Kirael shifted in her seat, adjusting the snug airline seatbelt as the hum of the plane’s engines filled the cabin. The faint scent of reheated airline meals wafted through the air, mingling with the occasional coos from the baby carriers beside them. She glanced at Solo, whose face was turned toward the window, her profile a mask of tension as clouds rolled by them. The dim cabin lights highlighted the shadows under Solo’s eyes, a sign of the burdens she carried.Kirael placed her hand tentatively on Solo’s knee, her touch warm and grounding against the denim. “I heard what your dad said,” she began softly, her voice tinged with concern and curiosity.Solo didn’t respond immediately. Her jaw clenched, the lines of her profile etched with defiance.Kirael’s lips pressed into a tight line, determination flickering in her eyes. She gently patted Solo’s thigh and let her fingers trail upward to touch Solo’s cheek. The gesture was careful, almost maternal, as she turned Solo’s face toward
Crumpled paper clenched in a tight fist on Dominic’s lap, his knuckles white from the tension. The number 99.9% remained visible at the bottom of the page.Shoulders slumped and hunched over, his head lowered, Dominic sat motionless in his office chair as he processed the implication of this result. He had no idea what to do next. The paternity test in his hand confirmed Daryl was his child.Yet he still had no idea how that happened. As far as he knew, he had never met the woman—this Aralise, the so-called mother of his daughter—and wished it had remained that way. He couldn’t stand the sight of her, and her voice grated his nerves.However, the little girl was cute, and he adored her already, from the top of her sweet little head to her tiny toes. How could someone so innocent and pure be tied to such an unpalatable woman and situation?Because fate has a sick sense of humor, he thought bitterly.She was his child, and he would take responsibility for her, dammit. And, as she was so
"Solo, what we have between us stops today. She's back."Dominic sat across from Solo, his face stoic. Like a mask still and unmoving, his eyes were cold and distant. The silence between them—thick. All Solo could hear was the ticking of the wall clock, as he spoke, his voice devoid of any warmth.His words cut through the silence in the room like a knife through butter, sharp, deliberate. Solo's breath hitched, but she didn't let it show.She'd been preparing for this moment. Still, the blow landed harder than she expected. Sapphire. The girl who Dominic loved had left him three years ago, cheating on him and abandoning the relationship they had built.Now, she was back.Despite the storm raging within, Solo swallowed, and her expression remained neutral. Dominic, the man who had been everything to her for the past three years, sat across from her like a stranger."Okay," Solo said, her voice quiet but steady. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her break. Not here. Not
Heart racing with beads of sweat dripping from her forehead, Solo stood outside Dominic’s apartment. The borrowed keys he had given her weighed heavy in her hand. This was how it always was. For the past three years, she had to borrow the spare keys to enter the apartment without him.The thought sent bile chasing toward her lips. She swallowed the bitter taste as she remembered the kind of life she was letting go of. Dominic had never been physically abusive, but his words were cutting at times.Three days ago, he ended their relationship. She sighed, steadying her breathing—she unlocked the door and stepped inside. The morning sun fought through the clouds, casting a pale light over the city, a sight to behold.She paused, gazing at the effect through the large windows at the view she would never witness again.She had spent three years in this apartment, but now it felt foreign, devoid of shape and familiarity. Her time here was over, and this place wasn’t her home anymore, not that
Solo sat in the sterile office, her hands resting at her side. The hum of the ultrasound machine filled the room, the rhythmic beeping of her heartbeat blending with the two tiny lives growing inside her.She stared at the screen, watching the outlines of her twins swimming around like two little coffee beans—a bittersweet smile playing at the corners of her mouth.“You’re carrying two healthy babies.” The doctor's voice was kind but clinical. “Everything looks good.”Solo nodded, her mind wandering. Healthy babies. That was all that mattered. She’d decided not to tell Dominic weeks ago when she first discovered her pregnancy and had wondered how she could break their deal.Dominic must never know about her children. He had made it clear that Sapphire was all he needed. There was no place for Solo or the children in his life, not to mention his cold and distant family. In her opinion, the Hale family was not fit to raise a pet, let alone a child.Their outlook on life was pretty despi
Solo sat across from Charles Bellamy, her mentor, the man who had helped launch her career in the jewelry design business years ago. They were engulfed in the buzz of the upscale café, filled with the soft clinks of glasses, cups, dishes, and murmured conversations. Solo’s mind, however, was focused on the opportunity Charles presented.“The event is two weeks away,” he said, tapping the side of his coffee cup. “You’ll be presenting under your new name—Solaire—I expect it to make quite the impact.”She nodded, trying to suppress the wave of anxiety that washed over her. It had been so long since she had immersed herself in the jewelry world. Now, she was returning with a new identity, more at stake than before. Her career had to take off—not just for herself, but for her children’s future.She closed her eyes, steadying her nerves, then snapped and opened them. “I’m ready,” she said, though the words felt heavier than anticipated.Charles smiled, his eyes filled with pride. “Good. I h
