When Antonio returned to the room, Ria was trying to sit up, a slight sheen of sweat on her face. He rushed forward immediately, and pushed a button by the side of her bed."You shouldn't be trying to sit up, Ria," he breathed, adjusting the pillow behind her back. "Hold on. Let me help you." Ria shot him a grateful look, and leaned back against the bed which was now raised in a reclining position so she was no longer lying flat. "Thank you," she said. "You have nothing to thank me for," Antonio replied, taking a seat by her bedside. "How are you feeling now?" He gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face. Ria sighed, and almost gave into the urge to lean into his touch. This man was her husband... Looking at him, she could almost believe it. She couldn't explain the feeling of safety she had around him, just as she couldn't understand why she couldn't remember him. She forced a tired smile. "I'm fine." Her belly still hurt badly, but a nurse had come by earlier to giv
Antonio stood by the window of the private waiting room in the hospital, one hand tucked into his pocket, the other holding a cold cup of coffee he hadn’t touched. This was his private room and office. The hospital was one of his assets under the Xander Empire. He looked out at the city light which blinks faintly in the distance but his eyes weren't really seeing them because his mind was far away, lost in thought.He just stood there… thinking.Ria’s voice kept replaying in his head.“Are you… my husband?”That one question had shaken him more than anything.She didn’t remember him. Not even a little.And yet… she looked at him like she wanted to believe he was someone important. That small, quiet hope in her voice made his chest feel tight.The door opened behind him.Ricardo walked in quietly, holding a plastic bag in one hand. He closed the door gently and stood for a moment, looking at his boss and friend—the man everyone feared, respected and obeyed without question was currentl
Ria lay quietly on the bed, her body was still sore. Her eyes were half open, staring at the ceiling. It felt cold and strange, like everything around her.Why couldn't she remember some part of her life?The doctor had said she was pregnant and had put to birth. Yet, she has no recollection of it but her lower abdomen agreed with what the doctor said.Her hands moved a little under the blanket. Her stomach still hurts. A deep, dull pain that made it hard to even breathe right. She winced slightly as she shifted again, trying to find a more comfortable position. Her body felt like it had been through something brutal.She blinked hard. Her fingers curled slowly on the bedsheet as she tried to make sense of the emptiness in her head. But the more she tried to force her mind to remember, the more she's faced with sharp headaches making it difficult to stay focused.Outside her room, the voices of two nurses drifted in from the slightly opened door.“...he’s been standing outside the eme
Ria stirred awake.Her eyelashes fluttered open, slowly, like someone waking up from a long, heavy sleep. She blinked slowly. The ceiling above her looked white, sterile and unfamiliar.A sharp pain tugged at her lower stomach, and her body ached all over — her back, her sides, her legs, everything felt sore and painful. She blinked again, confused.Where was she?She let out a soft breath, then tried to move her arm. A sharp sting shot through her side, and she winced.“Mmmmm”She noticed the IV line in her hand.And then someone leaned over her.“Ria?” The voice was low and warm. “Can you hear me?”She turned her head slightly. Her eyes locked onto a man — his eyes were gentle, sharp jaw, his hair were slightly messy like he hadn’t slept.He looked… relieved.Her brow drew together into a frown, he felt… familiar, but she couldn't recognize him.Her brows furrowed deeper. Her lips parted slightly. “Where… where am I?” Her voice was raspy, barely above a whisper.The man’s smile froz
Olivia’s phone buzzed sharply under her pillow. She jolted awake, the sharp sound from the phone made her heart skip a beat and her hand trembled as she reached to fish out the phone. She grabbed the phone, picked it up immediately and pressed it against her ear, while she tried to steady her beating heart.“Yes?” She answered in a hushed tone, her voice tight.“It's bad,” the voice on the other end said without hesitation. “Really bad.”It was her Intel. The one she paid to keep her updated on anything and everything.Olivia sat up slowly from the hospital bed, her eyes wide and fully awake. Her brow drew together in confusion.“What are you talking about?”“Things just blew up. Your mother's been arrested.”"What?!" Olivia almost screamed. She quickly turned her head to check if anybody was nearby, but the hallway was quiet. She lowered her voice, her tone laced with disbelief and fear. "What… what do you mean arrested?”Her breath caught. For a moment, the world around her stopped.
Ricardo drove through the quiet neighborhood with a look of focus on his face. Antonio sat quietly beside him, his arms folded, his jaw clenched, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. He hadn’t said a single word since they left Adrian's mansion. But one thing was certain—this visit to the Carter residence was personal. He had kept quiet for too long.He had thought about sending someone else to do this, but some things needed to be done personally. This wasn’t just about revenge. It was about justice—for Ria, for her late mother, for everything the Carters had allowed to happen.As they approached the tall gates of the Carter estate, Ricardo glanced sideways. "Are you sure you really want to do this yourself? I can handle it you know,"Antonio didn’t take his eyes off the house. "I have to handle this one myself."Ricardo nodded his head as he drove the car into the Carter's estate.As soon as they arrived at the door of the Carter residence, Ricardo rang the bell and the housekeeper ope