ELLEN "Mommy!" Sophie squealed, coming to me in the kitchen." "Yes, my love." I smiled at her. She was so happy and bubbling with life that I wished I could be this happy too. "I want another teddy." I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Sophie must have heard or seen a schoolmate with a new teddy. Just as I opened my mouth to reply to her, the ping of my phone took my attention from me. I thought Oliver sent me an apology text or something. I will believe him, and he must promise to fire Monica after the trip. But what I saw on my screen almost paralyzed me, and I would have broken down if Sophie was not there looking cheerfully at me. I gripped the counter to steady myself. My eyes were still fixed on my screen, and tears blurred my vision. "Mommy, are you alright?" Sophie asked. I blinked, and the tears fell uncontrollably down my eyes before I nodded and managed a smile. I wiped my eyes, bent to Sophie, and planted a kiss on her forehead. "I am fine, baby. I just, I just.
ELLEN I was hurt and afraid of Tony, but with Lily's help, I could get out of my scared shell and begin life again. It had been a week since I left Oliver's mansion after what I saw on my phone, and I had refused to see or hear him out. Part of me wanted to hear him out, he deserved it, but I was done with these men toying with my emotions. The secret I tried to tell him about Tony will have to wait since I don't know if we will continue in this relationship or not. Oliver had sent me countless messages. Some of them were drunken threats, promising to haunt me down and take his child from me, but he always apologized in the morning. I knew he deserved to see Sophie, but I wanted to figure out what it would be before I spoke with him. I loved Oliver with all my heart, but sometimes, love is not enough. I did not want what happened with Tony to repeat itself. He would apologize and go back to doing the worse to hurt me. I decided to start my flower shop, I have always had a thing fo
ELLEN A crowd was huddled in front of the shop now, trying to help us. Firemen were doing their jobs, and police phones crackled as they spoke into them. A paramedic walked up to us and led us to the ambulance. Lily was better than I was because she was not there when the shop blew up, so she saved me from the stress of explaining what happened. I was speechlessly watching the shop I had just found go up in flames. Tears pooled up in my eyes, and a heaviness sat in my chest. I had searched for places for the past few weeks, and this place settled with my heart. Now, it was gone—all those beautiful flowers. "Ma'am, can you hear me?" I looked up to see a female paramedic looking down at me with a worried expression. I nodded, and she placed a hand on my shoulder. "I am glad to hear that. But I need you to be strong," she said with a smile. Her smile was soothing but did nothing to my nerves. However, I knew I needed one person here. Despite what was going on between us, he was
OLIVER MORENO "Welcome, boss," the man at the door greeted. I nodded and went in through the door that he held open. Sebatino's villa was large and lovely. It was not my first time visiting him, but it was my first time going to ask him for help. I hated myself and the situation I was in, but I had to protect my girls. I knew he might be skeptical about helping me, but it was not my fault that his daughter died out of her foolishness, and I doubted he knew nothing about it. He should know who his daughter dated. But he had denied every knowledge of knowing that Sara and Antonio were in a relationship before she married me. Worst still, she was cheating on me with him. I didn't let my mind linger on that thought for a while; hence I would get worked up. His living room was vast and luxurious, well furnished to a taste a man like him could have. He was my father's age, and there were the mafia godfathers. A lady in her late twenties or early thirties appeared once I was in the l
OLIVER "We should be careful with this," Dante warned before we went in, but I was not taking any fucking orders from him. My wife had suffered it all, and no one would tell me how I would treat the bastard that threatened her life. I will handle things my own way. I charged into the bar without warning, Dante and Jerry following behind me. My intrusion made some patrons of the bar look up at us. But I was not there for any of them. I have my target, and as long as they are staying away from my business, they won't be harmed. The bar owner, a man in his late thirties or probably earlier forties, stepped out from behind the counter and blocked us. "Can I help you, mister?" He appraised me as the question left his lips. "Er... We are here to gamble," Dante stepped in. He shot us a wary look once more. My blood was boiling, and if he wasted any more of my time, I would ram my fist into his face. Luckily for him, he waved us to follow him. We followed him into the back room, whe
ELLEN I woke up alone. I knew that I had slept alone last night. I knew when Oliver came in last night. I didn't understand the feelings that were running inside me. I knew he was the only one I felt safe around after my attack, but when I was calm enough, I didn't know if I wanted to trust him that much. I still didn't know how to face him with a clear eye. I wanted to tell him about Tony, not to get even, but to remove this heave from my chest. Tony texted me last night when I was still in the living room with Lily, and I did not even tell her about it. I headed straight into the room, feeling worse. I thought about suicide, but I also thought about Sophie. I could not let her go through that pain because of my mistakes. I wept a little in the bathroom, with the showers on, so that everyone would feel I was taking a shower. I contemplated using the razor on the counter to cut myself until I bled out, but I couldn't. I tried Oliver's number, but it was switched off. I wanted to s
OLIVER MORENO Antonio Romano. The bastard. He was already out of his car, tossing his keys to one of the men that would park it for him and hopping into the club. A few other vehicles followed the direction of his car. We got out of our car and started toward the club. One of the men we planted inside notified us that he was there already. They had gone there as harmless clubbers and took in every detail we wanted and knew where his men were positioned. We walked to the front of the club. The bouncers recognized us and let us pass. But I was sure they had notified Antonio, and if he didn't already know that we were there, he would probably be waiting for us. Loud sensual music hit us as we stalked into the club. A wave of booze and alcohol wafted toward us. I was in front while Dante and Alejandro followed closely behind me. A few heads turned towards us, especially the ladies, but I was not there for any of them. We stood by the entrance, my hands tucked into my pockets wh
ELLEN I made sure to wait for Oliver and his men to come home. It was way past midnight when they came back to the mansion. Once I saw their car, my heart lurched in my chest. I knew this was the time to get out with my secret. I had already braced myself for what would come next, but part of me still maintained that t was not the right time. This was past midnight, and Oliver must be stressed from wherever he came from, considering that he left so early in the morning and came back this late. I wanted to heave this off my chest, but I did not want to be selfish. I should consider his mood before breaking such news to him. I had waited for the perfect time to say it, but none had presented itself. When he was happy, I didn't want to ruin his mood. When he was sad or cold, I feared what his reaction would be. In as much as I told myself that I considered his mood, I knew that I had held back so much because I was scared of losing him. When he came into the room, looking all bloo