Sia was on FaceTime with Charlotte, comfortably seated in Leon’s office while he attended a meeting in the next room. Through the glass wall, he would occasionally glance at her, as if checking to make sure she was doing okay.“How is Miss Taylor and Mr. Hart’s search for a potential groom going?” Sia asked, her tone light and amused.Charlotte let out a dramatic sigh. “Oh, they have taken it so seriously that it’s practically become a full-time project. Every day, they sit together and discuss potential candidates like it’s some kind of corporate merger. And now, even Grandma and Grandpa have joined the Nicholas-Sabrina alliance.”Sia burst out laughing. “I take it Uncle Nathaniel and Ma aren’t thrilled about it?”Charlotte shook her head. “Not at all. They are old-school romantics. They want me to fall in love first and then get married as if that’s something you can just plan. Like love is supposed to conveniently show up at my doorstep.”Sia leaned closer to the screen as her voic
Nicholas was in his office when his phone rang. The name on the screen made his eyes narrow. He picked up immediately. As he listened to the voice on the other end, his expression darkened. Without hesitation, he looked at his assistant and ordered, “We leave now.”Minutes later, Nicholas stepped into a high-rise building, his polished shoes echoing against the marble floors. The view of Manhattan stretched endlessly beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. A man stood with his back to him, hands casually tucked into his pockets, watching the city below.“Facci.”The man turned slowly, a wicked smirk playing on his lips. His ashy-blue eyes, dark hair, and the unmistakable air of chaos mingled with pride reminded Nicholas of his own younger self.“Mr. Nicholas Hart.” Cillian Facci took a step forward, his voice smooth but tinted with an edge. “What a pleasure to finally meet you in person.”Nicholas didn’t waste time on pleasantries. “Why did you call me here?”Cillian’s smirk widened slig
Abella and Charlotte sat together in the living room, relaxing in each other’s company. But Abella couldn’t ignore the question in her mind.“Why was your date cancelled? Did Dad say anything about it?” she asked, looking at Charlotte curiously.Charlotte sighed, shaking her head. “No. He didn’t say anything.”Before their conversation could continue, Anne and Sabrina entered the room. Seeing both girls together, they walked over. Sabrina wasted no time. “Charlotte, did you speak to Cillian Facci?”Charlotte shook her head. “No, Mom. I didn’t. Our assistants were handling all the arrangements. We were supposed to meet tonight, but Dad suddenly told me not to go. I have no idea what’s going on.”Sabrina’s gaze remained sharp. “Were you actually serious about marrying him?”Charlotte met her mother’s eyes and spoke firmly. “Mom, I wouldn’t joke about something this important. I wasn’t playing with anyone’s feelings.”Before Sabrina could respond, the room’s atmosphere shifted. Nathanie
Nicholas looked at Anne, his voice firm. “What are you talking about? This is important.”Anne met his gaze, her expression serious. “Nicholas, marriage isn’t a joke. You can’t just get married, spend months together as husband and wife, and then, when things don’t work out, claim you were intoxicated and get an annulment. Life isn’t that simple. Marriage is a serious affair.”Nikolai, still unsure, added, “That man could be a fraud.”Anne turned to Charlotte. “Coco, is Sebastian a fraud?”Charlotte looked down, her voice quiet as she shook her head. “No. He is a very good person.”Anne’s eyes narrowed. “At any point, did you have feelings for him?”Charlotte fell silent, her gaze glued to the floor.Anne pressed on. “Did you, Coco, or didn’t you?”Charlotte’s voice was a soft whisper as she finally spoke. “But he…” she trailed off, unable to finish.Anne smiled softly, her understanding clear. She turned to Sabrina and said, “I won’t make any decisions about this without involving y
Charlotte arrived in Mexico late at night. She had gotten the information she needed from Carter King and was now standing in the grand lobby of the hotel where Sebastian was staying. Taking a deep breath, she gathered her courage and walked up to the reception desk.“Hello, I’m here to see Sebastian King,” she said, her voice trying to sound cool and collected.The receptionist glanced up and asked politely, “Is Mr. King expecting you?”Charlotte shook her head. “No, he isn’t.”The receptionist frowned. “I’m sorry, Ma’am, but we can’t allow you to see him. Mr. King has given strict instructions not to be disturbed.” She added apologetically, “He is a special guest.”Charlotte’s expression remained composed, but her voice turned sharp. “I am his wife. I don’t think the ‘no disturb’ clause applies to me.”The receptionist hesitated. “Ma’am—”The poor receptionist was stuck in a mess. The woman seemed ordinary but from her posture, style and air, she could tell that the woman was someon
Sebastian pinned her wrists above her head, allowing her no chance to retreat. He knew her well enough to know that if she didn’t want this, she would fight back. Hell, she would probably shoot him. But she didn’t.Instead, she melted into him, surrendering to his heat, and letting him take control.By the time they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathless.Charlotte’s chest heaved, her lips swollen and red from the force of his kiss.Sebastian’s eyes darkened as he brushed his thumb over her bottom lip.“Do you have something to say to me?” he whispered, his voice husky.Charlotte, still dazed from the intensity of the moment, managed a small nod.“Yes.”Sebastian waited, his gaze unwavering.She took a shaky breath and whispered, “I love you.”And then, before she could face his reaction, she buried her face against his chest while clinging to him.Sebastian didn’t hesitate.In one swift move, he lifted her over his shoulder while ignoring her surprised gasp, and carried h
