The first part of the baby shower, attended only by immediate family members, has gone perfectly and relaxed for Dawn. Travis, like a steel shield, keeps everything under control, ensuring she has the most comfortable experience. "Brother! Did you see her face? I don’t know how she’s Mom’s sister! She’s the complete opposite!" Tiara crosses her arms and grunts in disappointment. "Thankfully, she didn’t do anything to Sis!" Jim slyly sets aside a small piece of cake on his plate before sliding most of it onto Tiara’s. "Mom said she cheated with her best friend’s husband. That’s why she’s been ostracized from the family." "Cheated on her *own* husband?" Tiara almost screams, catching the attention of nearby guests. Jim sighs, pulling her to the couch. "Shut up. Don’t scream." "Sorry! Sorry! Cheating? In our family? That’s a forbidden act. They get kicked out immediately. How could she—?" "Well, it’s not the first time it’s happened. Grandpa, on Mom’s side, cheated on Grandma
Although the question lingers about why the future of those unrelated to them keeps changing, Travis ensures that nothing goes wrong this time. Like a vigilant CCTV, he keeps a watchful eye on his wife and the people interacting with her. The guests for the after-party begin arriving, their conversations filled with energy and excitement. Dawn, ever the gracious host, greets them all with her warm smile, engaging in lively chats. Travis, on the other hand, exchanges polite small talk when necessary, but he remains at a distance, carefully positioned to keep an unobstructed view of his wife. His protective instincts are heightened tonight, though he maintains an outwardly calm demeanor. As the evening progresses, all the guests have arrived—except for Mary and Danny. "Do you think they won’t come?" Dawn pulls Travis aside, her voice tinged with worry. She fidgets slightly, a sign of her eagerness to see her old friend. "Let me call them," Travis replies, pulling his phone fro
"I never thought things would blow up like this."Mr. Holden, barely past his 30s, stands under the harsh scrutiny of the crowd, their whispers laced with judgment and malice. The once-familiar faces around him are now unrecognizable—twisted with curiosity, disbelief, and something uglier… amusement. "I'm sure she’s lying. We all know Mr. Holden—he’s young and single." A voice comes..."Is this turning into some kind of drama? A scandal? Infidelity, maybe? What a joke!" "Well, you can’t expect much from people like her." The murmurs aren’t subtle. They are loud, venomous, designed to cut deep. The Ericsons, known for their dignity, stand frozen—red with anger and disbelief. These are supposed to be their people, their close-knit circle. Yet, they turn so quickly, like vultures drawn to fresh carrion. Dawn’s gaze flickers toward Danny, who stands stiffly, his face betraying his shock. He clearly hasn’t expected someone to humiliate her this way. But Dawn… she doesn’t care fo
Dawn feels vindictive as she corners Jacklyn, who has suddenly turned hostile toward her. In her previous life, Jacklyn never attended this party, nor did she have a boyfriend. So why is she acting so aggressively now? It is clear she is up to something. Her sudden accusation is absurd—too deliberate to be a coincidence. Dawn might have been soft, meek, and unbothered in her previous life, but not anymore. Now, she holds her breath at every unexpected turn, refusing to let anything slip by unnoticed. Right now, everyone’s attention is on Jacklyn, their gazes sharp with disappointment. Mr. Ericson, a man who rarely loses his temper, inhales deeply before shifting his focus to a nearby servant. “Take Mr. Taylor to the guest room,” he orders, sparing Taylor a glance before turning to Jacklyn. His eyes darken. “Jacklyn. In my study.” His voice is thunderous, cold as ice, sending a shiver down Jacklyn’s spine. She flinches, her lips parting as if to protest, but she quickly shuts
Although it’s uncertain whether Jacklyn is telling the truth, the regret in her voice sounds almost convincing. She claims she acted out of resentment and anger toward her family, and for a moment, it’s easy to believe her. Jacklyn, Mr. Ericson’s niece, was in love—or so she thought. She had been dating a man from Mrs. Ericson’s side of the family, someone significantly older than her. At eighteen, she had been swept up in the thrill of it, oblivious to the fact that he was married, his wife expecting their first child. When the truth unraveled, disaster followed. Mrs. Ericson’s family cut all ties with the man, erasing him from the family would and exiling him without hesitation. Jacklyn, powerless and desperate, begged him to stay quiet. She knew her uncle’s unwavering devotion to the family’s strict principles—if he found out, there would be be no forgiveness. To her love is everything... She was supposed to be having a family with that man if they didn't kick him out. They s
Travis glances at his sleeping wife, his gaze softening as he takes in her peaceful features. Leaning down, he presses the gentlest kiss to her forehead, his lips barely brushing against her warm skin. A quiet sigh escapes him as he straightens, his movements careful, ensuring he doesn’t wake her. Without another sound, he turns and slips out of the room, closing the door with a soft click. The hallway is dimly lit, shadows stretching along the walls as the night settles over the house. As he moves toward the lobby, his footsteps are measured, his mind already consumed by the weight of his thoughts. He reaches the wooden rocking chair near the window and lowers himself into it, placing his laptop on his lap. The glow from the screen illuminates his face, casting sharp angles as his fingers move over the keyboard with quiet precision. With each passing moment, his expression hardens, his focus narrowing as he clicks through files and documents. The air around him grows heavier, thi
