Novel-novel oleh Evelyn

Ophelia's Pov “One,”“Two,”“Three,”“Four,”“Where is the remaining?” I asked aloud as I counted the bottle of yogurt in the refrigerator.I checked everywhere in the refrigerator but didn't find any other pack of yogurt.I was sure I counted 6 before I went to bed yesterday. Then how is it 4 left?I closed the refrigerator and walked out of the kitchen. Ryan was playing a video game in the living room.“Ryan,” I called and he paused his game. “Yes, Mum,”“Did you take yogurt from the refrigerator?” I asked.“No mum,” he said and continued playing his game.Maybe it will be Richard and Raymond. Those two are always up to something. Sometimes, I want to lock them up in a room without food and water for a few hours and let them feel the consequences of their actions, but they will just tear my ears down with their shouting.I walked silently to their room to catch them in the act, but they were not inside their room.About to look for them, I saw Ryder's office slightly ajar with a mu

Ophelia's Pov “It took you guys a long time to reach here,” Mom said when she opened the door.“Grandma,” the boys shouted and ran to hug her.“How are you all doing? You all look good,” she said, checking the three of them.“Granny, you want to know the secret? Richard asked.“Yes,” Mum answered.“Then you must give us cookies first,” Raymond said and they all grinned at her. She laughed at the boys’ tactics before following them inside.“My mum doesn't even care about me anymore,” I told Ryder as we walked inside the house and headed to the garden where everyone would be.“That makes the two of us,” he pulled me closer to him and I smiled.“Love birds, thank you for gracing us with your presence this late,” Lily said from where she was grilling meat. “Sometimes I wonder, it takes up all your time, but then I remember that you have 3 boys, and you could be trying for a girl,” Daniel said, walking towards us. Nichole slapped his shoulder as she came into view with her protruding st

Ophelia's Pov After applying makeup to cover up the hickeys and helping the boys finish up their dressing, we all entered the car and Ryder drove out of the compound with another car following us.Ryder increased security around us since we were having more kids. He didn't want a repetition of what happened with Ryan when he was little.The car pulled in front of the cemetery and I looked back at the boys.“Ready?” I asked and they all nodded.Ryder held Richard and Raymond as they walked in front of Ryan and me.“Mum, did you talk to dad?” Ryan whispered to me.“I tried my best, but you know he loves you and loves what you do,” I told him, and I watched him return his eyes to the floor.“I just want him to see how good I am at playing,” he said, his voice low and my heart reached for him.He just wanted Ryder to see how good he is but what he doesn't know is that Ryder knows. I always record him playing, and we both watch it at night before we sleep.“He knows you are good. You are

Ophelia's Pov “Ryan, Richard, Raymond, come down this minute,” I shouted at the top of my voice as I carried plates out from the kitchen to the dining table.I heard multiple steps running down the stairs. I sighed, tired of telling them to stop running around the house.“Mum, I need help with my hair,”“Mum, I can't find my blue shirt,”“Mum, where did you put my socks,”The three of them all said together immediately they stopped in front of me.I looked at them in awe.Ryan was dressed, but his hair was still damp from the shower, Richard was holding an orange shirt, and Raymond was barefoot.“I will help with your hair after breakfast, Your shirt is in the second drawer by the left, and your socks are in the basket beside your bed,” I answered them and turned, returning to the kitchen.“I didn't see it there,” I heard Raymond complain as his brother's footsteps faded up the stairs.“If you check properly, you will see it,” I shouted from the kitchen and heard him mumble under his

Ophelia's Pov I felt a little hand holding onto my hand. I felt weak and heavy in a kind of way.“She will be fine,” I heard Olivia's voice.I opened my eyes slowly but shut them when the light rays entered my eyes.“Too bright,” I muttered as I opened them again but this time more slowly.“Ophelia?” Olivia came to the other side of the bed. Her eyes were puffy as worry etched on her face.Did she cry? I thought to myself before I heard Ryan's voice beside me on the bed.“Mama,” he had a wide smile on his face as he held onto my hand and the other one on my face.I raised my body up to sit down when I felt like something was taken from my body.“Olivia, where is my baby?” I asked as I looked around the room for my baby.“Relax Ophelia, your baby is fine. He is in another room receiving care,” she smiled at me even though her eyes were saying another thing.“My baby is a boy?” I asked as joy slowly crept into my voice.“Yes,” Olivia replied with a gentle nod, her voice cracking just

Ryder's Pov The voices around me faded as I stared at the door long and hard, the image of her lifeless body boring my head.I slumped to the floor as tears flooded down my face. I didn't know for how long I sat on the floor until I heard a footstep behind me.“Ryder” I heard a familiar voice and raised up my head. Olivia was standing over me, her eyes worried as she looked down at me.“Why are you on the floor? Is the delivery successful?” She asked as her eyes moved to the door swiftly.“The delivery was successful,” I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper as I kept my gaze on the door. “We have a baby boy.” Her eyes lit up briefly, “That is good news, when will they be done with her in there?” She asked and I didn't reply to her. I didn't respond. Not because I didn't want to but because I didn't know what to tell her exactly. Her eyes dimmed when she noticed the way I was trembling. “Why are you out here like this?” she asked, crouching beside me. “Is Ophelia and t

