Later that evening, Amelia returned home, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. She found her father in his study, pouring over financial reports. He looked up as she entered.“Amelia, did you talk to Blaise?” Alex asked, hope flickering in his eyes.“Yes, I did,” Amelia replied, her voice strained. “His father is willing to invest, but there’s a condition. Blaise and I have to get married right away.”Alex’s eyes widened. “Married? But that’s wonderful news! This could save our company, besides, you two were already engaged before Aiden came along.”Amelia shook her head. “But Dad, I can’t believe Blaise would allow his father to impose such a condition. It feels wrong.”“Amelia, sometimes we have to make sacrifices for the greater good,” Alex said gently. “If marrying Blaise can secure our family’s future, then maybe it’s worth considering.”Torn between her chemistry with Blaise, her desire for Aiden’s new wealth and the feeling of being manipulated, Amelia spent a sleepless night cont
“It’s from the hospital, Amelia. Your results are ready and have been sent to your email,” Ruby said.“Can you check them on the desktop, Mom?” Amelia asked, her voice barely above a whisper.“Of course,” Ruby replied, heading over to the computer. She logged into Amelia’s email and opened the message from the hospital. Her eyes scanned the document, and she gasped.“Amelia, you’re eight weeks pregnant!” Ruby exclaimed.Amelia’s eyes widened in shock. “What? How is that possible?”Ruby moved back to her daughter’s side. “Who’s responsible for this, Amelia?”“Blaise, of course,” Amelia replied, still trying to process the news.A glint of excitement appeared in Ruby’s eyes as an idea began to form. “Amelia, this could be the turnaround we need.”Amelia looked at her mother, confused. “What do you mean?”Ruby sat down beside her daughter, her expression serious. “Since only we know that the baby belongs to Blaise, we can change the narrative in our favor.”Amelia frowned. “How would we
The next day, Aiden arrived at the Reyes family house promptly at four o’clock. As he stepped out of his car, he noticed the unusual warmth of the reception. The staff greeted him with smiles and polite nods, an unexpected change from their previous coldness towards him. Aiden reminded himself of Lorenzo’s warning and remained on high alert.He was ushered to the living room where Amelia met him, her face a mask of concern. “Thank you for coming, Aiden.”Aiden nodded curtly. “Let’s get this over with. What do you need to tell me?”Amelia took a deep breath, visibly steeling herself. “I’m pregnant, Aiden. And... the baby is yours.”The words hit Aiden like a punch to the gut. “What? How can that be? As far as I know, we only had sex once and Zia was a result of that intimacy. You had since abhorred my presence, so how come I am the father?”Amelia’s eyes pleaded with him to believe her. “Remember one of those nights that you came into my room drunk, asking that we find a way to work th
Aiden reached for the door to his bedroom and threw them open. Silvana followed, and as she stepped inside, she couldn’t help but gasp in awe. The room was magnificent, a testament to Aiden’s refined taste and wealth.The walls were adorned with elegant, textured wallpaper in rich, deep hues that created a warm and inviting atmosphere. Intricately carved wooden furniture, polished to a high sheen, filled the room, including a large four-poster bed draped with luxurious, silk bedding in shades of gold and ivory. A grand chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a soft, ambient glow across the space. The far wall featured large, floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the sprawling gardens below, allowing the moonlight to filter in and bathe the room in a soft, silver light.Silvana was captivated. “Aiden, this is... it’s beautiful,” she whispered, her eyes wide with wonder.Aiden smiled, enjoying her reaction. “I’m glad you like it,” he said, closing the door behind them. “I wanted it
Aiden woke up to find Silvana lying beside him, curled up against his side, with one of his arms wrapped protectively around her. He carefully raised his head, supporting it with his other arm, and took a moment to study her in the dim light.Silvana’s face, even in sleep, was breathtaking. Her features were delicate and serene, with high cheekbones that caught the faint early light just so. Her skin was smooth and flawless, with a slight rosy tint to her cheeks. Her nose was small and perfectly shaped, and her lips, slightly parted, were full and inviting. Long, dark lashes rested against her cheeks, and a few strands of her dark hair had fallen across her face. She looked utterly peaceful, lost in a dream.Aiden couldn’t help but smile as he absorbed the beauty beside him. In that moment, he was convinced more than ever that Silvana was the woman he wanted to wake up to every morning. Zia adored her, and the feeling was mutual. Silvana’s love for his daughter was genuine and heartfe
To Aiden’s surprise, Lorenzo burst into hearty laughter. After a moment, he wiped his eyes and smiled warmly. “I expected something like this sooner or later. I’ve noticed how you look at her. I saw it the first day we visited Mr. Kohler’s house.”Lorenzo leaned forward, his gaze softening. “If you’re sure that Silvana is the one you want, then talk to her about it. If she agrees, you have my blessings. But remember, she’s like a granddaughter to me too. I wouldn’t want to see her hurt. So be certain.”Aiden smiled, feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders. “Thank you, Grandfather. I appreciate your support.”With a renewed sense of purpose, Aiden left the study and headed to Zia’s room, certain that he would meet Zia and Silvana, true to his assumptions, they were in there playing. He could hear Zia’s joyful giggles as he approached, a sound that always filled his heart with warmth.As he entered the room, Zia spotted him and her face lit up with excitement. “Daddy!” she squealed, j
“Daddy, look! Swings!” Zia exclaimed, tugging at Aiden’s hand.Aiden chuckled, “Alright, princess, let’s go for a ride. Silvana, care to join us?”“Of course,” Silvana replied, her smile warm and inviting.Aiden lifted Zia onto a swing and started pushing gently. Zia giggled with delight as the swing soared higher and higher. Silvana stood beside them, her eyes filled with affection for both Aiden and Zia.“Hold on tight, Zia,” Aiden said, laughing as he gave the swing an extra push.“I’m flying, Daddy! Look, Miss Silvana, I’m flying!” Zia squealed, her laughter infectious.Silvana clapped her hands, “You’re doing great, Zia! You’re the best little flyer in the park!”After a while, they moved on to the hide-and-seek area. Zia insisted on being the seeker first, covering her eyes and counting loudly.“One, two, three... I’m coming for you!” Zia shouted, her tiny voice full of determination.Aiden and Silvana took turns hiding behind trees and playground structures. Zia found them quic
Amelia sat at the candle-lit table in the corner of the upscale restaurant, nervously drumming her fingers on the linen tablecloth. She glanced at her watch for the fifth time in as many minutes, wondering if Blaise would show up. Just as she was about to call him, she saw him enter the restaurant, looking dashing in a tailored suit. He spotted her and walked over, his face lighting up with a smile.“Amelia,” Blaise greeted her warmly, leaning in to kiss her cheek as he took his seat. “Sorry I’m a bit late. Traffic was a nightmare.”“That’s okay,” Amelia replied, her voice shaking slightly. “I’m just glad you’re here.”Blaise looked at her curiously. “You sounded urgent on the phone. What’s going on?”Amelia took a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation. “Blaise, there’s something important I need to tell you.”Blaise’s expression shifted to one of concern. “What is it, Amelia? You’re scaring me.”She took another deep breath, then blurted out, “I’m pregnant.”Blaise blink