ログインFAVINO PENTHOUSE – MORNINGTWO WEEKS LATER Amelia was sitting at the dining table with Leo, watching him eat his cereal, when Maria rushed in, breathless and clearly shaken.“Mrs. Favino… they’re here,” Maria said quickly.Amelia frowned. “Who?”“Mr. Favino’s mother… and his sisters. All of them. And they’re… not calm.”Amelia’s chair scraped against the floor as she stood. “Marisa is back? I thought Alejandro told her to stay in Spain.”“She didn’t listen,” Maria said in a lower voice. “And she didn’t come alone. They’re in the living room. They’re demanding to see you. They won’t leave.”Amelia glanced at Leo.He was still eating, completely unaware.She softened her voice. “Leo, sweetheart, go to your room and play for a bit, okay? Mama needs to talk to some people.”Leo nodded happily. “Okay, Mama.”He jumped down and ran off.Amelia watched him go, then took a slow breath, steadying herself.“Let them wait,” she muttered.Then she walked toward the living room.—Marisa stood in
The words fell like stones into still water. Serena's face went white. Marisa didn't move, didn't breathe."What did you say?" Marisa's voice was barely a whisper."I had a private investigator run a discreet genetic analysis," Elena continued, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. "Using samples I was able to obtain over the past year. The results came back last week. I've been trying to find the right time to tell you. There is no right time.""Whose son is he?" Serena demanded, her voice rising. "If not Miguel's, then whose?"Elena closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, they were wet."Damien Blackwood."The name hit Marisa like a physical blow. She gripped the edge of the table, her knuckles white."Damien Blackwood," she repeated slowly. "Amelia Ex Fiancee . Alexander Blackwood's son. The man who was obsessed with Amelia for years.""The same," Elena said quietly. "The DNA shows a 99.97% paternal match. Leo is Damien's child."Serena stood frozen, her ha
The morning sun over the Favino hacienda was golden and warm, spilling through the tall windows of the main house like honey. Marisa Favino sat at the head of the long dining table, a cup of strong black coffee cooling in front of her. But this—this chaos her youngest son had brought into their lives—was testing her in ways she hadn't anticipated."Mamá, you haven't touched your coffee."Serena, her younger twin, appeared in the doorway, already dressed in riding clothes, her dark hair pulled back in a messy ponytail."I'm not hungry," Marisa said."You never eat when you're worried." Serena crossed the room, poured herself a coffee, and slid into the chair across from her mother. "And you've been worried for three months. Ever since Alejandro brought that woman to dinner."Marisa's eyes flickered. "Gabriella Guerra is not the problem anymore.""Then what is? The divorce? The scandal? The baby?" Serena's voice was sharp. "Pick one. There are enough to choose from."The sound of heel
He closed his eyes. Vivian's face flashed behind them. Her laugh. Her fury. The way she looked at him sometimes like he was the only thing holding her together.But she was also the reason he was here. The reason he'd lost his job, his apartment, his future. She had pulled him into this darkness, and now she was drowning, and she was taking him with her."The warehouse is on Varick Street," he said. "Abandoned textile building, three blocks south of the canal. She's in the main floor, tied to a support beam. There's a loading bay in the back.""I know it." There was a rustle of movement on the other end. "Give me twenty minutes to confirm. If Katherina is alive, you'll receive a text with the wire confirmation and the flight details. If she's not—""She's alive," Harrison said quickly. "Vivian wanted her to suffer. She wasn't going to kill her.""Let's hope you're right. For your sake."The line went dead.Harrison sat there, the phone still pressed to his ear, listening to the dia
BLACKWOOD ESTATE – CONNECTICUTAlexander sat in his study, a thick file open in front of him.FBI reports. Statements. Evidence.The more he read, the tighter his jaw became.Vivian had been in custody. Charges ready. Case solid.And then she escaped.With help.Harrison Cole.Two guards attacked. Security breached. Gone without a trace.Now she was a fugitive.And somehow… the FBI was looking at *him*.Alexander slammed the file shut. “This is ridiculous.”He stood up, pacing.“I didn’t help her escape,” he muttered. “Why would I help her?”He had already told them. More than once.“I want her caught. I want her prosecuted. She’s the one who ruined everything.”But it didn’t matter.They were still asking questions. Still watching him.Still treating him like a suspect.His phone rang. Unknown number.Alexander stared at it for a second… then answered.“Hello?”“Alexander.”His body went still.Vivian.Her voice was calm… almost amused. “Surprised to hear from me?”Alexander straight
Katherina hit the wall but instead of breaking, she looked up again, steady.“And yet here I am,” she said quietly. “Living in your head so much that you risked everything just to punish me.”Vivian’s breathing grew heavier.Katherina leaned her head back against the wall, watching her closely now.“You could have run,” she continued. “You had the money. The passports. Freedom.”She paused. “But instead… you came for me.”Vivian said nothing.“You know what that means?” Katherina asked.Vivian’s voice came out low. “What?”“It means I still matter more than your freedom.”Silence filled the room.Harrison’s words from earlier echoed in the background. We need to leave. This is too dangerous.Katherina saw the hesitation in Vivian’s eyes and pressed harder.“You’re not in control,” she said quietly. “You’re reacting. Chasing people who’ve already moved on.”Vivian’s jaw tightened. “I’m in control of you.”Katherina gave a small shrug. “For now.”That irritated Vivian more than shouting
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT ~ BLACKWOOD INDUSTRIES Katherine Rodriguez stood in her sleek office, the ghost of Nicholas Hale’s presence still humming in the air. She stared at his business card, her thumb tracing the embossed letters.“Get a grip,” she muttered to herself, tossing the card onto her d
ALEJANDRO STUDY~ NEW YORK Ariana arrived an hour later, a laptop bag slung over her shoulder. Her hair was tied back, her eyes already alert, already working.She stopped the moment she saw the files spread across Alejandro study.“Well,” Ariana said, letting out a low whistle. “This is definitely
Katherine’s smile was thin, dangerous. “The one person who might know the truth. The source of all our problems.”She leaned back, eyes cold. “My charming ex-husband.”---DAMIEN BLACKWOOD OFFICE~ NEW YORK Upstairs, Damien Blackwood sat in the corner of his office, an ice pack pressed firmly again
BLACKWOOD INDUSTRIES ~ NEW YORK Katherina’s office was quiet when Damien walked in.Too quiet.She was standing by the window, arms crossed, watching the city below like it had personally offended her. She didn’t turn around when she heard the door close.“Well?” she asked coolly. “Did she take th







