LOGINHere was Mariana somewhere in fhe city having fun with some crazy friends she laughed, unaware that the one thing protecting her had just shattered.Alright, let’s begin exactly where you want it.The hospital room was too white almost too quiet if not for the beeping sound that came from the monitor beside her bed.Ravenna sat upright against the pillows, fingers lightly tracing the edge of the blanket. The beepimg was steady, Calm, Stable, even though her mind wasn't as stable as her body projected.Ortega stood near the window, phone pressed to his ear. His jaw was tight. His answers were short.“Is she there? Make sure she is by the time i get home tonight. No excusses, uou know how much i hate those."He ended the call slowly.For a moment, he just stood there, staring out at nothing.Then he turned to her, his expression shifted instantly; softer, mote controlled, not emotionless, and not empty.“ Hey my wife." His face lit up when he mentioned that, he had been stopped by Rav
The rain started before Ravenna reached the front door of the mansion.It wasn’t heavy. It was just some light showers and whispering drizzle that coated the marble floors of Ortega’s estate in a dangerous sheen. The guards had retreated under the awning. The sky hung low and grey, as though it too was waiting for something to break.Ravenna stepped out of the car slowly.Her mind had been loud all evening. After Matoe’s resignation to her plea. The way he had looked at her when he said goodbye. The space he created between them, it was wide. It was painful for him to let go, but this was him saying he wouldn't be pushing any further.She was supposed to feel a sense of relief, but she didn't. She felt like something was missing. There was that hollow ache in her chest that couldn't be explained.The front doors opened before she could reach them.Ortega stood there. This had been his ritual since Ravenna decided that she was going to start working.He didn’t smile.He rarely did anym
The office smelled faintly of coffee and fresh papers; a scent Ravenna had grown strangely fond of over the past weeks it wasn't familiar, but it was indeed welcoming. Work had become home away from home, and Laura made it worth the while, even though her boss didn't quite make her comfortable because of his constant advances. Telling her husband was out of the equation because what if Matoe was right? What if he is the one that was her one true love. What if telling Ortega would foreclose the love she once had and might never get again. "Just wait till you get back your memories."At least those were the words she kept consoling herself with.She adjusted the stack of files in her arms and stepped out of the meeting room, exhaling slowly. The morning had been long, but it felt good to be useful again. Normal again. Cleaning after their mess wasn't something she made a fuss about. She somehow remembered that it was something she had done more often than not. Except that she didn't
Before Mariana could process what was happening. Ortega had chopped off his entire right arm."I am just letting you know that I did this for the fun of it back then. And when Ravenna came into my life, I wanted to be better, I wasn't trying to be a good man. I was only being a figure that she could admire. I was becoming who she could choose over and over again. I did well at that job until you came into the picture again."Mariana couldn't say a word. The fear in her eyes said all she needed to. Don Diego turned slightly to look at her, his eyes unreasonably bloody and merciless.The knife was back to his hand again. He weighed it with both his hand and eye. He turned back to face Richardson. "I would have said to take this message to Don Pedro, but....there will be no need to give him the luxury of an errand boy to deliver his message."Ravenna didn't know what her husband and sister were about, and her guard tried to keep her calm as she waited for her husband. She had a lot to
Ortega left Ravenna's room only after saying his good nights to the kids. The door shut behind him, and all the tenderness he displayed earlier with Ravenna vanished like it had never been there. It was as though he peeled off the softness and replaced it with a stone-cold man.“Giaus, get Mariana to me in the execution room. I want to teach her a lesson.”Santiago’s eyes almost bulged out of their sockets at the mention of Mariana. Giaus didn’t hesitate. He turned on his heels and headed for Mariana’s section of the mansion. Her door was locked. His fist slammed against it rashly, the sound echoing down the hallway.Inside the room, Mariana sat at the edge of her bed, paralyzed with fear, sweat beads forming on her forehead. She shivered when the banging came again.“Who the heck is that?” she shouted, her voice coated in fear—yet she shouted.The banging came again. This time, she walked to the door, placing her ear against it.“Open!” came Giaus’ husky voice.With trembling hands,
"Don Diego, please," Ravenna said, her voice firm but controlled. I need to take a walk to clear my head by myself, and I don't want your men trailing like I'm some sort of puppy being guarded by its master." Her tone was sharpener though it wasn't loud. Ravenna commanded so much power, especially the power that sterm from knowing she held the heart of the great Don Diego. Ortega said nothing but only signalled with his two fingers for Ravenna's assigned body guard to let her be. He hesitated before finally allowed her to walk past him. He clenched his jaw in reluctance, but that was the most he could do.Ortega couldn't take his eyes off her. She did not look like a woman who gave birth to two boys months ago. Motherhood had softened her, yes. But it didn't possibly make her weak. She still had the graceful nature that Ortega had handed over to her. Only that she had added a few pounds, but her stomach still sat flatly on her body. The body cun gym wear sat perfectly on her moderate







