LOGIN105BiancaLoving Raffael’s father was the most exquisite form of self-destruction.The kind you walk into with open eyes, fully aware it will ruin you, and choosing it anyway. I used to wonder, in the quiet hours of the night, what possessed me to stay in a life I never truly wanted.Maybe it was ambition Or maybe, deep down, I simply enjoyed the slow, inevitable burn of becoming something I could never undo.I spent years beside him, carving myself into the perfect woman, quiet when needed, sharp when required, beautiful always. I learned his moods, memorized his silences, and worshiped the space he occupied.And still, it was never me.It was always her.Raffael’s mother owned his soul when she was alive, and even in death, she never loosened her grip. I was just the woman who warmed his bed… never the one who held his heart.“Move.”The command came with a shove, sharp and unnecessary, forcing me forward before I could brace myself.My heel scraped harshly against the ground, but
104RaffaelOf course, I wasn’t the one drugged and tied up in the fucking warehouse.I glanced at Rosella, watching as she chewed on her fingers, her leg bouncing anxiously like she could already feel something going wrong.The tension in her body was almost contagious, but I ignored it, moving through the warehouse slowly, my eyes scanning every exit, every corner, every blind spot.“Nothing is going to happen to you, Rosella. You have my word,” I said, my voice steady, controlled like I hadn’t already planned for every possible outcome.She scoffed, dragging a hand through her already messy hair, the strands catching between her fingers as she let out a shaky breath. “You don’t know how much of a psychopath he is.”“He’s made plans for my child… and the woman who owns my heart.”I let my gaze sweep across the warehouse again before settling on her, calm and unreadable, like none of this was new to me.“Whatever you think he is, Rosella, tonight, I’m worse.”I didn’t miss the way he
103AdriánThe problem with history is that nobody ever really learns from it.At least in my case.“Coffee?” the air hostess asked Emilia, holding a tray in front of her.She shook her head, clutching her belly as she stared out the window.She wasn’t stupid enough to travel unattended. At least five of her best men were on this flight with her.“Adrian, honey, thank you so much for letting us borrow your plane to go to America,” Emilia’s mother said, placing her hand on top of mine.I flashed her a polite smile.I hadn’t planned on re-entering their lives so soon. Rosella was only supposed to be a temporary tool.But during one of my visits to the psychiatric ward, Emilia’s mother saw me. Apparently she was on prescribed Anti-depressants.The moment she did, she rushed toward me like a drowning person spotting land.Yes, I started medication.Because sometimes the distractions fail, and I have to face the simple truth that I am just as sick as I’ve always been.“We have a plane too,
102RaffaelOf all the ways to lose a person, death is the kindest.Emilia was alive, but out of my reach.“At least I know you guys are in a better place,” I whispered, brushing away sand and small stones from my parents’ gravestone.Rolland de Luca and Gisele de Luca.My brother’s gravestone stood right beside theirs. Rosella was crouched in front of it, removing the dead flowers and replacing them with fresh ones while humming softly under her breath.Was she really guilty of the things Emilia was saying?Adrián and Rosella.None of it made any sense.“Remember when we used to dance so they’d buy us ice cream?” she said, turning to face me with a smile.I laughed softly at the memory. I could still picture us in striped pajamas, trying to choreograph to earn ice cream for dinner instead of whatever healthy concoction Mama had found on the internet.“Back when Pamela was alive,” she sighed.We fell silent at the mention of her name. Pamela had been her older sister, the one who died
101EmiliaHe didn’t even do enough to stop me.No chasing after me. No calling my name.I could only feel his gaze burning into the back of my neck as Nora loaded some of my things into her car.“Don’t fucking cry, Emi,” Nora muttered subtly as she slammed her boot shut.I bit down harshly on my lip, shaking my head.“I won’t… I won’t,” I murmured to myself repeatedly.Nora headed to the driver’s seat while I slipped into the passenger seat.“Wait… a second please,” I told her.I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. My hands were shaking, and Nora reached over, placing hers over mine.“Deep breaths, Emi. You did good. You shouldn’t stay in a place where you’re not respected.”Her words were enough to break the dam of tears I had been holding back.“He didn’t even try to believe me.”“That’s reason enough to leave, Emilia.”“Tempesta!”The shout made both of us snap our heads backward.Through the rear window, Raffael was jogging toward the unmoving car, only a few st
100EmiliaEmilia was adorable when she was jealous.I leaned back in my chair, watching her frown across the room, and couldn’t help the small smirk tugging at my lips.“Emi, did you get enough sleep?” I finally asked, stretching my arms over my head.I hadn’t slept all night. Ronan and I had been at the shipments, trying to figure out why my goods kept getting intercepted.I’d lost close to three million dollars.Emilia scoffed, throwing her hands up in annoyance.“So you think I’m rambling about how your fucking childhood best friend is a threat just because I didn’t get enough sleep?”I raised a brow, and my silence answered for me.“I heard her talking to Adrian,” Emilia practically yelled, and I flinched when the sharpness of her voice made my head start pounding all over again.With a sigh, I pushed to my feet, my chair scraping back as I walked toward her.“Baby,” I said softly, taking both her hands in mine and lifting them to my lips.“I promise you… Rosella wouldn’t do anyt
33RaffaeleThe city slept, but I didn’t.I burned with a longing I couldn’t control.“Any news?” I asked Ronan, downing another shot of whiskey.My third glass in an hour.Ronan shook his head, his phone pressed to his ear.Searching for her quietly was like walking on a knife's edge.I had to rea
35Emilia.I couldn’t feel my legs.The cold bit into my skin, but I was too scared to stop.“Shit,” I whispered when something sharp pierced my bare foot.My feet were probably bleeding by now, but the adrenaline wouldn’t let me feel it.God, I really hoped Ricardo hadn’t found out what Isabella d
N/B: Ricardo was first mentioned in Chapter 1132Emilia“Stop being a pussy and show your face,” I yelled, but my voice only echoed through the empty space.No response. Again.I was kidnapped again.And this time, they didn’t even have the decency to leave my clothes on.I was shaking on the cold
31RaffaeleI was trying to get into the new month spirit by reducing my body count of murders.Bianca was making it very hard for me.I took a deep breath as I stared at my father’s mistress, who refused to meet my eyes.“You do know the only reason I keep you alive isn’t because of my father,” I







