They got the punishment they deserved.
In the last two months, Rhys’ life had changed completely. With Sia absent, he was managing the company and learning how to be a father to his son. Things have smoothened out with his family. Now they were supporting him in his new journey while also being there for his son. “What do you mean?” Rhys asked sharply over the phone. Seated in his office, dressed in a crisp three-piece suit, his forehead was creased in frustration. “If they want to sign the deal, that’s their choice. Our company doesn’t make compromises.”He sounded authoritative as if he possessed all the power at the moment despite being troubled. “Mr. Hart, we don’t trust your company without your boss present,” the other party said.“My boss ensured this company runs smoothly even without her here,” Rhys countered. “Have you noticed any decline in our performance? We are stronger than ever. The decision is yours, take it or leave it.”“Mr. Hart, let’s be honest. We are your only option,” the voice on the other end rep
That evening, the dining table was crowded with siblings, save for Leon, who remained by Sia’s side as he was guarding her like a loyal knight.As soon as Rhys stepped into the house, Callum appeared out of nowhere and snatched Nico from his arms.“Hey, buddy!” Callum greeted cheerfully, earning a fit of giggles from the baby.“That’s cheating!” Abella protested, crossing her arms. “We agreed to take turns, youngest to oldest. It is my turn to hold him!”But before the two could argue further, Nico spotted Anne emerging from the kitchen with a fresh batch of cookies. His face lit up as if he had found the ultimate prize.“Mama!” the baby squealed with delight, abandoning Callum’s hold to toddle straight to her.Anne who was balancing the warm cookies, set the tray on the dining table just in time to scoop Nico into her arms. The little boy buried his face in the crook of her neck, his tiny arms wrapping tightly around her. Even at his age, Nico knew who truly ruled the house. He had wr
The dining table buzzed with laughter and conversation, creating a warm, perfect atmosphere at their home. Amid the cheerful clatter of cutlery and voices, Anne’s phone rang. Seeing Leon’s name on the screen, she quickly answered.“Hello, son. How are you?” Anne asked, her voice brightening.Leon’s tone was calm but it seemed as if he was trying to hold back his emotion. “Mom, Rowan came by a few minutes ago. He said Sia’s brain is showing activity. He said it’s a good sign, there is a chance she might wake up soon.”Anne froze for a moment, processing the news. Then her face lit up. “Oh, thank God!” she exclaimed, her voice trembling with relief. “Finally, something good is happening. It has been three long months. We have missed her so much.”Everyone at the table stopped eating, their attention on Anne as she shared the news. Smiles and murmurs of relief spread around the room.“Thankfully, the Lord has listened to our prayers,” Anne added, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye.
Leon crouched beside Sia’s bed, his eyes fixed on her delicate face. She looked beautiful, even in this fragile state, but there was something unnervingly fragile about her now. Her once-full cheeks had hollowed, her bones more pronounced than before. He could hardly bring himself to touch her, afraid of causing any harm."Can I sleep with you tonight, baby?" he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don’t feel like being far from you. My heart is so restless. Maybe it’s because Rowan said you could wake up any moment now. But I’m scared. I don’t want to let myself get too excited, only to be let down again. I can’t handle that kind of disappointment. For three months, I have been told that you might wake up soon. Every time, I let myself hope and every time, nothing changes."He fell silent for a moment, his hand hovering just above hers but not touching her. He continued, his voice filled with emotion, "Let’s talk about something else. I have been forced to go back to work. I
Song Recommendation: All My Love, ColdplayAs usual, Leon woke up and leaned in to kiss Sia’s face. She was still sleeping, peaceful and quiet as always. He whispered, “Last night, I had one of the best dreams in a long time. I saw you wake up and smile at me. It felt so real, Sia. I wish I could have that dream again. Baby, I can’t wait for you to wake up. Today, I feel happy, even though you are still asleep. It’s like I can feel you holding my hand, keeping me steady. You are my everything—my love, my happiness, my reason for living. I love you more than words can say.”He gave her one final kiss on the cheek before leaving the room.After stepping out, Leon made a few calls and then spoke to Emery, who was looking after Sia’s treatment. They discussed her condition for a while, and Leon made sure to note any updates.Later, he settled into his home office to work. These days, he hardly attended physical meetings, preferring to handle everything through online calls. If he absolutel
Sia’s POVI was floating in an endless expanse of darkness, weightless and suspended. I wasn’t awake, yet I wasn’t entirely asleep either. The void surrounded me, but then, faint flickers of light began to pierce through, breaking apart the shadows. Shards of memories started surfacing and all of them were sharp and vivid.I could hear laughter. A burst of warm, carefree joy echoed in my ears. I saw myself, Leon, and a grumpy dog trudging through the snow. The image shifted, and there we were, walking with a group of tribal people. I was ahead of him, curious and eager to keep up with the group, while Leon stayed close behind, his watchful gaze ensuring I didn’t stray too far. At that time I thought, he was keeping an eye on his hostage but now I see that he was worried for me. The scene flickered, and now we stood beneath a living tree in the middle of a harsh winter. Snow surrounded us but the tree blossomed against all odds. Flowers fell, landing on both of us as we silently stare