Solo sat at her workbench, surrounded by the soft melodies from her radio as she worked in her small studio. Her studio was a hall closet under the stairs of the old converted two-story house she was staying in. The stairs led to the upstairs apartment. The sketches and unfinished jewelry pieces Solo had scattered before her were more than designs—they were symbols of the future she was crafting. Charles, her mentor, told her the upcoming event was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to re-establish herself in the jewelry world under her new identity, ‘Solaire.’ She ran her fingers over a bracelet she was working on. Her mind focused on the intricate details, and she became excited and anxious about the event as the time drew near. It wasn’t just about her career—it was about proving to herself she could build a life without relying on Dominic or the world she had left behind. Toward the end of their relationship, she had noticed that she had become too comfortable with having things
Solo sat at her workbench, the rhythmic sound of the radio in the background and her tools echoing in the small workspace. The afternoon's soft light streamed through the window, illuminating the delicate jewelry pieces scattered on the dining table behind her.She had been working nonstop on her designs for the upcoming event. Each piece reflected her determination to reclaim her life and career under her new identity, Solaire.Solaire’s creations differed from Solo’s original style. Early designs whispered elegance and were understated yet powerful in their simplicity, capturing the essence of balance and restraint.Her creations have taken on a new energy—bold, daring, and full of life. It's as if each piece tells a story of rediscovery. The past's refined lines have given way to striking contrasts and vibrant textures.Though Solaire’s designs were more daring, they still carried the quiet strength of her beginnings but now reflected a sense of freedom, like an artist unafraid to
Crumpled paper clenched in a tight fist on Dominic’s lap, his knuckles white from the tension. The number 99.9% remained visible at the bottom of the page.Shoulders slumped and hunched over, his head lowered, Dominic sat motionless in his office chair as he processed the implication of this result. He had no idea what to do next. The paternity test in his hand confirmed Daryl was his child.Yet he still had no idea how that happened. As far as he knew, he had never met the woman—this Aralise, the so-called mother of his daughter—and wished it had remained that way. He couldn’t stand the sight of her, and her voice grated his nerves.However, the little girl was cute, and he adored her already, from the top of her sweet little head to her tiny toes. How could someone so innocent and pure be tied to such an unpalatable woman and situation?Because fate has a sick sense of humor, he thought bitterly.She was his child, and he would take responsibility for her, dammit. And, as she was so
Kirael shifted in her seat, adjusting the snug airline seatbelt as the hum of the plane’s engines filled the cabin. The faint scent of reheated airline meals wafted through the air, mingling with the occasional coos from the baby carriers beside them. She glanced at Solo, whose face was turned toward the window, her profile a mask of tension as clouds rolled by them. The dim cabin lights highlighted the shadows under Solo’s eyes, a sign of the burdens she carried.Kirael placed her hand tentatively on Solo’s knee, her touch warm and grounding against the denim. “I heard what your dad said,” she began softly, her voice tinged with concern and curiosity.Solo didn’t respond immediately. Her jaw clenched, the lines of her profile etched with defiance.Kirael’s lips pressed into a tight line, determination flickering in her eyes. She gently patted Solo’s thigh and let her fingers trail upward to touch Solo’s cheek. The gesture was careful, almost maternal, as she turned Solo’s face toward
Chapter 82The hum of the jet engines filled the cabin, a steady rhythm against the soft leather seats and polished wooden accents. Solo sat by the window, gazing at the endless clouds.The sharp scent of fresh espresso mingled with the faint tang of aviation fuel, grounding her in the surreal reality of returning to the States after months of hiding in Florence.Her father settled into the seat across from her, a glass of scotch in his hand. He studied her, a smile tugging at his lips.“I meant to say this earlier…seeing you again after all these years, I almost didn’t recognize you,” he said, breaking the silence. “You’ve grown into quite the woman, Solo.”Solo turned to face him, a faint smile gracing her lips. “Don’t exaggerate, Dad. It’s only been a few years—you’ve seen me plenty of times. We’ve had hundreds of video calls over the years I spent with Dominic. It’s only been this year that we couldn’t do that.”Ralph chuckled, his gaze softening. “Even if it is a little under a
