After that day Ellora began visiting the cafe only to observe the girl, named Roseanne. She wanted to ignore it but each incident was bringing her closer to Roseanne. The suppressed emotions were finally finding an outlet. It had been five years since Anne died but she could not grieve for her. One day, Roseanne accompanied her for coffee. Ellora finally found an open chance to scrutinise Roseanne. She was finding similarities between Roseanne and Anne Rose. "Do you come here alone every day?” Roseanne questioned as she took a seat, holding the cup of cold coffee in her hand. “Yes.” Ellora answered, “I came to visit my son here but since he is busy with work all day. I have no entertainment and this place serves as one. It is a very lovely place.”“Yes, ”Roseanne said with a smile. This place was her pride. She put a lot of effort into making this place a dream come true. She turned people’s ideas for peace in a bookstore and coffee shop into a business idea. “Are you the manager
“Are you feeling alright?” Roseanne asked Ellora as the latter stopped crying. There was an air of awkwardness between the two of them after the crying session. Ellora did not realize that she would lose control of her emotions in front of Roseanne in such a bad way. She nodded her head, “Yes.”Taking a deep breath, she added, “I am sorry for troubling you. It's that I just could not control my emotions.”Her hidden emotions surfaced outside today.Roseanne softly smiled, “It’s okay. I understand.”Until this moment, she never tried to understand that her death might have affected anyone. She thought that she was only leaving Nicholas. But seeing Ellora crying for her broke her heart. When she was pushed into depression, she could not see any light in her life. She couldn't see that there were people who loved her or cared for her. Even if she could see people caring for her, it was her inferiority complex that would hit her each time and make her think how anybody could like her. Sh
When Nicholas reached the hospital, he saw Roseanne was waiting in the lobby. She seemed stressed about his mother as she was constantly walking back and forth. When she saw Nicholas, she walked to him immediately. Roseanne explained to him, “The doctors said that she is fine but she will be awake in some time.”The doctors were not explaining anything to her as she was not a family member. On constant imploring, she found out that Ellora was not in any grave danger. “What happened to her?” Nicholas asked her. This morning, when he met his mother, she seemed like her usual self. He did not notice her being sick. What happened in a couple of hours that she had to be hospitalized? Roseanne said, “They did not tell me. They were waiting for you.” Taking a pause she said, I will take you to the doctor’s cabin and he will explain you.”She took him to the doctor’s cabin who explained that Ellora fainted because of high blood pressure. The doctor told him, “The patient seemed to be unde
“Will it be okay if I see her?” Roseanne asked him in hesitation. Nicholas told her, “Yes, you can come with me.”He did not understand why she needed to be very formal with her. She could just drop this formality between them and everything would be normal. Roseanne shook her head, “No, Mr Hart. You meet your mother first, I will see her later.”Nicholas didn't force her. He went inside to see his mother. Sometimes, he wished he could know what was going on inside her head. Later, Roseanne Joined Nicholas after giving mother and son some alone time. She did not want to interrupt the emotional moment between mother and son. Ellora was pleasantly surprised to see Roseanne behind her son, “Roseanne, you came to see me?”Nicholas answered, “You fainted in her cafe, mom.”Suddenly, the events of the day began getting clear to her. When she woke up, everything was hazy. She did not properly remember anything. Seeing Roseanne made her recall everything, “Oh, I am sorry for worrying you
When Roseanne entered the kitchen, she poured water for Ellora. As she was returning to the room, she happened to see Nicholas on the way. Unspoken rage came to her as she said to him, “You should not leave your mother alone in this situation.”Just yesterday, he was talking about being such a bad son and today he went out, leaving his sick mother at home. Was his sadness even real? Nicholas tried to explain, “I didn't want to. I had work—”Roseanne was in no mood to listen to his bullshit. She scolded him by saying, “Mr Hart, is work more important than the health of your mother?”“How much more money do you want?”She asked him. He was richer than any man on the planet. Still, he wanted to earn more. For this stupid goal, he was ready to leave his mother all alone. Nicholas said, “It's not always about money”She asked, angrily, “Then, what's it about? Ego? Honour? Prestige.”She further said, “Our parents aren't always here for us. We should take care of them while we can. Not eve
“Have you ever been to Roseanne’s house?” Ellora asked her son who was reading reports. “What shall I bring for the children?”She had recovered a lot in the last week. Roseanne and Nicholas were taking turns to make her feel better. The kids were visiting her every day. They would take her for walks to the beach and entertain her. She felt very good in their company. Nicholas looked from his laptop and said, “No, I have not been to her place. And the kids love anything sweet.”“Hmm,” Ellora reacted. “What is going on with you and her?”It was not that she could not notice how her son would act around Roseanne each time she was here. He would try to draw her attention by annoying her. Although Roseanne would give him attention, it was mainly to scold him or give him a long lecture. He would not speak a word each time she was lecturing her. Nicholas quickly reacted. “What is going on between us?”“You like her,” Ellora quickly said. It was written all over his face. “What do you mea
