LOGINCHAPTER 56
The garden lights glowed under the velvet night sky as I stumbled through the hedges, tears blurring the pathway ahead of me. I could still hear the voices behind me, the whispering condolences, the pointing looks, the blow of my past revealed under crystal chandeliers. My dress, that deep emerald gown, felt like a costume now, extravagant, exposed.Marcus finally found me at the fountain’s edge, the water silver in the lamplight, mist curling around us.“Alyssa,” he called gently, stepping closer with concern in his eyes. “Please talk to me.”I turned to face him, grief and anger mingling in my chest. I felt raw. Vulnerable.“I can't,” I whispered, voice trembling. “I can’t do this. Not here. Not now.”He reached for me, hesitated, then pulled me into his arms.“You don’t have to do it alone,” he said softly. “I’m right here.”But I jerked away. “Stop pretending, Marcus!” I cried. “You brought meCHAPTER 59 *Alyssa’s POV*The early morning air felt crisp as the car pulled away from my apartment. Dawn was still stretching her fingers across the skyline, the city lights blinking out one by one. My suitcase sat in the backseat, wheels spinning quietly on the leather floor. I sat beside Marcus’s goodbye text in my pocket: Be safe. I had sent one back: I will be. But the quiet hum of the engine didn’t calm me. Not entirely.I was headed out of the city with Rylan Russo, my boss, the mafia heir, the man whose world I only glimpsed in flashes of glances and tension. The trip was framed as corporate: a key client in a neighboring country, meetings, dinners, the familiar shutter‑click of business suits. But lately nothing that involved him felt normal.Rylan’s driver dropped us at the private terminal of the airport. The building was sleek glass and steel, everything polished and exact. Rylan stepped out first, adjust
CHAPTER 58The dim light of the café flickered as the door slammed open, a cold gust sweeping in with the figure that stepped through. Alyssa’s breath hitched as the silhouette moved closer—tall, confident, and unmistakably familiar.“Ruby?”The woman’s eyes glinted with something sharp and dangerous—years of bitterness, envy, and a darkness Alyssa had never truly seen before. Her lips curled into a mocking smile.“Well, well, if it isn’t little miss perfect,” Ruby hissed, voice dripping with venom. “Didn’t expect to see me here, did you?”Alyssa’s heart pounded harder, confusion and fear crashing through her like a wave.“Why... why are you here?” Alyssa managed to ask, her voice barely above a whisper.Ruby laughed—a harsh, cold sound that made the hairs on the back of Alyssa’s neck stand on end. “I’ve been watching you. Always watching. Sending those lovely little messages that kept you up at night? Yeah, that was me.
CHAPTER 57Alyssa stared at the photo in her hand—one Amelia had snapped earlier of Samantha playing by the garden. Her daughter’s soft golden hair shimmered under the sun, falling in loose curls around her shoulders. But it wasn’t just the hair. It was the curve of her chin. The arch of her brow. The way her smile tilted slightly to the left.Something about it stirred unease deep in Alyssa’s chest.Amelia, who has just arrived for a few days to pick up somethings was stairing at her in curiosity.“I just… I don’t get it,” she murmured, voice barely above a whisper. “Marcus said something strange last night. About knowing what I went through in school.”Amelia, sitting beside her, frowned. “What do you mean strange?”Alyssa swallowed hard. “He said... he knew about what happened to me back then. The assault.”Amelia’s eyes widened. “But, you never told him, did you?”“No,” Alyssa whispered. “I never told anyone
CHAPTER 56The garden lights glowed under the velvet night sky as I stumbled through the hedges, tears blurring the pathway ahead of me. I could still hear the voices behind me, the whispering condolences, the pointing looks, the blow of my past revealed under crystal chandeliers. My dress, that deep emerald gown, felt like a costume now, extravagant, exposed. Marcus finally found me at the fountain’s edge, the water silver in the lamplight, mist curling around us. “Alyssa,” he called gently, stepping closer with concern in his eyes. “Please talk to me.”I turned to face him, grief and anger mingling in my chest. I felt raw. Vulnerable. “I can't,” I whispered, voice trembling. “I can’t do this. Not here. Not now.”He reached for me, hesitated, then pulled me into his arms. “You don’t have to do it alone,” he said softly. “I’m right here.”But I jerked away. “Stop pretending, Marcus!” I cried. “You brought me
CHAPTER 55The grand hall shimmered under a sea of crystal chandeliers, their light dancing off the polished marble floors and gilded walls. Tonight was supposed to be a celebration of unity—a gathering of the Lezandro and Milano families, tied together by marriage, blood, and business alliances. Yet beneath the glittering surface, old wounds festered, and grudges whispered like ghosts in every corner.Alyssa entered the room on Marcus’s arm, her emerald-green gown flowing like liquid silk, hugging her slender frame and highlighting her graceful neck. The deep V neckline balanced tastefully with long, sheer sleeves embroidered with delicate patterns that caught the light with every subtle movement. Her dark hair was styled in soft waves pinned loosely to one side, and her makeup was flawless yet understated—deep plum lips and smoky eyes that shimmered with hidden strength and vulnerability.She felt the weight of countless eyes—curious, calculating, and no
*CHAPTER 54**Alyssa’s POV*The quiet hum of the air conditioner was the only sound filling Rylan’s spacious office as I stood at the doorway, clutching the file to my chest like it could shield me from everything he made me feel.I stepped in slowly, the sharp click of my heels echoing too loudly on the marble floor.He didn’t look at me.He was at the window, tall and imposing, his hands in his pockets, the back of his suit perfectly pressed. The skyline behind him bathed him in golden light, yet all I saw was the storm beneath his stillness.“You called for the quarterly projections,” I said, my voice firm even though my heart pounded. “Here they are.”His head tilted slightly, just slightly. “I didn’t think you’d come.”“I work here, Rylan,” I replied, walking up to place the file on his desk. “I don’t mix business with—”“With what?” he interrupted, finally turning to face me.With us.







