When Rene suddenly locked eyes with her, Maria’s breath hitched. Again.The words Jason had thrown at him, felt like daggers dipped in honey, sliced through something fragile in her chest. She could feel her heart pounding against her ribs, loud, loud, too loud.And Rene… he hadn’t moved.Hadn’t spoken.But his fists were clenched so tightly at his sides that it was a wonder his knuckles hadn’t split open.“Maria-” Vittoria tried again, her voice concerned now. “Say something.”“I…” Maria started, glancing at her mother.But her voice cracked. Broke like glass under pressure.Rene turned his head, eyes meeting hers for the briefest second.And she knew.He’d heard the silence too.She opened her mouth again, but-Rene stepped forward, quiet but purposeful, reached for her hand, and gently pulled her to her feet.Everyone’s heads turned. Gasps. Whispers.Mad at her daughter humiliated because of Rene again, Vittoria reached forward slightly. “Maria, wait-”But Rene didn’t even glance b
When Rene didn't utter a word, Maria’s voice cracked again. “Would you stay away from her? Completely. If it comes to me or her?”Rene looked at her... really looked at her... and something in his eyes shifted. It wasn’t anger. It wasn’t guilt. It was something much heavier. Something sad.He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he drew in a breath, slow and deliberate, before speaking in a voice so quiet she almost missed it.“If I have to cut someone out of my life just to prove that I love you... then what we have isn’t love. It’s fear.”Maria blinked, stunned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”“It means,” Rene said, tone still calm, but laced with an ache she hadn’t expected, “that if you don’t trust me… if you honestly believe that I’d cross a line with Layla, then we don’t have the kind of foundation a marriage is supposed to be built on.”Her throat closed around a lump she couldn’t swallow. Every breath started to feel heavier.He stepped closer, slow and steady. “You’re asking m
The office smelled like cedarwood. The heavy oval desk gleamed beneath the amber lights as Jason stood at the head of the room now, sleeves rolled up, tie loosened, the embodiment of calm arrogance as he paced slowly before the others.Eyes glinting with mischief, Bianca lounged on the leather sofa, glass of wine in hand, already smiling at her brother’s smug expression. Antonio stood by the liquor cabinet, refilling his drink but watching Jason closely. Layla sat stiffly, arms crossed, her gaze wary but silent.Finally, Jason stopped pacing and turned toward them, a smirk creeping across his face.“Well,” he said, voice rich with satisfaction, “it worked. Exactly like I said it would.”Pausing the wine glass to her bottom lip, Bianca’s smile widened. “What? You mean you actually getting Maria to question him?”When their eyes locked with such a sinister glance, Jason let out a short laugh.“I didn’t just make her question him,” he said. “I planted doubt in her like a slow-burning fus
The room was too quiet now. Too still.Layla’s heart pounded as she stood slowly, hoping Jason wouldn’t notice the tremor in her steps. Her voice was calm, “I got rid of everything.”Jason didn’t respond at first. He simply stared at her with a predator’s stillness. Then he nodded slowly, lips twitching into a faint smile.“Everyone out,” he said, not taking his eyes off Layla.Smiling at her brother, Bianca’s brows lifted, amused. “All of us?”Jason didn’t blink. “Except her.”With a deep sigh, Antonio paused, narrowed his gaze toward his son, and then at Layla, whose face had paled. He was quiet for a moment before setting his drink down with a heavy clink.“Be careful,” he muttered, then turned and walked out.Holding in her breath, Bianca lingered, an eyebrow raised, clearly enjoying the tension before Jason snapped, “Bianca.”“Alright, alright,” she said, smirking as she glided past Layla. “Have fun, lovebirds.”Watching them with desperate eyes, Layla’s breath hitched as the doo
The tires had barely stilled when Rene turned off the engine. The quiet hum of the Rossi estate’s grand driveway didn’t soothe the storm rising in his chest.He glanced at Maria beside him.She hadn’t spoken much during the drive. She was staring straight ahead, lips pressed into a thin line. Her hand was resting near the console. He tried to reach for it, brushing her knuckles lightly, just to feel her warmth. But she didn’t flinch, didn’t look at him.Then she blinked.And her entire body stiffened.“Don’t tell me…” she muttered.Rene followed her gaze and his jaw clenched.Their eyes locked on Layla, standing in front of the mansion, leaning against her car like she’d been planted there for hours. Her arms were crossed, her knuckles white, like she’d been gripping something too hard for too long. The moment she spotted them, her lips curved into a sweet, slow smile.Pushing the car door open, Rene’s entire body went tense.He stepped out of the car first, moving toward Maria’s side
As the seconds passed, Maria stood there, frozen, her hands hovering over the now-open pink box.Watching her a few feet away, Rene didn't move. He stood at the edge of the room, his fists clenched at his sides, as though bracing for impact.Inside the box, carefully folded and stacked with painstaking intention, were pieces of a life Maria had never lived… Rene’s life before her.At the very top sat an oversized navy blue hoodie, the fabric soft and worn at the elbows. Maria touched it like it might burn her. The faint smell of cologne still clung to it. Her fingers trembled as she picked it up and beneath it, she saw more... another hoodie and more stuff that seemed to belong to him.“She kept your clothes.” Maria chuckled, eyeing Rene. Underneath them were some pajamas… soft flannel ones in faded pinks and creams, obviously too small to be Rene’s. Folded beside them were a couple of plush teddy bears, the kind you win at a fair, with one having a crooked little bow.Then came the
