MasukFina’s POVTwo days had passed since I returned to the estate and marked my father with the mark of shame.Two days, and the entire thing still couldn’t get out of my head.No matter how hard I tried to keep myself busy, the memory always found its way back.I still hadn’t figured out how to feel about everything.So, instead of sitting around and allowing my thoughts to consume me, I decided to put my energy into something else.A party.That morning, I stood in the middle of the estate’s main hall, directing the servants as they arranged the flowers and moved the chairs into position. I wanted everything to look beautiful. Nothing too extravagant, just a small gathering where both families could spend time together without the tension that had followed us home.I’d invited my family, of Elena, Marco, Aria, Laro, were attending and a few other close friends. Freya, my aunt and her family were coming too. along with the teachers from Casa Serena and some of the children.Not all the
Fina’s PovThe first movement drew a sharp gasp from my mother.My own breath caught, and tears blurred my vision. Dario kept his hand over mine, guiding me carefully as I followed the pattern of the family crest.My father tensed beneath us.I could hear his breathing, the occasional sharp intake of air as the pain grew, but he made no sound.Not one.By the time I finished the final line, my entire body was trembling.The knife slipped from my fingers and clattered against the floor as blood dripped.I stumbled backward, and Dario immediately caught me.I couldn’t stop crying.I had thought that doing this would make me feel angry, perhaps even satisfied. Instead, all I felt was grief.Grief for the little girl who had trusted her father without question.Grief for the years I had spent believing my life was something other people could decide.And grief for the family I loved, because love had never stopped us from hurting one another.Dario guided me away while Angel stepped forwa
Fina’s POV“Papa.”My father looked at me, and something in his expression broke.He walked toward me slowly, his eyes never leaving mine. Then, without saying a word, he began removing his suit jacket.I frowned.“Papa, what are you doing?”He placed the jacket on the nearest chair before reaching for the buttons of his shirt.The moment he pulled it off, I gasped and covered my mouth.His body carried scars from years of living in a dangerous world, and there were marks on his skin that I had never noticed before.But it wasn’t the scars that made me take two steps backward.It was what he intended to do.“No.” I shook my head, my eyes already filling with tears. “Please, Papa. Don’t.”My mother stood nearby, crying silently. Bruno and Angel exchanged a glance, but neither of them tried to stop him.They understood what this meant. And so did I.I looked at Dario.My husband stood near the doorway, watching me. He didn’t tell me what to do. He simply looked at me with that quiet, re
Fina’s Pov“Fina, breathe,” Marco said, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Your husband took a beating. A bad one. But there are no bullets in his body, and the doctors have checked him. He needs rest, that’s all.”I pressed a hand against my chest, trying to calm my racing heart.“And the war?”Marco exchanged a brief look with Laro.“We won,” he assured me. “The Dead Ravens are finished. But I think Dario should be the one to tell you exactly what happened.”I nodded slowly. “Thank you.”I looked at both men.“Thank you for bringing him back to me.”Marco’s expression softened.“You don’t have to thank us for that.”“Yes, I do.” My eyes burned. “You brought my husband home.”Neither man argued.They looked exhausted, and I could see the need for a shower and a proper night’s sleep written all over their faces.“Go and rest,” I told them. “Both of you.”Marco gave me a small nod before following Laro out of the room.As soon as the door closed, I turned back to my husband.For a while,
Fina’s POVThe sea had never looked so beautiful and so cruel at the same time.I lay on the long cushioned daybed beside the balcony, wrapped in a thick blanket, staring at the endless stretch of blue water. Elena lay beside me, equally quiet, her eyes fixed on the horizon.Neither of us had slept properly since our men left. It had been twenty-four hours.Twenty-four hours of waiting, praying, and imagining every terrible thing that could happen to the men we loved.I had checked my phone so many times that I was beginning to hate the sight of it.Still, no call from Dario.I swallowed and pulled the blanket closer around my shoulders.“He’ll be fine,” Elena murmured.I turned to look at her. “You don’t know that.”“No, I don’t.” She sighed. “But I know Dario. And I know Marco. Those two are stubborn enough to fight the devil himself.”Despite myself, I laughed quietly. “That’s not comforting.”“It’s the best I’ve got.”I looked back at the sea.My mind kept returning to the night D
Dario’s PovHe stood there with a baseball bat in his hands, his face twisted with hatred.For a moment, I could only stare at him.“Surprised to see me?” He laughed. “You should have made sure I was dead when you came looking for your precious wife.”I tried to raise my gun, but Leo swung the bat into my stomach.The impact forced the air from my lungs. I staggered backward, coughing as pain spread through my abdomen.Before I could recover, Ector kicked me across the face.I hit the floor hard, and blood filled my mouth.A boot pressed against my wrist while someone kicked my gun away. Ector crouched in front of me, looking delighted.“Now this is more like it.”Leo stood over me, breathing heavily.“For twelve years, I lived without my father because of you.” His voice shook with rage. “Twelve years! My mother had to watch you destroy our family. You killed him, and you thought you could walk away without consequences.”I spat blood onto the floor.“Your father was a fool who accep







