Masuk“Their new leader is young, Vincent Bianchi. He took over after his father died under unclear circumstances.”
“In a short time, he has expanded their influence. They are now on equal footing with us.”
A brief silence followed.
“As if he’s challenging De Luna itself.”
“Many Minor House leaders have already expressed concern. It may only be a matter of time before---”
“It won’t happen.”
Seren could not tell whether the clothes in her hands felt heavier than they should, or if it was simply the weight of uncertainty settling in her chest.“I don't know if Mera's clothes will fit you,” her mother said as she stepped into Anna's room, carrying a neatly folded set of clothes. “But there isn't anything else here you can wear.”Without waiting for a response, she handed them over.“Thank you,” Seren replied quietly, accepting the clothes.“Get changed so we can have dinner.”And just like that, her mother turned and left.Seren remained standing there, staring at the doorway long after her mother disappeared downstairs.She was stunned. Not because of the clothes. Not because they had allowed her to stay. But because of how normal it all felt.Too normal. Too easy. Too different.“Why are you looking at her like that?” Anna asked, noticing the way Seren's gaze remained fixed on the empty doorway.Seren
"What are we doing here?" Seren stared at the unfamiliar house as Rafael helped her out of the car. He had just been discharged from the hospital.Naturally, she had assumed they were heading straight home. Instead, he had driven her somewhere she had never seen before.She glanced at him questioningly. "Rafael?"But he didn't answer. He simply closed the car door behind her and guided her toward the gate.Then Seren froze. Her eyes widened.Inside the yard, she saw familiar faces. Her mother. Her father. Anna.And in Anna's arms was Miguel's baby. The family looked relaxed. Happy. Safe."Rafael..." The words barely escaped her lips."What does this mean?" Finally, Rafael looked at her."I know you've been worried about them." His voice was gentle."And I know you've wanted to see them."He nodded toward the house. "That's why we're here."Seren frowned. The answer only raised more questions.
"So you've finally decided to show up." Seren looked up as Trisha approached her.She had just finished a phone call with Melina and was standing outside Rafael's hospital room when the other woman appeared.Trisha crossed her arms."Good thing you managed to step inside the hospital this time."A teasing smile touched her lips."For a while there, I thought you'd developed a phobia after everything that happened."Seren remained silent."Leon told me you were the one who brought Rafael back here."Trisha sighed dramatically."Apparently, he overexerted himself again." Her gaze sharpened."And that's your fault." Seren's fingers tightened around her phone."I know." The immediate answer caught Trisha off guard."I do." For a moment, neither of them spoke.Then Trisha smirked. "So you're not as dense as I thought."Seren met her gaze directly. "And I know my own heart."The smile
"Leon! What is the meaning of this?"The doctor's voice echoed throughout the hospital room. Among everyone present, Leon received the full force of his anger.Of course he did. After all, he should have known better.More than anyone else."You, of all people, should understand how dangerous it was for Rafael to leave the hospital in his condition."The doctor pointed accusingly at him. "You know he nearly died on the operating table!" Leon stood quietly in front of him like a child being scolded by a furious parent."And yet the two of you decided to sneak out of the hospital."The doctor's expression darkened."How childish."From her seat beside Rafael's bed, Seren couldn't help but glance between them.When they had arrived at the hospital earlier carrying an unconscious Rafael, the doctor had immediately turned his wrath on Leon.Fortunately for Rafael, he had been unconscious throughout the entire or
"You're awake."Leon pushed open the hospital room door and stepped inside.The moment he entered, he found Trisha standing beside Rafael's bed.Rafael had already regained consciousness and was sitting upright, though the paleness of his face made it obvious he had only recently woken up.Leon immediately noticed Rafael's gaze shift toward the doorway behind him.As if he had been expecting someone else. A faint smile tugged at Leon's lips."If you're looking for your little wife, she isn't with me."Rafael's expression remained unchanged. "I'm not sure if anyone has told you yet, but she still hasn't visited."Silence settled inside the room. "How is she?" Rafael finally asked.The question came without hesitation. As though it had been the only thing on his mind."She's doing fine," Trisha answered. She crossed her arms. "I saw her outside the hospital a few days ago."Rafael's eyes lifted toward her."But it doesn't look like she has any intention of seeing you." The room fell qui
"Miss Seren." Kim's voice halted Seren just as she reached the bottom of the stairs.For the past few days, he had barely seen her. In fact, it felt as though she had been deliberately avoiding everyone.She never asked about Rafael's condition. She never visited him at the hospital.Not even once. Seren glanced at Kim. He looked as though he had just returned from work.Truthfully, she hadn't seen him in days either.She had been avoiding everyone connected to Rafael.Avoiding the hospital. Avoiding the memories. Most of all, avoiding herself.She had been forcing herself to stay busy, trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy. She buried herself in schoolwork and daily routines, desperately attempting to forget what had happened.But every time Rafael crossed her mind, she saw it again. The gunshot. The blood.His body collapsed to the ground. And suddenly, she couldn't breathe.Several times, she had gone t
“Do you really think the Sector Leaders will stop pressuring you to marry Seren just because of what you said?” Leon asked as they made their way toward Rafael’s office.“If those old men ever lose their minds, they might end up siding with Eric again,” he add
"You two should seriously stop doing this in public." Leon's amused voice cut through the moment. Seren nearly jumped.She and Rafael turned toward the newcomers. Leon was approaching with Trisha beside him.The second Seren's eyes met Trisha's, she immediately wanted to disappear.
“Wow!” Seren stared up at the towering skyscraper before her, unable to hide her amazement.The moment she stepped out of Rafael’s car, her eyes were immediately drawn to the massive De Luna Group headquarters rising into the sky. It was her first time seeing the building
As a token of gratitude, Rafael sent the surviving terrorist back to the Bianchi headquarters. Alive. But barely. They hadn't killed him.They had simply made sure he suffered enough to understand what happened to those who crossed Rafael De Luna.When the package arrived, several B