Travis rests the iPad on the table and takes a deep breath. His eyes dart around, as if trying to grasp something that makes sense. A sharp exhale escapes his lips as he walks into the kitchen and opens the refrigerator. Grabbing a cold beer, he makes his way toward the master bedroom. Leaning against the doorframe, he takes a sip, his gaze fixed on Dawn. Longing, yearning, and a flicker of sadness reflect in the depths of his distinct blue eyes. "Even kindness leads to downfall, doesn’t it?" he mutters, feeling the cold beer burn down his throat. After standing there for a moment, lost in thought, he walks back to the balcony and grabs his phone. "Mr. Holden." "Yes?" Mr. Holden, who has been on the case, trying to dig up any information about Spring and her associates, finally shifts his focus to the call. "Don’t tell Dawn about this. She’ll be upset. I want her to enjoy her life without unnecessary worry." Travis takes another sip, his eyes scanning the horizon. "But…
Death is a cruel truth that everyone tries not to remember. As time goes by, death creeps closer, an unavoidable fate lurking in the shadows.Danny's life hangs by the few wires connecting him to the machines in a private hospital. His once-handsome face has turned pale, as if someone has applied a lighter shade of foundation over his skin. The beeping of the monitor is steady but weak, a fragile tether between him and the world of the living.The sound of heavy footsteps echoes in the sterile room as a nurse walks in, her hands gripping a few syringes and a vial of blue liquid. Her expression is stiff, her every movement reluctant, as if she has been forced into this moment against her will."Just inject it and leave without making a noise."The command crackles through her earpiece, making her stiffen. She hesitates, her gaze darting toward the wall clock hanging above Danny's head. The second hand ticks forward, a cruel reminder that time waits for no one.Swallowing hard, she grip
"Sis. Aren’t they being ridiculous?" Tiara storms inside, her voice slicing through the calm air like thunder on a sunny day.Travis blinks, still holding his phone mid-air, capturing what was supposed to be a milestone—Asher's first magical taste of ice cream. The toddler had just opened his mouth for another spoonful, lips shiny and eager, when Tiara's entrance pulls all attention to her.Asher immediately swivels his head, wide-eyed and curious. The spoon falls, landing on the floor with a tiny splat. But he doesn't care. His aunt has just entered like a whirlwind, and she looks like she's ready to bite someone.Travis exhales heavily and walks over with Asher on his hip. The little boy now has chocolate on his chin, cheeks, and even his eyebrows, but none of that matters."What happened?" Travis asks, one brow raised. "You just disturbed your nephew’s ice cream moment.""I didn’t!" Tiara leans forward to kiss Asher's forehead, her expression softening for a second before frustrati
"What do you think you were thinking when you proposed such a ridiculous idea?" Pulling Danny aside, Dawn asks, her voice low but sharp like a blade. Her eyes scan the hallway cautiously, making sure no one overhears them. Her brows are furrowed, and her lips press into a tight, disbelieving line.Danny rubs the back of his neck, his gaze shifting downward as shame and confusion cloud his features. His lips part slightly, trying to form a response, but the words falter. "I just...!"Dawn cuts him off with a glare that could burn holes through steel. "You rejected her. Have you considered how she will feel when she sees you with some random hookups? Bruh! She is in love with you. Not some silly crush!" Her voice trembles slightly with frustration as she throws her hands up.Danny’s eyes widen. The words hit him like cold water. He knew she was in love with him—deep down, he always knew. But he just thought it would be safer this way, that if she stayed close, she wouldn’t have to face
" Morning Classes? We have already discussed that you can't attend Morning class with the Chancellor!" Mrs Ericson, as the VVIP member of the University director board, looks at Tiara with disbelief. After returning from the university, she has come here to ask if her mother can assign a chauffeur to drive her to the university. Since she gets scared of driving early in the morning after a bad experience. Mrs Ericson leans into her chair and takes a glance at the schedule of the chauffeur teams. There are ten chauffeurs who are in morning duties. So it won't be hard for her to assign one. But..." I will talk to the Chancellor -!'" No, Mom. Nobody knows that I am your daughter there. I don't like to tell it either. Even my friends think I am just a well-off family not some-!"" You despise your family status?" Mrs Ericson raises her brow. " No!" Tiara says, her voice echoes the frustration. " I just want to live like I don't matter to someone because of my family background. I don
