" Lena ... be happy , " she whispered , and then her eyes closed forever . A week later , after handling the funeral alone , I returned to the villa . The huge house was empty of Damian . The housekeeper sta- mmered , " Mr. Nordling ... went with Miss Vance for a dress fitting . T - tonight is their engagement party . " I checked my phone's calendar . It was today . I also had 99 missed voice messages from Damian . His tone was softer , full of expla- nations " Lena , I was wrong to do what I did that day . But I was trying to protect you . If I had defended you , Seraphina would have only hated you more , and she would have come after you even harder . " I didn't want to hear it . The eighteen - year - old Liam would have fought for me , bare - fisted and direct . The new Damian's way of Chapter 1 protecting me was to help another woman humiliate me in public . 11 56 Another message popped up . " My secretary said you went back to the village . It's good for you to get away for a bit . You can spend some time with your mother . " My mother ? Laughter and tears mingled on my face . The kind old woman who had treated him like her own son was gone forever . I sent the housekeeper away , retrieved the hairpin from the drawer , and went to their engagement party . It was eight o'clock when I arrived , just as the ceremony was reaching its peak . Damian , in a sharp suit , was gently sliding a ring onto Seraphina's finger . I had rushed out without a coat and stood shivering at the edge of the crowd , clutching the hairpin . The diamond on the ring was blinding , its brilliance mocking my poverty . After the formalities , Damian raised his glass with the guests , their laughter weaving a warm melody . His eyes scanned the room and then , they met mine . His smile froze . He saw the black mourning ribbon pinned to my chest . He started to move towards me but Seraphina pulled him away to greet another guest . As he was led away , he looked back at me and mouthed the words , " Wait for me . " I sneered . That was what I hated most about him . He was never completely evil , but his love was never pure either . I turned , handed the hairpin to a passing waiter , and said calmly , " Please give this to Mr. Nordling . And wish him a happy engagem- \ ent . " Damian Nordling , from this moment on , we are strangers.000000 ; E ◆◆◆◆◆ band was the long - lost heir to the Nordling family fortune . And when they found him , I was standing right beside him , three months pregnant . In the blink of an eye , he became a revered corporate successor . I remained the girl from a small fishing village . Everyone said we no longer belonged together , but Damian Nordling never seemed to care . I thought I was still his wife , legally and in every other way that mattered . It wasn't until I heard he was engaged to the daughter of the Vance family that I understood the truth : our marriage had already been voided . Later , on the day I had an appointment scheduled for an abortion , a vision of a child suddenly appeared before me , like a projection on a screen . Her tiny face was scrunched up , her little hands open as she looked at me with tears streaming down her cheeks . " Mommy , I want to live ... please don't abandon me ... " " I love the ocean , just like you ! I'll be your best diving buddy one day ! I want to be your friend , Mommy ! " I could see the child inside me ? I placed a hand on my stomach , and an idea sparked . Fine . I'll keep the daughter , and get rid of the father . " Are you certain you want to leave while you're pregnant ?" Damian's mother asked , twirling a string of pearls around her fingers , her expression hopeful . " Yes , I'm certain . " " Excellent . I will give you a generous sum of money . However , to avoid any complications , you must wait to leave until after Damian ' s engagement in two weeks . " | Chapter 1 11.56 I nodded and signed the contract , a legal promise that I would never return to the city . The rain was pouring outside . When I got back to the villa , I could hear Damian talking with his friend , Preston , in the living room . " Damian , once you're engaged to the Vance girl , what are you going to do with Lena ? Send her back to that fishing village ? " Damian frowned . " Of course not . She's carrying my child . I would never send her back to a place like that . " A bitter smile touched my lips . The " place like that " he spoke of with such disdain held all of our happiest memories . Preston nodded . " Right , it is your kid , after all . Besides , for families like ours , it's not unusual to have three or five women on the side . " " Still , that girl from the village really hit the jackpot . To think she'd just randomly pick a guy who turned out to be the long - lost Nord- ling heir . " " Latching onto the Nordling family ... her ancestors must have done some serious good deeds . " In "CEO, Those Twins Look Just Like You" by CrushReel, a single mother's life takes an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with a charming playboy who unknowingly holds a billionaire secret. As their worlds collide, secrets unravel and hearts intertwine in this captivating romance novel set in a modern office backdrop. Amidst the challenges of raising twins solo, our protagonist finds herself drawn to the enigmatic playboy, unaware of the wealth and complexity hidden beneath his charismatic facade. The juxtaposition of their contrasting lives sets the stage for a tale of unexpected love, where opposites truly attract in ways neither could have imagined. This sweet romance novel delves into themes of family, identity, and the power of love to transcend social boundaries. 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