Before Ellora could ask the children, Coco yelled, “Mommy!”“Were you waiting for me for a long time?” Roseanne asked as soon as she reached. She looked for the children and Ellora all over the house only to find her in front of the memory wall. “No, Mommy, we were not,” Coco and Leon said. “We were showing grandma our childhood pictures.”Roseanne smiled and came to stand next to Ellora. She looked at the picture fixed on the wall and sighed, “It's scary how time changes. There was a time when I had never expected that today would come. I wish I could go back in time and tell my younger self that one day you will meet a man who will change your entire world.”Ellora turned to look at Roseanne who was smiling while staring at Nathaniel’s picture. “If not for him, I would never have these wonderful children.”What was gratitude and friendship in Roseanne's eyes was mistaken as love by Ellora at this moment. “Are you talking about your husband?” Ellora dared to ask. Roseanne paused f
Thankfully, Nicholas did not realize that Roseanne called Ellora as mom. Perhaps, it was because he was lost in worry about his mother. Whatever, the reason was she was glad that he didn't notice anything or else she would be unable to answer him. Roseanne asked, “Shall we go to her?”Ellora sat by herself, sitting with a sad expression, as if wishing someone would come talk to her. Watching Ellora sad, her heart ached, wishing the former had someone to talk to. However, Nicholas did not seem to agree with her. He had some other thoughts about the whole situation. Nicholas gently held her hand, preventing her from approaching Ellora, and suggested, “I think we should let her be with herself.”For some reason, he believed that his mother needed space to be sad. Roseanne found herself agreeing with Nicholas's recommendation. Inside her, there was a subtle acknowledgment that maybe at this moment, he was right. Standing side by side, they kept a respectful distance, giving Ellora the
His voice dropped lower as he confessed, “Oh, Sia baby, I have dreamed of this every single day.” Leaning in, his lips found her neck, planting a trail of kisses that sent shivers cascading down her spine. Each kiss was deliberate, slow, and tantalizing as his lips explored the soft curves and bumps of her skin. He sucked and nipped gently, leaving her breathless and causing her to arch her back in excitement. His tongue darted out, tasting the warmth of her skin. The sensation was electric, making her clutch the bedsheet to steady herself. She was completely at his mercy, her body responding in ways she didn’t fully understand. Every touch was igniting a fire within her. He moved lower while his lips brushing the space between her breasts. Her hands instinctively found their way to his thick hair, tangling themselves in the silky strands as his touch consumed her entirely. He moved further down kissing his way down to her navel but stopped just right above her pussy area. H
When they reached their room after dinner, his gaze fell on her. She was sitting on the stool in front of the mirror while trying to remove her earrings, but she was struggling. He walked closer to her and whispered, “May I?” She silently gave him permission. He gently swept her hair to one side and carefully removed her earrings. As he worked, his hands lingered on her shoulders and their eyes met in the mirror. A soft blush painted her cheeks. Her eyes, though tired, but sparkled with life. He softly made her stand while turning her to face him. Dipping his head, he kissed her lips tenderly. After a moment, he murmured, “In five years, I see myself kissing your soft lips every day.” He whispered against her lips, “You are so beautiful, Sia baby.” Then, he claimed her lips in another kiss which deeper and more consuming. As he kissed her, her entire body trembled with need for him. She wasn’t embarrassed by the way her body craved his touch, how every fiber of her being begged
The lovebirds were truly basking in each other’s company. Leon had planned a perfect evening, starting with a romantic sunset walk along the beach as their feet were sinking into the soft sand as the waves kissed the shore. Later, they moved to a cozy candlelit dinner he had arranged just for her. The gentle glow of the candles was reflecting in her eyes as he sat in front of her. “Leon,” Sia’s soft voice broke the serenity as she called his name. “Yes?” he responded, his gaze meeting hers with warmth. “Let’s play a game,” she suggested, her lips curving into a playful smile. “Okay, which game are we playing?” Leon asked, tilting his head with interest. “Let’s play twenty questions,” Sia proposed. Leon chuckled. “Quite cliché, but fine,” he agreed. Since the moment felt too magical to let slip into silence, the game seemed like a fun way to keep the mood alive. She pouted in mock offense but pressed on, “Are you a sunrise or sunset person?” “Definitely a sunrise person
