LOGINARIELLA I took a second before smiling. “Okay,” I said. I didn’t want to push it. I didn’t want him to think I didn’t trust him… or worse, realise that I was jealous. Because that’s what it was, wasn’t it? Leon was already completely taken by her. Something I was still trying to figure out. And
ARIELLA We found Margaret was placing the last bowl on the table. “Everything ready, Margaret?” I asked. “Yes,” she said. “Everything’s ready.” “Okay, I’ll go get everyone.” Maria shook her head, already taking a seat. “I’ll just stay here. Why don’t you go and get them?” I paused, looking at
ARIELLA I froze. It wasn’t inappropriate. It wasn’t… that. But it was.... Familiar. Too familiar. Asher laughed, reaching up to ruffle her hair, messing it up playfully as someone would do with a younger sibling. “Hey, stranger,” he said. Leon stood beside them, smiling brightly, clearly loving
ARIELLA I exhaled. “Okay.” “I’ll see you later,” he said. “Don’t be late for dinner,” I responded. “I want a promise.” A small smile slipped into his voice. “Okay. I promise.” “I love you.” I couldn't help myself. “I love you too.” The call ended and I stayed there for a moment longer, star
ARIELLA The truth was… maybe I did. Maybe I had seen them before. Maybe I had grown up around them. But I didn’t actually know who had died. “I don’t know,” I said honestly. “Maybe.” Leon frowned again. “Then why didn’t you go to the funeral?” I hesitated. “I guess I should have,” I admitted
ARIELLA After breakfast, I tried to keep the morning as normal as possible. For Leon, and most importantly…For myself. “Mom,” Leon said, looking up at me, “should we go and prepare my study room? You told me that I could help.” “Of course,” I said. But before we walked out, I turned toward Marg
When Asher came into my room the next day, I was ready for him. I stood silently beside the door, watching. He didn’t notice me at first. He scanned the room, a slow smile curling on his lips as if he knew something I didn’t. Then he stepped inside and closed the door behind him. That’s when he saw
We stared at each other, neither of us blinking, neither of us breaking until Asher’s voice finally cut through the tension. “Back to the issue at hand,” he said coldly. “I want to know what you were really thinking. I want to know why Luca was here. And I want to know why you were practically nake
Things got worse, so much worse that I ended up feeding Leon dry bread with water. I had baked the bread myself, scraping together what was left of the flour. I tried to make it soft, tried to make it taste like love, but it was just dry, tasteless. That night, after I tucked Leon into bed and kiss
He didn’t say a word, just walked toward me with a softness that felt practised, and calculated. And then almost lovingly, he placed the box in my hand. I stared at him, unsure. My gut twisted. I just knew this had to be another one of his mind games. Another performance I hadn’t agreed to be part







