LOGIN“...you stayed with him because you had no other choice.”
What did that man mean by that?
Did it mean Olivia only used Steffano?
I shook my head, trying to push the thought away. Ever since this morning, I had been thinking about things that weren&rsqu
I woke up finding Steffano sleeping beside me.For a long moment, I stared at his face before carefully sitting up and gently removing his arm wrapped around my waist.The moment I checked the time, I groaned and pressed a hand to my forehead.It was almost noon.I remembered falling asleep while talking to Michael.I wonder where they are now.I was about to leave the bedroom when strong arms wrapped around me from behind."Where are you going?"I turned toward Steffano.One of his eyes was still half-closed with sleep, his dark hair a complete mess."My dad and brothers?" I asked.He pulled me back into his arms."They already went home. They didn't want to wake you since you'll be seeing them again soon.""I wish someone had woken me up anyway."I slipped from his embrace and headed into the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth."You were sleeping peacefully," he said, following me inside. "They didn't want to disturb you."A second later, his arms were around my waist again
STEFFANO“I’ll be back tomorrow morning. She should be awake by then,” I told Lucian.He stopped halfway through the takeout meal he’d ordered.“Wait, tomorrow morning? Isn’t that a little fast? I thought Heaven lasted a lot longer than that.”The drug he was referring to—the same one I’d injected into Timothy and the one Lucian had used on Nathalia—was never something we sold.Like I’d said before, our family had done its share of illegal things over the years, but drug trafficking was never one of them.Heaven had been created years ago by my grandfather’s partner before she passed away.“The dosage wasn’t that high, idiot.”Lucian scowled at Boston and pouted dramatically.“You know, Boston, you’re really pushing your luck with me. One of these days, I swear—”“What?”Boston raised an eyebrow while casually lifting the knife she was using to slice an apple.“See that? That’s a threat.”I shook my head at the two of them.“I’m heading out. And Lucian? Don’t take your eyes off that w
As I stared at the tears streaming down my mother's face, everything came rushing back.The pain.The betrayal.Everything I had felt that night.But that wasn't the only reason it felt like thousands of tiny needles were piercing my heart.I also remembered how she had begged them to spare me.“W-Why?” I asked through trembling breaths. “Out of all the men in the world, why Timothy, Mom? Tell me... you didn't know he was the man I was going to marry, right? Is that why you looked so shocked the night I introduced you to each other?”Silence.She just sat there staring at me.Not saying a single word.The tears continued to fall down her cheeks, revealing emotions she couldn't put into words.I felt Dad place an arm around my shoulders as I stepped closer to her.“Talk!” I cried. “Explain what you were trying to tell me that night! What's stopping you from saying anything?”My voice cracked.“I was traumatized too, Mom. But I'm still here. I'm doing my damn best to keep fighting. F-fo
“Sit down beside me,” Steffano said.I ignored him and continued pacing back and forth in front of him. Slowly, of course. The last thing I wanted was to make noise that would wake the twins.I stopped when he suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me down beside him.“Don't worry about Lucian. He'll manage." “I can't help it after everything you've told me. She's a dangerous woman, after all..."I really couldn't stop worrying.Not just for Lucian, but for my family too.“Yes, she is,” he said. “But trust me when I say this—Lucian may act like a fool most of the time, but when it comes to mission? He knows what he's doing. He's someone you can rely on. So relax, okay? It's getting late. You should get some sleep.”“I'm not sleepy,” I replied. “I've probably slept too much already.”“Really? Because I think I haven't slept enough. Can I sleep on your lap?”I grabbed a throw pillow and placed it on my thighs.“Go ahead.”I ran my fingers through Steffano's hair until his breathing grew h
LUCIAN“Where are you off to now?”I slipped on my leather jacket and glanced back at my father, whose face already screamed lecture incoming.“What was that about earlier?” he asked. “Why’d you send me to that meeting with the Saldivars?”“Oh come on, old man, don’t act like I ruined your entire day.” I grinned. “I even gave you something productive to do instead of spending hours watching dolphins and random animal documentaries on TV—OW!”I seriously don’t understand why I’m surrounded by violent people.From my friends… to my father… to my terrifying older sister, who thankfully moved to Australia with Mom.And then there’s—Alexa.Damn it.Stop thinking about her already. Move on, idiot.“Dad! That hurts!” I complained after he smacked the back of my head and twisted my ear for good measure.“Are you going out drinking again?” he asked suspiciously.I frowned.“Dad, even when I’m drunk, I still handle my responsibilities. I just had something important to do earlier.”“Important?
STEFFANO“I want to be a doctor!”“Yesterday you said you wanted to be a teacher.”“I changed my mind.”“If we watch a movie about lawyers tonight, I bet that’ll be your dream job tomorrow.”“You’re so annoying, Savvy. Why do you always argue with me?”“Okay, kids, enough,” Rebecca said with a laugh as she stopped the twins before their little argument escalated. “Finish your food and stop fighting.”“How about you, Mommy?” Stephie asked curiously.“How about me what?”“When you were little, what was your dream?”Rebecca paused for a second, actually thinking about it.“Did you already want to be a model back then?” Stephie guessed.My wife shook her head with a smile.“Nope.”“A doctor?” Savvy asked next.Rebecca shook her head again.“I wanted a family,” she said softly. “A complete one. I wanted to become a wife and a mother.”Stephie’s eyes widened.“That was your dream, Mommy?”“Yes.” Rebecca laughed softly. “Did I disappoint you guys? I didn’t dream about becoming a doctor or a
“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
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 me
“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.
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







