Novels by Ahsa

Aurora stared at her phone screen for a few moments before finally closing her laptop.Her first day back at work had been much easier than she had expected.Several reports had been completed.Her meetings with the department heads had also gone smoothly.Yet Darius's message kept stirring her curiosity.She picked up her bag and said goodbye to her secretary."I'm heading home.""Have a good evening, Mrs. Aurora."As soon as she stepped out of the building, a very familiar car was already waiting at the entrance.It wasn't the chauffeur.Darius himself was behind the wheel.Aurora opened the door and got in."You came to pick me up yourself?"Darius nodded."It's your first day back at work. I wanted to be the one to bring you home."Aurora smiled."Thank you."The car slowly pulled away from the Blackwood building.A few minutes passed.Aurora realized they weren't heading home."Where are we going?""You'll find out soon enough."Aurora laughed softly."You really enjoy keeping me

Aurora looked at Darius curiously."A surprise?"A faint smile appeared on Darius's lips."If I tell you now, it won't be a surprise anymore."Aurora laughed softly."At least give me a hint."He shook his head."Wait two more days."Aurora didn't press him.She knew her husband well enough.Whenever Darius wanted to keep something secret to make his family happy, there was no point in asking any further.The next two days passed more quickly than either of them had expected.That morning, the Harrington residence was unusually busy.Aurora wore an ivory business suit that had been tucked away in her closet for a long time.Hazel stood in front of her mother, looking her up and down."Mommy, you look beautiful."Aurora smiled."Thank you."Hazel nodded in satisfaction."You look just like you did in your office pictures."Aurora laughed."You still remember?""I do."Hazel picked up Aurora's work bag and handed it to her."Here."Aurora accepted it."Thank you, Assistant Hazel."Hazel

On the way to the aquarium, Aurora spent most of the drive gazing out the window.Peter's words still echoed in her mind.The leader of Blackwood will be returning very soon.It sounded like a simple sentence.But after everything that had happened, it carried far greater meaning.Darius glanced at her briefly."What are you thinking about?"Aurora smiled."I'm imagining the day I truly return to work."Darius nodded."So am I."Aurora turned to him."Won't you feel like you're losing something?""Why would I?""You've been leading Blackwood for the past several months."A faint smile touched Darius's lips."I was only looking after your home."Aurora didn't answer.His words filled her heart with warmth.When they arrived at the aquarium, Hazel immediately ran ahead, still holding Aurora's hand."Mommy, hurry!"Aurora laughed."Slow down."Darius pushed the double stroller.Aiden and Aria were still fast asleep.Hazel stopped in front of a massive aquarium."A blue fish.""A yellow f

Darius didn't answer immediately.His gaze shifted to Aurora, who was helping Hazel straighten her hat."All right. We'll be there."The call ended.Aurora looked at him."What is it?"Darius slipped his phone into his pocket."Uncle Peter asked us to stop by Blackwood for a while."Aurora frowned."Now?""Yes. He said the board of directors has made a decision."Aurora took a slow breath."Then let's go there first."Hazel immediately raised her hand."What about the fish?"Aurora crouched in front of her daughter."We'll go see the fish after Mommy finishes her business."Hazel thought for a moment."Promise?""Promise.""Then Hazel will be patient."A few minutes later, the car was back on the road.This time, their destination wasn't a place for recreation, but the Blackwood headquarters.When they arrived, Peter was already waiting in the lobby."I'm sorry for interrupting your family's plans."Darius shook his head."It's all right."Peter turned to Aurora."They're all waiting.

Aurora read the next few lines.The letter wasn't long.It contained only a few sentences explaining everything Darius had already told her.About the responsibility he had merely wanted to safeguard.About his promise to return Blackwood to its rightful owner.And about his hope that Aurora would never doubt the sincerity of the man who had become her husband.Aurora drew a slow breath.Without reading to the final page, she carefully folded the letter.Darius watched her."You're not going to finish it?"Aurora shook her head."I already understand."She slipped the letter back into the envelope."I don't need to read the rest."Darius frowned."Why?"Aurora looked at him."Because I've already heard the answer I needed most... directly from you."The atmosphere in the room felt much lighter than it had only minutes before.Aurora stood up.Then she walked toward the window."I'm sorry."Darius rose to his feet as well."I'm sorry too."Aurora turned to him."For what?""I was too c

Darius fell silent for a few moments.He looked at Hazel, who was still busy stacking colorful blocks on the carpet."Daddy, build the tallest tower," Hazel said cheerfully.Darius smiled faintly."In a minute."Then he turned his attention back to the phone call."So... you've received the envelope?""Yes.""Have you read it yet?""Not yet.""Why not?"Aurora looked down at the brown envelope resting on her lap."I want to hear your explanation first."Darius took a slow breath."Then come home.""Is that all?""I want to explain it while looking into your eyes."Aurora didn't answer.A few seconds later, the call ended.Throughout the drive home, Aurora glanced at the envelope over and over again.Darius's handwriting was exactly as she remembered it.Neat.Firm.Never rushed.Several times, she almost broke the seal.But every time her fingers brushed the edge of the envelope, she stopped herself.She wanted to hear everything directly from Darius.Not from a single sheet of paper.

