The car pulled up to the edge of the beach, and as soon as I stepped out, the scent of the ocean hit me—fresh, salty, and oddly calming. I glanced around, taking in the private beach stretching endlessly before us. The sand was so white it almost looked untouched, the kind of pristine that made you hesitant to leave a footprint. I’d seen beaches like this dozens of times, from the Amalfi Coast to private islands in the Maldives, but they never failed to leave me in awe.“Wow,” I murmured, unable to stop myself. Regan didn’t respond. He was too busy pulling his phone from his pocket, already distracted as the driver unloaded our bags from the trunk. The beach house stood a little further back. The house was striking—modern, minimalistic, and drenched in sunlight. Glass walls reflected the ocean, and the sleek wooden decks were accented with lush greenery. It was the kind of property that screamed exclusivity, even by my standards.The driver handed me my suitcase with a polite smile,
I woke up slowly, my eyes fluttering open to the soft light filtering through the window. For a moment, I was confused. The bed felt colder than it had the night before. I blinked, trying to push the lingering fog of sleep away. I sat up, glancing around the room. The door was ajar, and the faint sound of something clattering in the kitchen caught my attention. Curiosity tugged at me, so I pushed off the bed, walked toward the window. I peeked out at the view—blue sky, the calm waves of the ocean stretching into the horizon—and for a moment, everything felt surreal. After a brief moment of peace, my stomach growled loudly, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten anything since the flight the day before. I made my way to the bathroom, quickly brushing my teeth and washing my face before heading toward the source of the sound. When I reached the kitchen, I froze in the doorway. Regan was there, but not the Regan I was used to seeing. He was cooking, his movements fluid as he worked over the
Soon after, I decided to step outside. Slipping into my favorite red dress—a flowy piece with delicate floral patterns that danced in the breeze—I felt lighter. The dress hugged me in all the right places. I let my hair fall loosely over my shoulders.Barefoot, I stepped onto the warm sand, Max trotting happily at my side. The beach stretched endlessly before me, the waves glimmering under the midday sun. I took my time, feeling the grainy texture of the sand beneath my feet, and the salty breeze brushing against my skin. Max wagged his tail enthusiastically, occasionally bounding ahead before circling back to me.After a while, I found a spot close to the water’s edge and sank down onto the sand, pulling my knees up to my chest. Max settled beside me, his golden fur shimmering like liquid sunlight. “You’re such a sweet boy, aren’t you?” I murmured, running my fingers through his soft fur. “I mean, look at you. You’re perfect. Too perfect to be hanging out with someone like me.” Max
As I stepped into the house, my heart still racing, I bolted to my room to get out of my soaked dress. I couldn’t stop thinking about the way Regan’s hand had felt in mine, or the way his gaze lingered just a little too long. I slipped into a soft, oversized shirt, hoping it would calm the chaos swirling inside me. But the second I opened my door, there he was again—standing by the window, his silhouette bathed in moonlight. “You changed fast,” he said, his voice low, carrying that teasing edge that made my stomach flip. “Could say the same for you,” I shot back, noticing his loose joggers and plain black shirt. He looked infuriatingly good, and I hated how aware I was of it. “You know, you looked really happy today. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you like that.” “Is that… a bad thing?” “No,” he said quickly, shaking his head. “Not at all.” We stood there, the dim light from the window casting shadows between us. The air felt heavy, charged with something I couldn’t name.His
His fingers brushed softly against my skin, trailing along my legs, igniting a fire that spread through my entire being. I let out a long, quiet sigh as his touch neared places that left me trembling, the anticipation unbearable. A gasp escaped me, my voice trembling as I murmured through the haze of pleasure clouding my mind, "Regan." I lost control when he gently trailed his nose up mine, his touch igniting a fire within me. His hands moved with such deliberate tenderness, removing my remaining clothes as though I were something precious. My head spun, overwhelmed by the intensity of the moment.A soft moan escaped my lips, reverberating in the quiet of the room, as his fingers glided over my skin, leaving a trail of warmth. The sensation sent shivers down my spine; each caress more electrifying than the last. His tongue traced along mine, the motion slow and deliberate, sending shockwaves through my body. My gasps filled the air, unrestrained and raw, as I felt the ache of desir
