***The rain poured relentlessly, drenching the entire city of New York without mercy. The night was eerily quiet; even the usual roar of vehicles on the highway was absent. Only the patter of raindrops on the asphalt and the rumble of thunder breaking the pitch-black sky could be heard. In the midst of the downpour, Anastasia stood beneath a deserted city bus stop. She clutched her suitcase tightly, her clothes and body slowly soaking as there wasn't enough shelter to keep her dry.She stared at her dead cell phone, feeling utterly hopeless. "Damn," she muttered softly, looking at the dark screen. Anastasia had planned to call Lyra, her best friend and manager, but she knew that Lyra already carried a heavy burden as the breadwinner of her family. She didn't want to add to Lyra's problems."I shouldn't bother her," she whispered to herself. With a deep sigh, she sat down on the bench at the bus stop, hoping that the rain would stop soon. Anastasia's mind drifted to Maximilian. Her h
***That night, Anastasia and Maximilian arrived at a luxurious penthouse where opulence shone in every corner. The view from the balcony overlooking the city seemed untouched by the bustling world below. Anastasia's heart raced as they were escorted by Bryan Evans, a man known for his cold demeanor. Anastasia had often heard rumors about Bryan, the Kingsley family's trusted right-hand man, someone notoriously difficult to approach.Bryan gave them both a polite nod, maintaining his formal posture. "Welcome. Please make yourselves at home," he said in a flat tone before leaving them in the main living area of the penthouse.Anastasia gave Bryan a brief, respectful nod in return, though curiosity bubbled inside her. Once Bryan was gone, she grabbed Maximilian's hand and pulled him slightly away from where Bryan had been standing."Max, how do you know Bryan Evans? And why did he bring us here?" Anastasia whispered, her voice tinged with concern. "Why would he agree to bring us here? I'
***Elora walked confidently to the main stage. The roar of the crowd gathered in the large stadium only fueled her excitement. Tonight was her night - her big chance to perform alongside top international singers. This stage was the stepping stone she had dreamed of for years. Finally, she could compete with Anastasia, who had always been the lead singer. Leon walked beside her, his eyes full of pride as he watched his friend about to shine."Elora, you're going to dazzle everyone tonight," Leon said, holding her hand.Elora beamed. "I know, love. Tonight is mine. All eyes will be on me. They'll finally see that I'm better than Anastasia."But as they approached the entrance to the backstage area, a member of the event staff suddenly stopped them. The man in the black shirt looked tense and uncomfortable."Excuse me, Miss Elora," the staffer said hesitantly, "you can't go in."Elora froze, her face turning to confusion. "What do you mean?" she asked sharply, disbelief in her tone.Th
***Steven sat on the edge of the bed and checked Anastasia's body temperature, which was slowly dropping, but still at a worrying level. Sighing, he scribbled a prescription in his notebook."Her temperature is still not normal. This is a stronger antipyretic," he said and handed the prescription to Maximilian.Maximilian accepted it without a word, his eyes fixed on Anastasia, who lay weakly on the bed. Her face was still pale, though her breathing had begun to stabilize.Steven let out a long sigh and settled into a chair across from Maximilian, loosening the collar of his rumpled shirt. He looked at his friend with a mixture of mild annoyance and curiosity."You made me rush over here in shorts! My reputation will be ruined if any of my colleagues or patients see me like this," Steven complained, gesturing at himself. "I had to run like crazy just to answer your distress call."Maximilian let out a quiet snort. "I don't care about your shorts, Steven. The only thing that matters i
***"Is the food bad?" asked Maximilian.Anastasia shook her head, "It's very good. It's probably the most delicious food I've ever had," she replied with a faint smile."Why is that?" asked Maximilian curiously."Because I've forgotten what it's like to have someone cook for me with sincerity. In the past, it was always frowned upon because I was a star, it was served only to curry favor with me. Now there's you, you even asked me in detail what foods I avoid. No one has ever asked me so many questions, least of all my mother," Anastasia retorted, her voice choking."Eat, I promise I'll make the food you like as long as you eat it," Maximilian said."I should cook for you, a woman should be able to cook, right? If I want to try cooking, would you like to taste it?""Of course, with pleasure. I can't wait to see how a star cooks for a simple man like me," Maximilian said.Anastasia finally smiled, "You are a wonderful man, Max. I'm not a star anymore either, they say I'm a fading star
***Inside the Athena Records meeting room, the tense yet professional atmosphere is palpable. Anastasia sits across from Christian Idzes, one of the most influential music producers in the industry. The room is decorated with awards on the walls, showing how successful Athena Records has been in producing big stars. But Anastasia's situation was far from ideal. The public was still skeptical of her after the various scandals that had rocked her career.Christian looked at Anastasia with a serious look, his hands folded on the table. "I've heard some demos of your new song," he said, his voice calm but sharp. "There's potential there, but I have to be