Semua Bab A Kiss For Every Bruise : Bab 131 - Bab 140

GwenThe study smelled like cedarwood, old paper, and tension. Rain pressed heavily against the tall windows while Sebastian spread financial records across the massive desk one file at a time. Matteo leaned against the bookshelf with folded arms, restless energy vibrating through him constantly.My father poured whiskey. Adrian stood beside the desk reading silently. And somehow that alone changed the room. Stillness followed him everywhere. Not passive stillness. Controlled stillness. The kind predators possessed before deciding whether violence was necessary.I sat near the fireplace clutching untouched tea between my hands while trying not to stare at him every five seconds like some emotionally compromised teenager. Which, frankly, was becoming embarrassing. Sebastian slid another folder toward Adrian. “These transfers started about four months after Gwen disappeared.”Adrian scanned the pages quickly. “Weston’s consultation fees.” “Indirectly routed,” Sebastian confirmed. “Enoug

GwenAdrian was still in the study with Sebastian and my father when the front gates opened again. At first, nobody paid attention. Cars came and went constantly at the Cruize estate. Could be, staff, security or deliveries. But then I heard Matteo downstairs. Not speaking but laughing. A startled kind of laugh.Curious despite myself, I stepped out from the upstairs corridor and moved toward the staircase just as the front doors opened. Miguel Santos walked in carrying a small pink backpack over one shoulder. And beside him, was none other than Kayla. My breath caught instantly.She stood half-hidden behind Miguel’s leg in a pale yellow sweater, tiny fingers curled tightly around the fabric of his coat. Her dark curls were tied into uneven little puffs that Adrian definitely did not know how to style properly yet.My chest tightened painfully at the sight. She looked so small inside this enormous house. Miguel noticed me first. His expression softened immediately.b“There’s my favorit

GwenThe sunroom never recovered after that. Not fully. Even after Kayla calmed down. Even after Miguel quietly led her toward the garden to help her breathe through the panic the way Dr. Liang taught her. The room itself felt haunted now. Like truth had finally clawed its way into the walls.I stood near the fireplace staring at Matteo’s blood smeared across the broken glass scattered near the hearth. Nobody had cleaned it yet because nobody seemed able to move.My mother remained seated on the floor beside the sofa, crying into trembling hands while my father stood behind her helplessly, one hand pressed against the back of her shoulder. Sebastian looked pale with fury. And Adrian… Adrian stood near the doorway watching the garden through the windows where Miguel walked slowly beside Kayla beneath the rain-covered trees.His expression terrified me. Not because he looked angry. Because he looked calm. Too calm. The kind of calm that existed right before irreversible things happened.

Author's POVCamilla DiCarpo did not sleep well anymore and that irritated her more than fear itself. Fear could be managed, anticipated and even turned into a Weapon. But exhaustion Exhaustion made people careless, and Camilla despised carelessness.She stood barefoot before the floor-to-ceiling windows of her penthouse watching rain bleed across the city skyline while one hand tightened slowly around a crystal glass of untouched wine. She was thinking about a few things that irritated her greatly. Sebastian Cruize had changed and that alone was dangerous enough. However, Adrian Salvador entering the Cruz estate openly again? That shifted the board entirely.Camilla closed her eyes briefly. The problem with intelligent men was not merely their resources. It was patience and Adrian Salvador had always been patient in terrifying ways. Most people reacted emotionally when wounded but Adrian investigated.That was why she failed to eliminate him from the equation years ago. Even after t

GwenHealing, unfortunately, lasted exactly four hours. Maybe five. Then Camilla arrived. I saw her car first through the front sitting room windows just after lunch. Sleek black exterior gliding through the estate gates with the kind of confidence only deeply entitled people possessed. The sight alone turned my blood cold.Across from me, Sebastian stiffened immediately. Matteo swore under his breath. And my mother…My mother froze. Not subtly either. One second she was helping Kayla separate crayons by color at the coffee table. The next, all movement stopped completely, her attention fixed toward the driveway like something physical had tugged sharply inside her chest.We all did not need a psychologist to tell us that it was the conditioning and the emotional tether at work. I saw Adrian notice it too from where he stood near the fireplace speaking quietly into his phone moments earlier. His gaze sharpened almost imperceptibly before he ended the call. Nobody moved immediately.Ou