A few weeks after the birth, the house felt different.Not only because a crib now stood in the corner of their bedroom.Not only because the scent of milk and baby powder had become part of the morning air.But because the small cries that once filled the rooms had begun to soften into light laughter.Emily.They chose the name on their third day in the hospital. Simple. Gentle. Strong.It was Ethan who said it first, almost by accident.“Emily,” he murmured while trying to spell out the list of names they had written on a piece of paper.From that moment on, it felt right.—The first days were not always easy.Sleep deprivation. Diapers. Feeding schedules that ignored the clock.But this time, there was no hidden panic beneath the exhaustion.Emma was calmer than she had ever been.Her body healed well. The delivery wounds recovered quickly. The doctor described her condition as “very stable.”James was different too.He no longer obsessed over meeting schedules. No longer answered

The day came sooner than Emma had imagined.Dawn still hung pale in the sky when the ache began—different from ordinary cramps. Deeper. More rhythmic.Emma woke slowly, one hand instinctively cradling her now-full belly. She waited a few seconds.It came again.Stronger this time.“James,” she called softly.He was awake instantly, as if he had never truly slept soundly since she entered her ninth month. “What is it?”Emma drew in a breath. “I think… it’s time.”James froze for two seconds.Then he moved too quickly.“Contractions? How far apart? How bad is the pain? Your water—”Emma almost laughed despite the grimace on her face. “Relax. Let’s time it first.”The timer on the phone started.Seven minutes.Then six.James was already standing beside the bed, his face tense, trying to look rational.Ethan woke at the sound of hurried footsteps in the hallway.“What’s happening?” he asked, eyes half-open.James knelt in front of him. “Your sister wants to come out.”Ethan’s eyes widene

The months that followed were calmer than Emma had imagined.Not without vigilance.Not without routine check-ups and vitamins never missed.But there was no bleeding. No suspicious cramps. No panicked nights that sent them rushing to the hospital.The pregnancy progressed with a healthy rhythm.Each visit to the doctor brought good news.The baby’s weight matched its age.The heartbeat was steady.The development was right on track.Emma began to learn how to breathe without constantly bracing for bad news.She chose to stop working for a while—not because she was forced to, but because this time, she decided to. Her mornings were filled with reading, light walks in the garden, or simply sitting with a warm cup of tea without rushing anywhere.James accompanied her almost every step of the way.He now had a new routine: waking earlier, preparing a simple breakfast, making sure Emma took her vitamins, then reviewing his own schedule to ensure it wasn’t too full.“I don’t want you to f

The two weeks passed more slowly than any Emma had ever lived through.Each morning began with prayers she never spoke aloud.Each night ended with James’s hand resting over her abdomen, as if making sure that small life was still there.The next appointment arrived.And this time, when the room dimmed again and the monitor flickered to life, Emma did not turn her face away.The doctor smiled before saying anything.“There.”Her voice was gentle, but certain.On the screen, the tiny dot was clearer now. More defined.Emma covered her mouth.James went still.Tears slid down Emma’s cheeks, unstoppable. This time, they were not born of fear.James pressed a kiss to the back of her hand.“Thank you,” he whispered—though it wasn’t clear to whom.The pregnancy was healthy.And since that first test showed two lines, Emma had allowed herself to hope a little further.—The change showed in James as well.He became more disciplined. His working hours were reduced. Meetings were moved home. E

The obstetrics clinic was not far from their house, yet the fifteen-minute drive felt like an hour.Emma sat in the passenger seat, her hands clasped together over her abdomen. James drove more slowly than usual. There was no music. No light conversation.Only carefully measured breathing.“Are you dizzy?” James asked, keeping his eyes on the road.“No.”“Nauseous?”“A little. But it’s normal.”James nodded. He wanted to say so many things—words of reassurance, grand promises—but he understood that this time, what Emma needed was not speeches. She needed his calm presence.They arrived.The waiting room was painted in soft cream tones, with cushioned chairs and the faint scent of disinfectant. On the walls, framed photographs of smiling babies hung in white frames.Emma stared at one of them a little too long.James followed her gaze. His hand instinctively reached for hers.“We’re not chasing that photo,” he whispered. “We’re just here to make sure everything’s all right.”Emma nodde

The embrace lasted longer than usual.Not an embrace born of longing.Not one driven by desire.But the embrace of two people who both understood that happiness sometimes arrives hand in hand with the quietest fear.Emma was still holding the pregnancy test when James slowly pulled back, looking at it again as if to make sure the lines would not disappear.“Two lines,” he murmured.Emma nodded.An old memory—one she had tried to bury in the deepest corner of her heart—began to rise slowly to the surface.The smell of the hospital room.The white lights that were too bright.The doctor’s careful voice.And the sentence that had made her world collapse—“There’s no heartbeat.”James saw the change in his wife’s face.“You’re thinking about before,” he said gently.Emma did not deny it. “I failed to protect the baby.”James immediately shook his head. “No.”“I worked too hard back then. I said I was strong. I said I was fine. I kept attending meetings. I stood for hours.” Her voice began