When Sia slowly opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was a pair of sparkling blue eyes fixed on her. They were full of curiosity, with a hint of mischief that only a child could have. Standing at the edge of the bed was a little boy, his legs too short to carry out whatever plan was brewing in his mind.The boy’s mouth dropped open in surprise when he realized she was awake, as if he had been caught doing something wrong. “Oh…” he whispered, his eyes wide with the innocence of someone who didn’t quite understand what had just happened.Sia’s head felt clouded as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. The events of the past felt distant, and she struggled to focus. A child, of all things, was the last thing she had expected to see. She blinked at him, trying to make sense of the moment and yet, despite the confusion swirling around her, a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. The sight of him, so small and innocent, somehow brought warmth to her heart which had been frozen
When Leon finally came home later that evening, he was met with an unexpected sight: Nico, who was crying loudly and causing a ruckus. It was his first time meeting his nephew, and he hadn’t imagined the introduction would be anything like this. He stopped in his tracks, concern immediately washing over him.“Mom, is he okay? You said he was sick,” Leon asked, his voice filled with worry.Anne sighed. “He is fine. He is just being stubborn. He wants me to let him go to your room. He has already checked out every other room in the house, and now he wants to go where he is not allowed.”Leon raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his eyes as he watched Nico who was still sobbing. He reached out, trying to comfort the child, but Nico shot him a look that made it clear he wasn’t interested in anyone’s help. “He is too scary to be Rhys’s son,” Leon muttered with a grin. “Our Rhys was a ball of sunshine.”Anne leaned in, whispering softly, “He is a copy of your dad. So grumpy.”Leon chu
The two mischievous best friends were at King’s residence today as their parents were busy with work. Whenever they were alone for a long time, they would request to stay with Carter, as he was the only one who could put up with all their antics. Since his children had inherited his business, he had focused all his attention on being a good and available father and grandfather.He loved it when his grandson Silas and granddaughter Athena visited him for the whole day. He loved it even more when it was just Athena and her best friend, Aurora or the stormy Aurora, as he called her.A few months after Sebastian got married, Serafina fell in love with a man named Drake, but the two did not work out. However, Serafina got pregnant and gave birth to her son, Drew, who lived with her mother. He was not a social child at all. The only person he could talk to, aside from his mother and grandfather, was Silas and no one else.For some reason, it was Aurora’s first time meeting Drew. Actually, s
"Dr. Hart?"Callum turned back to see his lab assistant running towards him with a coffee in her hand. She was a young and pretty woman in her late twenties who had recently completed her Ph.D. and was now working as a lab assistant in his lab. With her qualifications, she could have secured a better job, but she had decided to stay for the next two months until her project ended. "Yes, Dr. Maise?" Callum said. "Umm, coffee?" she offered him with a small smile. "Actually, I am about to head for lunch," Callum said. "If you wish, you can join me." Honestly, he was just being polite. "Okay!" the woman said and began walking with Callum. As they walked towards the cafeteria, they passed several students who were seated there. Callum was a familiar face on campus, as he used to take classes on behalf of his Ph.D. supervisor. Even after joining the university as a scholar, he occasionally covered classes for his supervisor again, as the two shared a deep professional relationsh
Parenthood had changed Sia and Leon in ways they had never expected. Watching Aurora grow up every day before their eyes felt like nothing short of a miracle. She was tiny, mischievous, and so full of light. Her presence would light up the room in a way no one could quite understand. Aurora was just one and a half months old when her biggest nemesis, Silas, was born. Silas was her favorite uncle’s son—the handsome uncle with shiny hair and flawless skin. Everyone joked that Aurora was obsessed with Sebastian’s beauty, while Charlotte would playfully complain that her favorite niece only had eyes for her husband. From the time Silas and Aurora were little, they fought over everything from their grandparents’ attention to every little gift they received. Neither of them wanted to lose to the other. Their endless competition worried their parents, as their families were best friends, but their children were anything but. Charlotte’s dream of having her children and her best friend’