For some reason, Sebastian had to go and meet a client. It was a short meeting and he called the client in the hotel restaurants. While leaving the room, he left her a message that he would be back soon. When Sebastian returned, he found Charlotte dressed in his clothes—his white shirt and shorts fitting her perfectly, almost as if they were made for her. She sat on the couch to read something on her phone while sipping coffee. Her face looked tense, but the moment she noticed him, her features softened into a breathtaking smile.“Hi,” she greeted.His own lips curved into a smile as he walked toward her. “Hey there.” Without hesitation, he pulled her into a warm hug. “I’m sorry I had to leave you here alone.”As he held her, he caught the familiar scent of his body wash on her skin. His heart stuttered. “Someone took a bath,” he teased, pulling back just enough to meet her eyes. His deep steel-blue gaze locked onto her vibrant green ones.Charlotte smirked. “Are you really that happ
The scent of aged wood and candle wax filled the room. The dim light flickered across the long mahogany table where two mafia families faced each other and the other had yet to enter.Charlotte Hart entered the room with calculated confidence, wearing a tailored black suit. The cold click of her heels echoed through the space while commanding attention before she even spoke. Hardened men straightened in their seats.Cillian turned to look at Luca Moretti, the third mafia family who controlled the Mexican region. He said, “Nicholas Hart was supposed to come.”Luca laughed. “Facci, I told you Nicholas does not look after the business. The new boss does.”Cillian said, “Bullshit. A woman cannot control our business. He is using her as a bluff.” Across from him, Luca leaned back lazily, fingers wrapped around a glass of whiskey, his expression filled with amusement.“That’s the queen herself,” Luca said, loudly. “Miss Hart, thank you for gracing us with your presence.”There was amuseme
When Charlotte reached the living room, she plastered on a smile and asked, “Hey, ladies. What are you talking about?”She could just tell that these two were trying to plot against her sweet husband in a very sweet way. “Oh, we are just convincing Seb to have kids soon,” Sabrina said matter-of-factly. “You both are so beautiful, I can’t wait for my grandkids. They will be even more beautiful tahn you two!”Charlotte made a face. “What are we? Some kind of experiment for you?”Sabrina chuckled. “Of course not. But you are twenty-eight. The longer you wait to have kids, the more your body will suffer. So why not have them early?” After a pause, she added, “And Sebastian is in his thirties. He would like to have a child before he reached his late thirties right?” Sebastian glanced at Charlotte with an expression that clearly said, I have nothing to do with this. Of course, Charlotte knew. They were all taking advantage of his sweet nature.She crossed her arms and declared, “I will on
Charlotte was conversing with her father and grandfather, while Ellora was sharing the happy news with her grandkids. At the same time, Sabrina and Anne sat on either side of Sebastian, eyeing him curiously."What hair products do you use?" Sabrina asked with a wide smile. Her son-in-law's hair was thick, shiny, and impossibly lush, unlike anything she had ever seen before."Uh—" Sebastian blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Just the usual.""I would like a list," Sabrina said, completely serious."Yes, ma’am," he responded with a slight nod, his French accent making them giggle like schoolgirls."You have perfect skin," Anne added, studying his face. "What is your secret?""Good food and sunscreen," he answered simply.Anne and Sabrina sighed in unison. "We could never quit sugar."Then, with a teasing glint in her eyes, Sabrina mused, "You are too beautiful, Sebastian. I can't wait for you and Coco to have children, they will be absolutely stunning."Sebastian coughed, flust
“Are you nervous?” Charlotte asked, glancing at Sebastian as they stood outside the grand Hart estate.“A little,” he admitted, adjusting his collar.She leaned closer, whispering, “I’m more nervous than you.”He squeezed her hand. “I’m here with you.”“Dummy,” she muttered. “I’m nervous for you. My father might just eat you alive.”Sebastian paled slightly. “Great. That’s reassuring.”She smirked. “Don’t worry, I will bring you back alive.”He let out a nervous chuckle. “Maybe we should just walk in blindly and hope for the best.”With that, still holding each other’s hands, they stepped inside the Hart mansion. The housekeeper led them to the family room where a formidable audience awaited. Nicholas and Anne sat together, exuding quiet authority. To their left, Nathaniel and Sabrina watched with interest, while on the right Ellora and Nikolai observed with mild amusement.Sebastian greeted them one by one. He was trying to sound calm but his palms was damp.“You took a whole month t
