All Chapters of Triplet Heirs; The Romano daughters : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

~MARCELLA~I don’t look back.I storm straight through the club doors, the bass thudding against my spine like it’s trying to crawl under my skin. Lights flash. Bodies sway. Laughter bursts around me. None of it touches me.Stephanie spots me immediately.She’s on the dance floor, drink in hand, hips moving, hair wild, living her best life. I don’t slow down. I march right up to her, grab her wrist, and yank.“Ow—Marcella, what the hell?” she protests, nearly spilling her drink.“We’re leaving,” I snap.“Leaving? Now?” She laughs, thinking I’m joking. “Girl, it’s barely……”I bend down, snatch my bag from the table beside us, and sling it over my shoulder. “Now, Stephanie.”My face must say everything my mouth doesn’t, because her smile fades.“Wait, wait—at least let me finish this drink….”“No.”I pull her harder, already dragging her through the crowd. She stumbles, complains, tries to slow me down, but I don’t stop. People glare. Some ladies mutter somet

~MARCELLA~Stephanie drags her feet beside me as we step out of the club, squinting like the sun personally offended her.“I’m tired,” she groans, stretching the word until it sounds like a life sentence. “Like… completely tired. And I need coffee. Strong coffee. The kind that fixes bad decisions and worse friends.”I scoff. “Don’t act like you’re not happy being my friend. I'm the only best friend you can have in this world.”“Tch!” she mutters. “Yeah yeah… but that doesn't change the fact that I am exhausted. My soul needs caffeine.”I roll my eyes but don’t miss the way my hands are trembling slightly as I unlock my car.“I actually agree,” I admit, sliding into the driver’s seat. I rest my head back against it for a second, exhaling slowly. My nerves are still buzzing. My disappointment is still sitting heavy in my chest like unfinished business.“I need coffee too. Something to calm me down before I lose my mind and start interrogating random pedestrians.

~LUCAS~I never expected to see her here. She's the last person I expected to see.The bell above the cafe door chimes, soft and familiar.I don’t look up immediately.The morning rush is easing, but my hands are still moving on autopilot—wipe the counter, adjust the cups, and steam the milk just right. Normal. Safe. Predictable.Then something… shifts.I feel it before I see it. That strange pull in my chest. Like the air itself tightens.I glance up, and my brain stalls.Her.Standing right there, daylight-clear, no flashing lights, no shadows to hide behind. The girl from last night. The one with the sharp tongue and reckless courage. The one I dragged out of trouble and couldn’t stop thinking about even after I got home despite the heartbreak I'm going through.Of course I remember her.Who wouldn’t?That face. Those eyes. That attitude that feels like it could either save you or ruin you—maybe both.For half a second, my heart actually forgets how to b

~MARCELLA~Dr. Raymond is looking at Lucas with a predatory smile on his face and I know instantly that Lucas is in for some trouble.And it's as if Lucas senses it that he's in for trouble because he just stands at the door without moving an inch.His fingers tighten around the strap of his bag. His shoulders are stiff. He looks like someone bracing for impact.Of course, he should know that he's in for some trouble because anyone that frequently attends Dr. Raymond will know how much he hates students coming late to his class.The man once sent a girl out for coughing too loudly. Latecomers? He eats them alive.“Ah,” Dr. Raymond says slowly, smiling like a predator who just spotted a limping animal. “And who might you be, interrupting my lecture so bravely?”A hush falls over the class.Every pen pauses. Every head lifts.Lucas swallows. “I—sorry, sir. I’m really sorry.”His voice is steady, but his Adam’s apple bobs nervously.A few students chuckle.Someone

~LUCAS~I shouldn't let Marcella distract me, I tell myself.So I sit up straight, clear my throat and take a deep breath.I start listening to Dr. Raymond again, not until her foot nudges mine under the desk again.I stiffen.She leans closer, her voice barely a breath.“You look cute when you’re pretending not to notice me.”I choke silently and scoot my body a fraction away.She follows.I don’t look at her. I absolutely do not look at her.Then she does something unforgivable.She taps my notebook.Once. Twice.I turn despite myself.“Yes?” I whisper sharply.She smiles sweetly. “You missed a line.”I glance down, and realize I didn't.When I look back up, she’s biting her lower lip.On purpose.Heat crawls up my neck.Dr. Raymond continues lecturing, and I hear a quiet giggle from her side.My jaw tightens.I should’ve sat anywhere else.Then…..“Mr. Santis.”My soul leaves my body.I jump so hard my chair scrapes loudly against the floor.A few students