A bump in the road jolted Vivian out of her reverie and back to the present. She gazed at the other passengers—her son, granddaughter, and great-grandchildren. She’d missed so much of their lives already. Sadness and regret seeped into her. How much more of their lives will she have to miss before this madness is over?Why did the greed and ambitions of contemptible people have to affect everyone else's life? To protect their son, she and Clara had to remove themselves at different stages of his life. She allowed her mind to return to the day before when Clara visited her.She had stood by the large bay window of her drawing room, the silk curtains brushing against her arm as a cool breeze filtered in. She held a cup of chamomile tea, the porcelain warm against her palm as Clara's previous words had sent her mind elsewhere.The soft hum of Clara’s voice drew her back to the present. Clara sat in an armchair nearby, her back straight, her sharp eyes scanning a file of papers spread acr
As the car sped toward the private airport, Vivian’s mind wandered to when everything began. She and Clara Washington, now known as old Madam Hale. They grew up together and were the best of friends. Having lived next door to each other, they went to the same schools and college and worked for the same intelligence team.When Clara married Albert Hale, the two women couldn’t have predicted the outcome of such a union, but their lives were never the same again. Only the firstborn, Hale children, are told the secret to the family fortune—where it exists and how to access it should the need arise.It was rumored to be a never-ending supply of wealth.Most people believe it to be folklore as the story has been handed down throughout the centuries, and only a handful of family members know the truth, mainly the second branch of the Hale family, Albert’s twin brother Gilbert.No one knew the level of Gilbert’s greed until he attempted to kill Albert and Clara’s soon-to-be-born and only chil
Solo shook off the bitter thoughts and focused on packing. She grabbed a large suitcase from her closet and began packing clothes, toiletries, and other essentials. As she packed, she could hear muffled voices from the living room—her father's rumble and an unfamiliar female's refined tone—her grandmother, no doubt.Kirael appeared in the doorway, arms full of baby supplies."I've grabbed some more of the boys' things," she said. "How are you doing?""Almost done," Solo said, zipping up her suitcase. "I just need to grab the diaper bag."Kirael nodded. "Good. Your grandmother's here. She seems...intense."Solo snorted. "I bet. I've never met the woman, and now we're fleeing the country together.""Life's funny that way," Kirael said with a wry smile. "Come on, finish up, and let's go meet her."They made their way to the living room, where Ralph stood next to an elegant older woman. Her silver hair was styled in an intricate updo, and she was dressed in an expensive-looking pantsuit.
“Dad!” Solo’s voice raised an octave at the sight of her father. “What are you doing here?” she asked, grinning and pulling him through the door for a hug, not waiting for him to answer. He held her as tightly as she held him.Then, stepping back a little, Ralph Delaney gripped her shoulders and pushed her away so he could examine her. His gaze flew up and down over her body as he spun her around.“I’m here because I miss my baby girl, and I wanted to see my grandchildren. Are you okay? Is your body all right? I know the twins came early. How are they doing?” After he had spoken, his eyes darted around the room as if searching for something.”“What are you looking for?”“My grandkids, where are they?”"They are in the living room. This way, I'll introduce you to them." Solo said, pulling her father by the sleeve toward the open doorway.”"Your grandmother should be here in an hour." He said as he let her drag him into the room—hearing this, Solo raised a brow but said nothing."Hi, Ki
Solo leaned back on the couch, what felt like a rare moment of peace settling over her as she cradled a warm mug of tea in her hands. Across from her, Kirael stretched out lazily, her bare feet resting on the edge of the coffee table.The bassinets holding the babies were arranged nearby. The gentle rise and fall of their tiny chests reassured the two women. The living room was bathed in soft, golden light from the setting sun. The faint chirping of birds outside added to the serene ambiance.There was no Aralise to disrupt the harmony. Her absence left the house quieter but also... emptier. Solo hated to admit it, but part of her missed the constant background noise of Aralise’s antics. Most of all, she missed Daryl. The house felt soulless without her.She glanced at Kirael, noting the slight furrow in her friend’s brow as she stared at the ceiling.“Penny, for your thoughts,” Solo said, her voice light but curious.Kirael turned her head, smirking. “Not sure they’re worth that much
Aralise continued to press the call button for Dominic’s number over and over, listening to the automated message repeat that he was unavailable as she sat on the edge of her couch, her leg jerking.She hissed and threw the device onto the seat next to her. Her mother, Cassandra, sat opposite her. She raised her brow at Aralise's action, but her expression was calm, and her eyes were calculating.“It’s been three days,” Aralise said, her voice tight as she sighed with frustration. “Why hasn’t he called?” Initially, she thought her mother’s plan was foolish, but she went along with it anyway, seeking her approval—always seeking her mother's praise since childhood.Cassandra sipped her tea, her movements measured. “He’s thinking. Men like Dominic don’t act impulsively. He’s weighing his options.”“Well, he’s taking too long,” Aralise said, her voice clipped. Had her mother been straight with her, she would have put in more effort from the get-go. “What if he decides to ignore us altoget