LOGINAriana was shaking. Her wrist was red and bruised. Tears streamed down her face.The stranger turned to her. His face softened. "Are you okay?" he asked gently. "Did he hurt you?"Ariana nodded. Then she shook her head. "I don't know. I'm just... I'm so scared."The stranger reached out and touched her arm. "You're safe now. He's gone. He won't bother you again."Ariana looked at him. "Thank you. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't shown up."The stranger smiled. "I'm just glad I was here."He looked at her name tag. "Ariana. Beautiful name."Ariana blushed. "Thank you."He extended his hand. "I'm Marco. I've been coming here for the past three weeks. I've seen you around."Ariana shook his hand. His grip was warm and strong."I've seen you too," she admitted. "You always sit in the corner and read."Marco laughed. "You noticed me?"Ariana smiled weakly. "Hard not to. You're the only customer who doesn't complain about the coffee."Marco laughed again. "The coffee is exc
QUEENS – COFFEE SHOP – 8:00 A.M.The little coffee shop was already packed with customers. The smell of fresh coffee filled the air as people rushed in and out, eager to start their day.Ariana stood behind the counter in a green apron with a name tag that read “Ariana.”.Her dark hair was tied into a messy bun, and the faint circles under her eyes showed how exhausted she was. She looked like she hadn’t had a proper night’s sleep in weeks.She had been working at the café for two weeks. It wasn’t the life she had dreamed of, but it was honest work. The paycheck covered the rent, bought groceries, and most importantly, kept her far away from Daniel.“Can I get a double espresso?” a man asked with a friendly smile.“Of course,” Ariana replied, forcing a small smile of her own.She moved quickly, grinding the beans, pulling the shot, and pouring it into a paper cup. Her hands worked almost automatically now. She had learned the job faster than she expected.She placed the cup on the
Gabriella nodded, a small smile spreading across her face.“I found out yesterday. I wanted tonight to be special when I told you… but I guess now is the perfect time.”She rubbed her stomach gently. “I’m carrying your child.”Alejandro stared at her, unable to speak.Gabriella stepped even closer until they were only inches apart.“This baby is yours, Alejandro,” she whispered. “Your own flesh and blood.”She gave him a meaningful look. “Not Amelia’s child that you chose to love as your own.”Her smile grew wider. “This is different. This is your biological baby. The baby you’ve always dreamed of having.”Alejandro swallowed hard. “You’re… pregnant,” he murmured, still trying to process her words.“Yes.” Gabriella slipped her hands into his. “We’re going to have a family. A real family.”She squeezed his hands gently. “This is our chance to start over. Leave the past behind. Forget Amelia. Forget everything that happened.”Alejandro searched her face, his voice barely above a whisper
NYPD PRECINCT — FRONT DESK — AFTERNOONAlejandro stood at the front desk of the police station, his face pale and frantic. His expensive suit was wrinkled. His hair was disheveled. He hadn't slept in twenty-four hours.Leo had been missing for almost a full day. Alejandro had searched everywhere. He had called everyone. He had even contacted the police.But there was no sign of his son anywhere."Please," Alejandro begged the officer at the desk. "You have to find him. He's only eight years old. He's been gone for hours."The officer nodded, his expression sympathetic. "We're doing everything we can, Mr. Favino. We've put out an Amber Alert. We're checking all the security cameras in the area. We'll find him."Alejandro's hands were shaking. "I can't lose him. I can't."Just then, his phone buzzed. He looked at the screen and saw Ariana's name.His heart skipped a beat. He answered immediately."Ariana? Do you know where Leo is? Have you seen him?"Ariana's voice was cold and sharp.
ARIANA APARTMENT ~ NEW YORK CITY Leo shrugged, a small smile appearing on his face. "I had to get away. Gabriella was so mad. She screamed so loud. It was so funny."Ariana laughed again, pulling him into another hug. "Oh, I wish I could have seen her face. She probably looked like a fish out of water."Leo giggled, but his giggles quickly turned back to tears. "Aunt Ariana, I don't want to go to that school. I want my mother. I want to see Mama."Ariana's expression softened. She cupped his face in her hands and looked into his eyes. "Listen to me, Leo. You are not going to that school. You are staying right here with me. I'm going to take care of you until your mother gets out of prison. Do you understand?"Leo's eyes lit up with hope. "Really? I can stay with you?"Ariana nodded firmly. "Really. I'm not letting anyone send you away. You're family, Leo. And family sticks together."She stood up and took his hand. "Come on. Let's get you cleaned up. You look like you've been throu
WENTWORTH CORRECTIONAL CENTER – VISITATION ROOM – 2:00 PMThe visitation room was cold and gray. Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead. A thick glass window separated visitors from inmates. Phones hung on both sides for conversations.Sophia sat on the inmate side of the glass. Her face was bruised. Her hand was bandaged. Her jumpsuit was wrinkled and dirty. She looked nothing like the glamorous socialite she used to be.She had been summoned for a visit. She didn't know who was coming. She didn't care.Then the door opened.Damien walked in.He wore an expensive suit. His hair was perfectly styled. His shoes were polished. He looked like a man who had just stepped out of a boardroom.Sophia's heart stopped. Then it filled with rage.Damien sat down on the visitor side of the glass. He picked up the phone. His face was cold and unreadable.Sophia picked up her phone slowly. Her hand was shaking."Damien," she said. Her voice was flat."Sophia," he replied. His voice was equally cold.T
“Touch me. Fuck me. Anything.”He pumped his fingers slowly, thumb brushing her clit on every stroke. “I’m going to do all of it.”His mouth found her neck, sucking hard enough to leave marks as his fingers worked her steadily. She clutched his shoulders, nails digging through his coat. Wet sounds
THE GUERRA GRAND MANSION~ SPAINGabriella stepped into her sunlit bedroom at the family villa outside Madrid. The red dress from last night still draped over a chair, a trophy of her victory. Her skin still tingled from Alejandro’s hands, his desperate kisses, the way he’d lost control. She let he
AMELIA STONE OFFICE ~ STONE INDUSTRIES The door to Amelia’s office opened without a sound. Nicholas Hale stepped in, closing it behind him with a soft click. The room seemed to shift, charged with something unspoken.Amelia stayed in her chair, leaning back with calm, controlled ease. Her usual CE
ALEJANDRO MASTER BEDROOM ~ NEW YORK The phone had been buzzing nonstop.Alejandro walked into the master bedroom, holding it up. “Mi reina, your phone has been ringing non-stop.”Amelia pushed herself up against the pillows, exhausted. “My phone? Are you serious? I thought I had it with me all alo







