Upon entering the room, Roseanne discovered a stunning black dress laid out on the bed alongside a note. She suspected Nicholas had left it there, as he had instructed her to prepare for the gala. Although she was not sure if she would be able to survive the gala, she knew that she had to go. This time, she had no choice. The dress exudes such elegance that it seems certain to steal the spotlight. Roseanne had a strong desire to make a dazzling entrance at the venue to captivate the attention of everyone present there, especially the killer who was there to hunt her. And she also wanted Nicholas to not be able to tear her eyes away from her. It was a daring task she had undertaken but she remained hopeful that she could execute it successfully.In previous times, Roseanne would attend events looked after by Ellora who kept a watchful eye on her every move even in Nicholas's presence. Initially, Roseanne assumed Ellora's attention arose from a fear of embarrassment believing that she
When they came to the table and sat with each other again, many people stopped by to greet them. The highlight of the event was when Mr Taylor and his wife came to greet the Hart couple. Nikolai and Vance tried to act normal for the event but the cracks in their relationship were clearly visible. Everyone present there could estimate that something had happened between the two of them during the party at Hart house. Ellora and Mrs Taylor talked with each other to maintain a polite facade. Where the men could not deal, the women would bring their soft politics to the table. Roseanne noticed many things this time that she never could in the past. She noticed how fake her mother-in-law was and how she acted very dubious with everyone in the gala. It was not the case with her mother-in-law only. Everyone was also the same. They had different characters that they brought to parties. Ellora was in a different mood when she arrived but now she was playing the role of a host who was so hap
Beatrice said as she was noticing everything regarding Roseanne, “I get it why Nicholas is crazy for this woman.”She had heard her sister crying about this new woman but she didn't get the opportunity to meet who this new woman was. But after studying Roseanne for a few hours, she came to the conclusion that the former resembled Nicholas' first wife a lot. Sabrina had told her many times how Nicholas was hung up on the ghost of his ex-wife and now that he found someone who looked like her, he was holding onto her. Sabrina asked in curiosity, “Why?”Beatrice's answer surprised Sabrina, “She looks like his dead wife.”“What?” Sabrina could not believe it. She had seen Anne's pictures and those two didn't resemble each other that much. Beatrice told her sister, “She looks like Anne. I have seen Anne many times in the events. She resembles this woman a lot. Nicholas is trying to find his dead wife in this woman.”She further added, “If you compare the picture of two women, you may not
On the other hand, Roseanne was talking to Nicholas' colleagues and he was introducing his friends. She was surprised to see that in the last five years, Nicholas had made good friends. Most of these people were people who either worked with him or he had business relations with them. However, it was quite fascinating for her to see Nicholas, who usually avoids people making friends. It seemed that he finally learned the value of having good people around him. Mrs Taylor suddenly stood next to her and said, “Miss Deluca, there is a young man outside asking for your presence.” “For me?” Roseanne asked, surprised. Mrs Taylor nodded innocently. She was acting like she was not trying to sow discord between the couple. She just wanted to see if Nicholas would get jealous if she used such terminology but she was disappointed by his reaction. Roseanne looked at Nicholas and exchanged a look. “I will come with you,” He said to her. They could not leave Roseanne alone as the killer might
Roseanne said to Nicholas as soon as she stood next to him, “She is so weird.”“Who?” Nicholas asked in curiosity. Roseanne answered, “Mrs Taylor. She is a very weird creature.”Nicholas smiled as Mrs Taylor’s reputation in the circle was quite something. He said, “You only met her once and you are saying it.”“Don't you feel so?” Roseanne asked him. “Umm, I wouldn't say so,” Nicholas said to her. His perception of that woman might be the most different and a little in-depth of all the people here. Nicholas expressed what he has analyzed throughout the years of meeting Mrs Taylor, “Mrs Taylor is an eccentric woman, Rose. She plays bitchy.” He paused for a moment and then added, “Actually, it's not a play but a part of her personality. I wouldn't call her kind because she is far from it. However, if you limit her by saying that she is a bitch or a weird woman, remember that she succeeded in making you underestimate her. She is far from being that. Mrs Taylor will chew you and spit y
The evening event came to an end, and Roseanne and Nicholas left for their residence after enjoying several drinks and raising toasts with fellow attendees. Engaging in extensive socializing, they found alcohol to be a significant component of the gathering. Yet, they remained only slightly intoxicated, not fully drunk. Roseanne felt overheated and thirsty after sitting in the car. She thought of trying a new dish but she hadn't anticipated it would be so spicy that her mouth still tingled with a slight burning sensation."Nicholas, could you pass me the water, please?" Roseanne requested, noticing the bottle was within his reach on his other side, making it convenient for him to hand it to her.However, she hadn't anticipated his response.Dismissing her request, he replied, "I'm busy. Get it yourself."Despite his abrupt dismissal, Roseanne didn't mind and decided to fetch the water herself.As she leaned in to reach for the water bottle situated on his other side, her breast inad
“Out!” Nicholas barked at the driver who just entered to drive them to the house. They were still parked outside the venue as the driver had yet to come to drive them back. The driver shivered as he heard the voice and didn't even bother to look back. When he entered the car, he didn't expect to find his boss in such a scene. He had been working with his boss for two years and had never seen Nicholas with a woman. It was a shock for him but he ran as soon as he could to save his life. Nicholas and Roseanne were making out in the car. He was kissing her fervently while she was responding in equal ferocity. It was not just him who could not control his emotions at this time, she was going through something similar at the time. She felt so much heat inside her body that she didn't know what to unleash him out. The animal inside her was trying to come out and eat the man out wholly. She had never felt such a strong feeling before. As a woman she had her needs but she had always been abl
. “Nicholas…” All she could utter was his name at the moment. He was so amazing with his hands and mouth. She wished that his mouth never left her body as he was licking her neck and collarbone with his warm and wet tongue. She found herself lost in a pool of sensations as Nicholas's lips hungrily sucked her bosom. His tongue tracing circles around her sensitive flesh. With each flick of his tongue, a low moan escaped her lips. Her body was arching instinctively towards his touch. Soon his hand slipped beneath the fabric of her skirt. Her breath caught in her throat as she was anticipating his next move. He navigated past the barrier of her panties as his fingers were eagerly exploring the slick warmth of her core. She gasped as his touch ignited a fire within her. She was already on fire. And his touch just added fire to fire. Her body responded eagerly to his every caress and as if he remembered every inch of her body, his movements were calculated to drive her to the brink of
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