Okay okay... I know you guys want a backstory on Emilio and Evelyn's relationship. Am I right?😂😂
Emilio’s POV I wake up early, well before the first light of dawn. It’s one of those restless mornings when sleep slips away, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Quietly, I get out of bed and head to the closet. There’s a box I haven’t opened in years, filled with pieces of my past. I sit on the floor, the box in front of me, and begin to sift through its contents. Old papers, letters, a few keepsakes. My fingers brush against something familiar, and I pull out a photograph. It’s Sofia. Her smile is as radiant in the picture as it was in life. My heart aches with the memory, and suddenly I’m transported back to Pittsburgh, six years ago. Back then, life had been full of joy and laughter. Sofia, Valentina, and I lived in a cosy house where every morning began with the sound of our daughter’s laughter and the smell of fresh coffee brewing in the kitchen. ***Flashback “Papa, look!” Valentina’s excited voice echoes in my mind. She runs into the room, her dark curls bouncing, holdi
I closed the box containing the memories of my past with a soft click. As I stood up, I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of nostalgia lifting slightly off my shoulders. Today was a new day, and I needed to freshen up and prepare for what lay ahead. I left my room and headed downstairs, the sound of clinking dishes and cheerful chatter growing louder with each step. “Good morning,” I greeted as I entered the kitchen. Skylar, was there with the children, already setting the table for breakfast. The sight of them brought a smile to my face. “Morning, Emilio,” Skylar replied, her voice warm and welcoming. The kids echoed her greeting, their faces lighting up with innocent joy. I joined them at the table, savouring the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm toast. As we settled in, Skylar turned to me with a curious glint in her eyes. “So, Emilio, tell me, how did you meet Evelyn?” she asked, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “And how did your relationship develop?” I chuc
Emilio’s POV***FlashbackEvelyn and I were sitting at our usual lunch spot, a quaint café with a view of the city park. We had developed a comfortable routine of meeting here, discussing business, and sometimes just chatting about life.As we finished our meals, Evelyn looked at me with a thoughtful expression. “Emilio, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”Curious, I set down my coffee cup. “What’s that?”She hesitated for a moment, then smiled. “Would you like to go on a date with me? Outside of our usual business lunches, I mean.”The question took me by surprise. I felt a mix of emotions—excitement, fear, and a pang of sadness. It had been five years since Sophia, had passed away, and I was still navigating the waters of grief.“Evelyn, I...” I began, struggling to find the right words. “I really enjoy spending time with you, but I’m not sure if I’m ready. It’s been hard since Sophia died, and I don’t know if I’m ready to move on.. and there’s my daughter too..
Skylar’s life had found a rhythm she never thought possible. After years of a marriage that lacked the warmth of a true partnership, she was now revelling in the new relationship with Pietro. The way they had eased into each other’s lives felt natural, and it was heart-warming to see her sons, Jared and Lorenzo, bond with Sofia. The sound of children playing in the backyard filled the house with a joyful energy that Skylar cherished. “Mom, look! Sofia taught us a new game,” Jared exclaimed as he and Lorenzo ran into the kitchen, their faces flushed with excitement. “That’s wonderful, sweetie. Just be careful not to break anything,” Skylar responded, her voice full of affection as she chopped vegetables at the kitchen island. Sofia was staying the night at their place as her father left to attend a convention out of town. On the other hand, Emilio and Valentina had also found new happiness. After five years of mourning his late wife, Emilio had opened his heart to Evelyn, to anoth
Valentina lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. She couldn’t shake the image of Evelyn’s blood from her mind. She had worked so hard to move past the trauma of her mother’s death, but tonight it felt as fresh as it had five years ago. She rolled onto her side, pulling the blanket tighter around her, trying to will herself to sleep. But the memories wouldn’t leave her alone. She remembered being six years old, standing in the bank next to her mother, holding her hand. She remembered the sound of gunfire, the feel of her mother’s hand slipping from hers, and the sight of the blood. Valentina squeezed her eyes shut, but the memories kept replaying. Eventually, exhaustion overcame her, and she fell into a fitful sleep. Her dreams were plagued by the same images—her mother’s face, the sound of the gunshot, the pool of blood spreading on the bank floor. Each time she woke up gasping, her heart racing. The third time she woke up screaming, Sofia was there, shaking her gently. “Valentin
Pietro pulled up to the quaint restaurant, still shaking off the remnants of his red-eye flight. The convention had been draining, and he was looking forward to a quiet meal before heading over to Skylar’s to pick up his daughter, Sophia. The bell above the door chimed as he entered, and the warm, homey aroma of baked bread and fresh herbs greeted him. “Table for one, please,” he said to the hostess, offering a tired smile. She nodded and led him to a small table by the window. Pietro settled in, glancing over the menu, when a familiar voice caught his attention. “Mr. Reynolds, you must understand, our growth potential is immense,” the voice was insistent, pleading. Pietro’s eyes darted to a corner booth where Jason, sat with another man. Jason’s face was set in a stern mask, his posture rigid. “No, Marcus. I’ve heard enough,” Jason said, cutting the other man off. Pietro’s interest waned, and he turned his attention back to the menu. He had just decided on a pasta dish whe
A few days later, Pietro arrived at Skylar’s house with a bright bouquet of balloons and a bag of gifts, ready to bring some joy to the kids. As he stepped out of his car, he could hear the laughter and shouts of children playing in the backyard. His own daughter, Sophia, was already here, enjoying the afternoon with Skylar’s children and her brother Emilio’s daughter. She seemed to be here more often than their own place. He liked it though, at least she wouldn’t be all on her own.Skylar greeted him at the door with a warm smile and a peck to his cheek. “Hey, you! The kids are going to be so excited.”Pietro handed her the balloons returning her kiss. “I thought they’d like these. And I’ve got some gifts in here for all three of them too.”Skylar’s eyes sparkled. “You always know how to make their day.”They walked into the house, where Emilio was lounging in the living room, a soccer game playing on the TV. Jared, and Lorenzo ran up, their faces lighting up at the sight of the
Skylar paced around the living room, glancing nervously at Valentina’s closed bedroom door. Emilio sat on the couch, head in his hands, deeply worried. Valentina, had been struggling with anxiety for a few days now, and had experienced three panic attacks in just two days. It had been a sudden twist from the years she had gone without an attack, and the intensity was alarming. Her cousins, Jared and Lorenzo, were energetic boys who didn’t fully understand the impact of their loud noises and constant activity on Valentina’s condition. Currently, she had locked herself in her room and had refused to talk to anyone. Her sobs were deafening and the boys had been freaked out by her sudden behaviour, Lorenzo even going as far as sitting in front of her room, and balling his eyes out as she cried inside. That was to be expected as he had grown up with her and had been with her longer than Jared. Jared on the other hand, had been curious and kept asking questions about the current situatio