MasukARIELLA Asher shook his head. “Nothing to be concerned about. Just family drama between him and his sister. You know how siblings can be.” I gave a small, humourless smile. “I wouldn’t know. I never had any.” He looked at me. “You’re lucky. You were an only child.” “I never thought so,” I sai
ARIELLA Leon wouldn’t shut up about Sia. He was telling everyone, at every single moment, as if they hadn’t already heard. Margaret, of course, mentioned she had cooked for Luca and Sia's parents when they visited the Don, but she didn’t know Sia that well. So, during lunch, I turned to Maria. “
ARIELLA “She is Luca’s sister. Sia. She’s really good with kids, apart from her job at the elementary school, she also teaches Sunday school. I won’t say much more, you’ll learn the rest from her. But she’s a nice girl. She used to come to the house with Luca when he visited with his parents.” I n
ARIELLA I leaned slightly against the wall. “I think when he first got here, everything distracted him. The house, the change… everything. But I know eventually that won’t be enough.” Maria nodded. “It’s good you’re giving him something stable.” “Exactly.” She smiled. “Alright. I’ll let you go
ARIELLA We left the dining room and walked toward Asher’s office. “So,” I asked, “what are you doing today?” “I’m going to see Luca at the famiglia house,” he said as he walked behind his desk and picked up a few documents. “To do what?” “To find more details about Yuri and his brother,” he sai
ARIELLA I nudged Asher with my elbow to shut him up. Leon had already grabbed a piece of toast and started eating like someone who had not seen food in weeks. “Slow down,” I told him. “I’m rebuilding my strength,” he said with his mouth full. Asher sat down at the head of the table beside him.
There was the way he said it, and there was the crazed look in his eyes that told me he meant every word. And I realized, right then and there, that I was not just fighting for myself—I was fighting for Leon. What was I even thinking? That I could just drive away and he wouldn’t chase me down? That
I went straight to my apartment. It was small—just one tiny room divided into a kitchen, a cramped bathroom, a bedroom, and a barely-there sitting area. The walls were dull, the furniture mismatched, but it was home. I prepared Leon’s soup first, making sure it was just the right temperature befor
Why not? Why not pack a few things—just enough to make it look like I was still here, just enough to not raise any suspicion—and leave before they could come for me? I couldn’t help but wonder if this was the only chance I’d ever get. I couldn't just sit here like a duck, waiting for when Asher w
I stood there, staring at him, speechless. Luca turned to leave, but then he stopped. Slowly, he came back toward me, taking my hand in his. His gaze locked with mine, softer than I had ever seen it. "I always liked you, Ari. I am so sorry about what happened to you. I know the next few days won’t