“I don’t care!” Maria’s voice cracked.Rene blinked, caught off guard. She wasn’t yelling to be dramatic. This wasn’t some jealous outburst she’d regret in an hour. This... this was different. Her eyes were wild and wet, her chest rising and falling in sharp waves. Her hands were clenched so tightly at her sides, it was like she was holding herself together by sheer will.“Then avoid her,” she snapped. “Leave the room. Walk the other way. I don’t care how awkward it is or who notices. I’m telling you right now... If you ever willingly share space with her again, we’re done. Do you hear me? Done.”His mouth opened, but no words came out.She meant it.Every syllable landed like a punch, and he could see in her eyes she wasn’t bluffing. There was no fire-and-ice whirlwind here, no threat tossed into the air just to watch it fall. This was real. This was her drawing a line in the sand with shaking hands.“You don’t understand what this does to me,” she said, stepping closer. Her voice ha
The morning sun spilled through the tall windows of the Rossi estate, its light bouncing off the polished wood floors. The house was unnervingly quiet except for the low murmur of conversation coming from Jason's study. Inside, Jason and his father, Antonio, sat in heavy leather chairs, each nursing a glass of expensive whiskey, their expressions grim but contemplative.The heavy oak door creaked open without warning, and in popped Bianca, her face flushed with excitement. She didn’t even bother to close the door as she practically bounced on her heels."You won't believe it!" she announced loudly, her voice spilling into the hallway. "Maria and Kia fought last night! I heard it with my own ears!"Jason’s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing into slits. He rose swiftly from his chair, crossed the room in two strides, and grabbed Bianca by the wrist, yanking her inside. With a rough jerk, he slammed the door shut and turned the lock with a loud click. He glared down at her, his voice a
A hush swept over the ballroom, heads turned. Glasses paused mid-air. Even the chandelier light seemed to bend its attention toward the entrance.She stood there... Catherina Ford.Grace was too small a word.She didn’t walk in, she arrived... poised like she owned the ground beneath her heels. Her dress was a deep emerald silk, folding around her like liquid elegance. Hair up in a classic twist, neck adorned with a single strand of pearls that looked like they'd been fished from the private vaults of royalty. Not a wrinkle in her brow, not a misplaced gesture. Only presence.And it was majestic.Mr. Rossi’s jaw dropped open, actually dropped, hanging loose like a broken hinge before he caught himself with a little cough and a half-step forward.“My God,” he muttered. “Is that-?”Gunnar turned toward the entrance as well, brow lifting in curiosity.Rossi's voice was low but urgent. “Gunnar… please tell me you invited her. We’re not… we’re not close enough to the Fords.”But Gunnar onl
The Rossi convoy pulled into the circular drive of the Grand Meridian, the most opulent skyscraper in the city... glass and steel stretching into the stars. Paparazzi flashes crackled beyond the velvet ropes, their lights bouncing off the tinted windows of the luxury cars. Valets and security formed tight lines, working in sharp, clean choreography.The first wave of family emerged... Mr. Rossi leading with Madam Rossi at his side, flanked by Jason, Antonio, Layla, Bianca, Princess, and the others.Then Maria and Rene stepped out next. He stayed by her side, arm tucked beneath hers, smile faint but present, expression unreadable beneath the golden lights of the entrance.The guards nodded. The family entered.But Alejandro didn’t.He stood off to the side, just beyond the corner of the building where the cameras couldn’t see, leaning against his Jaguar, one leg crossed over the other, a cigarette burning low between his fingers.His tuxedo was only half-buttoned, hair tousled like he'
Maria stood near the window, phone pressed to her ear, her back straight, voice low. She wore a floor-length gown of deep emerald, sleeveless with a high collar and a low, scooped back that exposed the elegant arch of her spine. The silk flowed like water over her body, and her earrings... a cute glimmer of green stones... brought the whole look together with effortless grace.She ended the call with a sigh just as the bathroom door behind her opened.Rene stepped out, adjusting the cufflinks on his crisp white shirt. But it was the suit that caught the room.He wore a midnight black tuxedo, tailored to precision... sharp lapels trimmed in a sheen of satin, shoulders squared, waist nipped, the cut hugging his frame like it had been made by hands that knew him well. Beneath the jacket, the subtle gleam of a black silk vest peeked through, layered over a charcoal-gray shirt with the top buttons undone just enough to be daring, but not vulgar. A small silver pin was fixed on his lapel, a