" Tiara! Stop! Please!" Sarah chases her with her backpack in her hand. Tiara has been ignoring them completely, blocking all of her friends' numbers. She doesn't want to be friends with people who are greedy and selfish. Tiara stops turning towards Sarah who runs across the hallway and calling her name. " Why are you doing this?" Sarah takes a deep breath and looks at Tiara with a pitiful gaze. " You can't just throw away our friendship just because we didn't take you to the trip. We have learned our lesson. Now stop being dramatic and clear the air!"Tiara is beyond shocked. The tone of Sarah feels like Tiara is the one who is being unreasonable and dramatic. " It's really awful, you know. You always show yourself like some spoiled rich girl. You should consider our emotions. You ever stopped sponsoring Sam's tuition fee. Isn't this extreme?"Tiara with full amusement, listens to Sarah. She used to think them as her family. She prioritized them. Now listening to Sarah's entitl
Travis takes a deep breath while he loosens his tie in his office. Each hour feels like forever to stay away from his family. Asher is thriving. Thanks to Dawn's memories of her previous life, she has been taking care of Asher. From vaccines to doctor appointments, everything has been handled by Dawn.Travis wants to be a part of everything, but his responsibility as the CEO makes it hard. However, Dawn keeps a record of everything so that Travis doesn't miss anything.Right now, opening the baby monitor, he rests himself in the chair. Since morning, he has been attending meetings and has had no time to eat. Watching his son grow up closely feels different than it did in his previous life.Every weekend visitation wasn't enough if he thinks about it now. Resting his head on his arm, he looks at his laptop.Soon, his smile deepens, his eyes moist with a gentle gaze when he notices Dawn sleeping in the bed, holding Asher on her chest. Asher is awake and trying to nibble his mother's chi
" He rejected?" Dawn asks, surprised. " Yes. He said he can't love anyone right now!" The smile remains on her lips but the bitterness feels so palpable. "I am sorry, Tia!" Dawn gently holds her into her arms, " Danny has been hurt by his wife and might be in bad mood. Maybe you can try-!" " No!" Tiara whispers softly... " He was genuine. I saw those eyes. They didn't lie. He wasn't interested in me." " You want to give up? Isn't it too early?" Dawn asks softly, knowing that Tiara is in pain. " It's not like I am giving up. I am protecting my feelings from getting hurt and being hoped for. I will nurture them on my own!" Dawn's eyes widened. Tiara looks so calm about the entire situation. The Rejection must have affected her. " Are you sure you will be fine? It's your choice. But what if ... All I want is to see you being happy with someone who loves you and cherishes you!" Tiara smiles, throwing her long hair behind, " Actually, yesterday, one of my professors of
Next morning, Tiara has woken up with hundreds of calls and messages from her friends. Her sleepy eyes have failed to understand the context of the messages. But the moment all the memories rush back to her mind, she stiffens. Not only has she cancelled everything, but she has also confessed her love and has gotten rejected. Her hand reaches her forehead, gently rubbing between her brows. Tears fight to gather around her beautiful cerulean eyes. Not only has she lost those friends she thought of as true friends, but she has also been rejected. "What a shitty day!" She takes a deep breath and forces herself to smile. "But I am proud of myself!" She gently taps her own cheeks before walking to the washroom. But her movements halt midway when the phone rings again. This time, she has decided to face reality instead of running away from everyone. The caller ID is registered under her best friend's name, who didn’t care slightly yesterday and was the one who initiated pushing h
Danny’s face says everything. He isn't shocked or disgusted by her. He is surprised. Someone else was happy to see his wife die? It makes no sense unless there’s something behind those feelings. Jealousy? For what?The silence lingers between them, thick and unyielding. Tiara's fingers tremble around the neck of the empty wine bottle resting beside her. The flickering light above them casts shadows on her face, highlighting the strain written across her features.However, Tiara, who has been drowning herself in guilt, keeps talking with her drunken voice. As if the walls that have been building up around her with guilt and unrequited love crumble like a sandcastle.Her words are slurred but painfully sincere. There’s no pretense, no filter left. Her cheeks are flushed, not from the alcohol, but from the weight of shame and the courage it took to speak."I am sorry for your loss. And I apologize for thinking that way. I am a selfish and disgusting human being who felt so happy to hear
Crowds and loud noises are what Danny hates most. The moment he steps into the bar, with people chattering, loud music, and drunk people throwing tantrums, the first thought that crosses his mind is, "I regret coming here."His blue eyes dart around, a frown forming between his brows. He can’t see anything properly because of the people dancing on the floor. Almost avoiding the touch of others, he somehow makes his way to the bartender, who is talking to another woman."Excuse me. You called me, right? With the woman called...""Tiara Ericson?"Danny nods, his gaze annoyed as he looks around the bar."Please follow me. We have realized that she is a VIP customer here, which we failed to recognize. She is now sleeping in one of our rooms. We apologize for our rudeness.""Is she alright?" Danny asks, following the bartender who opens the elevator."Yes. Our manager’s girlfriend helped her. So don’t worry about anything inappropriate."Danny nods quietly. The question lingers—why is he i