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 road blurred before me, my vision a mix of tears and rain streaking down the windshield. I didn’t know where I was going, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to drive—to escape, to feel something other than the pain. I slammed my hands against the steering wheel, my fingers curling into the leather as I tried to steady my breath. “What the hell am I doing?”I was speeding, too fast for this kind of rain, too reckless in my desperate attempt to escape. The road in front of me was a blur, the rain so heavy I could hardly see past the windshield. The wipers swiped back and forth, but it didn’t help. Everything felt so... suffocating.“Why am I doing this?!” I muttered aloud, my voice shaking. “You’re being stupid, Anastasia!”The sound of the tires skidding on the wet pavement made my heart leap into my throat. I swerved, panic rising. I didn’t even know what I was doing.I tried to correct myself, but before I could even think, a flash of movement caught my eye.“Ahh!” I screamed, my
He stood there, drenched from head to toe, his rugged features softened by the concern on his face. His brown hair was tousled by the wind, a few strands clinging to his forehead as he made his way closer, his jacket sticking to his frame in the rain. The jeans he wore were soaked, hugging his lean figure, and despite the storm, there was a warmth in his eyes—a warmth that was the complete opposite of the coldness I felt inside.I could barely believe my eyes when I saw him standing there."Anastasia," he said again, his voice carrying a sense of relief mixed with panic.His face was full of concern. Without saying a word, he rushed over to me, kneeling beside me in the rain, his hands reaching out, but stopping just short of touching me."What the hell happened?"I could see the worry etched into his face, his brow furrowed, and his eyes scanning me, searching for answers. But I couldn't speak. I couldn’t even bring myself to look at him properly. I just stared at the blood on my han
The car's engine hummed softly as Alex drove away, his focus entirely on the road ahead. We didn’t speak much during the drive, but I could feel Alex’s concern in the way he occasionally glanced at me, his brow furrowed with worry. I felt so exposed, and vulnerable, and yet there was something about his calm presence that grounded me. Eventually, we arrived at the house he had rented, a charming place. The rain was still pouring down in sheets, but I barely noticed it as Alex helped me out of the car and led me inside. The house was cozy and warm. He guided me to the couch, urging me to sit as he went to gather supplies. I watched him move around; his actions were quick but gentle. It was clear he knew what he was doing. “Just a few scratches,” he muttered as he carefully cleaned the scrape on my knee.The warmth of his touch as he tended to my wounds made me feel something unfamiliar, something soft, and I didn’t know whether I should be grateful or confused. "Thank you," I whisp
As Alex pulled up to the grand driveway, I felt a lump forming in my throat. The house loomed in the darkness, familiar yet somehow alien after the whirlwind of the past few days. I unbuckled my seatbelt slowly, my hands trembling as I reached for the door handle. Before I could step out, Alex rounded the car and opened the door for me. “Hey,” he said softly, his voice grounding me. “You’re going to be okay. One step at a time.” I nodded; my throat too tight to respond. As I stood, he surprised me by pulling me into a hug. His arms wrapped around me firmly, shielding me for just a moment from the storm raging in my chest. “Call me if you need anything”“Thank you”He pulled away, his hands lingering briefly on my shoulders before he stepped back. I gave him a faint smile, the best I could muster, and watched as he walked back to his car. He paused for a moment before getting in, as if he wanted to say something else, but then he simply gave me a small wave and drove away. Turning
Five days had crawled by since the trip. Since the storm Regan left without a word, leaving the mansion feeling even emptier than usual. The silence in the house seemed to stretch on, oppressive and suffocating. The maids had fussed over me all morning, urging me to eat, but the sight of food on a silver platter only turned my stomach. Nothing felt right. I couldn’t shake the image of him walking away, of his cold eyes, and the thought that he might be with Zarina now.Zarina. Her name lingered in my mind like a bitter aftertaste. I had no proof, no confirmation, but the way Regan had behaved—it made sense. Maybe they were together. Maybe that was why he’d stormed off. The thought of him with her twisted something inside me, something dark and painful. I didn't want to think about it, but I couldn’t help it. It was all I could think about.I reached for my phone again, fingers trembling as I unlocked it. I scrolled through the messages and then tried calling Regan’s number, again, for
We pulled into the driveway, the festive decorations already visible through the front windows of Ella's house. Sheila parked the car and turned to me with a concerned frown. "Anastasia, are you sure you're up for this?" she asked softly. "We can turn around and head home if you'd rather.""No. I came this far. Besides, I wouldn't want to disappoint Ella."Sheila reached out and squeezed my hand gently. "Of course not. But if things get too overwhelming, don't hesitate to tell me, okay? We can sneak out anytime."Taking another deep breath, I forced a smile onto my face. "Alright, let's do this."We climbed out of the car and made our way towards the house. The cheerful sounds grew louder as we approached. As we reached the front door, it swung open, revealing Ella standing there, a radiant smile lighting up her face."Anastasia!" she exclaimed, "You actually came! I'm so happy to see you!" Before I could respond, she pulled me into a hug, the scent of fresh flowers and baby powder
My gaze drifted back towards Regan and Zarina, drawn by a strange pull. They were looking in our direction, and for a short moment, our eyes met. A flicker of shock crossed Regan's handsome face; the exhaustion etched into his features momentarily forgotten. He looked… weary. His usually sharp blue eyes were clouded with fatigue, the dark around them. His dark hair, usually meticulously styled, was slightly mussed, as if he'd run a hand through it. Despite the exhaustion, his undeniable good looks were on full display – strong jawline, sharp cheekbones, and piercing blue eyes that always captivated me.The tension in the room was thick, but I kept my expression neutral. As I watched Regan and Zarina from across the room, the pain flared again.After a few minutes, I took a deep breath and straightened up. “I’ll just go to the bathroom.”Sheila squeezed my shoulder reassuringly. “If you need anything, just let me know.”I nodded and made my way back to the bathroom, needing a mome
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
There was a long pause between us.The kind that didn’t feel uncomfortable—just… 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 soft—chamomile and lemon—meant 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.“Have any of the Saavedras contacted you?”I blinked, confused.The Saavedras. My mother’s family.I frowned, turning toward