LOGIN“Fuck! This is all my fault… If I hadn’t brought her to this hell, she would never have experienced anything like this in her life.” Ricardo’s face tightened into a hard frown. “My daughter coming to this house is a blessing. A miracle. This is her home not a hell.” Tarzan dropped his hand from his eyes and closed the distance between them. He stopped so near that Ricardo caught the sharp scent of drug on him. *Now I understand why he’s behaving like a mad dog,* Ricardo thought. “Your daughter, you say? Where the fuck were you when she was violated—repeatedly. Night after night?” He spoke straight into Ricardo’s face, eyes locked, noses almost touching, as if daring him to throw the first punch. Rosa tensed, terrified a fight was about to erupt. Tarzan no longer saw Ricardo as anything more than an old man he could put on the floor if he chose. Ricardo too was at his limits. Without a word his fist landed across Tarzan’s cheek. "You disrespect me, boy. You think you
Ricardo's eyes dropped to Tarzan's clenched fists. They were still bleeding from the faces he'd smashed through to reach Lord Ricardo's bedroom. Blood dripped slowly from his knuckles onto the floor. "Tarzan, say something! What happened to Lena?" Rosa snapped impatiently. Tarzan ignored her, still glaring at Ricardo like he would snap his head off his neck. Tears had carved tracks down his cheeks, but he didn't wipe them away. He didn't even seem to notice them—too consumed by rage to register the grief flooding his face. Rosa started sobbing and made to stand from the bed, her heavy body making her groan. Ricardo held her back. "Let go of me, Ricardo. I need to make sure Lena is okay. Tarzan isn't acting out like this for nothing. I need to go to Lena's place and see for myself." Tarzan's eyes shifted to her then he scoffed. Rosa froze, feeling disrespected by that sound he made. "Isn't it too late for that?" he muttered. "You're heavy now—you must have been
AUTHOR'S POV Ricardo and Rosa lay in bed, both suffering from sudden insomnia despite the success of the welcome dinner they had hosted for Lena. Rosa sighed. Ricardo was behind her, his arm draped across her waist. He pressed a soft kiss to her neck and breathed aganist her skin. "What troubles you, my love?" "I can't seem to sleep," she whispered. "Why? What troubles you? Please talk to me," Ricardo replied softly. Rosa sighed again. "At first, I was worried about how she would take the news about Andre and the girls not being related to her. I'm glad she was able to get past the and happily interacted with the relatives we invited. That heavy chapter has been turned and settled. However, I can't help but think about how broken she will be when she eventually learns the truth behind her baby's death—and how Andre drugged and violated her multiple times while she was grieving." She sobbed. "I just can't bring myself to imagine it. You saw how shaken she was just by knowing
My heart immediately rejected the idea. No, It would only make everything worse. And if Father had gotten the information from the doctor. Wouldn't they have told me? Wouldn't they have said something if the doctor had confirmed that what I remembered was real? So this may simply my fear taking advantage of everything Father had revealed tonight. Maybe my mind was connecting things that had no connection at all. I took a deep breath. "That's it," I whispered to myself. "I'm overthinking." I turned on the tap and splashed cold water onto my face, hoping the cold water would calm my racing heart. Then suddenly— The bathroom door opened. "Lena." I froze and slowly turned towards the door.. Don't cry, smile. I took a slow breath. "Babe...." I said flashing a smile. Tarzan stood in the doorway, giving me the look that told me he was curious by also unhappy. "I just had to use the bathroom, I will be right back." His expression didn't change. "You w
LENA'S POV After the party, everyone has returned to the place of rest, but I couldn't fall asleep. I lay beside Tarzan, staring into the darkness, my mind refusing to quiet down. My heart has been heavy since dinner, not just about Andres and his sisters leaving. But something else. I didn't want to bother Tarzan with it when I didn't even know if there was a problem to begin with. I had tried not to think about it but it was impossible. I had believed Andres was my half-brother, the past year. That belief had been the only thing that allowed me to dismiss certain thoughts and convince myself that some things could never have happened. It was morally unimaginable. Something I couldn't even allow myself to consider. But now... Father had also revealed that he had worked with the doctor who was in charge of our family clinic. The same doctor who had told me it was nothing to worry about. How can he trustworthy? Now the horrifying possibility I had buried deep inside my m
"I need some air," Lena said suddenly, rising from her seat. "I'll be right back.""Lena—" Rosa started."It's okay, Rosa. Give her some time," Rita told her sister."I'll go with you," I interjected, already on my feet.Lena looked at me, and for a moment, I saw gratitude flash across her face. She nodded slightly, then turned and walked toward the terrace doors.I followed her out into the cool night air, leaving the muted whispers of the dining hall behind. She was leaning against the railing, her back to me, shoulders shaking with silent sobs."Lena," I said softly, approaching carefully.She didn't turn around."I really thought I was going to see them again. I bought gifts and everything. I rehearsed what I was going to say. I was hoping I'd be able to convince them to take me back as their sister. Now I just feel... mixed up.""I know you bought them gifts," I said, moving to stand beside her. "I saw them in your suitcase. But like I told you before—they don't deserve your love
Suddenly, we heard the front door slam.Jake's head snapped up."Jake?!"Jake's wife, Sarah, called out as she stormed down the stairs like a hurricane in yoga pants and a messy bun. Her face was twisted with pure rage, eyes already red and glassy."You cheating piece of shit!" she screamed, pointi
The message I sent to my husband Mitch was left unanswered. Just like the ones I sent days ago… weeks ago. He had stopped replying to my texts. I scrolled through the one-sided conversation, my heart tightening at how pathetic it looked. Suddenly, a message popped up. Hoping it was his reply, I
MITCH'S POV I was staring at the TV replaying highlights of the match we’d lost 3-1 with bottles on the table in front of me. I cracked open another one, trying to flush down the frustration inside my chest. My childhood friend Jake walked in from the kitchen, towel over his shoulder, and rai
I forced myself up and walked back into the bedroom Mitch and I had shared for three years of our marriage. I hadn’t slept in that bed for over two years now. Not since I left it. Every morning, he used to wake me up to complain about my snoring. I apologized. Then… I started staying awake







