Hi, this is your authorš Iāve read your comments, and I truly appreciate your thoughts on the story. I just ask that you trust the journey Iām crafting. This isnāt just about Anastasia and Reganās paināitās about the slow, often messy process of moving forward. Every moment of heartbreak has a purposeš So, letās walk through it togetherš
āIāā I let out a soft, breathy chuckle that didnāt feel anything like laughter. āSurprise?āMorgan blinked, slowly recovering. āYouāre pregnant,ā he repeated, more to himself than to me.I nodded.āFor how long?āāTwo weeks.āāI seeā He sat back, absorbing that. Then, his voice low and even, āThen let me ask you, what do you want to do, Miss Anastasia?āI didnāt answer right away.Instead, I turned my gaze out toward the garden. The flowers were swaying gently in the breeze. The sun had dipped lower, casting long shadows across the lawn. It should have been a beautiful view. Peaceful. Soft. But all I could feel was the ache sitting beneath my ribs.āI want to file a divorce and keep my child hidden from Regan,ā I said finally, the words slipping out like glass.Morgan didnāt respond, but I could feel the tension in the air sharpen.I let out another hollow laughābitter this time, raw and sharp. āHe told me to abor
I exhaled softly, gathering my thoughts. I had spent the past week thinking about thisāturning it over in my mind, debating, hesitating. I had run through the possibilities, the consequences, and the emotions tied to it.Was I strong enough? Brave enough? Was I really ready to let go of the past that had defined so much of me?I didnāt have all the answers.But what I did have now was a reason.A life growing inside me. A heartbeat that depended on mine. And that alone was enough.I had to move forward. I had to choose strength. I had to choose survival.For my baby.Morgan must have sensed my hesitation, because he set his cup down, his keen gaze watching me closely, but before he could ask me, I finally broke the silence."I know you must be thinking that I didnāt call you just for tea or to chat."A knowing smile crossed his lips. "That I am."I took a deep breath, straightening in my seat. My
āWe donāt have to go that far unless we need to,ā Morgan said, his voice measured, his tone sharpening with conviction. āBut if ever Regan decides to make a moveāif he dares to use the fact that you kept the child from him as a weapon to demand custodyāthen we fight. With everything we have. The point isāyouāre not defenseless, Miss Anastasia. You donāt have to run and hide in shame.āI looked down at my lap, my fingers twisting into the fabric of my dress. The breeze picked up softly, fluttering the edges of the tablecloth, and I found my voice just above a whisper.āIām not running to hide,ā I said, voice trembling. āIām running to protect what he wanted to throw away.āāThen we build your wall before he even reaches the gate,ā he said, more firmly now. āAll we need is evidence. Records. Messages. Witnesses, if necessary.ā He paused, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. āDid anyone hear him say it? About wanting you to abort the child?āI looked away, my
I lowered my teacup slowly, setting it back on the saucer. My eyes dropped to my lap, where the soft pink fabric of my dress pooled gently, but all I could feel was the rising pressure in my chest.I need to say it.I need to say it.I had practiced the words. Over and over in my mind. But now, with him sitting across from me, waiting, I found myself choking on them.Still, I had to say it.I raised my gaze, meeting his eyes.āMr. Morganā¦ā I began, and my voice cracked almost instantly. I cleared my throat, forcing steadiness I didnāt feel. āI need your advice.āHe leaned in slightly, the air shifting around us, his expression attentive and calm. āOf course, Miss Anastasia.āāI need to know the legal consequences...ā I paused, drawing in a shaky breath, ā...of filing for divorce.āThe words landed between us like a stone dropped into still water. Morgan blinked, his composure briefly slipping. His brows
The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the sprawling garden. A gentle breeze rustled through the leaves, carrying the scent of fresh blooms and damp earth. Birds chirped softly in the distance. I sat at the elegant wrought-iron table in the heart of the garden, my hands resting lightly in my lap. Sunlight filtered through the treetops, dappling the white tablecloth with shifting patches of light and shadow. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of jasmine, one of the many flowers my mother had once loved.I hadnāt stepped out into the garden for a long time, not like this. Not dressed in anything but red, that reflected the armor I had carried for so long. But today⦠today was different.I wore pink. Baby pink.It felt strange, almost foreign against my skināsoft, light, alive. I wasnāt sure why I had chosen it. Maybe because Susan had left it out for me, or maybe because I wanted to see if I could still feel something.Across from
