“ Did you say you’re dating Shane?” Gia was surprised on the call. Shane was a good guy. He is handsome, a good giver, caring, understanding, and supportive. But she never thought those two would get together. Yes, they were close, but it didn’t look like they would tour that route.“ Yeah,” Ayanda repeated on the other side of the phone. She didn’t know how Gia would react to her and her old stylist dating; that’s why she decided to keep it to herself for a while before telling her.“ I’m happy for you, Ayanda, why didn’t you tell me earlier? Wait, did you think I'd be against it or feel awkward about it? Shane and I are good friends, nothing else. All those flirts were harmless. I knew he liked someone back then, but I didn’t know that person was you,” Gia said, getting her pie out of the oven.“ I don’t know why I didn’t mention it to you, but I’m sorry. I should have said something earlier.” “ It’s alright. So, when did you start dating? “ Two months ago,” she confessed, scratch

Bazyli stood nervously at the door, taking a deep breath before knocking. When Aly opened it, her eyes searching, he asked, "Can I come in?" Aly hesitated, her emotions a whirlwind of curiosity and hurt. Finally, she stepped aside, letting him in. "Sure, come in," she said, leading him to the living room. "Have a seat; do you care for anything?" she asked, trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy. "No, I just need to talk to you," Bazyli responded, his voice shaky. Aly nodded, sitting across from him, giving him the space to speak. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you the truth about me from the beginning. I wanted a break from my past, the wild and noisy bachelor life. I wanted a normal, quiet life, and I got so caught up in the reality and naturalness of our relationship that I didn't know how to tell you the truth," he explained, his eyes filled with regret. Aly looked at him, feeling a mix of hurt and understanding. "You should've told me, Bazy. I would've supported you either way,

“ Hi Ma,” Aly answered her phone when she realised her mom was calling. She had been engrossed in work for the past three days. There was a partnership deal she was working on, which was taking much of her time.“ Do you care for some home cooked meals?” Xara asked her daughter, standing in front of her office.“ Yes, yes, I do. I’d really—- She was cut off by her mom opening the door and walking into the office, earning a chuckle from Aly.“Really, mom?” she asked, leaning in for a hug.“ I didn’t want to bother you with calls when Zeke told me you were busy buried in work,” she said, taking a seat in front of her daughter and placing the basket beside her. She had prepared simple meals as well as soups for her.“Thanks, Ma; you’re the best mother one could ever ask for. I love you.” “ I love you too.” “ How are you doing, Alyona? You look stressed out, sad, and tired,” her mother pointed out. “ I’m not going to lie, mom. I am. Considering all that’s happening, my mind’s messe

37.Aly strutted into the office with high spirits. Today was the day she signed the deal with one of the largest beauty companies in New Jersey. She took out her phone as she sat at her desk to see if she had received any notifications or messages from anyone. She remembered her phone buzzing last night, but she didn’t check who it was from.She had received countless messages from her friends and family wishing her well, but it was one message that caught her eye. A message from Bazyli. The message read : “ Hi Alyona, I hope you’ve been good? Yes, please. I’m open to having a conversation whenever you want. Goodnight and sleep well.” She was stunned.“ Hi Bazyli, I’m well, and yourself? Will 3pm my time and 10 p.m your time be great for you?” she sent it, waiting for a reply from him.~~~~~“ Are you sure you want to come down?” Kim asked her cousin when he told her he had to be in New Jersey in a few hours. “ I didn’t want to, but I had to. There’s someone who wants to invest in

“ Are you sure you’re comfortable with this arrangement?” Davina asked, helping her pack her suitcase.“Yes, Davina. I want to do this. If he had left for the airport without coming to see me to talk, he wouldn’t have been in this state, and if I had reached out to him earlier, he wouldn’t have been in this state,” she explained.“ I understand how you feel, but is this the right thing to do? What if you get fed up and decide you can’t take care of him any longer? What happens then?” Davina asked.“ I’m not going to be doing that alone, Dav. He’s hiring a nurse who will take care of him during the day when I’m off to work, and I’ll take over from her when I’m back.”“ Okay, if you say so. Be safe and don’t hesitate to call or come over. We’re always here for you,” Davina encouraged.“ Thanks baby girl.” she appreciated.Commuting to work would not be difficult for Aly because Bazyli’s house wasn’t far from her office. Another reason why she opted to be the one to live with him. Kim ad