her shiver. She closed her eyes again, and this time, Anne Rose Swift Hart’s face appeared, the woman was seemingly beating her with a spatula. Overwhelmed, Charlotte sat on the ground, buried her head in her knees, and wept loudly.Sebastian was caught off guard. He didn’t know how to console a weeping girl. Scratching his head awkwardly, he finally said, “Look, there is nothing wrong here. We can get an annulment.”Charlotte suddenly looked at him, her eyes widening in realization. She jumped on him while
Sebastian who was looking for a solution, said, “You can ask me for compensation. Stay married to me, and I will pay you. How much do you want? A hundred million?” Charlotte scoffed in disbelief. Had he lost his mind? Did he think she needed money? She was so wealthy she could never spend it all in her lifetime! If she had to choose her husband on the basis of money, she would never find a man. “Keep your money to yourself,” she snapped. “I want my freedom!” Then, with a sharp glare, she added, “And you are a fool if you think your family will let you give me even a dollar of that money. They’re going to drain every cent from you, Sebastian Gray Monet.” In her frustration, she punched the wall before storming out of the cheap motel to find some peace. When she finally reached her apartment, she felt like tearing her hair out. What had she been thinking? Why did she have to be so kind and helpful? She had dug her own grave! Her family would be so disappointed, and now she had cr
When Charlotte reached the hospital, she was in a state of panic and was struggling to breathe. On her way, the police officer who had called her met her and escorted her to identify the body of her husband. When she looked at the body, she immediately said, “That is not my husband.” “It’s not?” the police officer asked, surprised. Charlotte shook her head, feeling her heart begin to calm down. The police officer explained, “We found identification card and a phone belonging to your husband. But due to the accident, the faces were unrecognizable. We may have made a mistake.” He added, “The other person is in the ICU.” “Can I please see him?” Charlotte asked anxiously. In the ICU, the man fighting for his life on life support was none other than Sebastian Gray Monet. Tears filled Charlotte’s eyes as she saw him, his face was almost unrecognizable. Their last conversation replayed in her mind, filling her with regret for letting him leave that day. “That’s my husband,” she
As Sebastian was airlifted to the best hospital in France, Charlotte followed closely behind, ensuring no detail was overlooked. The top surgeons were flown in at her request and they operated on him immediately to pull him back from the brink of death. Yet, even after their efforts, he remained comatose for an entire week, with no sign of waking. Charlotte hadn’t left his side since the accident, refusing to return to her apartment. Exhausted, she called for an update from his team. “Jimmy,” she began, her voice calm but icy, “Did you gather all the information about my husband’s accident?” Jimmy stood before her, hesitant but prepared. “Yes, Madam. The brakes on Mr. Monet’s motorbike were deliberately tampered with, and the car that caused the accident was part of the plan.” Charlotte’s jaw tightened. “Who?” “It was George Monet,” Jimmy revealed grimly. “He paid the driver to orchestrate the crash. The entire accident was a plot by the Monet family. After your marriage to M
EpilogueThree Years Later“Dr. Hart?”Abella turned around to see a nurse hurrying toward her.“The patient in the NICU is responding to the medication,” the nurse informed her. “Could you check on her?”Without hesitation, Abella rushed to the NICU, her heart throbbing fast. That morning, the baby girl’s condition had been critical, but now, as she looked into those tiny, bright eyes, she felt a wave of relief.“Hey there, sweetheart,” Abella cooed, smiling warmly. “You’re such a fighter. You fought so hard to be here with your mom and dad.”The baby stared up at her, and Abella’s heart melted.“Yes, you’re such a strong, big girl,” she whispered, gently touching the baby’s hand.Outside the NICU, the parents expressed their gratitude; their tearful smiles reminded Abella why she had chosen this path. In moments like these, she was reminded of how beautiful it was to help save these little angels. But there were also the heartbreaking days, the ones where some angels didn’t make it.
