ログイン“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
STEFFANO“Are you really going to take the law into your own hands?”Rebecca’s question kept echoing in my head as the elevator descended.Revenge never ends, Ama Juancho once told me. It’s an endless fight. If you can, choose to close your eyes and let time punish those who wronged you. Because sometimes, in chasing revenge… you become just like them.That was his advice the day I told him I wanted to avenge my parents—the people who were dragged to their graves because of others.He didn’t agree.But he didn’t stop me either.I didn’t agree with him back then… but I respected him. So I focused on everything he taught me instead.Even after he died, I held myself back.I didn’t pursue revenge.Not for my parents.Not for my lost sister.They say when you seek revenge, you dig two graves…One for your enemy.And one for yourself.“Boss,” one of my men reported through the phone, “he’s not talking. He said even if he does… he’ll still end up dead.”My fist clenched, the bones cracking
“M-mommy?”I opened my eyes at the sound of that trembling voice—and froze when I saw Savvy standing there, crying.“You’re still alive,” he sobbed as he rushed into my arms.I sat up and hugged him tightly. “Of course I am, sweetheart. What’s wrong?”I glanced around the room. Steffano was gone—I remembered he’d been lying beside me earlier.“I thought you were gone,” Savvy said, his voice shaking as he looked up at me. “I woke up, and you weren’t there. I got scared. Mon brought me here because I said I wanted to see you.”My heart clenched.“I had a nightmare, mommy… it was so scary. Everyone was gone.”I gently cupped his face, aching at the fear in his eyes.“It was just a dream, Savvy,” I said softly. “That won’t happen. We’re not going anywhere. We’ll stay with you.”“S-Stephie, mommy?” he asked, his voice small. “How is she?”I swallowed.“The surgery is done,” I said carefully. “It was successful. We just need to wait for her recovery.”“She’s going to be okay?”“Hopefully,”
“Mommy… is Stephie going to be okay?”I gently brushed Savvy’s hair back and adjusted the blanket around him. His eyelids were heavy, but sleep still wouldn’t take him.“They’re doing everything they can to save your sister,” I whispered softly. “She’s going to be okay…”She has to be.“Go to sleep, Savvy.”“I-I’m scared,” he murmured, his eyes finally closing.I kissed his forehead and lightly patted his chest. “Don’t be. Mommy’s right here.”A few minutes later, his breathing evened out.He was asleep.I stayed a little longer, making sure he was truly resting before quietly slipping out of the hospital room where we were staying while Stephie was still in surgery.The moment I stepped outside, Mon and the others straightened.“There’s an extra bed inside,” I told them gently. “You should get some rest.”“We’re fine, ma’am,” one of them replied. “Are you going to see Boss?”I nodded. “Yes. Please keep a close eye on Savvy.”“We can escort you—”“It’s okay,” I cut in softly. “The ope
Please… save Stephie. Save everyone… I’m begging You.The prayer echoed over and over in my head as we waited outside the emergency room.Stephie.Alexa.Sigmund.And the others who had been shot.Even Glo didn’t make it out unscathed. Two of the house staff were injured too. Three of Steffano’s men had taken bullets—throwing themselves in front of us just to keep us alive.The hallway felt suffocating.Too bright.Too loud.Too quiet all at once.“Why is the doctor taking so long, Cesar?!” Mrs. Cedes sobbed uncontrollably.There were too many of us, so they didn’t allow everyone inside.All we could do was wait.Wait for answers.Wait for mercy.Steffano had stepped out earlier with Lucian when the police arrived.Now I sat there, clutching Savvy, surrounded by chaos.I glanced at Boston.She sat frozen.Staring at her blood-covered hands—the same hands she had used to press against Sigmund’s wound earlier.Her dress was stained.Her face was pale.Empty.Why did this have to happen?
Even though I had been wearing an apron earlier, I still stained my clothes—and after sweating through everything, I decided to change.It just took longer than expected.My arm was stiff, hard to move, and the dull ache was starting to return. The pain reliever I took earlier must’ve worn off.By
“Dad, put an apron on Mom. She forgot to wear one,” Savvy instructed.He conveniently ignored the fact that he wasn’t wearing one either—his shirt already dusted with flour.“And why did you remind me about your mom but not me?” Steffano asked.
“W-what are those?” I asked, my voice trembling as I stared at the wall.Even though it felt like knives were stabbing into my chest, I couldn’t look away—especially from the photos of Tim.“That’s the crime scene,” Steffano said evenly. &ld
“Luckily, it’s just a strain. No broken bones,” Alexa said. “But make sure you let your arm rest and avoid moving it too much. Are you sure you don’t want a sling?”I shook my head, glancing at the elastic bandage wrapped around my wrist and up my arm. A