The evening of the party had arrived.Beyond the grand windows of the Rossi estate, the sky bled into twilight, a deep indigo shroud setting the stage for the storm that loomed unseen. The Rossi residence shimmered with golden light, and distant voices echoed in the halls.The party.The celebration no one could stop.In the master bedroom on the top floor, the world was quieter... thicker with tension.Madam Rossi stood before the ornate mirror, a dark sapphire gown hugging her figure like silk. Her hands were at her sides, clenched and still. The diamonds at her ears glinted like ice, and the sharp bones of her face gave her a statue-like elegance. Yet the furrow between her brows betrayed her.Behind her, Mr. Rossi was finishing the final touches. He moved with an eerie calm, slipping the delicate chain of her necklace into place around her neck. His fingers were steady as always. Precise. Cold.“Your hands haven’t aged,” she murmured, watching his reflection. “Even after all these
The dining room was uncomfortably quiet without Maria and Rene.Jason sat at the head of the long table, his hand around a half-filled glass of wine, his eyes dull and unblinking. Layla sat beside him, unusually still, her perfectly styled hair tucked behind one ear, a forced smile frozen on her lips. Juan and Antonio were seated opposite each other, eating calmly but watching everyone else with barely disguised suspicion.No one spoke unless necessary. Only the soft clinking of silverware and the occasional shifting of chairs filled the room. A storm brewed behind every glance, every twitch of a brow, every sip of water. It was the kind of quiet that could split open at the slightest provocation.Abruptly, Layla’s phone buzzed sharply against the table, slicing through the silence. She flinched. Glancing down at the screen, her stomach turned."Dad."She cleared her throat gently, offering a courteous smile to the table.“Excuse me,” she said, her voice smooth, though her fingers gri
Rene tilted his head slightly, the faintest curve of a smile teasing at the corner of his lips. He gave a soft, contemplative hmm, as though the matter were merely an intellectual exercise. The silence dragged, intentionally, until even Madam Rossi’s fork stilled halfway to her mouth.“I must say,” Rene began, voice light, polite, dangerously unbothered, “you make a compelling case, sir. Betrayal, dishonor, public shame… It’s almost Shakespearean.” He set his water glass down with an elegant clink. “But there’s just one problem.”Mr. Rossi’s eyes narrowed to slits.“I didn’t betray anyone,” Rene said, voice sharpening beneath the charm. “I didn’t cheat. I didn’t lie. And I certainly didn’t ask to be used as some sacrificial pawn in your public relations game.”Jason scoffed quietly, just loud enough to be heard. “You act like you’re above the family, like none of this matters to you.”Rene turned his gaze slowly, lazily, toward Jason. “Oh, it matters. Just not the way you want it to.”
The early morning light spilled through the sheer curtains, casting pale gold streaks across the floorboards. Rene stood shirtless before the mirror, the soft scratch of gauze brushing against his ribs as he wrapped the bruises with practiced ease.The muscles in his shoulders twitched slightly at every pull, his face set in quiet concentration. The wound, though shallow, was enough to remind him of the night before... of passion, of pain, and of the call that followed.He barely flinched as he secured the bandage with a strip of medical tape, the sting long dulled. The quiet was broken by a knock on the door.Maria stirred from the bed, tangled in the sheets. Her voice was groggy, but steady. “I’ll get it.”She padded across the room, pulling his shirt over her shoulders, and cracked the door open. One of the younger maids stood there, neatly dressed with her hands clasped in front of her. She dipped into a polite bow.“Good morning, Miss Maria. Your grandfather requests your presenc
Suddenly, Rene rose from the bed, reaching for his belt and unbuckling it. He tossed it aside, then pulled his T-shirt over his head, throwing it across the room as well. His jeans followed quickly after, and when he threw them all aside, his boxer was the only piece left.Rene stared at her for another moment, his eyes flickering down her body. Then, he smiled faintly, a little selflessly, “What now?" Staring down at him, Maria’s breath hitched. Her eyes moved over the bruises on his ribs, the faint marks across his skin. Her hand reached out instinctively, trembling slightly as it hovered near his side.But Rene stepped forward, catching her wrist in his hand and gently lowering it. His touch was warm, patient, but there was finality in it.“Don’t look at me like that,” he murmured, his voice low with a hint of pleading. “Not today.”Maria opened her mouth to protest, but he silenced her with a kiss, soft at first. His lips brushed hers like a question, not a demand. She exhaled ag
Staring ahead, Gunnar reclined on the leather couch in his private office, one ankle resting casually atop his knee, a tumbler of untouched whiskey in one hand. The room was dim, bathed in the warm golden hue of late afternoon light. The only sound was the faint ticking of the antique clock mounted above the fireplace.Across from him, Rene sat stiffly, one arm draped over the couch’s backrest, the other nursing his ribs with deliberate restraint. A thin bruise was forming along his jawline, still fresh from his father’s rage. He wore it like an afterthought, uninterested in pity."Will you tell me who did that?" Gunnar asked, lowering his gaze to the cut."No," Rene said casually.Just then, Gunnar’s phone buzzed on the table between them.He glanced down at the screen, then back at Rene. “Your grandfather-in-law is calling.”Rene smirked faintly, though his eyes remained dull. “Answer it.”Gunnar hesitated only a moment, then tapped the screen. “Okay, boss.”He placed the phone on s