“I promise,” Amelia said, her voice firm. “I’ll come back. This won’t change us.”Blaise nodded, though uncertainty lingered in his eyes. “Alright. I’ll trust you.”Blaise took Amelia into a long bear hug and they both sobbed in each other’s arms.The next morning, a sleek black car arrived at the Reyes household to take Amelia to the Romanov palace. She hugged her parents tightly, feeling a mix of resolve and anxiety.Ruby whispered in her ear, “Remember, this is for the future. Stay strong.”Amelia nodded, trying to draw strength from her mother’s words. As she settled into the car, she took a deep breath, ready to face whatever lay ahead.The car pulled up to the grand entrance of the Romanov estate. There were maids on ground there to greet her, her expressions that of relief and determination.“Welcome, ma’am,” her chief maid said, helping her out of the car. “Everything has been prepared for your stay.”“Thank you, ms....” Amelia replied waiting for her name, her voice steady.
Amelia, who had been nervously preparing herself in the bedroom, quickly put on an appealing net nightwear, hoping to rekindle Aiden’s interest. She hurried out to the living room, her heart pounding.When she saw Zia, she quickly pulled her coverall around her, trying to appear more modest. “Good evening, Aiden,” she greeted, her voice slightly breathless.“Amelia,” Aiden replied, his tone neutral. “I wanted to check up on you to see that you were fine, and Zia wanted to see you too.”Amelia smiled warmly, reaching out her hand towards Zia. “Hello, Zia.”But Zia, frightened, turned to her father and clung to him tightly. Aiden gently held her and cleared his throat. “Zia, it’s okay. No one can hurt you while I’m here.”Amelia, sensing the tension, lowered her hand and smiled softly. “Is there anything you need, Amelia? Anything not already provided?” Aiden asked, his voice courteous but distant.Amelia shook her head. “No, everything is fine. Thank you. I promise to let you know if
That evening, after the encounter with Blaise, Amelia felt a renewed sense of determination. She had to make this work, for the sake of her child and for the future she hoped to build.As she prepared for bed, there was a soft knock at her door. She hesitated for a moment, wondering who it could be at this late hour. Adjusting her robe, she went to open the door and found Zia standing there, holding a small stuffed bear.“Zia? What are you doing up so late?” Amelia asked, her voice gentle.Zia shuffled her feet, looking a bit embarrassed. “I had a bad dream. Can I stay with you for a while?”Amelia’s heart melted at the sight of the little girl. “Of course, sweetheart. Come in.”Zia entered the room, her eyes wide with curiosity. Amelia led her to the bed and tucked her in. “Do you want to talk about your dream?” Amelia asked, sitting beside her.Zia shook her head. “No, it’s okay. Can you just stay with me?”Amelia nodded, brushing a strand of hair from Zia’s face. “I’ll stay right h
As the story ended, Zia looked up at Aiden. “Daddy, do you think our family will be happy like in the story?”Aiden hugged her tightly, kissing the top of her head. “I believe we will, Zia. We just have to stick together and be brave, just like the girl in the story.”Zia nodded, her trust in him unwavering. “I’ll be brave, Daddy. For you and for my baby sibling.”Tears pricked at Aiden’s eyes as he looked at his daughter, so full of hope and innocence. He vowed to himself that he would do everything in his power to protect her and ensure her constant happiness.As he tucked Zia into bed that night, he whispered a silent prayer for strength and guidance.The next morning, Aiden woke early, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. He dressed quickly and made his way to the kitchen, preparing breakfast for Zia himself. It was a small gesture, but it filled him with a sense of normalcy and comfort.As he flipped pancakes on the griddle, Zia appeared, rubbing her eyes and yawning. “Good mornin
Aiden mobilized his security team, heading to the coordinates Colin had provided after calling Greg to put him through. They moved quickly but cautiously, knowing that any wrong move could endanger Silvana.As they approached the location, they found the entrance to the underground bunker. Aiden’s heart pounded in his chest as they forced their way inside.Inside the bunker, Silvana heard the commotion above and felt a surge of hope. She banged on the walls, screaming for help.“Silvana! We’re coming!” Aiden’s voice echoed down the narrow stairway.Daniel’s face twisted in rage. “No! You can’t take her from me!” He grabbed Silvana, dragging her towards the back exit.Aiden and his team burst into the bunker, weapons drawn. They saw Daniel and Silvana struggling, and Aiden didn’t hesitate.“Let her go, Daniel!” Aiden shouted, his voice filled with fury.Daniel tightened his grip on Silvana. “She belongs to me!”With a swift motion, Aiden’s team lunged forward, but Daniel was quicker. H
“Silvana, stay with me,” he urged, his voice trembling with fear. He immediately called for an ambulance, but as he saw the blood pooling around her leg, he knew he couldn’t wait. “Hold on, Silvana,” he said, lifting her onto his shoulder with an urgency that belied his strength. “I’m going to get you to the hospital. Just hold on.”Silvana moaned softly in pain, her head lolling against his shoulder. “Aiden... it hurts.”“I know, sweetheart, I know,” Aiden said, his voice breaking. “But you have to stay awake. Keep talking to me. We’re almost there.”He placed her gently in the back seat of his car, climbing in beside her while one of his guards took the wheel. “Drive! Fast!” Aiden commanded, his tone leaving no room for hesitation.The guard nodded, accelerating into the street. Aiden held Silvana’s hand tightly, his eyes never leaving her face. “Silvana, look at me. Stay with me, okay? Just keep your eyes open.”But Silvana’s eyes fluttered closed, her grip on his hand weakening.
Lorenzo squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. “You’re family. We protect our own. And we will make sure Silvana recovers.”As the hours passed, Aiden remained by Silvana’s side, speaking softly to her, sharing memories and dreams. He needed her to know how much she meant to him, even if she couldn’t respond.“Remember our first date?” Aiden whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “We went to that little café by the river. You laughed so hard when I spilled coffee all over myself.”He chuckled softly, his eyes glistening with tears. “We’ve been through so much together, Silvana. We have so much more to look forward to. I need you to fight, for us, for our future.”As night fell, Aiden leaned back in his chair, exhaustion weighing heavily on him. He closed his eyes, holding Silvana’s hand tightly, and whispered a silent prayer.The sterile smell of antiseptics permeated the hospital corridor as Mr. Kohler strode purposefully toward Silvana’s room. His granddaughter’s sudden di
Mr. Kohler and Ashley, alerted by the commotion, rushed into the room. Ashley let out a sob of relief, and Mr. Kohler’s stern facade cracked into a rare smile.Lorenzo spoke to a nearby nurse to get the doctor.“Silvana,” Mr. Kohler said, his voice thick with emotion. “You gave us quite a scare.”Ashley hugged her gently, mindful of her injuries. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”Silvana smiled weakly, her strength slowly returning. “I had a feeling you all would be here.”Aiden kissed her hand, his heart full of gratitude. “We’ll always be here for you, Silvana. No matter what.”Silvana blinked, her gaze slowly focusing on him. “Aiden,” she whispered, her voice weak but filled with emotion. “What happened?”“You’ve been through a lot,” Aiden said, gently squeezing her hand. “But you’re going to be okay. We’re going to be okay.”Silvana’s eyes filled with tears as she looked at him. “I was so scared.“I know,” Aiden said, his voice trembling. “But you’re safe now. I’m here, and I’m not going