Morgan paused—and then, to my surprise, he bowed. Low.“Don Alonso.”My breath caught, and I instinctively stood up from my seat. Through the ivy-laced arch, a tall figure emerged, walking with the quiet dignity of age and command. He wore a dark coat despite the mild weather, his silver hair swept back neatly, and a cane tapping softly with every step he took.My grandfather.“Mr. Morgan. Always a pleasure.”“Likewise, sir.” Morgan’s voice held deep respect.And then he passed by him, leaving us.My eyes locked with my grandfather’s. He stopped a few feet away from me. It felt like I hadn’t seen him in so long.“Grandpa,” I breathed, my voice catching as I stepped forward.And without thinking, I stepped forward—arms wrapping around him, carefully but tightly.He didn’t hesitate. He held me back.Not just a pat on
There was a long pause between us.The kind that didnāt feel uncomfortableājust⦠heavy with things unsaid.We sat quietly, staring out at the garden bathed in the warm light of late afternoon. The hedges rustled softly as the breeze moved through them, carrying the scent of blooming roses and sun-warmed grass. A few loose petals floated gently across the stones. Birds chirped high in the trees.I reached for my teacup, the porcelain smooth and cool against my fingertips. I brought it to my lips and took a slow sip. The taste was softāchamomile and lemonāmeant to be calming. But instead of comfort, all I felt was the bitter knot in my chest, untouched by warmth.I set the cup down carefully, the clink of porcelain against porcelain sounding too loud in the stillness.Then, finally, Don Alonso spoke.āHave any of the Saavedras contacted you?āI blinked, confused.The Saavedras. My motherās family.I frowned, turning toward
āAfter Alisha died, the bond between our families⦠frayed. Your unclesāespecially Alvaroāblamed Gregory. Maybe not for her death directly, but for the way she lived before it. For the silence. For the sadness that started showing behind her eyes.āI drew a sharp breath. Iād always known something was⦠strained between the Montreals and the Saavedras. Even as a child, I could feel the tension, though no one ever spoke of it.Don Alonsoās voice dropped lower, his tone thickening with something heavy. Not just memoryāguilt.āAfter Alisha died, the bond between our families⦠frayed. Your unclesāespecially Alvaroāblamed your fatherāGregory. For her death directly, for the way she lived before it. For the silence. For the sadness that started showing behind her eyes.āHis words struck something sharp and cold inside me. My hands freezing in place on my lap. I had always known, deep down, that there was a quiet rift between the Montreals and the Saavedras. It wa
A flood of emails greeted me firstāformal messages from the foundation, updates on business reports I hadn't had the energy to care about. Then, a few news articlesāheadlines about society events, political scandalsānone of them touching my world anymore.I swiped idly through them, my mind elsewhere, my body still fighting the lingering nausea.Then I saw it.One message stood out among the floods.A simple text, from a name I hadnāt seen in months but had been waiting for without even realizing it.Ava Ramos.My assistant. My friend.She had taken a six-month leave to care for her mother abroad, but even from halfway across the world, Ava had still managed to handle the details of my business life better than anyone else could. She didnāt just work for meāshe stood by me. Without judgment. Without condition.I opened the message with trembling fingers.Ava:Miss A, Just wanted to let you know my l
The morning light spilled into the room in soft, golden streaks, coaxing me awake. I stirred beneath the light linen sheets; my body slow to move. The nausea hit me almost immediately. A wave of dizziness and discomfort churned in my stomach, forcing me to squeeze my eyes shut for a moment before carefully sitting up.The clock on the nightstand blinked back at meā7:08 AM.āUghā I groaned, swinging my legs over the side of the bed, my bare feet touching the cool marble floor. I sat there for a moment, breathing through the nausea, pressing a hand gently against my still-flat stomach.Almost six weeks of being two people instead of one.And somehow, it already felt like my entire body had shifted. My chest tightened at the thought, and I forced myself to sit up straighter, blinking against the dizzying morning light streaming through the tall windows. I reached for the robe hanging loosely over the nearby armchairāa light ivory silk robe with delicate lace
āAfter Alisha died, the bond between our families⦠frayed. Your unclesāespecially Alvaroāblamed Gregory. Maybe not for her death directly, but for the way she lived before it. For the silence. For the sadness that started showing behind her eyes.āI drew a sharp breath. Iād always known something was⦠strained between the Montreals and the Saavedras. Even as a child, I could feel the tension, though no one ever spoke of it.Don Alonsoās voice dropped lower, his tone thickening with something heavy. Not just memoryāguilt.āAfter Alisha died, the bond between our families⦠frayed. Your unclesāespecially Alvaroāblamed your fatherāGregory. For her death directly, for the way she lived before it. For the silence. For the sadness that started showing behind her eyes.āHis words struck something sharp and cold inside me. My hands freezing in place on my lap. I had always known, deep down, that there was a quiet rift between the Montreals and the Saavedras. It wa
