MasukC H L O EThe sweet scent of vanilla and sugar filled the air. I was standing in my apartment’s kitchen, a piping bag in my hand, trying to decorate a batch of cake and cupcakes I had baked. I was attempting to make little roses, but they looked more like blobs. I was no Bianca when it came to baking.Marco came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and resting his chin on my shoulder. "Need some help there, Picasso?" he asked, a playful smile in his voice.I sighed, leaning back against him. "These are a disaster," I said. "I don't know why I even bothered. I should have just ordered you some nice cake or something."It was Marco’s 33rd birthday and we had invited his entire family and a few of our close friends for a small party at our apartment later. I had been so excited, but now, looking at my sad looking cupcakes, I was starting to regret my decision to bake."It's the thought that counts," he said, taking the piping bag from my hand. "Here, let me show you."He guide
B I A N C AIan turns six today, and I’ve been feeling a whole lot of emotions this morning. I couldn’t believe I had a six year old now. I went from being with a man who treated me like a piece of crap to being with a man who loves me unconditionally. Then I had an amazing son who made me realize that I could love someone else more than I love myself.I was standing in the kitchen, my hands covered in flour, when I felt a pair of strong arms wrap around my waist."Happy birthday to our little guy," Damian murmured, his chin resting on my shoulder.I leaned back against him, a sigh of contentment escaping my lips. "I know," I said, my voice a little emotional. "He's growing up so fast.""He is," Damian agreed. "But he's a great kid. We did good, Mrs. Moretti.""We did," I said, turning my head to kiss him. "We did very good."The front door burst open then, and in came a whirlwind of energy and excitement."Happy birthday, little man!" Chloe and Marco shouted in unison, their arms lad
B I A N C AThe following week, Chloe and I found ourselves sitting in a courtroom, our hands clasped tightly together. The room felt suffocating. Damian sat on my other side, but even he couldn't chase away the chill that had settled deep in my bones.Elijah sat at the defendant's table, dressed in an orange jumpsuit, his hands and feet shackled. He looked smaller than I remembered, his usual arrogant look replaced by a defeated one. But when he looked at me, a flicker of that old hatred returned, there was a venomous spark in his eyes. I flinched, and Damian's arm tightened around my shoulders."You're okay," he murmured, his lips brushing against my ear. "Just look at me."I turned my head, focusing on him. He was right. I was safe. Elijah couldn't hurt me anymore.Our lawyer stood up and began to speak. He laid out the evidence, the witness testimonies, the medical reports. He spoke of Elijah's cruelty, his obsession with revenge, and the terror he had inflicted upon us.When it
C H L O EI finally summoned the courage to call Marco during his video call hours at the rehab center. My hands trembled as I pressed the dial button, and my heart hammered in my chest as I waited for him to answer.When his face appeared on the screen, a smile immediately broke out on his face. "Chloe! I've been so worried. I've been calling, but you never pick up. Already giving up on me?" He tried to joke, but I could tell he was genuinely concerned.I forced a smile, but it didn't reach my eyes. "I'm sorry," I said, my voice a little shaky. "It's... it's been a chaotic few days."It was then he finally got a glimpse of the yellowish green bruise peeking from the collar of my robe as I shifted on the bed. The smile vanished from his face, replaced by a look of confusion."What the hell is that?" he growled, his voice dangerously low.I tried to angle the camera away, but it was too late. "It's nothing, Marco. Just a little... accident.""Don't you dare lie to me, Chloe," he snarle
B I A N C ADamian’s sisters, Angela and Camilla came to the house the next day to see me. And Angela’s face was twisted with guilt as she looked at the bruises on my body."It’s all my fault," She said, her voice filled with remorse. "If I hadn’t made him feel like he was an outcast in our family and supported our late parents, Elijah would have never held an hatred this deep towards his own brother. As his older sister, I was supposed to protect him not push him away."I put a comforting hand on her arm. "You couldn't have known, Angela. Nobody could have predicted this. Please do not blame yourself." I said, looking at her.I could see the sincerity in her eyes. I knew she was genuinely sorry, and I appreciated her coming to me and apologizing. But I also knew that this wasn't her fault. Elijah was a grown man who made his own choices.He was wronged, quite a lot. But that didn't give him the right to hurt people. To terrorize them. To almost rape me. Damian didn’t deserve to suffe
B I A N C AI sat in Damian’s car, my body still shaken up from trauma as he drove closely behind the van to the hospital. Anna and Chloe sat in the back of the van with Alejandro. I was glad Chloe was getting medical attention. She looked pale and weak, but she was alive. That's all that mattered.We arrived at the hospital a short while later. The ride was quiet and I could feel Damian’s eyes on me every few seconds. He was worried. I could see it in the way he gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white. He wanted to say something, but he didn't know what. And I didn't have the energy to make conversation.I was taken to the SANE exam and I laid on the hospital bed, my body stiff with anxiety. Damian sat in a chair beside me, holding my hand. The nurse, a kind woman with a gentle smile, explained everything she was going to do before she did it. She was patient and understanding, and after the violence I’ve been exposed to these past week, I appreciated her gentle approach.The
B I A N C A"You can't do that!" Hammington spluttered, his face turning a deep shade of crimson."I can," I said, my voice dangerously quiet. "I am the CEO. This is my company. And I will not tolerate insubordination. Now get out."I held his gaze, my expression unreadable. He was the first to loo
B I A N C ALucas looked dumbfounded, as if he couldn't believe what he had just heard. The entire store went quiet. Natalia's jaw was on the floor.For a beat, no one said anything.Then, Lucas let out a laugh. A loud mocking laugh that echoed in the store. "Your fiancé?" he sputtered. "Bianca, wh
B I A N C AI arrived at the jeweler’s store the next day and the moment I set my eyes on the wedding ring, I was surprised. It was the most beautiful ring I’ve ever set my eyes on.It was a marquise diamond ring. The diamond was huge and sparkling. It was set on a platinum band with smaller diamon
B I A N C ANatalia’s face was red. The smug expression she usually wore, the one that said she owned the world, was gone. All that was left was pure, unadulterated humiliation."I-I can explain," she stammered, tears welling in her eyes. "Lucas, it's not what it looks like."But Lucas wasn't looki







