“Sia, can you please do one thing for me?” Jacob's voice was weak, his breaths shallow as he lay on the stretcher in the ambulance. Alessia clung to his hand as tears were streaming down her face and her heart was heavy with the weight of the secrets he had just confessed.“Yes, Baba,” she replied, her voice breaking. She couldn’t understand the gravity of everything he had revealed and it crushed her to know how much he had been hiding. But in this moment, he wasn’t a killer, nor the man stuck in his past sins. He was just her father, the only family she had left, and he was slipping away from her. She felt helpless.Jacob coughed, the effort drained what little strength he had left. Alessia sobbed harder, the panic rising in her chest. "Baba, I will call Anne. She should be here with you."Jacob shook his head weakly. “No. Don’t call her. I can’t die seeing her face, Sia. She will hate me forever when she knows the truth, and I can’t hide it from her. Please... don’t let her come.”"
The entire Hart family was involved in grief but Anne’s condition was the worst. In this heartbreaking moment, it was Leon who held his mother together by offering her support. Sia stood tall during this difficult time, refusing to cry. Alongside Nicholas, she made all the necessary preparations for Jacob’s funeral. Her life would never be the same again but she had a duty to fulfill and she was determined to see it through.The funeral was filled with tears and sorrow. Once it ended, Sia fell apart silently sobbing in her room. The preparations for the funeral had kept her focused on one thing and suppressed her heartbreak but now that it was over, she had nothing to distract her from her overwhelming emotions. All alone in her room, she broke down completely. The Hart family had returned to their home and soon this house would no longer belong to her. She recalled the will she had read–the house was left to Anne while Jacob’s money was given for her.While crying, Sia packed her b
Eventually, Sia was to marry Matthew Kennedy. When Leon learned of this, he rushed to find her. Desperation written across his face. But Sia met him with a merciless resolve. “I never loved you, Leon. I never gave you any signs. Please don’t waste your life on me. I’m about to have a chance at a family of my own. I don’t want to hurt you.”Leon pleaded, “Please, Sia. I can give you love, a family and everything. You will never want for anything.”For her he was ready to move mountains. He did not need anything or anyone, he just needed her. Why could not she see that her happiness was with him not with someone else? He would kill that bastard! He would kill that bloody man! Sia smiled gently, sadness in her eyes, “Leon, you are the best man I have ever met. If I were capable of love, I would give all of it to you. But sadly, I cannot afford to love. I owe your grandfather too much. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I refused the only thing he ever asked of me.” Her voice dr
What’s the worst that could happen if Sia marries Matthew Kennedy?Just a week into her marriage to Matthew, Sia began to understand the harsh reality of her situation.First, she discovered that Jacob hadn't married her off to the Kennedy family out of love or care for her future. Richard Kennedy was Jacob’s accomplice in evil deeds and had something on Jacob, and Sia’s marriage was the price to keep that secret buried. She wasn’t a beloved granddaughter being cared for but she was merely a scapegoat, sacrificed to protect Jacob’s reputation. Second, Sia realized her husband wasn’t the promising heir everyone assumed him to be. Matthew was anything but responsible. His family pushed the marriage on him in hopes that a capable wife would help turn him into the man they needed. This meant that Sia was now responsible for his success. She had to work tirelessly,not only to secure her own future but also to strengthen her husband’s standing and improve his reputation.Third, there was n
"Matt, I have enough!" Sia heard. She had a meeting with the investors and was returning from there. She had not expected Olivia's voice inside the villa where she lived with her husband. The kennedy family lived in an Estate that had several villas, she and Matthew lived in one of them. "Olivia, listen to me, "Sia’s feet froze when she heard her husband's coaxing tone. Such a tone he had never used even with her. She knew that their marriage was merely an arrangement yet it didn't stop her from seeking his warmth. A wife had several expectations from her husband. "How can I listen to you?" Olivia screamed. "Alessia can hear you, "Mathew said. "It will do us no good if she hears us.""That bitch is busy with the investors and slaving for you, "Olivia said. "Why don't you leave her? Why don't you tell her that you hate her? She took everything from you. The power that was supposed to be yours, she is using that. How can you see things happening like this? No one considers you as heir
“Ah!!” Sia jolted awake on her bed as she was gasping for breath.“It's okay, Sia. You are fine. It was just a dream. You are alive,” she whispered to herself, trying to calm her racing heart. When her heart did not stop frantically stop beating, she said, “Get a grip, Sia. You are fine. You are untouchable.”Glancing at the clock, she saw it was 5 a.m. She climbed out of bed and began her morning workout. As she was running on the treadmill, her phone rang and it was Kate, her secretary.“Miss Swift, the CEO of Eastern subsidaries is requesting a meeting. He is threatening you,” Kate said cautiously.Sia didn’t break her pace. “No.”Kate knew better than to push. A "no" from Sia was final.“The deal with the Salvatore Group is signed. Their CEO wants to meet you,” Kate continued. The Salvatore Group was one of Europe’s largest conglomerates and recently they signed a ten year contract with her company.“Arrange it,” Sia ordered as her eyes on her heartbeat monitor and was barely ca
“Nathanniel Hart!” Anne said, angrily. “Yes mother?” A tall man man dressed in a suit was sitting on a seat. He had deep brown eyes, dark curly hair and was sitting straight as if he was attending a military parade. There was not even a crease of discomfort or frustration on his face. It was as if he had an ocean of patience and no angry words from his parents was going to raise his temper. “Did you know how many dates you blew this month?” Anne Rose Hart said, rubbing her forehead. “It was seventh! She was so beautiful and kind. Where would I find you great matches?” Her husband rubbed her back, “Dear, take deep breath. You have a BP problem. Don’t worry about these children. We only brought them to earth to get on our nerves.” At this time, his phone dinged and someone made a big purchase from his card, “Can we return them where we get it from? Rhys will end my bank balance one day.” “Father, don’t worry. I will work hard everyday,” Leon Hart said. ‘Not you, son! I am tired of
As Leon entered his office, he spotted a figure resting in his chair. He hated sharing his things but not with her. She greeted him with a yawn, “Hi, brother.”“Charlotte?” he exclaimed.She flashed him a lazy smile. “When did you get back from Paris?” he asked.“Just now,” she replied, stretching her arms above her head.“You didn’t go to see Mom and Dad?” he questioned. “Oh, no,” she said, yawning again. “I want to see but they can be overwhelming at times. My mothers will gang up on me and I can’t bear it when I am exhausted and sleep deprives.” she added, “Just give me the key to your apartment. I need a good sleep. I am so tired I might just crash in your loft here.”Charlotte was an artist who flew around the globe for exhibitions and with ten shows in the last month alone, she barely found time to rest. Despite their busy lives, she was the one in the family who understood him best. He never had to say much, she just knew what was going on inside him. Time changed so many th
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