Five Years Later ————The hectic noise of the airport swarmed them as the woman walked confidently, dragging her luggage behind her. Her black blazer and white shirt fit her perfectly and she moved with purpose, making heads turn as she passed. The dark glasses resting on her nose covering her eyes,In front of her, her two children—a boy and a girl, held hands, walking side by side . The girl..her dark curls bouncing with every step..skipped along, looking up at her mother with wide, eager eyes "Mummy, where is Uncle Enzo?"The woman's lips curved into a soft, reassuring smile as she crouched down to the girl's level.She brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, her eyes warm "Kira, don't worry. Uncle Enzo is coming."They walked a little further and found a quiet waiting area. The woman guided her children to the seats, her eyes quickly scanning the space before she returned her attention to them. She pulled her phone from her bag and checked the screen before meeting their gaze o
As the morning crept over the horizon, Rosa was stirred awake by a knock at her door. She sat up, leaning against the bed frame—her mind still foggy from sleep.The door creaked open, and her private nurse stepped in."Miss Rosa, Sir wants you to prepare. We are leaving the island” the nurse said, her voice steadyRosa's heart skipped "Leaving the island?" she repeated, her voice thick with disbelief.The nurse nodded.“Why” "I don't know why Miss, He just gave the order"Rosa's gaze darted to the window, the soft glow of dawn casting shadows across the room. What is he up to now? After a quick shower and a change of clothes, she was escorted outside, surrounded by a group of guards. The feeling of being watched from all sides made her chest tighten.A helicopter stood on the lawn, its blades spinning. One of the men waved for her to approach. Rosa hesitated, her eyes scanning the area, but something felt off—Silvio was nowhere to be seen."Please, miss” the leader of the men urge
Rosa blinked, the words not quite registering."Pregnant?" she repeatedDr. Mira gave a short nod "Yes, You're pregnant"Rosa felt a rush of panic flood her chest, the world tilting beneath her feet "No... that can't be" she whispered, her voice trembling. She stood up quickly, as if moving would make the reality of it all less real "You need to run the test again."Dr. Mira rolled her eyes with exaggerated patience, then pulled a small paper test from her bag and tossed it onto the bed beside Rosa.Rosa grabbed it, hands shaking. She read the words on the test, but they blurred before her eyes. It was positive. Positive.Her breath caught in her throat. No..This couldn't be happening.The papers slipped from her hand as she stumbled backward and fell to the floor, her chest heaving with silent sobs. Hot tears rushed down her faceDr. Mira stood by the door, her fingers curling around the handle. For a moment, she simply watched Rosa, who was now wracked with uncontrollable sobs. A
He didn't look at the man as he spoke, his tone low and deadly "What hand did you use?" The man's body trembled violently. His mouth opened but no words came. Silvio's lips curled into a cruel smile.With a fast move, he grabbed the man by the collar, yanking him toward a nearby table. The man's feet slid across the floor as he tried to resist but Silvio slammed him down with force. his body weight pinning the man's hands flat against the surface. For a moment all that could be heard was the man’s panicked gasp. In one swift motion Silvio drove the blade into the man's palm. The man's scream rang out but the blood that spurted from his hand drowned ou he t everything else, spilling onto the table. Silvio’s eyes gleamed with a cold satisfaction as he twisted the knife, provoking another painful scream. He yanked out the blade and the man’s cries grew louder. The room fell silent as Silvio strode to the front, his gaze sweeping over the rest of them. “Let this serve as a warning,
The harsh morning light pierced through the small secured window. Rosa lay on the cold stone floor, her hand were pressed against her chest as if trying to hold herself together. Her breath came in shallow gasps. The words they had told her that her mother was gone, she’s dead.. repeated over and over in her mind..each one stabbing deeper into her heartShe couldn't breathe and she couldn't think properly. The sobs tore through her chest, loud and frantic She had held it in for so long, burying the pain but now..with nothing left to protect her, she let go.Her cries echoed off the stone walls, raw and unrestrainedThe door creaked open, her wet eyes snapped up, and there he was--Silvio. He stood in the doorway,holding a tray with food. His white shirt and pants were spotless, too clean for this place.Their gazes locked for a moment, Rosa's eyes met his, hollow and broken as if she had already lost all hope of escaping this nightmare. Silvio's gaze moved briefly over h
As night settled in, Rosa's eyes fluttered open.The room was covered in darkness, the only movement was the soft rustle of curtains swaying from the open window. cigarette smoke filled the air, burning her nostrils and making her coughed"You are awake at last" a voice sliced through the silence, sending a shiver down her spine.Rosa's fingers curled tightly into thebedsheet, her heart hammering in her chest.She couldn't see him but the weight of his voice alone made her skin prickle Suddenly, lights flashed on.. blinding her for a moment. As her eyes adjusted, they locked onto him, Silvio.. sitting across the room in the dim light His black hair fell in messy strands over hisforehead,but it was his eyes that caught her attention. A striking, icy blue-sharp and unyielding,They seem to see through her. His white shirt, unbuttoned just enough to reveal a hint of muscle beneath. The cigarette between hisfingers burned, sending lazy curls of smoke into the air. He took a s
TEN DAYS LATER Rosa's head throbbed, the lines of her vision unclear, Her eyelids twitched and Slowly, she forced her eyes open but the sight before her froze her to the spot. Hana’s body was slumped over the steering wheel, blood dripping beneath her. "Mom!" Rosa screamed, her voice raw but it sounded distant, as if someone else was shouting.Her vision blurred again and when she opened her eyes this time, the world around her had shifted.A white ceiling stretched above her and a sparkling chandelier. What is this place? Her heart raced wildly and she struggled to sit up, but the room spun around her.A voice broke through her confusion "How do you feel, miss?"Rosa turned her head toward the sound. A woman in a white coat stood by her, administering something through an IV, her face cold and impersonal."Who are you?" Rosa rasped, her throat dry."Where's my mom?"the woman seemed to hear the question, but she didn't answer right away. Instead, her gaze flicked briefly
Fabio's eyes flickered with annoyance as he turned back to Rosa.He stood over her "I don't care what you think of me" his grip tightening in her hair "Silvio is a powerful man here in Italy. You should be grateful he's chosen you. And you should be grateful to me.My decision is final-you're his now and You belong to him"The words hit Rosa like a physical blow, It felt like something inside her was being ripped away. Is this how my life has become, No! no way.. I’m not letting my dad detect my life. *****As the first light of morning streamed through the curtains, Rosa stood by her window, already dressed in a black tank top and jeans.Her black cap was pulled low over her long hair. She picked up a frame of her mother from the nightstand and ran her hand gently over the frame, "Sorry Mum but I have to leave" she whispered "I can't keep living like this.. I love you" She pressed a soft kiss to the photo, then set it down carefully.The quiet moment was shattered as the
May4th On the night of her 20th birthday, Rosa sat on her bed, her fingers tracing the sides of a photograph. A picture of her and her parents from a time when things were easy. They were smiling, she sighed, brushing her hand over the surface."I miss us" she whisperedThe sound of raised voices echoed through her room.Her parents were arguing again, She didn't need to hear the words to know it was badRosa glanced out the window, watching the daylight fades, It was supposed to be a joyful night..a celebration of the years behind her, the woman she was becoming. Her father had never been like this. He had once been the soft-hearted man who would joke with her at the dinner table, who would spin her around the living room in a dance whenever her favorite song came on. But that was before the business failed, before the gambling took hold, before everything unraveled. She had been sixteen when it started.Now, it felt like her family, her home and her life was just a shadow