로그인The late afternoon sun spilled golden light over the waterfront promenade, the ocean shimmering as seagulls called overhead. Lily skipped ahead, her hand clutching a small paper bag of warm, sugar-dusted doughnuts. Dante kept a steady watch on her, his arm loosely draped around Monica’s shoulders.
The rain had stopped by morning. Light streamed through the wide windows of Dante’s estate, spilling across the kitchen where Monica stood barefoot, hair loose, wearing one of his shirts. She was stirring Lily’s oatmeal, the steam curling into the air. She didn’t even realize she was humming—an ol
The breakfast had been a slow, simmering torture. Monica sat rigid in the high-backed chair, her fingers curled around the delicate porcelain cup as though it might shatter under the weight of her pulse. Across from her, Dante lounged like a king who’d already won the war, one hand lazily draped o
Her cottage could fit into this place twenty times over. At the end of the hall, a set of double doors swung open. The dining room stretched long and wide, sunlight spilling through tall windows. The smell of coffee and expensive leather filled the air. And there he was. Sitting at the head of
Monica’s eyes snapped open. For a second, she thought she was in one of those luxury hotel commercials — the kind she used to mute while eating instant noodles because they made her feel broke. The ceiling stretched high above her, painted with pale cream swirls and gold accents. The curtains, h
A man stepped in like he owned the place — dressed in black from boots to gloves, black tactical vest, mirrored sunglasses even though it was night. The faint squawk of radio static came from the earpiece buried in his ear. And the rifle in his hands… that spoke louder than words. Monica froze. He
“I didn’t want to ruin our day,” he said lamely. Ariel finally turned to him. Her voice was calm but sharp. “You let her near Sky. Without telling me. After everything she’s done. She could’ve taken him. Lied to him. Planted something in his head. And you didn’t tell me because you didn’t want to
The elevator doors slid shut behind her with a quiet ding , sealing Monica off from the penthouse and the seething humiliation boiling in her chest. Her hands trembled at her sides, still itching from where Ariel had yanked at her hair. She could still feel Chase’s rejection pulsing through her arm
The hallway outside the nursery was dimly lit by a single wall sconce. The moonlight pouring in through the high windows cast long, silver shadows on the floor. Sky sat there, knees pulled to his chest, staring ahead blankly. His fingers fidgeted with the cuff of his pyjama sleeve. Inside the nurse
It was a week later when Monica returned to the school. This time, she wasn’t in disguise. She was in full performance. A fitted beige trench coat hugged her figure, paired with elegant flats and a soft cashmere scarf. She looked like every other high-end parent on the school grounds—harmless, refi







