LOGINArlari's POVFor some reason, Severiano's room became where I was mostly found after the twins arrived.I let my fingers hover over the picture on his nightstand for a second before I finally pick it up, each time I was in this room, I would always glance at it.Irene stares back at me, frozen in that same smile I don’t think I’ll ever forget.She looked like she was about to say something reckless, even in that picture, she looked very much alive.“I didn't think a time would come when you'd exist only in a frame,” I murmur, my thumb brushing lightly over the glass.It’s been a year.A whole year, and somehow it still doesn’t feel real. Some days it sits quietly in the background, like something I’ve learned to live around. Other days like this, it feels like it just happened yesterday. Fresh.Raphael hasn’t said much about it.That’s not surprising, he never says much about anything, but I see it. I see the way he’s changed.Not in a loud way, not in the way people can point at an
Severiano’s POVDeath can be a tool, and a weapon.When the news said I was dead, I let it live.I watched from a distance, unseen, untouched. Alejandro believed it, that was all I needed.I returned to my mansion before dawn, it was still empty and cold. But not abandoned.I walked through every room slowly, my steps calm, my mind clear. Every corner held memories of her, her smiles, her voice, the way she’d jump into my arms, her pet name for me, the way she looked at me. And the way she connected quickly with Arlari.I snapped out of memory lane because there was work to do.The bomb was placed carefully, then I left, nd I waited.From a distance, I watched them come.Alejandro, and his men, walking into my house like they had already won.Fools.I said nothing, until they were all inside, then I pressed the trigger.The explosion was loud and final, fire swallowed everything. No survivors.Alejandro was gone, for good.I didn't waste time at the scene, I moved to the address Raf
Arlari’s POV“He can’t be dead,” I repeated, my voice breaking again.The words kept coming out, like if I said them enough times, they would become true.“He can’t be dead…”The car felt too small, too tight, like there was no air left inside. My chest hurt from crying, my throat burned, and my head kept spinning.Rafael didn’t say anything, he just kept driving.His hands were firm on the steering wheel, his face cold and unreadable. But I knew better now. I had seen him break just minutes ago, now… everything was gone.I wiped my face with shaky hands, but the tears didn’t stop.“Say something,” I whispered.He didn’t respond, and that silence scared me more than anything.“Rafael…”“I don’t believe it,” he said finally.His voice was low, but he sounded dangerous.I turned to look at him.“You don’t?” I asked weakly.He shook his head once.“No.”A small and fragile hope flickered inside me.“He’s not that easy to kill,” Rafael added.I nodded, forcing my heart to believe those wo
Arlari’s POVEverything inside me felt stiff the moment I met his gaze, like my whole body had stopped working.Severiano was not the same man standing in front of me anymore, for the first time I saw him let his guard completely down.His hands were still on my stomach, warm and firm, but his eyes… his eyes were different. There was something fragile in them, something that made him look human. Something I had never seen before.“You’re pregnant…” he repeated.I nodded slowly.“Yes.”He stood frozen for a while, then did something I did not expect.His hand moved slightly, pressing more carefully against my stomach, like he was afraid he could hurt the fetus.His breathing changed, and then my heart sank when I saw a tear. Just one.It slipped down his face before he could stop it.My heart broke instantly.“Severiano…” I whispered.He looked away immediately, like he didn’t want me to see it. But it was too late because I had already seen it.This man… this dangerous, feared man… w
Severiano’s POVI did not sleep that night, not because I could not, but I chose not to.Arlari slept beside me, curled into my chest, her breathing uneven at first, then slowly settling as the fever weakened her. I kept my arm around her the entire night.Every time she moved, every time her breathing changed, I was awake.Danny being alive should have been enough to calm things, but it wasn’t. Alejandro did not make mistakes like that, he did not lose people unless he wanted to.So no, this was not over.The next morning, the sun casted warm glow through the window. Arlari stirred beside me, her fingers tightened slightly on my shirt before her eyes opened.For a moment, she looked confused, then everything came back to her.“Danny…” she whispered.“He’s alive,” I said immediately.Her eyes searched mine.“I’m taking you to him.”She pushed herself up too quickly, and I steadied her before she could fall.“Carefull,” I said.“I’m fine,” she insisted.She wasn’t, but I let it pass.T
Severiano's POVI have seen people break before, men, women, enemies, and allies.I have seen Arlari break down before, but this…this was different.I stood there in the kitchen, watching Arlari fall apart in front of me, my heart broke. I felt like I had failed her.She trusted me to save her brother, but I couldn't do that on time.Even now, she still trusted me, even with her brother’s hand sitting in that box, even with her world collapsing, she still looked at me like I could fix it.Her sobs filled the kitchen, soft at first, then uncontrollable. Her body shook.I should have stopped this before it got here, I should have reached him first.My jaw tightened as anger shot through me, I reached for my phone and dialed Rafael immediately and put the call on speaker.He answered on the first ring.“Boss.”“Report.”There was background noise on his end. Movement, voices.m, and wind.“We’re at the warehouse,” he said.My eyes darkened slightly.“And?”He hesitated for a while.“Dann
Arlari’s POVSeveriano gave permission.That alone told me how dangerous this was.Danny would not be here if Severiano had not allowed it. My brother knew that. He felt it in the way the guards watched him. In the meantime, the house stayed too quiet when he moved.He still did not know why I was
Arlari’s POVThe air in Severiano’s office felt sharp enough to cut skin.He stood by the glass wall, hands behind his back, shoulders tight. He was quiet, but it was the kind of quiet that warned people to run.I had seen him angry before. This was different. This was betrayal anger. The kind that
Arlari's POVJust like I had predicted, Severiano did not let me have my release.That was his punishment.I woke up the next morning with a sore throat and an aching body. My jaw hurt when I swallowed. My neck felt stiff, like I had slept wrong, though I knew I hadn’t slept much at all.My throat
Arlari’s POVI followed him deeper into the mansion, my steps quiet but my heart loud.Severiano walked ahead of me, posture straight, movements controlled. If he was affected by whatever had been slipped into his drink, he did not show it openly. But I noticed the small things. The way he paused f







