MasukSTEFFANO“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?
“You look so beautiful, Rebecca,” Alexa whispered, admiration clear in her voice.We were finally alone in the room after the glam team finished and left.“Thank you, Alexa. You look amazing too,” I said, turning from the mirror to face her. “Seriously… you’re stunning.”“Of course I am,” she grinned. “Even if I’m not the bride, I still have to look good. Otherwise, that idiot Lucian will have something to say again.”I laughed softly. “Is that the only reason… or do you actually want to look good for him?” I teased.She pouted. “Wow, even you’re joining in now?”I laughed again. “You two look good together. Do you really not like him, Alexa?”She fell quiet.Then she smiled—but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.“It wouldn’t work,” she said softly.“Huh?”“I mean… who would even like someone that childish? Only blind women fall for him,” she added, shrugging it off.“Lucian’s handsome though.”She raised a brow. “More handsome than Steffano?”I didn’t answer.Instead, I busied myself ad
“Why?! Why did you cheat on me? And why her? Why them?!”I kept repeating it to myself.Over and over.A taxi finally pulled up in front of me after I’d been standing outside the gated neighborhood for what felt like forever—but instead of getting in, I turned away.And went back.I needed answers.Why he cheated.Why I wasn’t enough.My steps were slow as I walked back toward the house—until I froze.A motorcycle was parked out front.Did I leave the gate open?That thought hit me as I saw it—wide open.Timothy’s car was still there too, the side mirror I’d broken hanging loose.He didn’t even come after me.The house was dark.He must be upstairs… in our room.“I’ll kill myself!”His words echoed in my mind.A flicker of worry hit me—but I pushed it away.He wouldn’t do it.He loved himself too much to die over me.I turned again, deciding I didn’t want to face him anymore—Then I heard it.A muffled scream.From inside.I spun around.The front door was open.Something was wrong.I
STEFFANO"…I miss you and I can't wait to see you."My lips parted slightly at Rebecca's words, but before I could even ask what she meant by that, she had already ended the call.I immediately opened the CCTV feed on my laptop to check where she was. I nodded to myself when I saw her standing face
“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
So she can eat after all…That was exactly what I read in Steffano’s eyes after we had nearly finished everything he had ordered.I quickly covered my mouth when a small burp escaped me from how full I was.This was probably the most food I had eaten in my entire life.Because of my career, I was u
We pulled over near a small roadside BBQ joint, smoke rising from a large smoker outside where slabs of meat were slowly cooking over charcoal.It was already past midnight, yet the place was still busy.“What?” Steffano asked when he noticed I was still sitting inside the car, peeking through the







