FAZER LOGINElena ignored her. âAmelia is nothing but a manipulative liar,â she said coldly. âShe used Alejandro from the beginning.âSerena frowned. âElenaâââShe trapped him with a pregnancy that wasnât even his,â Elena continued, her voice filled with disgust. âAnd now sheâs trying to pull him back in with another baby.âShe shook her head. âItâs pathetic. She knows Alejandro is moving on, so now she wants to use the baby to drag him back into her mess.âSerenaâs eyes narrowed. âYou people really hear yourselves, right?âElena glared at her.âWhat is that supposed to mean?âSerena slowly set down her glass.âIt means a woman just lost her daughter.âSerenaâs voice became firm as she looked around the room.âAnd while her other baby is fighting for his life in the hospital, weâre sitting here calling her pathetic. Maybe, just maybe, we should stop celebrating her pain for five minutes and remember that sheâs still a human being.âAlejandro immediately nodded, his expression becoming serious.âShe
Amelia looked up, confused. âYes?âThe nurse glanced at Dr. Patel before giving Amelia a small smile. âThereâs no need to worry about the hospital bills anymore.âAmelia blinked. âWhat?âThe nurse checked the file in her hands. âYour bills have been paid. All of them.âDr. Patelâs eyebrows lifted in surprise. âWhat do you mean theyâve been paid?ââThe entire balance,â the nurse explained. âThe emergency procedure, the NICU treatment, and your sonâs medical care. Everything has been covered.âAmelia stared at her in disbelief. âBut⊠how?âThe nurse shook her head. âIâm not sure. The payment was made anonymously.âAmeliaâs eyes widened. âAnonymously?ââYes, maâam. The hospital received the payment a short while ago. Your account has been marked as fully paid.âAmelia slowly sank back against her pillows, completely stunned. âA benefactorâŠâ she whispered.Dr. Patel looked at the nurse, then back at Amelia. âSomeone paid three thousand dollars for your sonâs treatment?âThe nurse nodded.
Serena blinked innocently and pressed a hand to her chest. "Rude? Me?""Yes, you!" Elena threw her hands up. "You've been taking jabs at Gabriella all night."Serena lounged back, crossing her legs. "I congratulated her. If she heard something else, that's not my problem."Gabriella's eyes narrowed. "If you have something to say, just say it."Serena turned slowly. "Oh, trust me. I have plenty."Alejandro shot her a warning look. "Serena."She raised her hands. "What? I'm sitting here quietly.""You haven't been quiet for five minutes," Elena muttered.Serena ignored her and locked eyes with Gabriella. "You want to know why I have a problem with you?""Yes."Serena tilted her head. "Fine. You walked into my brother's life, Amelia disappeared, and suddenly you're pregnant, planning a wedding, and everyone's supposed to act like this is a fairy tale."Gabriella's face hardened. "I didn't make Alejandro leave her."Serena scoffed. "Of course not. He just magically changed his entire life
ALEJANDROâS PENTHOUSE â LIVING ROOM â EVENINGThe penthouse was full of activity. Candles flickered around the room, filling the living room with a warm, golden glow.Alejandro sat on the leather sofa with one arm resting along the back. Gabriella sat beside him, one hand resting protectively on her belly. She looked extremely pleased with herself.She wore an elegant ivory silk dress, and her dark hair was perfectly styled.Across from them sat Alejandroâs mother, Marisa, and his sisters, Elena and Serena. Marisa looked elegant in her navy silk dress, while Elena sat beside her with a calm, unreadable expression.Serena, however, wasnât even trying to hide her annoyance.Gabriella clapped her hands excitedly. âAlright, everyone! We only have three days until the wedding, and thereâs still so much to do. I made a list.âSerena rolled her eyes. âOf course you did. Iâm surprised you didnât make a spreadsheet too.âGabriellaâs smile tightened. âI just want everything to be perfect.ââCle
ALEJANDROâS PENTHOUSE â LIVING ROOM â EVENINGThe penthouse was full of activity. Candles flickered around the room, filling the living room with a warm, golden glow.Alejandro sat on the leather sofa with one arm resting along the back. Gabriella sat beside him, one hand resting protectively on her belly. She looked extremely pleased with herself.She wore an elegant ivory silk dress, and her dark hair was perfectly styled.Across from them sat Alejandroâs mother, Marisa, and his sisters, Elena and Serena. Marisa looked elegant in her navy silk dress, while Elena sat beside her with a calm, unreadable expression.Serena, however, wasnât even trying to hide her annoyance.Gabriella clapped her hands excitedly. âAlright, everyone! We only have three days until the wedding, and thereâs still so much to do. I made a list.âSerena rolled her eyes. âOf course you did. Iâm surprised you didnât make a spreadsheet too.âGabriellaâs smile tightened. âI just want everything to be perfect.ââCle
Amelia's heart leaped. "Alejandro! Thank God. I need to talk to you. It's important."Alejandro's voice was flat and cold. "What do you want, Amelia? I don't have time for your games."Amelia's voice cracked. "It's not a game, Alejandro. I'm in the hospital. I lost one of my babies. She was stillborn. But the other one our son he's alive. He's in an incubator. He has a lung infection. He's fighting for his life."Alejandro was silent for a moment. Then he spoke, his voice emotionless. "So you had twins. And one died. And the other is sick. That's unfortunate."Amelia's voice rose. "Unfortunate? That's all you have to say? Our daughter is dead, Alejandro! Our son is fighting for his life! And you're acting like it doesn't even matter?!"Alejandro's voice was cold. "What do you expect me to say, Amelia? You made it very clear that you don't want me in your life. You removed me as Leo's guardian. You told me you never wanted to see me again. So why should I care about this baby?"Amelia'
THE FAVINO ESTATE â LATE MORNINGThe house felt different after Marisa left.Amelia noticed it first.The servants moved softly, avoiding eye contact. Phones were kept on silent. Even the sunlight pouring through the tall windows felt restrained, like it didnât want to interrupt whatever storm was
BLACKWOOD INDUSTRIES ~ NEW YORK Katherina slipped Nicholas Haleâs card into her folder and closed it.Control. That was the word. And that was what she needed to hold on to.She straightened her blazer, smoothed her face, and returned to her desk as if nothing had happened. As if the air in the ro
Marisa jabbed a finger at Amelia. âYes. You.âThe room went quiet.Alejandro tensed. âMother, donât.ââNo,â Marisa said, her voice cold. âYou donât get to shield her. Let me speak.âShe stepped closer to Amelia. âYou show up here⊠and suddenly the Guerras strike. You have ties to the Blackwoods. To
VIVIAN OFFICE~ NEW YORK Then she saw Miaâs expression puzzled, a little worried, waiting for her boss to recognize her own approval. Vivianâs survival instinct kicked in, cold and swift. She could not let Mia know.She forced a weak, dismissive laugh and rubbed her temple. âOh, for heavenâs sake.







