LOGINI chose a decent restaurant with a quiet atmosphere, somewhere we could sit comfortably without rushing through our meal. Rynna studied the menu with the seriousness of a woman making a life-changing decision. "What do you want to eat?" I asked. She pointed at one of the options. "That." I leaned closer to read it. "Pancakes?" "And eggs." "Anything else?" She looked up at me. "Can I have juice?" "Of course." "And bacon?" I raised an eyebrow. "You're quite hungry this morning." She nods slowly, "I need energy for everything we're going to do today!" I couldn't help laughing. "All right, little fire. We'll get you enough energy to conquer the world." While we waited for our food, I took a moment to admire her. She wore a pretty lilac dress with a soft, flared skirt that rested just above her knees. Tiny white flowers decorated the fabric, and a delicate ribbon sat at her waist. Her shoes were white, with little straps across the top, and her hair had been parted neatly down the
Marco quickly grabbed a pillow and threw it at me, I didn't dodge, the pillow hit my chest and dropped to the floor. I smiled at him, "Violent." "You deserved it." I chuckled before bending to pick up the pillow. "But then why didn't you tell me about Rynna?" Marco's expression became more serious. "I only confronted Camila about her after everything with Gabe." "So you_" "I didn't think it was my place." he shrugged, "I was already hurting, and Rynna was part of Camila's personal life. I didn't think I had the right to start asking questions." I nodded slowly, "So you initially thought Rynna was Camila's daughter?" "I did." Than made me laughed, "Seriously?" "She looks like Camila." He shrugged again "If you look closely, you can see it." I smiled. "She also copies some of your traits."he added. "Some of your expressions. The way she looks at people when she's annoyed." I laughed under my breath, "That's definitely my daughter." Marco smiled "Yeah." My phone suddenly buzze
He nods gently. "We're forever in this, boss." then he straightened slightly, his voice carrying the kind of certainty that didn't need a second explanation.I looked at him for a moment before turning toward the table. I poured myself another drink, letting the silence settle between us, the tension in the room had finally begun to fade."There's something you still don't know about me," I said.Marco glanced at me, "I know you're from a wealthy family.""That's the easy part." I took a sip. "You know I left home and built everything from scratch. You probably assumed it was because I wanted to prove I could.""Wasn't that the reason?"I shook my head, "Not exactly." Marco's eyes narrowed as I leaned against the table. "I was bullied for years." His expression changed. "Being a wealthy heir didn't make me immune to anything. If anything, it made me an easier target." I stared at the drink in my hand."They found every insecurity I had and used it against me. For years, I took it." M
I decided to pay marco a visit from work, I found him sitting comfortably on his couch when I arrived. He looked better than he had days ago. Still thinner, still recovering, but the man was finally beginning to look like himself again. He looked at me for a moment before shaking his head with a smile. "It's still unbelievable." I raised an eyebrow. "What is?" "You." "Me?" "You're getting married." I scoffed. "Don't sound so surprised." Marco laughed. "How am I not supposed to be surprised? You? Finally getting married?" "Yes, and I can't wait." "That's what makes it worse." He leaned back. "For all the long I've known you, Renz. I never thought I'd see the day you'd willingly tie yourself to one woman." "She's not just one woman." His smile grew as he picked up his glass and took a drink before looking at me again. "How are Rynna and the twins?" "We spoke before I came here." "Everything okay?" "Yeah." I smiled faintly. "They're fine." Marco nodded, then his
I decided to pay marco a visit from work, I found him sitting comfortably on his couch when I arrived. He looked better than he had days ago. Still thinner, still recovering, but the man was finally beginning to look like himself again. He looked at me for a moment before shaking his head with a smile. "It's still unbelievable." I raised an eyebrow. "What is?" "You." "Me?" "You're getting married." I scoffed. "Don't sound so surprised." Marco laughed. "How am I not supposed to be surprised? You? Finally getting married?" "Yes, and I can't wait." "That's what makes it worse." He leaned back. "For all the long I've known you, Renz. I never thought I'd see the day you'd willingly tie yourself to one woman." "She's not just one woman." His smile grew as he picked up his glass and took a drink before looking at me again. "How are Rynna and the twins?" "We spoke before I came here." "Everything okay?" "Yeah." I smiled faintly. "They're fine." Marco nodded, then his
Renz's PovThe moment we stepped outside the house, I felt like I could finally breathe again, a weight I hadn't realized I'd been carrying all day seemed to lift from my shoulders.Her parents had accepted me, not completely, not without conditions...but enough.Enough for me to know that I wasn't fighting for Nyx alone anymore. I reached for her hand, and she let me take it, we walked quietly side by side toward my car, the cool night air brushing against my face. I wasn't thinking about enemies, money, or the next move. I was thinking about her. When we reached the car, I leaned against it and pulled her closer.Her body felt cold.I frowned. "Why are you cold?" She looked up at me, her expression softer than before. "I'm not cold.""Nyx."She sighed. "I still can't believe you're really giving up everything."A smile pulled at my lips. "Forget the empire.""Renz—""I mean it." I brushed my thumb over her fingers. "I'd give up my own life if it meant keeping you and Rynna safe." S
Nyx's PovI found Gabe in the sitting room, scrolling through his phone like he had nothing to worry about.I stood there, holding my calm like it was glued on my face.“I’ll be going to town today,” I said. “I have some school paperwork to sort out.”He didn’t look up at first. Then he did—slow, s
Gabriel's PovEver since the news of Renz’s death dropped, something inside me loosened. Relief… finally. A sense of order returning, like the world had clicked back into the place I designed for it.Except for one problem.Nyx.She’d spiraled the moment she heard. Crying for days. Skipping meals.
The van shook as it rolled over the rough road, the night swallowing everything outside. Inside, it was just me, three of my men, and the doctor—hands folded, eyes fixed on Renz like he was guarding a dying flame.Renz lay in the middle seat, pale, breathing shallow, wires and tubes clinging to him
Renz's PovI woke up to silence.Thick. Cold. Endless. The kind that presses against your chest till you forget what air feels like. My head spun as I blinked, trying to tell if my eyes were open or shut. The dark was that deep.The cell smelled of mold, metal, and blood that wasn’t just mine.For