Silvano's pov The drive to the main house was quiet. Luca sat beside me, scrolling through his phone, probably checking for updates we already knew. I kept my eyes ahead and my jaw tight. Something in me was uneasy and I couldn't explain it.We arrived at the gates, and as soon as the guards saw the car, they opened them without question. I parked close to the front entrance and stepped out.Antonio was already waiting by the door, sipping coffee and looking like he hadn’t slept much. “You are late,” he said.“You are lucky I showed up at all,” I replied, brushing past him.Inside, Valentina was pacing the hallway, speaking quickly in Italian to someone on the phone. She glanced up when she saw me, ended the call, and walked over.“We have a situation,” she said quietly, walking over to me. “The CCTV footages are all gone but the hidden car camera is still working so far, so we might have something,” she finished, her voice low and tense.I stiffened. “Gone? As in completely wiped?

Grace's pov“Well?” I asked.She hesitated, chewing the inside of her mouth. “I met someone,” I raised my eyebrows. “You met someone?”“Yes, at the club,”“And?” I asked. “And what?” She asked. “You are the one telling me you met someone. So I am asking you to tell me everything,” I rolled my eyes at her. “Oh,” she said in realization. I almost chuckled but I didn't. She might not just tell me again. “After meeting at the club, we exchanged numbers and we have been talking. He is working with real estate, he is handsome and has a nice build, like a model body type of body.”“You like him but don't know what to do,” I said and she looked at me. “How do you know?” She asked.I shrugged my shoulders, “Because when a girl starts telling another girl about the guy she met, she doesn't know whether to tell him she likes him, accept him or just keep him as friends,”Harper let out a small groan, dropping her head back dramatically. “Ugh, why is it so complicated?”I smiled. “It is not.

Grace's PovI left Silvano in my room to rest and went to the kitchen. He said he was leaving in about an hour, so I wanted to make food for him and pack some for Antonio and Valentina, also. I hummed as I cooked and in about 30 minutes, I was done with cooking. I packed for Valentina and Antonio and served the others food. Luca appeared at the doorway, watching me for a moment before speaking. “You are up early,” he said softly. I smiled and turned to him before turning back to what I was doing. “ Silvano said you were going to the main house in an hour, so I wanted to make food for everyone and pack some for Valentina and Antonio, also.”“Thank you but I don't think Antonio would need it. He is getting fat already. Where is his own, I will eat it.” He said, reaching for the bag I had put their food and I slapped his hand away. “Ouchhh, Grace,” he winced, sitting down on one of the chairs, “why do you do that for?” He asked.“You are not going to eat his food. I will call

Grace's povI stayed like that in Vano's arms, just enjoying his warmth and hearing the steady sound of his heartbeat. He said only Doctor Adrian was attending to them, so that means he would need extra hands. “Vano,” I whispered and he hummed. “I can go with you and help Dr. Adrian to take care of your injured men,”“No,” she said. “You said it yourself that he was the only one attending to your men. He needs help with it,”“A nurse is coming from my hospital to work with him.” He said and I pulled away from his hold.“Your hospital? Isn't that illegal for you to have? You could get caught,”“Relax, Gattina.” He chuckled. “I have a legal business which doesn't have any tie to the mafia, drugs, or anything illegal.”“How?” I was confused. “My father, before he died, made me start a business. He knew he was giving up his empire to me, but he wanted me to be protected, so he would send me off to learn how business is done, and I became a pro at it. He leaned back slightly, meeting

Grace's povIt was a message from Silvano telling me to go to bed that everything was getting taken care of. I wanted to wait till he came back with the others but my body was weak and my eyes could barely stay open. Harper had already fallen back asleep on the couch, and Luca was still stationed near the window, ever watchful.I stared at Silvano’s message one last time, rereading his words over and over: “Everything is fine and taken care of now. Sleep, Grace. I will be back soon before you know it.”I believe him.I stood up slowly, whispered “Goodnight” to Luca, who only spared me a quick glance and nodded at me.Walking to my room felt like dragging my feet through wet cement. But once I got under the covers, the exhaustion hit me hard, and sleep came easily for me. I was back in my home, where my family was. The walls were the same faded blue, and the scent of Mum's cooking lingered in the air. But something was off. The windows were open, and a cold wind blew through, c

Grace's povLater that evening, the house slowly started filling up again.Harper was the first to return, kicking off her shoes dramatically by the door. “I am starving!” she shouted as she entered.Valentina followed behind her, holding a bag of groceries. “You should have eaten before we left,” she said, rolling her eyes.Silvano and Antonio walked in next, already in mid-conversation. The moment Silvano’s eyes met mine from across the room, he smiled softly and everything in me calmed.It felt like home.When did I start feeling like this?When did my definition of home change?Then I remember what Harper and Valentina told me. Was it really through?What if it wasn't true and the things Valentina and Harper said that day were just getting my head?I saw Valentina’s eyes briefly land on Luca, who had just returned to the living room.He looked at her and didn’t look away.I held a smile on my face, and Harper raised an eyebrow at me. “Okay, what did I miss?” She asked beside me I