There was a long pause between us.The kind that didnāt feel uncomfortableājust⦠heavy with things unsaid.We sat quietly, staring out at the garden bathed in the warm light of late afternoon. The hedges rustled softly as the breeze moved through them, carrying the scent of blooming roses and sun-warmed grass. A few loose petals floated gently across the stones. Birds chirped high in the trees.I reached for my teacup, the porcelain smooth and cool against my fingertips. I brought it to my lips and took a slow sip. The taste was softāchamomile and lemonāmeant to be calming. But instead of comfort, all I felt was the bitter knot in my chest, untouched by warmth.I set the cup down carefully, the clink of porcelain against porcelain sounding too loud in the stillness.Then, finally, Don Alonso spoke.āHave any of the Saavedras contacted you?āI blinked, confused.The Saavedras. My motherās family.I frowned, turning toward
Morgan paused—and then, to my surprise, he bowed. Low.“Don Alonso.”My breath caught, and I instinctively stood up from my seat. Through the ivy-laced arch, a tall figure emerged, walking with the quiet dignity of age and command. He wore a dark coat despite the mild weather, his silver hair swept back neatly, and a cane tapping softly with every step he took.My grandfather.“Mr. Morgan. Always a pleasure.”“Likewise, sir.” Morgan’s voice held deep respect.And then he passed by him, leaving us.My eyes locked with my grandfather’s. He stopped a few feet away from me. It felt like I hadn’t seen him in so long.“Grandpa,” I breathed, my voice catching as I stepped forward.And without thinking, I stepped forward—arms wrapping around him, carefully but tightly.He didn’t hesitate. He held me back.Not just a pat on
The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the sprawling garden. A gentle breeze rustled through the leaves, carrying the scent of fresh blooms and damp earth. Birds chirped softly in the distance. I sat at the elegant wrought-iron table in the heart of the garden, my hands resting lightly in my lap. Sunlight filtered through the treetops, dappling the white tablecloth with shifting patches of light and shadow. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of jasmine, one of the many flowers my mother had once loved.I hadnāt stepped out into the garden for a long time, not like this. Not dressed in anything but red, that reflected the armor I had carried for so long. But today⦠today was different.I wore pink. Baby pink.It felt strange, almost foreign against my skināsoft, light, alive. I wasnāt sure why I had chosen it. Maybe because Susan had left it out for me, or maybe because I wanted to see if I could still feel something.Across from
I lowered my teacup slowly, setting it back on the saucer. My eyes dropped to my lap, where the soft pink fabric of my dress pooled gently, but all I could feel was the rising pressure in my chest.I need to say it.I need to say it.I had practiced the words. Over and over in my mind. But now, with him sitting across from me, waiting, I found myself choking on them.Still, I had to say it.I raised my gaze, meeting his eyes.āMr. Morganā¦ā I began, and my voice cracked almost instantly. I cleared my throat, forcing steadiness I didnāt feel. āI need your advice.āHe leaned in slightly, the air shifting around us, his expression attentive and calm. āOf course, Miss Anastasia.āāI need to know the legal consequences...ā I paused, drawing in a shaky breath, ā...of filing for divorce.āThe words landed between us like a stone dropped into still water. Morgan blinked, his composure briefly slipping. His brows
āWe donāt have to go that far unless we need to,ā Morgan said, his voice measured, his tone sharpening with conviction. āBut if ever Regan decides to make a moveāif he dares to use the fact that you kept the child from him as a weapon to demand custodyāthen we fight. With everything we have. The point isāyouāre not defenseless, Miss Anastasia. You donāt have to run and hide in shame.āI looked down at my lap, my fingers twisting into the fabric of my dress. The breeze picked up softly, fluttering the edges of the tablecloth, and I found my voice just above a whisper.āIām not running to hide,ā I said, voice trembling. āIām running to protect what he wanted to throw away.āāThen we build your wall before he even reaches the gate,ā he said, more firmly now. āAll we need is evidence. Records. Messages. Witnesses, if necessary.ā He paused, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. āDid anyone hear him say it? About wanting you to abort the child?āI looked away, my
I exhaled softly, gathering my thoughts. I had spent the past week thinking about thisāturning it over in my mind, debating, hesitating. I had run through the possibilities, the consequences, and the emotions tied to it.Was I strong enough? Brave enough? Was I really ready to let go of the past that had defined so much of me?I didnāt have all the answers.But what I did have now was a reason.A life growing inside me. A heartbeat that depended on mine. And that alone was enough.I had to move forward. I had to choose strength. I had to choose survival.For my baby.Morgan must have sensed my hesitation, because he set his cup down, his keen gaze watching me closely, but before he could ask me, I finally broke the silence."I know you must be thinking that I didnāt call you just for tea or to chat."A knowing smile crossed his lips. "That I am."I took a deep breath, straightening in my seat. My