Novels by Ahsa

Because I like Uncle Dante.That simple sentence left Dante speechless.Not because he didn't know how to answer.But because, for several seconds, he genuinely couldn't.Hazel was still sitting on the living room floor.Her small hands were stained with colorful paint.And that innocent smile remained on her face.There was no burden.No past.No mistakes.Only the sincerity of a child.Dante lowered his gaze for a moment.Then let out a soft laugh."I guess I'm pretty lucky."Hazel immediately nodded."Yes."Aurora watched him.And for a moment, she felt that something was different.Dante seemed calmer.More at peace.As though he hadn't come today to ask for anything.Not to fight for something.Not to change anything.Just to see.Just to make sure.Dante walked over and crouched in front of Hazel."I like Hazel too."The little girl's face instantly brightened."Really?""Really."Hazel looked completely satisfied with that answer.Then she returned to her paints and drawing pap

Aurora was still holding the drawing Hazel's teacher had given her as their car pulled into the driveway.Her mind hadn't fully settled.Because that simple drawing had proven one thing.Dante had already become part of Hazel's world.Even if only through gifts.Even if only through a name.Even if they had never met.As soon as the car stopped, Aurora watched Hazel jump out first.The little girl had learned to ride a bicycle without training wheels only a few weeks ago. Since then, the front yard had become her personal racetrack."I want to ride my bike first!"Aurora laughed softly."Only in the front yard.""Okay!"Hazel immediately climbed onto her pink bicycle.Aurora had just stepped out of the car when another vehicle pulled up not far from the main gate.She frowned.She didn't recognize it.The car door opened.A moment later, a man stepped out carrying a gift box.Aurora froze instantly.Dante.At the same moment, Darius, who had just gotten out of the car as well, spotted

Hazel's question hung in the air."...why has he never come to see me?"Aurora and Darius exchanged a glance.They had always known this conversation would happen.They just never knew when.And it turned out there was no way to truly prepare for it.Hazel was still waiting.Her small eyes moved from her mother to Darius.Because in a child's world, every question was supposed to have an answer.Aurora sat back down on the edge of the bed.Then gently brushed her daughter's hair."Sometimes adults make mistakes."Hazel blinked."Mistakes like spilling milk?"Aurora almost smiled."A little bigger than that."Hazel seemed to think about it."So Dante made a mistake?"Aurora nodded softly.Darius sat down on the other side of the bed."But making a mistake doesn't always make someone a bad person."Hazel looked at him."Like when I drew on the wall?"Darius immediately pointed at her."That's a very good example.""I said sorry.""You did.""And I helped clean it.""You did."Hazel look

Hazel's question seemed to make time slow down.Aurora looked at her daughter for several seconds.Meanwhile, Darius stood beside her, still holding the small card attached to the new bicycle."Why does that person always send me presents?"Hazel repeated her question.There was no suspicion in her voice.No fear.Just curiosity.The simple curiosity of a child who had finally begun noticing something she had always taken for granted.Aurora crouched down until she was eye level with her daughter."Hazel."The little girl immediately looked at her."Yes, Mama?"Aurora let out a quiet breath.Then glanced briefly at Darius.He gave a small nod.A reminder of the promise they had made long ago.No lies.No made-up stories.Only honesty, given when Hazel was old enough to understand it."That person sends you gifts because he cares about you."Hazel blinked."Like Daddy?"Aurora smiled faintly."Yes."Hazel seemed to think very hard about that.Then her eyes shifted toward Darius."Then

Time moved much faster than they had realized.The Harrington mansion, which had once felt far too large, was now almost never truly quiet.Not because of work.Not because of meetings.But because of one little girl whose energy seemed completely endless.Hazel was now almost five years old.And according to Aurora, she had become far too clever for her age.According to Darius, that was entirely Aurora's fault.According to Aurora, that was slander.And that small argument had been going on for months.That morning began, as usual, with a bit of chaos."Hazel.""Three more minutes."Aurora raised an eyebrow."You haven't even put your shoes on yet.""I'm thinking."Darius, who had just stepped out of the dining room, immediately nodded in agreement."That's a very reasonable excuse."Aurora turned toward him."Darius.""What?""You're not helping."He walked over and lifted Hazel off the sofa."I am helping."Hazel burst into laughter as he picked her up."Daddy!""Because if Mama k

Darius watched his wife for a few seconds.“You're planning to hide Hazel’s biological father from her until she’s grown up?”Aurora immediately shook her head.“Of course not.”The answer came so quickly that Darius almost smiled.Aurora leaned back against the sofa.“Hazel has the right to know who she is.”Her gaze drifted to their daughter, who was still busy dragging the giant teddy bear across the living room.“She deserves to know who her biological father is.”Darius nodded slowly.Because that was exactly the answer he had hoped to hear.“I’m just afraid.” Aurora let out a long breath. “Dante has changed too much.”Darius listened quietly.“He used to want to take Hazel away.”“Yes.”“He used to blame me.”“Yes.”“He used to refuse to accept reality.”Aurora fell silent for a moment.“And now, suddenly, everything has changed.”She looked back at Darius.“I’m afraid that one day he’ll change again.”For the first time that evening, Aurora voiced her real fear.It wasn’t about

