LOGIN“What the hell did you do to my wife?!” Steffano shouted the moment his eyes dropped to my blouse.A few of the buttons had come undone when Gary grabbed me earlier, exposing part of my bra.The look in Steffano’s eyes made it obvious he was seconds away from attacking the doctor if I hadn’t immediately grabbed his arm.“Don’t, Steffano. I’m okay,” I said quickly, shaking my head at him because I knew things would only get worse if he hurt Gary.He shut his eyes tightly and took a deep breath before removing his suit jacket, draping it over my shoulders.“Your wife?” Gary asked slowly. “May I ask what your wife’s name is, sir?”“What business is that of yours?” Steffano shot back coldly.Steffano wrapped an arm around me and faced Gary fully. “Who exactly are you to question my wife’s identity?”“I-I’m Olivia’s friend. Gary. I was one of the medical aides who took care of her in Maryland while I worked there. I wouldn’t be acting like this if your wife had simply told me she wasn’t my
“Are you okay, sweetheart?” I asked Stephie the moment she was transferred from the ICU to a VIP room."I'm feeling b-better now, Mommy."I let out a relieved breath at Stephie’s answer and gently brushed my fingers through her hair. After thanking the nurses and doctors who had transferred her to the VIP room from the ICU and checked on her condition, they finally left the room.“What about you, Mommy? Are you okay?”I smiled and sat beside her bed. “Of course I am. You’re recovering so well.”“But you keep yawning,” she pointed out softly. “Are you sleepy?”“A little,” I admitted with a laugh. “I got excited when they told me you were finally being moved out of the ICU. That means you’re getting stronger.”“Where’s Dad and Savvy?”“Oh, Savvy was still asleep when I left this morning. Your daddy said he’ll bring him here around lunchtime. Are you excited to see him?”I hadn’t woken Savvy up earlier and had left him with one of the house staff instead, reminding them to call me immedi
GERALDINEWhy did they look so alike?Who was that woman?And if she wasn’t Rebecca… then was it possible she was—I jumped when my phone suddenly rang.I cursed under my breath the moment I saw the caller ID. I’d been ignoring his calls for weeks, but this time, I answered.“Baby, come on, why haven’t you been answering me?”“Don’t ‘baby’ me,” I snapped. “I know exactly why you’re calling, Dino. You need money again.”“Oh, wow. Your life gets better and suddenly your attitude changes too.”I pulled a cigarette from my pack and placed it between my lips, only to stop when I realized I was still inside the hospital restroom.Annoyed, I threw it into the sink and dragged a hand through my hair.“You’ve already gotten enough from me,” I continued bitterly. “How many times have I given you money? And you never pay me back.”“It’s just ten grand, Gie. Come on. I got stuck here in Chicago. I can’t get back and I’ve got gigs lined up.”I clenched my jaw.The man had done nothing for years ex
“Are you sure you don’t want to sleep with us tonight?” I asked, gently brushing my fingers through Savvy’s hair while he got ready for bed.“I’ll pass tonight,” he replied, making me laugh softly. “Stephie will get mad if she finds out I had you and Dad all to myself.”I leaned down and kissed his forehead. “If you need Mommy for anything, just come to our room, okay?”“Yes, I will.”“Goodnight, Savvy.”“Goodnight, Mommy,” he murmured, already closing his eyes.I left the bedside lamp on before quietly stepping out of his room.I nearly jumped in surprise when I turned around and saw Steffano leaning against the doorway, watching Savvy and me. Judging by the look on his face, he’d probably been standing there for a while.“Why are you trying to scare me?”He smirked. “Why are you so easy to scare?”I rolled my eyes and nudged him out of Savvy’s room. He immediately caught my hand and lifted it to his lips.“Thank you.”I sighed. “What are you thanking me for this time, Steffano?”“Fo
“She’s already responsive. Since she can breathe on her own now, we’ve removed the ventilator,” the doctor who performed Stephie’s surgery explained. “She’s been asking for you—especially her mom. If her condition continues to improve, we can transfer her out of the ICU in a day or two.”I tightened my grip on Steffano’s hand at the news.“And by the way,” the doctor added gently, “I heard about what happened before her last attack. I’m sorry. But please make sure not to say anything that might trigger strong emotions. Her condition is still delicate—her body is still adjusting to the new heart.”“Yes, doctor. Thank you again,” I said sincerely.“You can see her now. I’ll leave you to it. Just call if you need anything.”As soon as the doctor left, Steffano and I entered the ICU hand in hand.A nurse who had been monitoring Stephie stood up and quietly excused herself.Stephie’s eyes were closed at first… but after a few seconds, they slowly opened.“M…Mommy?”I could read her lips.S
STEFFANO“What’s your plan now, Steffano?” Lucian asked, his voice serious.I lit the cigarette between my lips and glanced at the lifeless body being loaded into Rigor’s car trunk.What are they going to do with him?Burn him. Erase every trace of what we did.“That bastard Paredes,” Lucian cursed under his breath, then louder, rage spilling out of him. “He challenges you to a drag race, then pulls that shit? Damn animal! So many innocent people got dragged into his worthless revenge!”He took a long swig straight from the bottle.I grabbed mine and drank..This isn’t the time to drink.I know that.There’s still too much to do.But if I don’t—I might lose my mind.“I’m going to tear him apart, Lucian,” I said coldly, taking another drink. “I’ll destroy him so badly he’ll regret not making sure I was the one who died. An easy death? No… I’m not giving him that. I’ll make him suffer first—until he begs me to kill him.”“What about Denaros?” Lucian asked. “How did you even recognize t
“We’re getting married.”A bitter smile spread across my lips as his words echoed in my head.Then a soft laugh escaped me.Just last month, I was supposed to marry the man I had loved for almost ten years of my life.And now…Now I was about to marry a man who was practically a stranger to me.Eve
“WHY aren’t you guys wearing your pajamas?” Stephie complained the moment we stepped inside the theater room.The three of us—Steffano, Savvy, and I—looked at each other.“I forgot,” I said quickly, pinching Stephie’s cheek. “I’ll go change very quickly, sweetheart.”Stephie placed her hands on her
“What’s going on? Why does someone look so grumpy this morning?” I said as soon as I entered Stephie's room.Her hair was a mess, and she kept avoiding the maid from brushing it.“Mommy! You’re here!” Stephie rushed toward me and snatched the brush from the maid’s hand. “Kitty said she could do a F
“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice raspy as I blinked my eyes open to find Steffano sitting beside me.I swallowed hard as a smirk played on his lips. My skin prickled with goosebumps when he reached out, his hand trailing softly against my cheek.“Have I told you how beautiful you are, R