Leonard didn't answer the mysterious man's threat right away.His expression remained calm, though his fingers tightened slightly around his phone. Over the past few months, life had taught him something he had never understood when he was standing at the top.Not every problem had to be met with anger."If that's why you called," Leonard said calmly, "are you finished?"A short laugh came from the other end of the line."You've changed.""Maybe.""I liked the old Leonard better."A faint smile tugged at Leonard's lips."Unfortunately, he's gone."A few seconds later, the call was disconnected.Leonard continued staring at the screen of his phone without making any attempt to call back.The nanny, who was standing a short distance away, noticed the change in his expression."Sir... is everything all right?"Leonard looked up and smiled."It's nothing."He wasn't lying.The threat had unsettled him, but it no longer had the power to make him lose his way.The most important person in h

Leonard stared at his phone for several seconds after the call ended.Daniel had sounded far more anxious than usual. During the past few weeks at the company, Leonard had come to know him as someone calm and rarely prone to panic. If Daniel was calling on a weekend, then the situation had to be serious.Leonard immediately pushed Ash's stroller toward the parking lot.When they arrived at the nanny's house, he quickly explained what had happened."I'm really sorry for having to leave Ash with you again today."The middle-aged woman smiled understandingly."It's all right, sir. I wasn't planning to go anywhere today anyway."Leonard crouched in front of his son."Daddy has to go back to work for a little while."Ash reached out both of his tiny arms.Leonard picked him up, kissed him several times, then gently handed him to the nanny."Take good care of Daddy from here, okay?"Ash giggled and waved his tiny hand, not truly understanding where his father was going.Leonard smiled befor

Leonard read the text message several more times.The words were simple, yet they felt far too personal to have come from someone who didn't know him. He tried calling the number, but the call went straight to voicemail.No name.No identity.Just a congratulatory message accompanied by a reminder not to repeat the same mistakes.In the end, Leonard slipped his phone back into his pocket. Whatever the sender's intentions were, he didn't want to spend the evening chasing answers he might never find.Ash rubbed his eyes sleepily."Getting sleepy?"The baby let out a soft little sound as he rested his head on his father's shoulder.Leonard carried him upstairs, changed him into his pajamas, and tucked him into bed, just as he did every night. Only a few months ago, those simple tasks had felt completely foreign. Now, they had become the moments he looked forward to most each day.After Ash fell asleep, Leonard remained seated beside the crib for a while."Daddy's going to do his best to

The following morning, Leonard once again stood in front of the investment firm's office building where he had interviewed the day before.This time, his steps were much calmer.Whatever decision awaited him, Leonard had already promised himself that he would accept it with grace.Before leaving home, he had dropped Ash off at the nanny's house. As Leonard was about to leave, the baby reached out and grabbed the sleeve of his shirt, making Leonard smile as he bent down to kiss his son's forehead."Wait for Daddy to come home. Hopefully, I'll have good news."Ash babbled softly, as though answering him.Those simple words echoed in Leonard's mind throughout the journey.When he arrived in the lobby, the receptionist who had greeted him the previous day immediately stood up."Good morning, Mr. Ashcroft.""Good morning.""The chairman is waiting for you on the top floor."Leonard looked slightly surprised."I was told yesterday that I'd be meeting the owner of the company.""That's corre

Several days passed after Leonard received the interview invitation. The day that had once seemed so far away had finally arrived.That morning, the little house was already bustling before the sun had fully risen. Leonard woke up early to prepare everything Ash would need. After giving his son a bath, he dressed the baby in a light blue outfit he had bought just a few days earlier. It wasn't a designer brand like the clothes that had once filled the closets of the Ashcroft mansion. It was a simple outfit he had purchased only after comparing prices at several different stores.Ash babbled happily as he played with the buttons on his father's shirt.Leonard smiled."Daddy has an interview today. So both of us need to do our best."The nanny arrived right on time. She took Ash into her arms with a warm smile."You don't have to worry, sir. I'll take good care of Baby Ash."Leonard nodded."If anything happens, call me immediately.""Of course."Before leaving, Leonard kissed his son's

The first morning after the wedding was far more peaceful than Adele had imagined.There were no meetings on the schedule, no reporters waiting outside the house, and no phone calls about the past. The new home Sebastian had chosen truly offered a different atmosphere. The backyard, covered in lush green grass, still glistened with morning dew, while sunlight streamed through the large windows of the living room, filling the entire house with warmth.Adele stood in the kitchen preparing a simple breakfast.Over the past few days, many people had offered to help. Even Sebastian's company's private chef had volunteered to come every morning. But Sebastian had politely declined every offer. He wanted this place to be a real home, not simply a house filled with servants.A moment later, the sound of little footsteps came racing down from upstairs."Mommy!"Elena ran toward her, hugging her favorite teddy bear. Her hair was still adorably messy from just waking up.Adele immediately crouch