Masuk~CAMILLA~Mr. Lucas is still staring at me without speaking, and I can't take it anymore."What is it?" I ask impatiently."About what happened some days ago. The one involving Steven and the study group,” He pauses for a while before continuing. “I'm really sorry about that. I'm sorry for overreacting and replying to your text message.”My mouth opens as I stare at him in disbelief.Did he just apologize??Yes, I vowed never to speak to him back then until he apologized.I knew I deserved some apology from him.But the fact that he just apologized out of nowhere, without me even bringing it up again surprises me.Because I thought his pride would make it difficult for him to apologize.But here he is, apologizing with so much ease.“I'm sorry if I made you feel like a baby who doesn't know what she's doing. I'm sorry for how I spoke to you that day. And I hope you don't think I'm in your life to order you around,” he says.Wow! He's really apologizing!! That
~CAMILLA~I have never seen Mr. Lucas like this before.The man who always seems to have an answer for everything, who carries himself with so much confidence that it is difficult to imagine anything capable of breaking him, is crying in my arms.And there is nothing I can do to take away his pain.I wish I could reach into his memories and erase that terrible day. I wish I could find the little boy who lost his mother and tell him that none of it was his fault, that he did not fail her, and that he deserved so much more than the suffering life forced upon him.My tears slip down my cheeks as I tighten my arms around him, gently patting his back."Oh, Mr. Lucas," I whisper, my voice breaking. "I'm so sorry."He clutches my clothes, his shoulders shaking beneath my hands, and my heart aches so badly that I have to squeeze my eyes shut.Eight years old.He was only eight years old when he lost his mother, and he had to live with that loss without the person who ha
~LUCAS~“Mr. Lucas!” Camilla exclaims when I kiss her forehead.She's blushing hard because her cheeks are already turning pink.I smile at her, and then I realize that I have not properly thanked her."Camilla,” I call in a serious tone. “Thank you so much.”The words come out quietly.She blinks. "For what?""For staying with me,” I reply.Her expression softens. "You don't have to thank me for that, Mr. Lucas.""Yes, I do,” I reply.She falls silent.I look down at my hands, suddenly uncertain about what to do with them.It is ridiculous. I have negotiated with difficult people, faced situations that would make most men lose their nerve, and spent years learning how to keep my emotions under control.Yet sitting in front of Camilla, trying to explain what her kindness means to me, feels more difficult than any of those things."You didn't have to spend the night here," I tell her. "You could have gone home.”"But I didn't want to leave you alone."Her answer
~LUCAS~The first thing I become aware of when I wake up is the warmth against my chest.For a moment, I lie still, too comfortable to move, my mind still heavy with sleep. Then I feel the soft weight of someone's head resting against me, and my eyes slowly open.Camilla is sleeping beside me, her cheek pressed against my chest, one arm resting loosely across my stomach. A few strands of her hair have fallen over her face, and her lips are slightly parted as she breathes peacefully.I stare at her.What is she doing here?Then the memories of last night begin to return.My fever. The pain. Her worried face hovering over me. Her gentle hands tending to my injuries. The way I held on to her when she tried to leave the room, desperately asking her to stay even though I could barely bring myself to admit how much I needed her company.And she stayed.She actually stayed.I look toward the window. Pale morning light has begun filtering through the curtains, tell
~CAMILLA~What on earth happened to Mr. Lucas??I want to ask him a thousand questions.I want to know who hurt him, what happened, how long he has been carrying those wounds, and why he has been dealing with everything alone.Most of all, I want to know why he never thought he could tell me.But the questions remain trapped behind my lips.He is sick, exhausted, and barely able to keep his eyes open. Whatever happened to him, I cannot force him to revisit it while he is lying in bed with a fever.This is not the time.So I do the only thing I can.I reach for the clean towel, set it aside, and gently place my fingertips against his chest, careful to avoid the bruises.His skin is hot beneath my touch.I move my fingers slowly, tracing the uninjured skin around one of the darker marks before stopping near his ribs.I barely dare to touch him.Every injury seems to tell me that he has endured something painful, and the realization makes my heart ache in a way I
~CAMILLA~"I'm not going anywhere, Lucas."I tighten my fingers around his, leaning closer so he can see the sincerity in my eyes."I never wanted to leave you. I was only going to change the water and bring back some fresh water for your forehead. That's all."He watches me with heavy eyes, his expression still carrying a vulnerability I have never seen in him before."You're really coming back?"The quiet question nearly breaks my heart."Of course I'm coming back." I brush my thumb over his knuckles. "I promise I'll be as quick as possible. You won't even have enough time to miss me."He doesn't smile, but something in his expression softens.For a few seconds, he continues holding my hand, his fingers resting around mine as though he is reluctant to trust my promise.I don't rush him. Instead, I stay beside him, gently stroking his hand until he finally loosens his grip."Good girl," he murmurs, his eyes already beginning to close.I almost laugh at the words,
~ELENA~“Help!” I cry out in tears. “Somebody please help!”The sound of my own voice echoes back to me, useless.A man slams the door shut. The engine roars.And just like that, they’re gone.Two of my daughters.Gone.I crawl after them, knees scraping against metal and s
~ELENA~“Get the babies now!”Something in my tone snaps them into motion. Valentina reaches for one baby. Gianna scoops up another. I clutch the third to my chest, heart racing.Vincenzo appears instantly. “What is it?”“I don’t know,” I whisper. “But something’s wrong.”He stu
~MARCELLA~I take one slow step closer to him, letting the bass roll through my body.I stop just close enough for him to smell my perfume—warm, sweet, dangerous.Up close, he’s even better. Sharp jaw. Long lashes. Lips that look like they’ve never learned how to beg. Calm
~TWENTY TWO YEARS LATER~ ~MARCELLA~I weave my way onto the dance floor with Stephanie, my best friend, finding the beat as I sway my hips and lose myself in the groove, erupting loud cheering noises from the hungry crowd whose hungry eyes are ravaging all over my body.I'm







