Mag-log inMichael’s POVThe moment I saw Fernando standing inside that hospital room, my good mood died instantly.It was almost impressive how quickly it happened.Just seconds ago, Theo and I had been laughing outside the room because Theo had nearly spilled coffee on himself while trying to open the door dramatically with one hand. The sound of his complaining had actually made me smile for the first time in days.Then I walked in and saw Fernando.The universe apparently refused to let me breathe peacefully for even one day.Theo noticed the change in me instantly. I felt him glance sideways at me, probably realizing my entire body had gone stiff.Meanwhile Fernando stood there looking painfully calm and beautiful and infuriating all at once.I hated that he still affected me so strongly.Ashley looked ready to throw Fernando out the window despite still being connected to hospital monitors.Nick just looked tired, Ramon looked like he wanted somebody to sedate him and Fernando stared direc
Fernando’s POVThe silence inside the hospital room stretched so long it almost became uncomfortable.Personally, I was enjoying it.Ashley and Nick still looked like they had seen an actual ghost, which, technically, they had.Henry remained frozen near the side of Nick’s bed, staring at me with wide eyes that looked far too much like mine for my own peace of mind.Even after all these years, seeing him up close still did something strange to my chest.Ashley recovered first.Honestly, not surprising. Ashley had always been the loudest emotionally out of all of them.“You—”She stopped abruptly and stared harder at me.“You’re alive.”“Very observant,” I replied calmly.Ashley looked like she wanted to throw something at my face. Unfortunately for her, most objects in hospital rooms were apparently attached to machines.Nick still looked pale with disbelief.“You were buried,” he said weakly.“I know,” I replied.“You had a funeral.”“Yes.”“Michael mourned you for years.”That one h
Fernando’s POVRamon clearly regretted speaking too much already.I could see it in the tension sitting across his shoulders as he stood near the refrigerator section holding a bottle of water like it had suddenly become the most fascinating object in the world.Meanwhile, the young cashier behind the counter still looked personally offended that I had flirted with him while being married.“You really hid the husband thing until the last second,” the cashier complained while rearranging flowers dramatically.“I didn’t hide it,” I corrected calmly. “You simply failed to investigate properly.”“That sounds exactly like something a dangerous man would say.”Ramon sighed quietly under his breath.“So serious this morning,” I commented lightly while picking up the wrapped bouquet from the counter.Ramon glanced at me cautiously.“Mr. Ramirez—”“Fernando" I corrected. He hesitated.“Fernando" he said.The cashier leaned on the counter curiously.“You two work together or something?” he ask
Michael’s POVI woke up completely warm.Theo’s arm was wrapped securely around my waist from behind, his chest pressed against my back while soft morning light slipped through the curtains and painted pale gold across the room.For a few seconds, I just stayed there quietly.Theo’s breathing was slow and even against the back of my neck.The room smelled faintly like him, clean cologne, expensive sheets, and traces of last night still lingering in the air.My body ached pleasantly, especially my hips.The memory immediately made heat crawl up my neck.Theo had been surprisingly relentless once we returned upstairs.I shifted slightly beneath the blankets and immediately regretted it when the soreness reminded me of exactly how little sleep we had actually gotten.A quiet sound escaped me before I could stop it and Theo’s arm tightened instantly around my waist.“Morning,” he murmured sleepily against my shoulder.I blinked.“You were awake?”“No.”“You literally answered me.”Theo bu
Fernando’s POVThe chaos of the night before had faded into pale sunlight stretching across buildings and streets still waking up. Cars rolled lazily through intersections while pedestrians hurried with coffee cups in hand, trying to begin normal lives completely unaware of the violence and madness hidden beneath this town’s calm appearance.Meanwhile, I was standing in front of a roadside flower shop trying to decide whether Ashley would prefer white lilies or pink roses.Life was ridiculous sometimes.The old woman running the flower stand smiled warmly at me as she adjusted a bucket of sunflowers near the entrance.“You look troubled,” she said knowingly.I smirked faintly.“Do I?”“You’ve been staring at those flowers for almost ten minutes" she replied. I glanced back at the bouquets. Honestly, I barely cared about the flowers themselves. I only needed an excuse to visit the hospital again.My men stationed outside had informed me earlier this morning that Henry and Kim were st
Michael’s POVThe doorbell kept ringing again and again and Theo looked one second away from committing actual murder.I was still half bent over the bed trying to steady my breathing while Theo slowly pulled his cock out from me with visible reluctance, muttering something deeply threatening beneath his breath.The sudden emptiness made me exhale shakily and Theo immediately noticed.His eyes darkened.“Don’t make that sound,” he warned.I blinked innocently.“What sound?”“That disappointed sound.”“I don’t know what you’re talking about" I said.Theo stared at me like he absolutely did not believe me then the doorbell rang again.Theo closed his eyes briefly.“I hate whoever is outside" he said then picked up his trousers. A laugh escaped me before I could stop it.Theo paused halfway through pulling on his pants before looking at me with the most exhausted expression imaginable.“You're coming with me” he said.I laughed again, softer this time.The warmth lingering between us st
Fernando’s POV The sound of the door slamming behind me echoed through the halls. For a long moment, I just stood there, my chest rising and falling with a slow, dangerous rhythm. My hands trembled, not with fear, but with the kind of rage that burned too hot to contain. Ashley’s voice still rang
Fernando’s POV There was a time when silence meant peace to me, now, it meant something else entirely. It was like pressure, the kind that built up behind my temples and crawled down my spine until it felt like every breath I took might destroy the room. The scent of oil moved through the air, th
Michael’s POVThe air outside was colder than I expected. I didn’t grab a jacket before walking out, but maybe the chill was exactly what I needed.I took the stone steps down slowly, my hands in my pockets, trying to swallow the lump of anger in my throat.Every step away from the mansion felt lik
Fernando’s POVThe silence that followed was heavy enough to crush air. No one moved, not even me.My finger still hovered over the trigger, the gun steady in my hand, aimed straight at Anabelle’s forehead. Her sobs had quieted into shallow, trembling breaths, the kind that clawed their way out of