honest, Ana. These songs aren't strong enough to change the public's perception of you yet."Anastasia swallowed, trying to stay calm even though the criticism felt heavy. She knew that this was not an easy time for her. "I understand, Christian," she replied quietly. "But I promise I'll make it up to you. I don't want to disappoint you
***Anastasia opened the door to her new home and invited Lyra inside. The minimalist yet elegant living room, with a stunning view of the city from the large windows, immediately caught Lyra's eye."Wow, Ana! This place isn't as big as the old apartment, but it's so cozy!" Lyra exclaimed as she turned around to admire the apartment's decor. "Who picked this place for you? It's in a great location. It's very close to Athena Records."Anastasia smiled slightly and closed the door behind them. "It wasn't my choice. The apartment was rented by Max," she replied, taking off her coat and hanging it by the door. There was a reluctant tone in her voice, as if she didn't want to say too much.Lyra looked at Anastasia with a questioning look. "Max? You mean your mysterious husband? The man I've never seen before? He seems to be more than just an ordinary husband, doesn't he? I wonder why this man always brings you unexpected happiness."Anastasia took a long breath. She knew that this conversa
***Selene sat in the living room of the Kingsley family mansion with a smile on her face. Her heart warmed as she imagined the mansion once again filled with the sound of children's laughter running down the long hallways, bringing her long-awaited happiness. She imagined her grandchildren playing in the spacious backyard, running around in the garden she lovingly tended. Everything felt so close, like it was only a matter of time.Selene raised her cup of tea and looked at her husband, who sat across the room reading the newspaper. "I can't wait to meet our future son-in-law, Shayne," she said in an excited tone. "Our son is finally a normal man. He's finally found his sweetheart! When is Maximilian going to introduce her to us? I'd love to take her shopping and sightseeing."Shayne put down the newspaper and looked at his wife with a small smile on his lips. His face, always tense and full of responsibility, looked more relaxed this time. "I'm relieved too, honey. I can tell by the
***Maximilian awoke slowly, his eyes still heavy and his body feeling weak. However, he immediately felt the presence of someone beside him. His vision blurred for a moment before finally focusing on the figure of Anastasia sitting beside the bed. The woman was asleep in a sitting position, her head resting on her crossed arms at the edge of the bed. Throughout the night, Anastasia had remained by his side, relentlessly guarding him.Maximilian sighed slowly, feeling a warmth in his chest. He knew very well how busy Anastasia had been lately, preparing for her new album that was about to be released. But in the midst of all that busyness, this woman still chose to be here, beside him, taking care of him.Maximilian's gaze softened as he looked at Anastasia. She looked tired, but even in sleep, Anastasia's face exuded a deep serenity. Maximilian reached out and gently touched Anastasia's hair, trying not to wake her. The touch was light, like an expression of deep gratitude.Maximilia
***The evening was more special than usual. The laughter and excitement of the Athena Records staff filled the room as they celebrated the success of Anastasia's latest album, which would be released in two days. Music played softly in the background while warm lighting added to the festive atmosphere. However, in the midst of the fun, a sudden feeling of unease came over Anastasia.She sat in a corner of the room, holding a sparkling glass of red wine and staring out the window. The spring night in New York was filled with stars, but her mind was distracted. She was worried because Maximilian hadn't returned her messages and she hadn't heard from him until this evening.Anastasia tried to distract herself by chatting with some of the staff, but somehow the excitement felt hollow. Suddenly, the glass she was holding slipped from her hand and fell to the floor. The sound of the broken glass echoed through the room, attracting the attention of many people."Ouch!" she cried, seeing tha
***Maximilian stood in front of his sister's grave, the spring breeze blowing gently, carrying the scent of flowers blooming from the trees around him. His eyes were fixed on the gravestone with a name that was always painful to remember. Ten years had passed, but the wound was still fresh in his memory."Max..." A soft voice behind him made Maximilian jump. He turned to find Renata still standing there, her face filled with fear.He let out a long breath, holding back the emotions that were churning inside him. "Renata, why are you still here? You'd better leave. I don't have much time. I have a lot of work to do."Renata didn't move, tears began to run down her cheeks. She knelt down in front of Maximilian, ignoring the cold floor and the piercing wind. "I'm sorry, Max," her voice trembled with regret. "These ten years I have been tormented because you hated me. I can't live like this anymore... Please, forgive me."Maximilian was stunned. He looked at Renata crying in front of him
***Anastasia walked slowly to a fancy restaurant in downtown New York. When she arrived, she saw a familiar face, Selene, waiting for her at one of the tables near a large window with a breathtaking view. Selene smiled warmly when she saw Anastasia approaching."Anastasia! You're here at last," Selene greeted, rising from her