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

"...Arabella?"Leonard's voice was nearly drowned out by the sound of the waves.But it was enough to freeze everyone in place.Adele stood several steps away from him.Meanwhile, Elena was still crying in Sebastian's arms.No one moved.No one spoke.Because that one name had finally been spoken.The name that had been buried for years.The name that had been hidden for years.The name that was supposed to be dead.Leonard stared at Adele without blinking.He no longer even seemed aware that Elena had been in his arms only moments earlier.His entire mind was focused on one thing.Arabella.And the longer he looked at Adele's face—The more certain he became.Those eyes.That voice.The way she looked at him.Everything."Adele..." Leonard's breathing grew heavy. "You..."But before he could finish—Adele laughed.Not a happy laugh.Not a relieved laugh.But a laugh filled with years of pain."Finally."Her gaze never left Leonard."You finally figured it out."The words struck him h

Vanessa froze instantly."Leonard is looking for Arabella?"Her lawyer nodded."And that's not all."He opened several documents."He's investigating Adele as well."A wave of unease immediately settled in Vanessa's chest.Because she knew.Sooner or later, this day was always going to come.Leonard had been slow to realize many things.But he wasn't stupid.And once he started suspecting something, he would never stop until he found the answer."Does he know already?""Not yet."Vanessa let out a quiet breath.Yet somehow, the feeling of uneasiness remained.Because this time, the situation was different.Leonard had lost everything.And people who had lost everything were often far more dangerous.Three days later.A small seaside town.The sky was clear.A warm breeze drifted through the air.Elena ran across the sand, laughing.Teddy was tucked securely in her arms.Meanwhile, Sebastian walked several steps behind her."Careful. Don't fall.""I'm not going to fall!"Elena's immedi

Leonard's question still hung in Sebastian's office.But Sebastian didn't answer immediately.Instead, he walked back to his desk and picked up a glass of water.That only made Leonard more frustrated."You're not going to answer?"Sebastian shrugged."Answer what?""Stop playing games with me.""I'm not playing."Leonard clenched his jaw.Meanwhile, Sebastian set the glass down on the desk."Adele is Adele.""That's not an answer.""It's the only answer you're going to get."Leonard's gaze sharpened.He felt he was so close.So incredibly close.Yet there was still one wall he couldn't break through."I know you're hiding something.""Maybe.""Sebastian.""You should be using all this energy to save your company."The atmosphere shifted instantly.Because that was the reality Leonard kept trying to avoid.Ashcroft Group.A company that was dying.A company his family had once been so proud of.And now it stood on the brink of collapse.But Leonard shook his head."I'll find the answe

Sebastian's words echoed in Adele's mind throughout the entire night.She wanted to trust him.She truly did.Because she was tired too.Tired of keeping secrets.Tired of pretending to be someone else.Tired of carrying memories that should have died long ago.But on the other side of the city—Leonard was farther from giving up than ever.The next morning.Sebastian's company headquarters was busier than usual.Employees moved through the corridors carrying files and tablets.Meetings had been underway since early morning.Several new projects were being discussed.And Sebastian had just stepped out of a conference room when his secretary hurried toward him."Mr. Sebastian.""What is it?""Mr. Ashcroft is insisting on seeing you."Sebastian let out a short laugh.It sounded tired."That man really has nothing better to do these days."But before his secretary could reply—Another voice echoed from the far end of the corridor."I still have plenty to do."Sebastian turned.Leonard st

Leonard's car cut through the rain-soaked streets of London.But he wasn't truly paying attention to the road.His mind remained trapped on a possibility that should have been impossible.Adele.Arabella.Two names.Two faces.Two lives.Yet the more he thought about it, the harder it became to separate them.He replayed every encounter they had ever had.The way Adele looked at him.The way she hated him.The way she seemed wounded every time Arabella's name was mentioned.And what disturbed him most—Adele never sounded like someone who had merely heard Arabella's story.She sounded like someone who had lived it.Leonard slammed on the brakes as the traffic light turned red.His fingers tapped lightly against the steering wheel."No..."He shook his head."That's impossible."Yet even as he said the words—They no longer sounded convincing.That night, Leonard returned to the penthouse.Ash's crying echoed once again from upstairs.The nanny quickly appeared."Mr. Leonard.""What is

The thought haunted Leonard throughout the entire day.Arabella and her baby girl.Two names that had been buried so deeply for years that he had almost stopped thinking about them altogether.But now they had returned.Not because of Vanessa.Not because of the media.Not because of the documents Margaret had left behind.But because of Adele.Because every time she spoke about Arabella, something felt wrong.Too emotional.Too personal.Too real.And Leonard was beginning to hate that feeling.Because the more he thought about it—The harder it became to ignore.Two days later.Leonard stood in front of the hospital that had once changed his life.The building had been renovated.Several parts looked different now.Yet he still recognized it.This was where Arabella had been treated after the accident.This was where her face had been destroyed.And this was where Leonard had ended their marriage.His steps felt heavier than they should have.Because the closer he got to the past—T