All Chapters of THE DON'S MISSING PIECE : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

The sweet melody of her grandmother's humming drifted through the walls.Cassandra's eyes fluttered open. The room was soft with morning light, warm and golden. She felt the weight of Dante's arm draped across her, heavy and possessive, his breath warm against her neck.She smiled. The tension from yesterday had melted away. Last night had been... everything. Their words. Their touches. The way he'd held her like she was the only thing in the world that mattered.She gently lifted his arm, careful not to wake him. He stirred but didn't open his eyes. She slipped out of bed, her feet silent against the floor.She grabbed a robe and tiptoed to the door, looking back once. He was still asleep, his face peaceful, younger somehow. Her heart swelled.She left the room quietly.---The kitchen was warm, filled with the smell of fresh coffee and something baking.Evelyn stood at the stove, her gray hair pinned back, her hands moving with practiced ease. She was humming a song Cassandra hadn't

Their bedroom was bathed in pale morning light.Cassandra stirred, her body warm and tangled in the sheets. She felt the weight of Dante's arm draped across her waist, his breath warm against her neck. She smiled, her body still humming from the night before.She tried to slip out of bed, but his arm tightened around her."Where do you think you're going?" His voice was rough with sleep.She turned to face him. His eyes were still closed, his face relaxed. She reached up, her fingers tracing his jaw, his cheek, his lips."Nowhere," she whispered. "Just looking at you."His lips curved into a small smile. He still didn't open his eyes. Then he pulled her closer until there was no space left between them.The world narrowed to just them. To the way his name fell from her lips and the way he answered it like a promise.**_minutes later, the sheets were tangled and the morning light had turned gold. "Look at me," she whispered.He opened his eyes. His gaze was dark, hungry, and complete

Cassandra woke to the weight of Dante's arm draped across her waist, his breath warm against her neck. For a moment, she forgot everything. The letter. His mother. The cold, calculating eyes of his aunt.She turned in his arms, her fingers tracing his jaw, his cheek, his lips."Good morning," she whispered.His eyes fluttered open. The rawness in them made her heart ache. He'd barely slept. Neither had she."Morning," he murmured, pulling her closer. His lips found her forehead. "Did you sleep?""Some." She pressed a kiss to his chest. "You?""Not really.""I know." She looked up at him. "What are we going to do?"He was quiet for a moment. Then his phone buzzed, loud and ugly against the nightstand. He reached for it, his jaw tightening."It's my aunt. She's summoned me to the mansion.""Now?""Now." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "She says there's an urgent family matter."Cassandra sat up, the sheet pooling around her waist. "Then we should go. Together.""After having

Cassandra woke burning.Her skin was on fire, her head pounding with a dull, relentless ache. She tried to sit up, but the room spun around her. She collapsed back onto the pillow, her breath coming in shallow gasps.What's happening to me?She pressed her palm to her forehead. Scorching. She tried to remember when she'd last eaten. When she'd last slept properly. But the days had blurred together—the aunt's poison, the doubts, the fear.She'd been fighting so hard. And her body had finally given up.---Dante found her on the bathroom floor.She'd tried to make it to the sink, but her legs had given out halfway. She was curled on the cold tiles, shivering despite the heat radiating from her skin."Cassandra!" Dante dropped to his knees beside her, his hands cupping her face. "What happened? What's wrong?""I don't know," she whispered, her voice weak. "I just—I couldn't—"He lifted her in his arms, carrying her to the bed. His hands were shaking. She could feel the tremor in his touc

Morning light crept through the cottage windows like a secret, soft and golden, painting the wooden floors in warm hues. Cassandra woke slowly, her body sinking into the mattress, her mind quiet for the first time in weeks. There was no knot in her stomach. No weight pressing down on her chest. Just the gentle rhythm of Dante's breathing beside her, his arm draped across her waist like he was afraid she'd disappear if he let go.She turned her head, watching him sleep. His face was relaxed, younger somehow, the hard lines softened by rest. She reached out, her fingers tracing the sharp line of his jaw, the curve of his lips. He stirred, his arm tightening around her, pulling her closer."Good morning," she whispered.He didn't open his eyes. "Too early."She laughed softly, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "I'll make you breakfast."His grip tightened. "Stay.""Five more minutes.""Five hours."She laughed again, slipping out of bed. His hand reached for her, grasping empty air. He groan