TW: Violence There was irony in Alessandro’s statement…He told Amber that he trusted her after she broke his protocols, but with all that he could draw from her, he knew that she was reckless, nevertheless, honest in all that she did. Sure, she was defiant, but only when she knew better. He believed that she was an innocent soul. “Amber, I was seventeen years old when I lost my father.” Alessandro said as he traced the sponge to cleanse her skin, “The image still haunts me. The worst part? I was right in front of him, and yet, I was helpless.” Amber thought of the time she felt the same way when she couldn't save her mother. “I was shackled to the ground…My hands were tied above my head with spiky handcuffs, one move, and I might as well have lost my hand. In front of my eyes, he stood on a high-rise platform with over fifteen men surrounding him.” Alessandro shuddered before he went forth with his words. Amber’s skin was completely clear now, all the dirt was on the sponge. Alessa

Amber's pov: Merely words that leave his lips can melt me, and make my knees feel weak. As we walk down the stairs, I think about our lunchtime, more like Alessandro’s lunchtime…I’ve replayed it innumerable times in the past few hours. The way he made me feel is something I’ve never experienced before, I’ve had three boyfriends in the past, and none of them have had this effect on me. “Amber,” his voice and its husky undertone draw my attention to him, “Bianca and I used to sit here under the fairy lights and explore the stars every single day after our mother passed away, it was my way of letting Bianca know that our mother was a star in the night sky who looks down at us and protects us from the dark.” I look at Bianca's sparkly eyes that stare at the stars in the sky. Her elbows rest on the wooden panel, and she is mesmerized by the view. She looks more beautiful than ever right now. I put my arm around Alessandro’s waist and snuggle my head on his chest as he continues, “She got

Amber’s pov: Words fail to leave my mouth as I encounter her. “Amber,” she says in a somber tone which was almost genuine, “I’m sorry.” I’m sorry what? Did I hear her right? “After I lost the one person that I cared for the most in the world, I realized how wrong I was for trying to break up you and Alessandro. My father used to talk about the purity and serenity of marriage whenever I used to complain about how Alessandro was not mine. He always tried his best to comfort me, but I failed to understand what he meant and now, he’s gone because of my recklessness.” She sobs, and my heart feels a sharp pain since I knew what it was like to lose a parent. My tough external shell faded away the minute she apologized in between sniffles. I hugged her, and said, “I never expected it to go down the way it did…And if I knew what would’ve happened, I’d take it back, Julia.” She pulls away from me and says, “I don’t deserve your sympathy, Amber, all I ever did was hurt you.” I believe in seco

Amber had no plans of moving a muscle even when Dante’s voice reached her ears. She was frozen in the position. “Amber, I know exactly how to access that hidden spot, so I suggest you crawl out of there yourself, or else I’ll have to drag you out by your hair,” Dante growled. He was ruthless. Amber didn’t budge, she was too afraid to move. “Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you,” Dante said before unlocking the door. The open door exposed him to a very afraid Amber. His face carried a serious expression. “Get up,” he warned with his tone, and she had no choice but to oblige. She was still hiding the loaded gun under her top, but she was unsure of what to do with it. She slowly walked toward Dante, he said, “Faster, I don’t have all day.” Amber knew that it would be best to waste time, so she asked while standing in place, “Have I seen you before?” Dante said, “Maybe you have, maybe you haven’t, doesn’t matter, walk.” Amber didn’t budge, she wanted to question, but she was aware that

“Alessandro, open your eyes.” “My child, wake up.” Alessandro’s eyes open and he sees his father in front of him. “Where are we?” Alessandro asks him as he sees the white light surrounding them. His eyes fail to register what’s in front of him, all he sees is a hazy image of Amos. “We’re somewhere in the middle, my son. Listen to me carefully,” Amos’s voice is loud and clear. “Alessandro, you’ve been through enough…Live for her, my son. She is all that you need; she’s your angel,” Alessandro hears his Papi speak, but he can’t see him. “My death turned you into the monster that you were afraid to turn into, but she’s here to pull you into the light, give into her. Allow yourself to feel the happiness,” Alessandro feels Amos’s arms on his shoulders. “But, what if she leaves me?” Alessandro asks, paranoid. “There are chances at all times, but the choice is in our hands, if you choose right, then she will never leave you, my son,” Amos’s voice reverberates in his ear. “I miss you