It was a beautiful day when Aurora Swift Hart was born. She had troubled her mother a lot while getting comfortable in her mother’s tummy, but when she finally arrived, she did so without causing much pain. Aurora’s daddy began crying even before she could, as she opened her tiny eyes to a world she wasn’t yet used to. She wondered who the real crybaby was—her daddy or her. “I told you it’s a baby girl,” Aurora heard her daddy say, his voice filled with emotion as he cried fat tears. Her mommy, on the other hand, just smiled at her. If she could smile, she would because her mommy was so brave, loving, and comforting. Oh no, her mommy was the best! Especially when the nurse showed her how to be her food. But that was a topic for another time. “You won, Leon!” Aurora’s mommy said to her crybaby daddy. “What name have you chosen for the baby girl?” the doctor asked with a smile, looking at Leon, who was struggling to contain his excitement. “I want to know too,” Aurora heard he
“Our family is finally completed, ”Anne said with a big smile. She looked at her kids who were bickering as usual on the dining table. Leon and Sia were sitting on one side and Charlotte and Sebastain on another. Sia was in her eighth month of pregnancy and extremely fragile while Charlotte was wuite healthy and even though she was pregnant, she was no fragile woman! Charlotte Hart King could still take down a man or two! “Our family was always completed,”Nicholas said with a smile. “Now it is time for our kids to have family of their own. Leon and Charlotte are already starting their family with their respective spouses. Rhys has Nico. Its just Callum that I worry about.”Anne said, “Actually, I learnt one lesson in life. We cannot control the lives of our kids forever. Although we want to keep them safe from all the harms, it is still not possible. Because they are the main characters of their lives. And main characters always have their struggles. We are nothing but supporting cha
What does forever feel like? Sia and Leon weren't quite sure. But ask them what love feels like—love that’s about trying to be there for each other, even when things are hard, and trying to love each other for as long as they’re breathing—and they’ll look at each other with tender eyes and give you a smile. It was a normal day for Leon. His girlfriend woke up and decided to flip the script. The couple sat at breakfast in their safe haven—home, the place they had built together. The meal was something Sia adored, and Leon couldn’t help but wonder if that wide smile on her face had something to do with the food—her favorite, sent over by his mother, Anne. Ever since Sia and Charlotte were pregnant, Anne had been sending meals packed with love and nutrients. It was a tradition now, one that seemed to brighten their days. Leon was sure it wasn’t just the taste of the food Sia adored, it was the love and care Anne put into it, the same kind of love and care Sia was a sucker for.
Happiness had settled into the Hart family. The two pregnant women were treated like delicate glass, cherished and fussed over by everyone. Sia was six months along but barely looked a day over her first trimester, while Charlotte, at five months, had already popped and was unmistakably pregnant. While Sia’s pregnancy was challenging due to her health issues, Charlotte was in perfect health, glowing with happiness and vitality.Today, Sebastian brought Charlotte to her favourite food spot. She had been craving different foods all day. Sia had once joked that Charlotte was gaining more “food weight” than pregnancy weight which earned her an exaggerated glare from Charlotte.“Did you ask for an extra scoop of ice cream?” Charlotte asked, her eyes glowing with anticipation.“I sure did,” Sebastian replied with a knowing smile. “I may have even ordered a special dish you might like.”Charlotte beamed, her dimples deepened. “Aren’t you the best husband in the whole wide world?”He smirked.
Sia watched as Charlotte and Sebastian cried and laughed together while holding each other in pure joy. Sebastian had arrived with a huge bouquet for his wife, and the moment he saw her, he dropped to his knees and hugged her stomach, whispering over and over how happy and blessed he was to have her.Seeing them celebrate their love and impending parenthood made Sia emotional. Her best friend had finally found the love she truly deserved. Not wanting to intrude on their perfect romantic moment, she quietly walked back home with a soft smile on her lips.As she stepped inside, Leon was already there, waiting for her.“Hi,” Leon greeted. “Is everything okay?”Sia nodded, her eyes still glistening with happiness. “I am very happy. So happy that I cannot even put it into words.”Leon studied her face as warmth spread through his chest. “That is very good to hear. But would you like to tell me what happened?”She wrapped her arms around him while hugging him tightly. “Charlotte and Sebasti
Charlotte pulled something from her pocket and handed it to Sia. As Sia saw it, her eyes widened. She immediately hugged Charlotte. “You are pregnant?”Charlotte nodded, tears welling in her eyes.“Why are you crying?” Sia asked gently. “This is such happy news! Silly girl.” She paused before looking at Charlotte. “You do not want the baby? It is okay, I will not judge you.”Charlotte shook her head through her tears. “No, I do. I already love the baby. But we just got married after only a month of dating, and now a baby. He is not ready for that.”“Did he say that?” Sia asked.Charlotte shook her head. “No, but…”Sia rolled her eyes, smiling a little. “You are being silly. You both need to talk. If you do not talk to him and keep making assumptions, you will ruin your relationship. You need to talk to him.”Charlotte hesitated. “Now?”Sia nodded. “I think it is better to talk now. Otherwise, you will just end up crying more.”With a deep breath, Charlotte took her phone, put it on sp