LOGINSTEFFANOI 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
“Savvy got sick too?”He nodded, his voice trailing off as he stopped talking. He rested his head on my lap and gently traced circles on my hand.It was late in the evening, and we were sitting on the beach.After what happened earlier in the study room, Steffano had fallen asleep. I honestly thought he wouldn’t wake up until morning. But after I got the twins to bed, I found him awake—and he asked me to come down here with him.That’s when he started telling me his story.About how he lost his parents at a young age.About how he was separated from his little sister, Alyannah.And eventually… about the life he lived after Olivia left him and the children behind.“I never imagined you went through all that,” I said quietly. “Not when I first met you.”He tilted his head slightly, looking up at me. “What was your first impression of me?”I looked up at the moon, letting its soft glow settle my thoughts as I remembered that day.“Rude,” I said, glancing down at him.He let out a quiet l
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







