INICIAR SESIÓNWe all gathered around the long dining table for lunch.Even Steffano’s staff joined us, and I couldn’t help feeling a little shy every time they complimented my cooking. Still… it made me happy knowing they genuinely liked it.Now I finally understood why Steffano’s family was so heavily guarded.At first, I thought it was just because of his wealth—but now, I knew it was because of the organization he was running.Everything he told me about The Dominion still hadn’t fully sunk in… but deep down, I had already accepted whatever kind of life he lived—no matter how dangerous it might be.Because Steffano wasn’t like the men in movies.He was still… a good man.I could see it in the way he was with his children.Just like my own father, he had done everything he could to provide for them.Lucian’s loud storytelling dominated the table, making everyone laugh. I glanced at Steffano and noticed how quiet he had been ever since his conversation earlier.Is something wrong?Our eyes met, an
STEFFANOI woke up to an empty bed.Rebecca was gone—probably already up after we both passed out from… last night.I glanced at the clock. Almost noon.Damn.I got up, a faint smile still lingering on my lips, took a quick shower, then headed downstairs.The twins were in the living room, playing with Milet.“Hey,” I said, ruffling Stephie’s hair. “Where’s your mom?”“She’s in the kitchen,” she answered without even looking at me, completely focused on the dolls in her hands. “Cooking with Aunt Alexa and Uncle Lucian.”I headed toward the kitchen—and the moment I stepped in, I had to shake my head.Rebecca was laughing.And not just smiling—actually laughing.Lucian was being his usual chaotic self, clearly messing with Alexa again, who looked seconds away from committing murder with a ladle.“You’re unbelievable!” Alexa snapped, gagging. “This is way too salty—ugh!”Rebecca burst out laughing. “Lucian, you’re impossible!”I leaned against the doorway, watching her.God… I love that.
I rubbed my eyes as the sunlight hit my face.Then I jolted upright.The sunrise.We promised the twins we’d watch it together.My gaze swept across the room—but Stephie, who had slept beside us earlier, was gone.So was Steffano.I was about to get up when I heard the door open.“Hey… you’re awake.”Steffano walked in and immediately dropped onto the bed beside me, pulling me back down into his arms.“Where’s Stephie?” I asked.“She’s already outside. Playing with Milet.”I reached up and brushed my fingers along his face, feeling the faint stubble growing along his jaw.“Why didn’t you wake me?” I frowned. “Weren’t we supposed to watch the sunrise?”He chuckled softly.“Stephie and I woke up late. The sun was already high,” he said. “We’ll try again tomorrow.”“I see…” I murmured, still tracing his jaw. “You need to shave.”“Oh?” he smirked. “Is it bothering you when I kiss you?”I squealed when he suddenly buried his face into my neck, kissing and nuzzling me.“Stop! That tickles,
One Year AgoSTEFFANO“Boss, Mr. Hidalgo sent this over for you,” Sigmund said, setting a wooden crate of expensive wine on my desk.I didn’t even need to open it to know—it wasn’t just wine inside.“He spent years trying to win over the Santiago family just to secure that land,” Sigmund continued. “You got them to sign in less than a month. Boss Juancho really didn’t make a mistake leaving everything to you.”I smirked faintly.“If charm doesn’t work… you go for speed,” I said, echoing what Juancho used to tell me when he was still alive.It had been almost three years since he handed everything over to me—his empire, his rules, his world.“And the big night at the end of the month?” I asked. “Everything ready?”Sigmund nodded. “All set, boss.”I was about to say more when my phone rang.I frowned when I saw the caller ID.Glo.I answered immediately.“Glo—”“Steffano!” her voice trembled. “Stephie—she collapsed! She couldn’t breathe and then she passed out! I brought her to the cl
STEFFANO“Are you really sure you can handle this? This isn’t something you can walk away from.”I paused mid-wrap, tightening the bandage around my knuckles before glancing over my shoulder.Sigmund.Even after a week, the damage from his last fight still showed. His arm was in a sling, his face bruised and swollen—proof of what waited for me out there.I swallowed and went back to wrapping my hands.“I already said yes,” I replied. “And I’ve already been paid for tonight.”He let out a quiet breath and took the chair across from me.“You’re fighting Goliath,” he said. “He’s not new. Nine wins, one loss. Be careful.”I nodded. “Thanks.”He studied me for a second, then stood and left without another word.I picked up my phone.The twins’ picture filled the screen.I brushed my thumb over their faces like I could actually touch them.“This is for them...” I whispered. “I have to win.”“Ready?” Juancho asked as I stepped out of the room they’d put me in before the fight.I nodded. “Yes
STEFFANO“Boss! You should’ve told us you were coming!”A man rushed toward us the moment our car stopped in front of what looked like an abandoned warehouse—cracked concrete, rusted metal doors, barely any lighting.I glanced at the men stepping out of the vehicles behind us.Juancho didn’t even slow down.“Why would I need to announce my arrival?” he said coldly. “Am I not allowed to drop by unannounced… or is there something inside you don’t want me to see?”“N-no, sir! Nothing like that!”“You’d better make sure,” Juancho continued, his voice sharp enough to cut. “You know exactly what I don’t want to see in there. If I find it… I bury you. Right here.”“Yes, sir. I understand.”The tension vanished from his face the moment he turned to me.“Come on, Steffano,” he sa
“If that’s the only way to save my daughter…”Getting a heart illegally? Does that mean… killing someone to get a heart?What about the man I saw earlier? Who was he? What connection did he have with Steffano?And what kind of power does the Davidson family actually have?How come I’ve never even h
“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
“Daddy, will I be able to go back to school next year?” Stephie suddenly asked.“You are in school,” Steffano replied casually. “You’re being homeschooled.”Stephie pouted and stared out the car window.“Not like homeschool. I mean real school… like before. I had lots of classmates and friends,” sh







