MORANO'S MANSION – Leonard's Office"Mmmm." Leonard heaved a sigh of relief—or perhaps frustration—as he sat restlessly in the dimly lit office. The soft hum of the air conditioner filled the silence, but his mind was louder. On the table before him lay a single phone, its screen now dark, but moments ago it had shown him everything he needed. Photos of Sophia—his Sophia—with Conrad. Holding hands. Sitting together in class. Laughing.He slowly slid to the next picture. It was a video. The audio was faint, but the visuals were unmistakable. Sophia stood in front of a hallway, nervously biting her lip before confessing her feelings to Conrad. Her voice cracked with emotion. Leonard’s jaw clenched, his shoulders stiff.The shadows in the room danced across his face, concealing the boiling rage behind his usually impassive eyes. His fingers flexed slightly, then relaxed as he heard the door creak open.“You called for me?” Sophia asked lightly, her voice breaking the tension as she walke
MORANO'S COMPANY - MEETING HALL The late afternoon sun filtered through the Venetian blinds, slanting gold across the polished mahogany of Morano’s meeting table. The air was scented faintly with Cuban cigars and varnished oak. A large map of trade routes from Italy to China hung behind him, dotted with red pins and handwritten markings. Five investors sat before him, all cloaked in tailored suits, but only one man in the room carried the air of command without needing to say a word. Leonard Morano. He reclined in his leather chair, fingertips pressed together beneath his chin. His navy suit was immaculate, his silver cufflinks glinting in the low light. Behind his stoicism simmered something more dangerous than rage—an absolute, unshakeable belief in his own dominion. “Before we discuss profit,” Leonard began, his deep baritone slicing through the silence like a whetted blade, “we must speak of control.” “Leonard, with all due respect, we agreed on a shared margin—equal inv
SOPHIA’S POVCrystal University – Library“Sophia, can we talk?” Conrad’s voice came soft but too familiar behind me.I didn’t look up from the textbook I wasn’t even reading. My fingers flipped through pages aimlessly, the ink on the paper blurring under my steady gaze.“We’re already talking, Conrad. What do you want?” I muttered, trying to keep my voice even.We were standing in one of the quiet corners of the library, tucked between towering bookshelves. Only the occasional footsteps of students and the ticking wall clock kept the silence from becoming unbearable.“I just—did you get my message?” he asked, sounding more hesitant now.“I did,” I said flatly, finally closing the book and hugging it to my chest. “So?”“I wanted to talk… face to face. There’s been something on my mind. Something I heard.”Here it comes.“Let me guess,” I said with a faint sigh. “Someone told you I’m married?”He hesitated, then blinked rapidly. “So it’s true? You’re actually… married?”I looked up at
PENTHOUSE - VICTORIA'S APARTMENTThe night bled into the city with a golden glow, skyscrapers reflecting fractured light like jagged shards of a broken mirror. On the twentieth floor of a luxurious high-rise, Victoria stood at the edge of her floor-to-ceiling window, watching the city pulse like a living beast. Behind her, Thelma stepped into the room, her heels echoing softly on the marble floor. She was dressed in black from head to toe, her eyes bloodshot with unresolved fury. The embers of light, throwing shadows across the long scar that stretched from her cheek to her jawline. it wasn't just a scar—it was a reminder, a trophy of survival. And a reason for revenge."Did you get her today?" Thelma asked, voice low but strained. Her hands were clenched tightly by her side.Victoria didn’t look away from the city. She exhaled, releasing a lazy puff of smoke into the air. "What do you want to hear?""Victoria, I'm not in the mood for jokes," Thelma snapped, stepping closer."Then y
Sophia's POV MORANO'S MANSION – LEONARD'S ROOM "I love you, Leonard," I said softly, the words flowing from my lips like a balm against the storm in his eyes. I wanted to pull him out of the shadows, out of that place where fear tightened its grip around his heart. I wanted to save him from himself. Leonard lifted his face from where it had rested on my shoulder, eyes searching mine like he was looking for the last safe place on earth. "I love you too," he whispered, his voice raw. "I love you more than you can ever imagine." I smiled, but there was a flicker of something deeper in my eyes—an ache, a longing that hadn’t been quenched in days. "I waited for you," I said as I cradled his face. My thumb ran across the dark stubble on his cheek. "I don’t mind waiting, Leonard. Not if it means you come back… but please, come back with more than your body. Come back whole." "I know," he said, voice thick with emotion. "I’m here now." "You keep me waiting like I’m not the only thing yo
Sophia’s POVMORANO'S MANSION - LEONARD'S ROOM The rain had softened into a rhythmic drizzle, like a lullaby only the lonely understood. I stood by the window in Leonard’s room, arms wrapped around myself. The silk of my nightgown clung to my skin, and the firelight behind me cast a warm glow that flickered against the glass. Outside, the world was blurred—wet trees swayed and the distant hills faded into a grey hush. The chill in the air felt familiar. Almost like an old friend that always came when my heart was too heavy to rest.I didn’t move when I heard the door open and close behind me. Leonard never made noise when he returned. A part of me always knew when he was near—the air shifted, like it recognized him too."You’re still awake," he said quietly."Couldn’t sleep. You were gone longer than usual." I said, turning only slightly to acknowledge him.He didn’t respond immediately. I could hear him take off his watch, the faint metal clink against the dresser sounding louder th