When I opened my eyes, the soft light of dawn filtered through the curtains. It took a moment for the events of the night to settle in my mind, and when they did, a mixture of emotions washed over me. Regan’s arm was draped around my waist, his body warm against mine. He was still asleep, his breathing slow and even, his face relaxed in a way I rarely saw. It was strange to see him like this—unguarded. Peaceful. I stayed still, not wanting to wake him, but my heart raced when his arm tightened slightly around me, pulling me closer.“You’re awake,” he murmured, his voice husky with sleep.“So are you,” I whispered back, a shy smile tugging at my lips.He didn’t say anything for a moment, his gaze unreadable as it lingered on my face. Then, almost in a whisper, he said, “You’re not what I expected.” I blinked, unsure how to respond. “What does that mean?” Regan smirked faintly, his thumb brushing against my hip. “You’ll figure it out.” Before I could press him further, he rolled awa
I watched him as his demeanor changed, the carefree expression on his face replaced with tension. My heart skipped a beat as I saw him glance at me hesitantly, his eyes filled with unease.“I… I need to leave,” he said, his voice tight.My stomach twisted with unease. “What’s going on? What’s wrong?”He remained silent.“Is it about Mom? Dad? What’s wrong? Tell me”Regan didn’t immediately respond. His gaze flickered to me, then quickly away, as if he didn’t want me to see the strain in his eyes. He took a deep breath and said the one word that shattered my heart.“No”The weight of Regan's words sank in, and my stomach twisted tighter with every passing second. I tried to process everything, but it felt like my mind couldn’t catch up with the emotions swirling inside me. The concern in his eyes, and the urgency in his voice, all pointed to something I couldn’t quite grasp, but I feared I already knew.I stepped closer, my heart hammering in my chest. “Is it……” My mind raced, hoping I
The tears fell freely down my face. I couldn’t understand what had just happened—Regan’s abrupt departure, the empty words, the silence. It was like everything that had felt so real between us had just slipped through my fingers. I didn’t know how long I stood there, letting the tears fall, before I heard the sound of tires crunching against gravel. A car pulled up, the headlights piercing through the dark night. I quickly wiped my eyes, trying to compose myself, but I couldn’t stop the tremor in my hands. The door opened, and a woman stepped out.The woman has soft, chestnut-colored hair that cascades in waves down her back. She had a warm smile. She wore a simple, elegant outfit—a tailored jacket over a soft blouse. Her smile widened when she saw me, and she walked toward me with open arms.“Miss Anastasia! I’m so glad to finally meet you. Your mother spoke so highly of you, and I was so thrilled when she called me and told me you and your husband were looking for a place to have a
The low sound of the engine filled the car, a background noise against the sound of traffic outside. Ava was behind the wheel, her sunglasses perched on her nose, one hand casually resting at twelve o'clock on the steering wheel. Her hair—that wild ginger bun—bounced slightly every time we hit a bump. Sheila was in the passenger seat, legs tucked up like a kid, fiddling with the radio stations every five seconds and earning glares from Ava.And me?I was curled up in the backseat, leaning against the window, staring out at the blur of the city as it rushed past. It should have been a normal car ride. It should have felt like any other day.But it didn’t.Because today...Today I was going to face Regan again."Are you sure you’ll be okay, Tasia?" Sheila asked for what felt like the millionth time, twisting halfway in her seat to look at me.I smiled faintly, "Yes, I’ll be fine."Ava snorted loudly, adjusting her grip o
Sheila laughed and shoved her playfully. "Please, I’m the life of this party. You’re the sidekick, four-eyes.""Four-eyes? Bold words coming from someone who tripped over a flat sidewalk last week!"Sheila scowled. "Did Tasia tell you that? It was uneven!""It was flat," Ava shot back without missing a beat. "Gravity personally requested you fall over to entertain the public."I couldn't stop laughing, hiding my face behind my hand as the two of them bickered like no time had passed at all. It was chaotic, it was loud, it was messy—And it was home.Sheila turned to me with an exaggerated sigh. "You see what I put up with? You should pay me hazard fees just for being friends with her."Ava rolled her eyes and leaned casually against the table. "Yeah, yeah. You’re welcome for making your life interesting."Susan and Elise were trying—and failing—to hide their giggles as they discreetly stepped
