One thing about Anne's charcter is that she seems such a human. she is not overly powerful. She makes mistakes, she realised them and she never try to make it normal. She is one of the best female I have written. She is not perfect but she seems so real.
When Kate entered the office, Sia emerged out of nowhere and hugged her, laughing like a little girl.“Katiee!”Kate shivered. Her boss was high in the bright daylight? What does she had to deal with today? “Katiee!”“Guess what?” Sia giggled. “I have a boyfriend.”Kate let out a sigh of relief. Her boss was just high on love. Wait, what? A boyfriend? When did this happen? Why did it happen? No, no… what on earth was happening tehse days? Since her boss came to NewYork things were getting weird each day. “Boss, who is it? Who trapped you in the web of love?” she asked, then recalled a certain handsome man and added, “Is it Mr. Hart?”Sia replied, “Who else?”Who else but Leon Hart can make her fall in love? Kate was amazed. “Wow, boss.” Leon Hart had a reputation for being untouchable. There were even rumors that he was asexual. In one interview, he had been asked if he liked men or women, and he answered that he preferred aliens. This clip of his was still famous on internet and
In the bustling streets, as the sun dipped below the horizon and stars began to emerge in the twilight sky, two people strolled hand in hand while savoring their ice creams as they walked. They stood out, not only for their dazzling appearance but also for the effortless grace they exuded, even when dressed in their formal work attire. People couldn't help but glance their way as they sensing the quiet but attractive romance that surrounded them.The man looked at the beautiful woman beside him and softly said, “Sia?”She hummed in reply, looking up at him.Leon smiled, his eyes warm. “How are you liking our date?”Her lips curved into a smile. “It is amazing.”Leon chuckled. “Isn’t it?”She looked down the street, wondering aloud, “Will our date end when we reach the end of the road?”“It will end when we want it to,” he replied with a gentle confidence.Earlier that evening, he had driven to her office building and was waiting patiently by his car. When she came down and saw him, th
Sia glanced at Leon, who was grinning innocently and nodded with a laugh. “I completely understand. He is far too charming to say no to.”Maria chuckled, a nostalgic gleam in her eye. “Even back then, he was such a little charmer. It was impossible to refuse him.”Sia smiled, feeling a warmth that made her feel part of something special.Maria gestured to the table. She said, “Now, enjoy the special dinner. I will take my leave, but call if you need anything!”As Maria walked away, Leon leaned closer, noticing the curiosity in Sia’s eyes. “You are probably wondering why you never met Maria before, especially since you spent so much time in the café garden,” he said.Sia nodded, intrigued about the identity of the woman who treated leon so intimately. “Maria was my mom’s first employee,” Leon explained. “She started working at our café back in Italy and she helped my mom build the business from the ground up. She used to babysit Coco and me, too. Then, about ten years ago, her son st
Leon leaned back with a smirk, letting his gaze linger on her face. “There is an annual conference in a few days. Would you like to be my plus one for the gala?” he asked, his tone casual but his eyes gleaming with excitement.He so badly wanted her to be his plus one for the night. Sia raised an eyebrow, matching his energy. “I have a company to represent there, Mr. Hart. Why don’t you be my plus one?”He chuckled as he was entertained by her playfulness. He said, “Competitive, huh? I like it.” He leaned in closer his voice dropping with a hint of mischief. “But, jokes aside, would you be my date for the evening?”She tilted her head while crossing her arms with a smirk. “Who says I am joking? Why don’t you just be my plus one?”Leon’s eyes sparkled with amusement as he pretended to consider it. “Alright, how about this, we send our assistants to represent us and we use the gala as just another excuse to date?”His real intention slipped through his planning as he wanted to walk int
Just as Leon had thought, he felt too empty heading back to his apartment alone, so he drove to his parents' house instead. When he stepped into the living room, he was greeted by the sight of his parents still awake and sitting on the couch with a movie playing. His mother, Anne, was casually munching on popcorn while watching the movie, while his father, Nicholas, had his arm around her, and both of them looked too cozy with each other. Nicholas raised an eyebrow at him, feigning surprise and said mockingly. “Dear, doesn’t our eldest son have his own place? Didn’t he move out a long time ago?”Anne, barely looking up from her popcorn, nodded. Oh, she liked the drama on the screen and did not care about the one her husband was causing, “Yes, honey, he did.”Nicholas continued, “Then why is he here?”Without missing a beat, Anne replied, “Maybe he is too sad to sleep alone now that he has a girlfriend.”Nicholas let out a dramatic sigh. “So, he is planning to crash here until she let
Nicholas was too elated to care as he was already daydreaming. He turned to Anne with a gleam in his eye. “Sweetheart, where should we hang Callum’s doctorate degree when he gets it? I want it in a big frame, right in the living room.”Coco leaned over to Leon, whispering in feigned sadness, “Dad is so biased.”Leon just shrugged with a resigned smile. He said, “What can we do? We had our chance. You became an artist and I chose business. Now we can only sit back and watch Callum soak up the spotlight.”Rhys suddenly stood tall and announced, “I will do a Ph.D. too!”He could not bear Callum taking all the attention. Well, it was a kind of big deal that his twinwas pursuing a Ph.D at twenty one. But so what? He would follow his twin on the path of greatness too. Everyone burst out laughing as they unable to contain their amusement.Rhys looked around as he was hurt. He responded, “What? Why are you laughing?”Coco smirked, crossing her arms. “Do you even know what a Ph.D. stands for?”
The siblings congratulated Abella and retreated to their respective rooms. It was close to midnight, but Leon sat down at his study desk and dialed a familiar number. As the call connected, he couldn’t help but smile as he saw her face appear on the screen. He was a little surprised to find Sia, like him, still awake at her own study desk.“Hey,” she greeted him with a soft smile. “You are still up?”He returned the smile, a hint of happiness evident in his eyes. “How could I sleep without wishing you goodnight?”She chuckled. “You know, it is not really that important.”But his tone turned serious. “How is it not? I want you to know when I’m sleeping and when I’m awake. What if you are waiting for me at night, and I’m asleep? Isn’t that wrong?”Sia looked at him, a bit confused. “Is it?”She did not know that it was wrong. She was planning to go to bed if he has not called in the next five minutes. She was just checking some last minute reports. She had never been in a relationship an
Sia then asked, “Were you working?”He shook his head. “I was with my family.”“Do you live with your family?” she inquired. Actually, she did not know much about his current life. Yes, she did not know where he boyfriend lives and how he even take his coffee. She had to know a lot about him. As for him living at Hart mansion, she would not be surprised. The mansion was so big that he would stay there without ever needing privacy. Leon answered him, “Not exactly. Right now, all my siblings are home, and even my grandparents are visiting. So, I didn’t feel like going back to an empty apartment when everyone is here. It feels like a festive season at home.”She smiled at the thought. “That is good. Why be alone when you have family? Trust me, living alone isn’t that fun.”He laughed and nodded. He also knew what she was thinking so he said, “Yeah, you are right. But family can be exhausting too. My dad overwhelmed all of us earlier. He made me realize a lot of things that could have be
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