The front door swung open, and Anne’s eyes widened in surprise.“Belly?” she said, barely masking her surprise.It had been a month since Abella left for her Europe trip, and she hadn’t mentioned anything about returning. But here she was, standing at the threshold, looking very exhausted. Without a word, Abella stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her mother in a tight hug.Anne was taken aback. She gently rubbed her daughter’s back. “Sweetheart, is everything okay?”Abella’s voice was small. “Estelle and Ronan got divorced.”Anne’s heart clenched.“She moved to London,” Abella continued, her grip on Anne tightened. “She is never coming back, Mom.”Anne held her even closer. “Oh, baby,” she murmured. “I know. I know. Come inside.”As they stepped in, Abella whispered, “I lost my best friend. She will live oceans away now. And the worst part? I can’t even cry about losing her because she is going through something so much worse.” Her voice trembled. “I don’t know what to do.”A
“What is this?” Emery asked as Ronan threw a file onto the table.Ronan’s jaw was tight, his hands clenched into fists. “Divorce papers,” he said flatly.Emery blinked in shock. “What?” She quickly picked up the papers, her eyes scanning through them. “Why?”“She wants a separation,” Ronan said, his voice laced with disbelief. “She already signed them and sent them to me. She wants me to process them so she can officially file for divorce.” His voice was eerily hollow as if he still couldn’t comprehend the situation.Emery’s expression hardened. “Then go to her. Fix this.”Ronan shook his head. “She is gone. Her mother told me she left for a vacation. No one knows where she is, not even her own family. They didn’t even know she filed for divorce until I told them. They are trying to reach her, but she is nowhere to be found.”Emery turned her attention back to the papers while flipping through the pages carefully. The documents were precise and every detail was written well. But when
Abella straightened up and stretched a little. “I think I will have iced tea instead of coffee. Coffee feels too serious for me,” she said with a smile.Cillian chuckled, his gaze softening as he watched her. “I will get you the coffee then.”Before he could reach for his wallet, she was already ahead of him while placing the order and turning to him with a grin. “It’s on me.”He raised an eyebrow, taken aback. Cillian Facci was a man who had always prided himself on taking care of his own bills and had never let a woman pay for him. He opened his mouth to protest, but she was already off to get their drinks.When she returned with the drinks and a tray of food, she asked, “Are you hungry? I am! What do you suggest?”Cillian pointed toward a combo meal that had been his go-to in his college days. She picked up two of them, and they sat at an empty table with the warm food in front of them. What is this alternate reality? he thought.As they dug into their meals, Abella took a bite of
“I’m a first-year medical student at NYU,” Abella answered, a proud smile playing on her lips. “I love my life there.”Cillian muttered under his breath, barely loud enough for her to hear, “So young and untainted.”Her eyes narrowed. “What was that?”“Nothing,” he said smoothly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.She crossed her arms. “And what about you? Oh wait, let me guess a fancy lawyer fighting high-stakes battles for the immoral capitalists of the world?”Cillian let out a laugh at her sass. “I guess you are not entirely wrong.”Just then, his phone buzzed with a message. He glanced down at Carina.It will take me a bit longer. Wait for me. Don’t leave.He swore under his breath. That woman had some nerve while giving him orders.Shaking his head, he turned back to Abella, his gaze appraising. “Would you like to grab a coffee?”She arched a brow. “Aren’t you a little too old to be asking me for coffee?”His lips twitched in amusement. “How old do you think I am?”She t
“Abella, you can explore the campus while I meet Scottie,” Estelle said as they arrived at Oxford University. Her cousin was running late for a conference, leaving little time for their meeting. Wanting to see her first before heading to the hotel, Estelle decided to make the most of their brief window.“Oh, I like the idea,” Abella replied enthusiastically, already intrigued by the historical grandeur of the university.While Estelle went to meet her cousin, Abella took her time admiring the beauty of the Oxford campus. She had always loved the elegance of its architecture. Its ancient stone buildings stand proudly, ivy creeping along their walls, and students walk with books tucked under their arms. It was just like the movies that she had watched. Finding a quiet spot outside the Oxford Law School, she settled onto a wooden bench and pulled out a thick medical book. It was a contradiction, she knew, reading about anatomy in the heart of a law faculty but it didn’t bother her. She
Charlotte took a deep breath and met his gaze. “I’m sorry for not telling you about Cillian Facci. I wanted to, but the timing was never right.”When she met him, she forgot about everything. All she could recall was her. Sebastian studied her for a moment before shaking his head with a small understanding smile. “We never really had the time, did we? I don’t blame you.”Relieved, she reached for his hand and squeezed it. “Thank you for understanding.”He tilted his head slightly. “So… your parents know about me?”She nodded.“Will they like me?” he asked. His tone was light but she caught the hint of nervousness in his voice.A laugh bubbled out of her. “Maybe, maybe not. But does it really matter?”“A little,” he admitted. “I would rather not be the guy your family wants to strangle.”Charlotte smiled, understanding his worry. “My family is complicated. I was raised by two sets of parents.” She paused, then explained, “My birth parents are easier. My mom is probably over the moon t