The morning light streamed through the massive, floor-to-ceiling windows of the living room, filling the space. The wide, sunlit room looked like something from a magazine spread—polished marble floors, pale cream walls lined with intricate crown moldings, and plush, oversized couches in soft champagne hues. The chandelier above sparkled subtly, catching the light.In the center of it all, a long rectangular table had been set up—draped in white linen and neatly arranged with tasting plates, tiny glasses, and silver utensils.Susan and a few of the maids bustled quietly nearby, arranging fresh pitchers of water and clearing empty plates.And at the far end of the room stood a cluster of smartly dressed individuals from Champagne and Roses Events Company, all smiling with their clipboards in hand and their nerves barely hidden beneath their professional exteriors.In the midst of it all—I sat poised at the head of the table, wearing a simple but el
I stared at the phone. The call replayed in my mind. His offer, unexpected and overwhelming. Something I hadn’t seen coming.Then—my phone buzzed again.The sound made me flinch, jarring me out of my daze. But when I glanced at the screen, my heart stuttered.Miguel Sanchez. Champagne and Roses Events Company.The one I had hired months ago for Regan’s birthday—before everything fell apart. Before Zarina. Before the accident. Before the child growing silently inside me.My fingers hesitated for just a moment before I swiped to answer."Hello?""Good afternoon, Ms. Anastasia!" the man chirped, his voice full of an excitement I couldn’t even begin to mirror. "I’m just calling to confirm that everything is set for your husband’s birthday! We’re almost ready with the setup—just wanted to ask if you’d like us to drop by your home and discuss final details like food options and guests lists!"My breath hitched painfully.
Another short silence stretched between us, and I could almost picture him standing somewhere across the world, arms crossed, watching over me the way he always used to."Why did you call, Uncle? Is there a problem?"“No, no, dear," he said quickly, reassuringly. "There is no problem.”I slumped back slightly into the chair."Oh," I exhaled, allowing the smallest smile to pull at the corner of my mouth, "that’s good to hear."But there was a pause on his end—a pause that said there was more. Much more.“I know you heard from Don Alonso,” he said finally.I stiffened, heart picking up again. Moment of truth.I swallowed. "Um, yeah… is it about the promise? Is that why you called?"There was no hesitation in his answer."Yes, it is," he said simply. "I know it must be hard to believe something like that even existed. I understand it must be shocking."I laughed softly under my breath, a dry, breathless sound.
The red velvet was rich beneath my fingertips, almost too luxurious for something that made my heart hammer with dread. The gold ribbon gleamed under the sunlight, tied so precisely it made my chest tighten.I stared at it for a moment—Just stared.As if the box itself was waiting, breathing, daring me to open it. Then, with a trembling breath, I pulled the ribbon loose and lifted the lid.Inside—Photographs. Dozens of them. Hundreds, maybe.My heart slammed into my ribs so hard it hurt. Picture after picture spilled before me, sharp and glossy and mercilessly real.Regan. Zarina.Laughing together. Hands brushing. Leaning into each other like lovers in secret. Whispering in corners. Clinging to each other in dark rooms. Moments I was never meant to see.Moments hidden from me while I played the fool. Dates were marked neatly in red ink in the corners of each photo.Some of them were recent.But
A flood of emails greeted me first—formal messages from the foundation, updates on business reports I hadn't had the energy to care about. Then, a few news articles—headlines about society events, political scandals—none 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 hadn’t 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 didn’t just work for me—she 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 me—7:08 AM.“Ugh” 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 armchair—a light ivory silk robe with delicate lace
“After Alisha died, the bond between our families… frayed. Your uncles—especially Alvaro—blamed 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.”I drew a sharp breath. I’d 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 Alonso’s voice dropped lower, his tone thickening with something heavy. Not just memory—guilt.“After Alisha died, the bond between our families… frayed. Your uncles—especially Alvaro—blamed your father—Gregory. For her death directly, for the way she lived before it. For the silence. For the sadness that started showing behind her eyes.”His 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