Semua Bab THE REMARRIED HEIRESS : Bab 181 - Bab 190

CATALINAYvette stepped in. She stood there like someone trespassing on holy ground, clutching a bouquet that seemed too bright for the dim hospital lighting. Her hair was swept into a loose bun, face washed clean of pretense. She has lost weight, as I can see her jawline sharper than before. But she's still stunning as ever.We haven't seen each other for months, after the cruel fate of her father behind those bars.“Hi,” she said, almost breathless. “I… wasn’t sure you’d want to see me.”I flashed a smile, not because what she did was forgivable, but because I refused to let her bitterness infect my peace.Her eyes scanned the room cautiously before settling on Dante. She didn’t look smug like she once might have. Just… a tired and tentative human, carrying flowers in firm hands.“May I… come in?” she whispered.I glance at Dante. He stared at me for a while before slowly sighing and letting go of my hand. Karen placed my baby on my chest and they strode to the couch, giving me and

CATALINAToday is a big day!The day Chen turns five. I still can't believe how fast time flies. I remember the moment I first saw him, we finalized his adoption, and how he clutched my hand like I was his whole world. And now here I am, pulling together a prehistoric paradise for the most dinosaur-obsessed five-year-old this side of the Cretaceous.When I decided on a dinosaur theme for Chen’s birthday, I could already picture the pure joy on his face. He’d been roaring like a T-Rex around the house for weeks, so it only felt right to turn our backyard into a mini Jurassic Park, minus the scary parts.Party coordinators arrived early with crates full of prehistoric magic. Inflatable palm trees, dino-print tablecloths, and balloon sculptures that looked like they’d stomped right out of the Cretaceous. I pointed to a corner and said, “That’s where the excavation zone goes.” Within minutes, they had set up a sandbox with buried ‘fossils’ for the kids to discover with tiny brushes and sh

CATALINAMy heels clicked across the marble lobby of my building, the sound sharp and grounding. Employees greeted me with polite surprise, clearly not expecting me after I had taken a leave for six months. Seeing my husband looking so tired from taking care of the two companies, I decided to handle everything from now on. I’d left Daneliya and Chen at home curled up with Abby, who was probably letting him climb her like a jungle gym while keeping an eye out for roaming dinosaurs and snack emergencies. That kid… he’d roared himself to sleep last night, still wearing his dino onesie, tail dragging behind him like a flag of victory. She’s the only one I can trust right now. Dante still doesn't know that I’m coming back to work, so I will give him a surprise lunch later at his company.I met with my executive assistant, reviewed the quarterly numbers, and signed two critical contracts with a sense of calm I hadn’t expected. The time away had sharpened my perspective. I didn’t need to mi

CATALINAI pushed the door open, expecting to see Karen perched behind Dante’s desk. She was someone’s assistant. I don't remember who’s under her. All I remember was that Karen was efficient, poised, and slightly terrifying to anyone who couldn’t hold eye contact for more than two seconds. When she looked up, her eyes widened ever so slightly, like someone caught mid-thought or mid-sentence.“Catalina,” she said, rising quickly. Her voice was steady, but her posture betrayed the startle.I smiled. “Hi, Karen. Sorry, didn’t mean to jump-scare you.”She blinked, then smiled tightly. “I just didn’t realize you were here.”I walked in, setting my drink on Dante’s desk like I owned it because, in a way, I did. Or at least shared pieces of this world with him. I noticed a stack of papers slightly askew from earlier, a pen uncapped, and the faint scent of Karen’s perfume lingering in the air, a little sweeter than usual.“No worries. I figured I’d wait here again. Dante should be back so

CATALINAThe scent of warm vanilla and melted chocolate wrapped around our home like a gentle embrace. It was Sunday afternoon, the kind of day when the sun dribbled lazily through the curtains and everything felt just a little slower and softer. In the kitchen, chaos and joy mingled like old friends.Cassie, Abby’s six-year-old daughter, was perched on a stool, elbows deep in cookie dough, wearing an apron three sizes too big. Her giggles erupted every time she squished chocolate chips between her fingers before popping them into her mouth.Abby stood close by, her sleeves rolled up, guiding Cassie with the kind of patience I get to see from her when it comes to my and Chen’s stubbornness. She was gentle, almost maternal in a way that tugged at something deep in me. Watching them together made me see Abby not just as someone who protects me, but as a mother trying to savor stolen moments.Chen zoomed around in a blur of excitement, a cookie bandit on a mission. He’d sneak spoonfuls