Meanwhile, Kate and Rhys were sitting with Anne.“Why is Aunt suddenly changing colors?” Rhys asked.“Because she knows she was wrong and wants back what she lost,” Kate said matter-of-factly.Anne chuckled. “Kate, as much as I love your straightforward attitude, I’d appreciate it if you toned it down in front of Emery. She is… well, very touchy and fussy.”Kate shrugged. “MIL, I have a complaint. Coco and Sia had a girls’ day without me! Can you imagine? I’m trying to be as cool as them, but they left me out!”Rhys suppressed a chuckle. “Yes, Mom, they left my dear Kate out.”Anne played along. “That’s terrible, I’ll scold them,”“Yes, scold them well,” Kate agreed, then added mischievously, “but don’t tell them I snitched. Just say it was Rhys.”Anne smiled. “Alright, dear.” Then, she glanced at Kate. “I saw you have been spending time with Abella. How’s that going? I know you two weren’t close.”Kate sighed. “Everyone coddles her too much. She is living in disillusionment. Coco and
It was a beautiful day that was filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories. Anne and Nicholas’s wedding anniversary had brought the entire family together, and the house was buzzing with warmth and joy.Nicholas turned to Anne as his eyes were soft with affection. “We have been together for forty years,” he said, a gentle smile on his lips.Anne smiled back, a touch of nostalgia in her gaze. “Yes, we made it this far.”Leaning in, Nicholas pressed a tender kiss to her lips. “Thank you for giving me the chance to be your husband.”Anne’s voice was barely above a whisper as she responded, “Thank you for fighting for us.”Just then, Leon and Coco appeared out of nowhere while wrapping their arms around their parents in a tight hug. “If anyone deserves the credit, it’s us!” Leon declared with a grin. “We made sure you two ended up together.”Nicholas and Anne exchanged amused glances before nodding. “Yes,” Nicholas agreed, “and we’re very thankful for your scheming. Turns out, it w
“Did you match into your preferred branch of residency?” Madam Facci asked, excitement filling her voice.Abella swallowed. “Ma, I’m still checking the results,” she admitted. “I’m scared.”“You have nothing to be scared of, my dear. Just look,” she heard. With a deep breath, Abella entered her credentials for the residency match. Her eyes darted across the screen as the words appeared before her.“I…” Her voice caught in her throat.“What is it?” Madam Facci asked eagerly.“Pediatrics…” Abella whispered in disbelief.A joyful gasp came from the other end. “Oh my god! I am so happy for you, dear!”Abella’s chest tightened as she read the rest. “With NYU…” she murmured. “If I accept it, I will have to stay in New York.”Was she ready for this?Madam Facci’s voice was warm and reassuring. “Whatever you choose, we are proud of you. You’ve worked hard for this. Don’t overthink it, just enjoy this moment. You did it, Abella. I’m so, so proud of you.”That evening, the entire family gather
Augustus Hart was born a healthy, chubby baby with a bald head, looking absolutely perfect in every way. His arrival was so sudden that only Callum and Estelle were present at the hospital when her water broke. They barely had time to inform anyone, but Abella rushed over as soon as she found out.The moment Callum stepped out of the delivery room and saw his sister waiting outside, a wave of emotions hit him all at once. Without hesitation, he pulled her into a tight hug.“Congratulations, brother. I’m so proud of you,” Abella whispered, pressing a kiss to his cheek.Callum let out a shaky breath, still overwhelmed. “When did you get here?”“Just now,” she said with a smile. “How’s Estelle?”“Tired,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “Still cursing me.”Abella chuckled. “And the baby?”“Just perfect,” Callum said, his eyes softening. “Come inside. She is going to be so happy to see you.”When Estelle saw Abella, she let out a small gasp before pulling her into a long, tight
After her divorce, Abella didn’t leave the country. Cillian had given her a staggering sum in alimony, even going as far as naming half of his assets to her, but she refused to take a single dime. She had her own inheritance. More money than she could ever need. But what could wealth do? It couldn’t buy her happiness. It couldn’t fill the void in her heart.Cillian knew her too well; he didn’t push her to accept anything. He let her go, even when it shattered him.When her mother lived in Italy with Coco and Leon, alongside her uncle Nate, she had bought a beautiful bungalow. It had never been sold, left untouched over the years. When Abella married Cillian, Leon had given her the key to that house as a quiet token of their family’s past. There were two bungalows beside each other, one where her mother had raised her two older siblings, and the other where her father had stayed, the place where her parents had met and reunited. One had been passed down to Charlotte, the other to Leon.
Cillian stared at her, his throat tightening as he heard the finality in her voice. He had imagined this conversation a thousand different ways, but none of them had prepared him for the calm and almost serene acceptance in her eyes.“Abella…” He whispered her name like a prayer, like a plea. “Can we please rethink this?”Abella smiled. It was a soft, bittersweet smile that made his chest ache.“Cillian, there is nothing to rethink,” she said gently. “Alessandro came to see me. He told me that he was leaving the country with his mother. He said he doesn’t want to come between us, that he would be happy if you called him once in a while and only if it was okay with me.” She let out a humorless chuckle. “That’s too big of a burden for me to carry. I mean, I don’t care how you navigate your relationship with your son. But I will give you one piece of advice: don’t be a jerk. Don’t hurt one more person. You have already hurt me, you have hurt him, and you have hurt his mother. Stop making
Cillian reached for her hand, his grip firm but trembling as well. “Abella, please listen to me. I’m sorry. I made a mistake by not telling you the truth. Can you please forgive me?” His voice cracked with desperation.She looked at him, her expression unreadable. “I don’t know,” she said softly.Cillian’s breath hitched, and he tried again. “Please, I’ll change. I’ll work on myself. Just give me a chance.” His hands clenched at his sides as if willing himself not to break apart. “I don’t want to see you like this, so shattered. You mean so fucking much to me. Please.”But to Abella, his words felt like echoes in an empty room. They were hollow and weightless. Once upon a time, she had longed to hear them, had dreamed of a moment where he would look at her like this, beg for her, choose her. But now? Now, they felt unimportant. They meant nothing.She exhaled, rubbing her temple. “I heard you. But my head is splitting apart, Cillian. Can you please just go back to your house? I just w
Madam Facci looked at her son, her expression undecipherable. She had seen Cillian walk through storms without flinching, but today, he stood before her looking utterly wrecked. His usually sharp eyes were bloodshot, his arm wound had reopened, staining his sleeve with fresh blood, yet none of that seemed to matter to him or anyone at this point.“What do you want, Cillian?” she asked, her voice firm but not unkind.“I’m here to see Abella,” he said. His voice was hoarse, almost desperate.Madam Facci crossed her arms. “I’m sure you have no idea what happened last night.”“I know,” he admitted, running a hand through his already disheveled hair. “I just want to explain things to her. She is overthinking this, and there is nothing much to overthink. I just—” He exhaled sharply. “I just want to make everything okay.”A wry smile tugged at Madam Facci’s lips, but there was no amusement in her eyes. “Son,” she said, “we can never tell someone what is worth overthinking or not. For you, th