“Sia?”“Hmm,” he murmured in reply, feeling his finger trailing along her shoulder. The rays of the sun bathed her body as they lay near the sea. They were on one of the private beaches in the Philippines, one of the most breathtaking places she had ever seen. For the past three days, they had been travelling. The first two days were filled with adventure, but today was a much-needed lazy day for both of them.“I think you need sunscreen,” Leon said, his voice low and teasing. “Hmm,” she replied, her eyes still closed. She felt him scooping sunscreen into his hands, the cool sensation was contrasting with the heat of his palms as he began smoothing it over her body. His touch lingered as he worked the lotion into her neck while gliding down her back, tracing every curve and dip with deliberate care. Then his hands moved lower, over her hips and along her legs. Just as she thought he was done, his hands reversed course and they have begun gliding upward with an unhurried sensuality. S
After a few days of silence, Charlotte was nowhere to be seen. Leon had been patient, giving her the space he thought she needed to handle whatever was going on in her life. But as weeks turned into a month with no sign of her, he had had enough. He grabbed his phone and called her. She picked up just as it was about to go to voicemail. Her tired face appeared on the screen. “What’s up, little brother?” she asked, her tone lacking its usual energy. “Charlotte Hart, where the hell are you?” Leon snapped. “Somewhere on Earth. Why? What happened?” she replied nonchalantly, though her eyes betrayed exhaustion. Leon’s frown deepened. “Do you know how frustrating you are? You told everyone you were painting, but this doesn’t look like your apartment, and you look like crap.” He paused, taking a closer look. Her hair was longer, browner, and wavy which was completely different from her usual style. His brows furrowed as something else caught his attention. “Wait a minute… are you
Sia smiled widely at Abella and gave her an encouraging pat on the back. “I like it, girl,” she said with genuine warmth. Abella lowered her head, her voice tinged with embarrassment. “I’m sorry. I just… I made the plan, but they ditched me because Cade was interested in me. And, well, Leslie has a crush on him too. You know… the usual college drama.” Sia tilted her head sympathetically but kept her tone light. “I’m glad you ended up spending the evening with me instead. Those people made you cry, and they don’t deserve your energy. You should let them know you don’t care about what they think. You have got people who care about you, and tonight, we are going to have a lot of fun! You are in college, and there is no curfew.” Abella muttered with a small pout, “I still can’t drink until I’m 21.” Sia laughed. “I will show you how to have fun without needing a drop of alcohol. Trust me, tonight is going to be unforgettable.” And it was. The two spent the evening laughing, tal
Sia had just wrapped up her work at the office when her phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, she raised a brow in surprise. Softening her tone, she answered, “Hello?” “Hi, Sia,” came Abella’s slightly nervous voice. “Are you busy?” Sia glanced at the clock, noting the upcoming meetings on her schedule. But she brushed them aside and replied warmly, “Not at all. Just finished my work.” “Cool!” Abella sounded a little more at ease. After a brief pause, she asked hesitantly, “Would you like to go shopping with me?” Sia blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Abella was usually reserved and rarely expressed her wishes so openly. The invitation felt like a rare and meaningful step. “Of course,” Sia said, her voice full of encouragement. “When do you want to go?” “Now?” Abella suggested tentatively. “Perfect,” Sia agreed. “Where are you? I will come pick you up.” “I’m at my dorm. Can you come here?” “Absolutely,” Sia assured her. With that, they ended the call. Sia turned to
After spending the entire night with Sia, Leon decided it was time to visit his parents, whom he hadn’t seen in two weeks. When he arrived, the house was lively as usual. Along with Nicholas and Anne, Rhys, Callum, Abella, and his grandparents, Ellora and Nikolai, were all gathered around the table. It was a joyous occasion for the family to be under the same roof. “Dad, can you take over for a month?” Leon asked, leaning against the doorframe. Well, if he had to be gone for over a month, he needed capable hands to look after his work. Who did he trust more than Nicholas Hart himself? Nicholas raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “Do I look stupid to you?” Why on earth would he want to return to that cold office building? He recalled the time when the kids were young and he would find all the opportunity to not go to work. He had waited a lot for his retirement. There was no way, he was going back to work! “It’s just a month,” Leon persisted, his tone almost pleading. Nich
“Leon?” Sia’s voice trembled with surprise and excitement as she spotted him standing at the door of her study. Without hesitation, she ran to him while wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. “You heartless man! You went on a business trip for a whole week! Did you even miss me?” “I’m sorry, Sia baby. I’m a bad man,” he murmured, pulling her closer and kissing her cheek. “I’m sorry. Next time, I’ will take you with me.” She pouted, muttering, “What would I even do there?” He smiled, his voice soft and affectionate. “Stay with me all day. Who cares what place or task it is, as long as we are together.” Her lips curled into a contented smile and she nodded, looking every bit like a satisfied child who had just been given her favorite treat. “I love you, Leon,” she whispered. The words were rare and reserved for moments that carried her true and raw emotions. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “I love you more, Sia baby.” Without another word, Leon scooped her i