FInally!
In a world where everyone expected something from her, where she was always giving and never receiving, Leon’s presence felt like a lifeline.“I’m here,” he murmured while running a comforting hand down her back. “Hush, Belly.”Cillian stood frozen, watching his wife fall apart in her brother’s arms. He had never seen her like this. He knew she cried as he had heard the muffled sobs when she thought he was asleep. He had seen the slight puffiness in her eyes in the mornings but she never let anyone witness her breaking.But now, she was raw. Unguarded. Completely vulnerable.And it wasn’t with him.It was with her brother the one she had spent a decade away from yet the bond between them remained unshaken.Leon barely spared Cillian a glance before saying, “Get some water.”Without a word, Cillian handed him a bottle. Leon gently coaxed Abella to drink. They took her back to Hotel but her crying never subsided. Even now in the room, she was just crying endlessly. When her sobs finall
Something was wrong with Cillian.He was following her everywhere.Her security had doubled or maybe even tripled.Every engagement she had been involved in was suddenly canceled. And when she asked why, he simply told her she didn’t need to play his assistant. He paid people handsomely to handle his affairs; she should focus on herself instead.They were having breakfast when he casually said, “What do you think about continuing your degree?”Abella froze, her fork midway to her lips. Her eyes narrowed as she studied him. “What is wrong with you?”There was a secret that she was hiding from him. She did not know why she did not tell him. But she did not wish to talk about it. Cillian looked up, unfazed. “What happened?”“You are suddenly very nice to me. I can’t digest it.”“I’m always nice to you.”Abella scoffed. “Cillian! You are vexing me. You are nice because you don’t care enough to be cruel. You don’t hurt me intentionally, but you are never this attentive. Why are you acting
At the airport, the four munchkins stood surrounded by shadow guards and their uncle.“Kids, I have to go to the office first. Then we will see her,” Nash said, looking down at the eager little faces.The kids had their summer vacation, and Nash had business in Italy. Since he was already heading there, he had planned a brief visit to Abella, his sister and his best friend, the person he was most connected with, along with Estelle.But somehow, the kids had found out. And when they did, they pestered him and pestered the family until their parents had no choice but to send them along. First of all, it was very hard for these four to have the same opinion. Often, Silas would veto every decision that they made collectively. But if they were together on one thing, nobody could ever do anything against them. They would get what they wanted! The parents had even offered to come, but the kids were adamant. They wanted to visit with their uncle, and their uncle only. Nobody else! These stub
“Aunt, surprise!”She stood frozen, stunned. If Cillian hadn’t caught her, she might have toppled over from the sheer force of their hug.“Oh my god…” she whispered, eyes darting between them. “Nico?” She cupped the little boy’s face, except he wasn’t so little anymore. He was nearly her height now. She pressed a kiss to his head.Her gaze shifted. “Silas?” He was the spitting image of Sebastian but with Coco’s unmistakable mischief in his eyes.Then she turned to the two little girls, clutching her tightly. “Thea? Roar? Is it really you guys?”Aurora and Athena grinned up at her.Tears welled in Abella’s eyes as she pulled them all into another hug, kissing them one by one. “It’s really you…”“Aunt, why are you crying?” Nico asked, concerned.Abella laughed through her tears. “Because I’m so happy to see you all. Don’t mind me, I’m just emotional.”“Aunt, we are hungry,” Silas said, rubbing the back of his head. “The plane food was so bland.”Abella let out a teary laugh. “Good thing
When Abella returned to her villa, which was set a little apart from her mother-in-law’s, she barely had time to open the bedroom door before she was pushed against the wall and kissed deeply by her husband. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back, melting into the warmth of his embrace.That night, they made slow, tender love that was an experience that felt different and deeper, as though something unspoken had settled between them. Usually, after moments like this, sleep would claim her almost instantly, but tonight was different. She didn’t want to sleep. Whatever was happening between them, she wanted to savor it. It was something she always wanted. Something, she was living for. Lying with her back to him at first, she suddenly turned to face him while cupping his face and gazing into his dark eyes, where she saw her own reflection staring back at her.A slow smile curled her lips.“What are you scheming?” Cillian murmured, his voice hoarse from the night’s int
Before she could protest, he pulled her into his arms while his lips grazed her neck. A shiver ran down her spine.“You know,” he murmured against her skin, his breath warm, “I can’t walk out of this room without ravishing you first. Otherwise, that gala might just become a noose around my neck.” His lips traced the curve of her shoulder. “How do you expect me to practice self-control when my wife looks like this?”Abella barely had time to respond. His touch, his words and everything about him was a seduction she could never resist. Her eyes fluttered shut as his lips worshipped her body. Moments later, her gown pooled at her feet, and with a deep chuckle, Cillian lifted her into his arms and carried her to their bed.An hour later, the couple stirred to get dressed again.While Cillian looked utterly refreshed, satisfied as Abella was draped in silken sheets and blinked drowsily at him. Her body had taken a hit and she was too tired to even move. “Too sleepy?” he asked, amusement fi
“What were you doing?” Abella demanded, her voice shaking with anger and helplessness.She knelt beside him while wiping the blood from his wound as her hands were trembling as she fought back tears. Around them, his men stood, some of them injured as well and waiting for the doctor to tend to their wounds. The room smelled of blood and antiseptic. Cillian exhaled sharply. “I didn’t know that bastard would aim his shot at me.”“You always say that!” she snapped. “How many times have I told you to stay away from bloodshed? You never listen to me! You do whatever you want, always inviting trouble home! What if that bullet had hit your heart instead of your arm? Then what, Cillian? What about me, you selfish jerk? I would be widowed! One of your enemies would come and claim me as his woman!”At that, Cillian turned to his men and ordered, “Men, if I die, my wife must be protected at all costs.”“Yes, sir!” they all responded in unison.Abella slapped his shoulder and then winced when sh
After that, Cillian had no choice but to take it easy. He spent most of his time recovering at home, much to his frustration. Abella had confiscated his phone and under no circumstances was he allowed to leave the house.“This has been the most boring week of my life,” Cillian grumbled as he ate scones for breakfast.Abella rolled her eyes. “Oh yes, poor you,” she said sarcastically. “What about lunch? I was thinking pasta, or maybe brown rice with salmon, asparagus, and potato wedges.”Cillian’s eyes lit up. “Can’t we have both?”His wife was an incredible cook, so good that he never got tired of eating the meals she made. Every bite reminded him of what he had been missing all these years. “Too many carbs,” she said, shaking her head. “Pick one.”He sighed dramatically. “Fine. The second option for lunch and the last one for dinner.”She smiled helplessly. “Alright. I will make it. But first, I need a latte.”Cillian perked up. “Can I request one too?”Abella laughed. “Cillian, I’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