For the last ten years, his public image had undergone a transformation. The reputation of a man drenched in blood had been polished into something respectable and almost untouchable. And it was her doing.He had never asked her to do any of it. Yet, she insisted.While women in his world enjoyed luxury, spending their husbands’ hard-earned wealth without a second thought, her entire existence revolved around him. She was relentless always pushing herself to ensure that everything aligned in his favor.As he shifted, preparing to leave the bed, he felt a dull ache in his chest. His gaze dropped and landed on the fresh bandage covering the wound.Ah. That bastard had stabbed him.It barely hurt. It was nothing he had not endured before.But he did not recall dressing the wound.His eyes flicked back to her who was still issuing orders like a cold and calculating lioness commanding her pride. And in that moment, he knew.She had done it.Without a word, without making a fuss, she had te
It was not just her responsibility to be the perfect wife, she had to be the perfect daughter-in-law as well.When Abella married Cillian ten years ago, his mother had not been pleased. He had gone against her wishes, and for a decade, Abella had borne the brunt of his rebellion.“Mother,” Abella greeted her mother-in-law as soon as she stepped into the room. Her voice was composed, and respectful. “Please forgive me for not coming sooner.”In the Facci family, tradition dictated that the daughter-in-law was responsible for the mother-in-law’s meals. As absurd as it seemed, Abella fulfilled the duty without fail. She was not required to cook, but she had to ensure that Madam Facci’s every need was met. And for the last ten years, she had done so flawlessly.Madam Facci ate in silence, as she preferred. The room was quiet, save for the soft clinking of silverware. No one else was allowed to disturb her during meals, only Abella could accompany her. So, she stood by, making sure the old
The moment she stepped out of her mother-in-law’s villa, she felt the burden of her pain pressing down on her. By the time she reached the place she shared with Cillian, the house was dark and empty. A hollow feeling settled in her chest.She rushed to her bedroom, the dim lighting doing little to soften the raw anguish bubbling inside her. She collapsed onto the mattress while curling into herself as silent sobs wracked her body. The tears wouldn’t stop.Infertility was not something she could control.For ten years, she had never once used contraception, and yet nothing. Not a single sign of pregnancy. The doctors had no answers.Perhaps she didn’t deserve to be a mother.Perhaps this was her punishment for hurting her own parents in the cruellest way imaginable.She had taken everything from them. And now, fate had taken everything from her.For two hours, she wept as her body was trembling as she clutched her knees while whispering curses at herself.Then, she heard it, Cillian’s
The ball Abella had organized was nothing short of magnificent.The chandeliers dripped with crystals while casting a golden glow over the lavishly decorated hall. Soft music flowed through the ai as it mingled with the hum of polite conversations and the clinking of crystal glasses. Every detail down to the fresh orchids adorning each table spoke of elegance, power, and meticulous planning.And the city had taken notice.She was the talk of the town.In one evening, Abella Facci had managed to pull the most influential figures from across Europe into one place and turn what was meant to be a mere social gathering into an unspoken declaration of dominance. Deals were whispered behind velvet curtains, alliances were solidified over champagne, and at the centre of it all stood Cillian Facci, reaping every benefit his wife had secured for him.From a vantage point, Madam Facci stood beside her sister, Lucia who was silently observing the spectacle.The room was alive with admiration that
As soon as she left, Carina let out a soft hum, watching Abella’s retreating figure before turning her gaze back to Cillian."I see your mother has accepted your wife," she observed. "With open arms, no less. Not something I expected from a woman who was once so possessive of her son."Cillian smirked. "Abella has her charms."Carina took a deliberate step closer, her voice lowered. "So… you have opened your heart to her as well?"He met her gaze without hesitation. "What do you think?"For a second, there was silence. Then Carina laughed. "You are a heartless bastard, Cillian." She shook her head as amusement danced in her eyes. "You have no heart to open for anyone."Cillian did not deny it.Cillian's voice was softer than it had ever been. A tenderness slipped through that he had never shown to anyone before. "Why are you here, Carina?"Carina tilted her head and said. "Why don’t you invite me for a drink and find out?"His jaw tensed. "I’m a married man."She laughed. "I’m not ext
“Why are you here, Carina?” Cillian asked.Carina met his gaze. “My husband is dead.”“I know.”Which also meant he did not care. She let out a sharp breath. “You told me to marry him, knowing he had cancer.”Cillian didn’t flinch. “You gave him an heir. You didn’t love him. And now, you are free with his multimillion-dollar estate to your name. You are an independent actor, controlled by no one.”Carina laughed, but there was a flicker of vulnerability in her eyes. “You cared for me a lot, didn’t you?”There was no point in denying it. “I do.”She sighed, her voice quieter now. “Why didn’t you marry me, Cillian? I only loved you in this life.”His reply was honest, . “A life with me would have been cruel. You would have been miserable. You deserved better. You had a shitty childhood, I just wanted you to live happily.”He paused, studying her. “I know you love your son. Live for him, Carina. He loves you back.”Her laughter was bitter and hollow. “If I wasn’t the daughter of your fat
The next few days passed in a haze of confusion for Abella.Cillian was engaged. Well, he had always been engaged with work, with responsibilities, with everything but her. But now, it was different. The signs were everywhere. The calls. The messages. The same name appeared on his phone.Carina.He never took her calls in front of Abella. He always stepped outside, heading to the pool area, his usual retreat. He knew she wouldn’t follow him there. She never had. She never would.It had been two weeks since the ball, and not once had he come home early. Midnight was his new normal.And tonight was no different.Abella sat in the living room, absently scrolling through her phone. In front of her, an unopened bottle of wine sat on the table. She had considered drinking, just to take the edge off, but she hated the taste. More than that, she hated the way alcohol left her in a fog, just like the emotions she was trying to make sense of.So, she didn’t open it.Instead, she forced herself
Madam Facci was severely ill as her body was weakened by a relentless cold.“Mother, have something to eat,” Abella urged gently.“I can’t,” the older woman muttered, her voice hoarse.“You must.” Abella helped her sit up, carefully bringing a spoonful of warm chicken soup to her lips. “Now, be a good girl and have it.”Madam Facci wasn’t one for unnecessary words. She kept her thoughts and feelings to herself. Her presence was often perceived as distant, cold, and unfeeling. Even with Abella, their conversations were minimal at best.After a few sips, she murmured, “This soup isn’t awful.”Abella simply smiled.She had rushed over the moment she heard Madam Facci was sick, without a second thought. There wasn’t a trace of makeup on her face, her hair was unkempt, and she was still in the comfortable clothes she had worn to bed the night before. Without the usual elegance of her attire, Madam Facci noticed for the first time how young and delicate her daughter-in-law truly was. There
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