chair and hugging Anastasia."I'm not too late, am I?" asked Anastasia as she returned the hug."Ah, not at all. Mama just came early. Sit down, dear."Anastasia sat across from Selene and looked at the menu on the table. The waiter came quickly and they ordered lunch."Mama looks wonderful today," Anastasia complimented with a smile.Selene chuckled softly. "Oh, you always know how to flatter Mama. So how are you, Anastasia? I hear your new album is almost finished? I can't wait for it to come out."Anastasia smiled a little. "Yes, just a little bit longer. I can't wait either. Everything is going well, although there are some hurdles I have to go through. You
***Maximilian sat in his study, surrounded by piles of files that needed to be completed. He had just returned from a long trip to New York, but his work was already waiting for him. Bryan, his assistant, stood in front of him with a tablet in his hand, ready to report on everything that had come up in his absence."Mr. Maximilian, here's a full report on projects in progress and some meetings that need to be rescheduled," Bryan said in a professional tone. He handed the tablet to Maximilian, who took it without taking his eyes off the laptop screen.Maximilian studied some of the data and presentations he had to review. His eyes carefully scanned the numbers, graphs and financial reports. "Good, reschedule these meetings in the near future, especially with the Tokyo investors. We can't delay too long," he says, handing the tablet back to Bryan."Of course, sir." Bryan quickly made notes. There was one report, however, that made Bryan hesitate for a moment before going into it. "Ther
***This night was very special for Anastasia. After spending a wonderful day with Maximilian in Finland, she had no idea that another surprise was waiting for her. Anastasia's eyes were covered with soft black silk as they arrived at the place Maximilian had promised. Her curiosity and pounding heart made her impatient to open her eyes and see what her husband had prepared."Are you ready?" Maximilian's voice rang softly in her ear. He clasped her hand warmly."Max, what exactly are you preparing? I'm getting curious," Anastasia smiled faintly behind her blindfold, unable to hide her growing curiosity.Maximilian chuckled and slowly removed Anastasia's blindfold. When her eyes opened, Anastasia was stunned, unable to believe what she saw. In front of her was a very romantic scene - a luxurious restaurant in a private setting, with candles beautifully arranged on a dining table decorated with red rose petals. Small sparkling lights added to the warm and intimate atmosphere. Soft music
***The Finnish sky was a brilliant blue, and a cool spring breeze caressed Anastasia's face as she walked hand in hand with Maximilian through a garden filled with wildflowers. The trees were turning green and the smell of spring was refreshing. They both smiled, feeling as if the world belonged to them."This place is beautiful," Anastasia said as she looked at Maximilian. "I never thought I'd see Finland so beautiful, and it's my first time in the country, and with you."Maximilian looked at her tenderly. "Well, then I'll keep bringing you here because I know how much you love the serene scenery of nature," he replied, rubbing the back of his hand that still held Anastasia's. "And also... I want us to enjoy our time together without anyone interfering."Anastasia smiled, her smile so genuine and charming. "I really feel free here. Thank you for coming, Max."They walked slowly, savoring every second together. In the distance, the sound of the flowing river added to the peaceful atm
***Renata was still in the doctor's office, today the last patient was finished and she was getting ready to go home. The familiar sound of footsteps came from outside the room. The door opened slowly and Robert, her father, appeared in the doorway. Renata's smile immediately widened, although there was a slight hesitation in her heart."Dad, why did you come here?" Renata greeted him with a surprised tone, although she couldn't help but be curious. Usually Robert rarely visited her at work.Robert smiled slightly before answering, "I just wanted to see you, Renata. There's something I wanted to talk to you about. I spoke with Maximilian earlier."Hearing that name, Renata fell silent. Her smile slowly faded, her eyes narrowed slightly. "What did you talk to him about?" asked Renata in a slightly tense tone. She knew that whenever Maximilian's name was mentioned, her feelings were always chaotic.Robert took a deep breath, seemed to hesitate for a moment before finally answering, "It
***Maximilian sat behind his desk and looked at the files piled in front of him. His thoughts and feelings were in turmoil due to the problem that someone had attacked him that night and that person could be dangerous if he knew that he and Anastasia were married. He let out a long sigh and tried to concentrate on his work. However, a gentle knock on the door of his room stopped him in his tracks. He looked up and was surprised to see Robert standing in the doorway."Uncle Robert?" Maximilian frowned, it was rare for his uncle to enter his room unannounced. "Can I help you?" He invited his uncle to take a seat.Robert smiled as he entered. "No need to be so formal, Max," he said as he sat down on the sofa. "I just want to talk to you casually."Maximilian felt a wave of anxiety that he couldn't ignore. He knew that if Robert had come without business, the conversation would have been more personal."So," Robert began after a moment of silence, "I hear you have a girlfriend?"Maximili