The intel Jasper gathered was as clear as it was distressing: Zia had been moved out of the country. The urgency of the situation demanded swift action, so Aiden decided to utilize the family’s private jet for the operation. Silvana, who had been his steadfast companion through this ordeal, insisted on joining the rescue mission. “Aiden, I’m coming with you. You need all the support you can get,” Silvana said, her eyes blazing with determination. “No, Silvana,” he replied, trying to keep his voice firm despite the turmoil inside. “It’s too dangerous. If anything happened to you, I wouldn’t be able to bear it.” She grabbed his arm, her grip surprisingly strong. “Aiden, I’m not a helpless damsel. I can help. I want to help.” He looked at her, the worry etched into her features, but he shook his head. “Please, Silvana. I need you safe. If something happens to me, you need to be here to look after Zia when we bring her back.” She reluctantly agreed, her eyes glistening with unshed te
“We’ll find them, Grandfather,” she said with unwavering determination. “I know we will.” Her resolve was a beacon of hope, even in the darkest moments. And it was that hope that kept everyone going. On the island, their situation was growing dire. Food was scarce, and the constant threat of the elements wore them down. But giving up wasn’t an option. “We have to keep going,” Aiden told Jasper one evening as they huddled around a makeshift fire. “Zia’s counting on us.” Jasper nodded, his face gaunt and tired but resolute. “We’ll make it, Aiden. We have to.” Finally, after what felt like an eternity, a plane appeared on the horizon. The signal fire had been spotted. Rescue was imminent. As the rescue team arrived, relief washed over Aiden. They were saved. But the ordeal wasn’t over yet. They still had to find Zia. Back home, the news of their survival spread quickly. Silvana was the first to reach Aiden, tears streaming down her face. “Aiden! Thank God you’re safe!” she cried,
At the Reyes family house, Amelia couldn’t shake the shock that struck her at the mall the other day. “Who could have imagined that someone so beggarly could come from such a great family of wealth,” she murmured to herself, still reeling. Regret gnawed at her. If only she had treated Aiden better when she had the chance, or at least been kinder to their daughter Zia. Perhaps Aiden might have considered letting her back into his life for Zia’s sake. But now, that opportunity was lost.A knock on her door interrupted her thoughts. It was her Aunt Bella, her expression serious.“Amelia, your father has requested to see you. The whole family is gathered in the central living room for a meeting.”Grudgingly, Amelia dragged herself out of her room and made her way to the meeting. The central living room was filled with the Reyes family. Her father, Alex Reyes, stood at the head of the room, a look of concern on his face. Her mother, Ruby, sat beside him, looking worried. Her cousin, Liam,
“Blaise,” she moaned, “don’t stop.”He smiled, his lips trailing down her neck. “I have no intention of stopping, Amelia.”They moved together in the confined space, their touches growing more intimate and their breaths coming faster. Amelia felt the last of her nervousness melt away, replaced by a fierce need for him.“Blaise,” she whispered, “I need you... now.”He responded by pulling her closer, his hands deftly unbuttoning her blouse and pushing it aside. She did the same with his shirt, their clothes becoming a tangle on the car seat. As their skin pressed together, Amelia felt a rush of warmth and desire.“Amelia,” Blaise breathed, “you’re incredible.”She smiled, her fingers tracing the muscles of his chest. “You make me feel incredible, Blaise.”They continued exploring each other, their touches growing more urgent. Blaise’s hands moved to her hips, guiding her as they pressed even closer. Amelia’s heart pounded, every sensation heightened by the thrill of their clandestine e
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