The next morning, Elena stood in front of the company building, her fingers gripping the strap. She took a shaky breath, steeling herself. Just pretend yesterday never happened, she whispered in her head.She stepped inside and walked straight to her office.Her footsteps were steady, her movements automatic, like she was just following a routine without thinking. When the clock hit 9 a.m., she stood up, grabbed the scarf from the back of her chair and wrapped it around her neck. She checked the mirror, adjusting the scarf until the mark from last night was completely hidden. A small smile formed on her lips, just as someone knocked on the door."Come in" she saidThe door creaked open and in walked a tall man in a black shirt and slacks, his broad shoulders filling the frame. His brown eyes lit up with amusement as he smiled."Brandon" she breathed, surprise flickering in her eyes.He opened his arms, grinning "Come on” She crossed the room quickly and fell into his embrace. For a m
The morning light spilled across the room.Elena's eyes fluttered open to the sight of a glittering chandelier overhead. For a moment, she lay still, disoriented. Then she turned her head toward the corner of the room and her breath hitched.Tiziano.He was there, asleep beside her.Her chest tightened. Slowly, she lifted the blanket. She was naked No... no way. It happened.Panic surged through her. She had to leave—before he woke up. Moving carefully, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Quietly..she gathered her purse and scattered clothes, clutching them to her chest as she tiptoed toward the bathroom.Behind her, Tiziano's eyes snapped open.He caught a fleeting glimpse of her naked figure and the delicate butterfly tattoo inked between her shoulder blades as she slipped into the bathroom.He sat up slowly, resting against the headboard. A sharp pain stabbed at his temples.The headache. The blurred memories.Flashes from the night before hit him like shards of broken g
Moments later, a man in a black leather jacket and matching cap approached her. Without a word.. he handed her a small, wrapped item. She passed him a thick stack of cash. He gave a brief nod, keeping his face down, then disappeared into the crowd.Zara's fingers tightened around what he had given her. She glanced around sharply, making sure no one had noticed. But her eyes caught a figure sprawled across one of the velvet couches—several empty bottles littered the table nearby.She narrowed her gaze.It was Elena.Her lips twisted in surprise, then disdain "A manager by day, a drunkard by night" she scoffed under her breath. "What a loser."With a final glance, she shook her head and turned away.Moving to the lower tier of the VIP room, Zara kept her head low beneath the brim of her cap. She glanced briefly at Tiziano. He sat casually, legs crossed.. swiping through his phone.Without slowing, she passed through and exited the room.In the hallway, she made a quick call and a woman
Taking a deep breath, Jia forced a smile "It suits you so well, my love” "I also got you a gift" Silvio said as he stood up, breaking the moment.Everyone's gaze turned to him as he reached into his pocket and pulled out another small red box. He opened it slowly, revealing a necklace identical to Kira's, only in a larger size.Silvio stepped closer to Jia, his hand hovering briefly before he gently helped her lift her hair. He placed the necklace around her neck, his fingers lingering as he adjusted it. Once it was in place, he smiled and looked around the room, his eyes settling on a large mirror hanging on the wall. Without a word.. he gently took Jia's hand, guiding her toward the mirror.As she gazed at her reflection, Jia's hand instinctively reached up to touch the necklace. The sparkling pendant caught the light and she couldn't help but curl her lips into a soft smile "I love it" she murmured, her voice barely a whisper.Her eyes met Silvio's in the mirror and something st
Without waiting for an invitation, Silvio stepped inside. Kira's eyes lit up the moment she saw him."Uncle Handsome!" she squealed, running towardhimSilvio's features softened into a smile as he dropped to one knee and swept her into his arms. She clung to him, arms wrapping tightly around his neck."I missed you, Uncle" she whispered"I missed you too" he said gently Across the room, surprise and confusion flashing across his face. Silvio seemed like a completely different person. So, he knew about Jia's daughter—did that mean he also knew she was married? Tiziano recalled the scandal involving Jia. When he had seen the man in the photo beside her, he had recognized him instantly it was Silvio.Tiziano cleared his throat. Silvio looked up. Their eyes locked and the warmth in Silvio's expression vanished, replaced by a sharp edge."What are you doing here?" he asked, voice clipped "And when did you get back from Tokyo?"Tiziano gave a half—smirk "Chill, brother. One question at a
Days passed in a blur and Zara's scandal exploded across every headline, Her face was everywhere—on gossip blogs, news reports and social media. The consequences came fast—major brands cut ties with her, her agency released a cold, distant statement and her name was removed from all upcoming projects. Once admired and celebrated, Zara had become a warning sign to others in the industry—still trending but now for all the wrong reasonsMeanwhile, Jia stood in her new mansion, surrounded by half—unpacked boxes and the faint scent of fresh paint. She had just finished arranging Kian's room and now worked alongside Kira in the smaller pink—themed space next door."Mommy, let's fix this picture here" Kira said, holding up a framed photo of the three of them, her fingers leaving faint prints on the glass Jia took the frame gently, wiped it clean with a soft towel, then placed it carefully on Kira's nightstand.She stepped back and scanned the room—fluffy curtains, a princess—style canopy