MasukAUTHORS POVRiana frowned. "I mean, after everything happened. My memory is still blurry around that period. I remember certain things, but there are gaps I can't explain."Katherine went completely still.For a moment, she looked as though she'd forgotten how to breathe.Riana noticed immediately."What's wrong?""Nothing.""Katherine.""I'm fine.""No, you're not."Katherine looked away, her hands twisting together in her lap.Riana sat forward."I've known you for years. You really think you can lie to my face and get away with it?""I'm not lying.""Then tell me what happened."Katherine's eyes filled with tears."Please, Riana."The sound of her voice made Riana pause."Please don't make me be the one to tell you.""Why?" Riana asked, her frustration rising. "Why is everyone acting like my life is some secret I'm not allowed to know about? It's my memory, Katherine. Whatever happened, it happened to me!""I know!""Then why won't you tell me?"Katherine broke down."Because I don
AUTHORS POVShe reached for her phone, only to discover it wasn't where she expected it to be.Her smile disappeared."Where's my phone?"Matteo continued eating."I kept it."She stared at him. "You did what?""I thought you needed a break from everything outside this house.""You had no right to take my phone without asking me!"He put his fork down."You're right. I should have asked." His voice softened."I wasn't trying to upset you, Riana. I wanted you to have enough space to recover without worrying about everything happening outside."She looked away, still displeased."You could have told me.""Already taken note."He didn't make excuses, and that took some of the fight out of her.After a moment, she sighed."Fine. But I want it back.""You'll get it back.""Promise?""I promise."She picked up another piece of toast, though she couldn't resist sneaking a glance at him."Who taught you to cook this well, anyway?"A small smile appeared on Matteo's face."My mother."Riana st
AUTHORS POVRiana woke with a strangled gasp, her fingers twisted tightly into Matteo's shirt.For a moment, everywhere seemed blurry.Her chest rose and fell rapidly, and her entire body trembled as though she had just escaped something terrible.Sweat dampened her forehead, and loose strands of hair clung to her cheeks.She could still see the flames behind her closed eyes, hear the terrible sounds that had followed her through the nightmare.Fire.It was everywhere."Riana."Matteo's voice reached her through the haze.She opened her eyes, but the fear hadn't left her. Her gaze darted around the dimly lit bedroom before settling on him.Only then did she seem to realize that she was in his arms, her hands gripping his shirt as though letting go would send her tumbling back into the nightmare.Matteo drew her closer, wrapping both arms around her trembling frame."Hey." He brushed the damp hair away from her face. "Look at me."Riana struggled to steady her breathing."You're safe,"
AUTHORS POVFor the first time, something resembling genuine interest flickered across her face."I'd like to see you try.""Be careful what you wish for.""Oh, I am." She tilted her head. "But even if you succeed, you won't walk away untouched. Wars have consequences, Matteo. People lose things. People get hurt."Her silver eyes held his."People die."His expression remained unchanged."If you're threatening Riana, you'd better reconsider.""I'm simply reminding you that you're not the only one who can make someone suffer.""Listen to me carefully, Layla." His voice dropped. "I can bring your organisation down and protect her at the same time. Don't mistake my patience for an inability to do both."She studied him for a long moment."Why are you so obsessed with her?"Valerio shifted slightly beside him, but Matteo didn't look away from Layla."I don't need a reason to be obsessed with whats mine.""That's exactly what will ruin you one day.""If Riana is the reason, I doubt I'll co
AUTHORS POVMatteo's expression changed the moment Riana mentioned the fire."Where did you hear that from?" he asked.Riana frowned at his sudden seriousness. "So it is about the fire?""Riana, I'm asking you a question." His voice hardened. "Where did you hear that from?"She hesitated, taken aback by his reaction. "I've been having these dreams lately.""What dreams?""Dreams about fire." She lowered her gaze to her hands. "I'm surrounded by it, and no matter where I turn, there's nowhere to go. I keep crying, Matteo. Sometimes I wake up feeling as though I've been crying for hours."Matteo said nothing."The dreams feel so real," she continued. "I can't see anyone clearly, and I don't understand what's happening. But there's always fire. Everywhere."Her eyes lifted to his."What if that's what happened to me in real life?""No."The answer came too quickly.Riana stared at him. "How can you be so sure?""Because you're having nightmares, Riana. That's all.""Then why would I keep
Authors POV"I know you've been cooped up in here, and I know you're tired of everyone telling you what to do. But you haven't fully recovered yet. Give yourself a little more time."She studied him."And after that?""After that, you can go back to driving me insane downstairs instead of doing it from here."A reluctant smile tugged at her lips."You're already insane. I have nothing to do with it.""Whatever helps you sleep at night."She shook her head, but the tension between them had eased a little.Matteo reached for her hand, brushing his thumb over her knuckles. She allowed it for a moment before looking up at him again."There's something else, isn't there?"His hand stilled."Why would you think that?""Because every time I ask you about what's happening, you give me a different excuse. You keep saying it's because of my health, but I don't believe that's the whole story."He released her hand and stood."You're overthinking things.""Then tell me I'm wrong."He didn't answe







