“Father summoned me,” Siena replied as her expression turned troubled. The knowledge that her husband had mistresses—not just one, but several—gnawed at her, making it hard to keep her composure.“Go to your room,” Cristiano ordered sharply, his tone cold, his eyes burning with barely restrained fury. He glared at her as if her very presence here were a crime.“But I was—” she began, but he cut her off, his voice booming, “I said go to your room. Now, Siena.”She flinched at the intensity in his tone. Her gaze flickered briefly to her father-in-law, who wore a smug, satisfied expression. Humiliation and hurt pricked at her chest as she hurried out of the room.Once the door clicked shut behind Siena, Cristiano’s voice cut through the room—dark, sharp, and demanding. “What were you doing with her?”Vittorio stiffened, taken off guard. “What do you mean?” he replied, frowning.“Why did you call her here… alone?” Cristiano’s voice shook with barely contained fury, each word dripping with
Though Vittorio pretended to remain calm before his sons, as if nothing touched him, a storm churned violently inside. Cristiano had always been the obedient one, never daring to interfere in his father’s affairs. Even when Vittorio had shamelessly bedded his son’s girlfriend, Cristiano hadn’t confronted him. Vittorio knew his son must have been aware of the affair, yet he never defied or argued against his father’s choices.He also knew how fiercely protective Cristiano was of Soraya, but Vittorio found that almost natural—after all, he himself had once placed his own mother above everything and everyone. In that way, father and son were alike. And perhaps that was why Vittorio had always been secretly proud of Cristiano. The boy carried his blood, his instincts, his ruthlessness—everything needed to become a true heir, even if Vittorio never said it aloud.But today, for the first time, something unsettled Vittorio. It felt as though the ground beneath his family was shifting. That
After speaking with his father, Cristiano sat in his office chamber, a laptop open before him with a report file waiting to be read. But his mind was elsewhere. That morning, when Vittorio announced that his week with Soraya and her children was over, Cristiano had noticed the way his mother’s face fell. The sight had clenched his heart so tightly that he hadn’t even stopped for breakfast—he had left immediately for the office. It hurt him deeply to see her so miserable and to be powerless to change it.His thoughts drifted back to his childhood. In the beginning, life had been normal, almost ordinary. He and Elena had grown up with a loving mother and a peaceful home. Their grandmother was harsh, often cold, but their grandfather’s affection had balanced it. Their father had been distant, but still present whenever Cristiano and Elena needed him. But all of that shattered the day their grandfather died—when Vittorio brought his mistress and her children into their home.Mistress. Th
“Father,” Gino strolled into Vittorio’s office with his usual smirk. “You wanted to see me?”“Gino!” Vittorio’s face twisted with anger the moment he laid eyes on his son.The smirk faded. Gino’s expression grew serious as he stopped in the middle of the room. Vittorio rose from behind his desk, his steps heavy and intimidating as he closed the distance.“Gino,” he said, his voice low but furious, “I expect an honest answer. Don’t you dare lie to me.”“What’s going on, Father? Why are you talking like this?” Gino asked, feigning confusion, his brows furrowed.“Tell me honestly.” Vittorio’s sharp gaze locked on his son, his tone cutting like steel. “Did you sabotage the latest arms deal and conspire to kill Cristiano?”“What?” Gino’s denial came quick, his tone firm. “No, Father. Why would I ever do that?” But his eyes flickered—just enough to betray him.“We lost a deal last night, nearly lost our men, and Cristiano’s life was hanging by a thread.” Vittorio’s eyes narrowed as he studi
After breakfast, Siena and Elena gathered their things for college. At first, Siena suggested they go together. But Elena’s tilted head, her big puppy eyes pleading like a child asking for candy, said everything, and Siena didn’t need words to understand.She sighed, a faint smile tugging at her lips as realization dawned. Elena wanted them to take separate cars so she could spend time alone with her bodyguard.Siena said nothing more, only giving her a knowing look before stepping aside. Elena’s cheeks flushed, but her excitement betrayed her. She clutched her bag a little tighter, her heart already beating faster at the thought of the short drive that would feel like their little world.Siena smiled when she saw Elena’s glowing face as she slid into the passenger seat beside her bodyguard, who was ready to drive her to college.Siena climbed into the back seat of the car Cristiano had given her, her bodyguard taking the seat beside the driver. After yesterday’s incident, she underst
Elena and Siena exchanged a quick glance, their eyes filling with worry. Then immediately they both knelt beside her and wrapped their arms around her, holding her close.They let her cry—loud, broken sobs filling the room—until the storm in her heart began to soften, until the pain inside her loosened its grip.For a long time, there was nothing but tears, breathless embraces, and the quiet understanding that sometimes love isn’t about fixing things—it’s about holding on while the hurting is raw.Siena gently kissed Soraya’s hair and murmured, “One day, Dad will realize what he’s missed all these years… because he couldn’t have found a more loving wife than you, or children as good and capable as Cris and Elena. I just hope he doesn’t realize it too late.”Elena looked at her with a spark of hope, and Siena gave her a reassuring nod.They stayed like that for a few quiet minutes, holding each other, before Soraya wiped her eyes and lifted her face.Siena pleaded softly, “Mom… please