Kiara's povI starred at the card and more cautiously at the man who gave it to me as he was moving out. He stopped in front of a black, tinted glass car. Merely looking at it will tell you that it's worth thousands of dollars or even millions. It was darker than the one Mateo got me, which I sold for ninety-five thousand dollars. His door was closed by his driver once he entered the passenger's seat. And the car zoomed off at a normal speed.The card in my hand looked so genuine, and the name on it sounded so familiar. Unfortunately, I can't recall where I heard the brand name. I went inside my little apartment and sat on the mattress, which was the only possession I could manage to buy when I got to California. My ticket from Italy to the US took almost half of the money I raised from the sale of my car. It's not like I didn't have enough to rent a better apartment; I had opened a savings account in the bank for Dan. I wouldn't want him to be denied every privilege that other child
KIARA'S POVWe drove in total silence. I kept my steady gaze either on the road or in Dan's face. The courage to start a conversation was something I didn't have at the moment. I noticed that occasionally he stole a glance at me. I can definitely never tell a stranger about my past and then end up shedding tears that would make me look pathetic. Besides, I can't trust anyone now. I had to try very hard to trust myself, and presently, all the trust I could give has been exhausted. "I... hope I am not making it feel awkward?" By the way, my name is Daniel. You can say Dan for short: "His throaty, deep voice echoed, and that reminded me of Mateo." I looked up at him, realizing he wanted to break the awkward silence we had been through."Kiara," I replied bluntly, avoiding eye contact while he nodded."And your baby?" "She looks so innocent and beautiful," he said, turning his gaze at San, and at that instant, I drew him closer to myself and breathed in her scent, which was a mixture of
MATEO'S POVIt has been almost a year since I last saw Kiara. Everyday, I wake up with the hope of going back to her or even seeing her across the road. Even if I don't get to talk to her, I will be equally happy, and my mind will have been put at ease. Those past months felt like decades to me, and the worst of it is that I can't seem to be forgetting her very soon. I hate the feeling of not knowing where my Kiara has gone. Whether she was safe at all, whether she was dead or alive,I rarely let anyone know how Kiara's departure affected me. I still couldn't conclude that it was my fault, even when guilt was killing me from the inside. She made the right decision after all—who would like to be with a bad jerk like myself? It was almost impossible to see that. I thought maybe after her departure I would feel better, but time makes it worse. I miss her every damn day that I manage to wake up without seeing my lousy angel with me. On a normal day, she would wake me up from sleep with a
Kiara's povJust when I thought things couldn't get any worse, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to find a representative from brinn cucina, holding a large envelope. I was so anxious to know what what was inside the envelope. Daniel had called me earlier to tell me that he sent something over to me."Mrs. Kiara?" the woman asked, her voice kind and sympathetic. I which I could correct her and tell her that I am still a miss but unfortunately a single mother but I don't even have the liver to say that now. "Yes, that's me," I replied, my heart sinking. The woman handed me the big brown envelope and said, "This is for you. It's a gift from a generous donor who wants to help families like yours get back on their feet. Inside, you'll find the keys to a brand new apartment, fully furnished and ready for you to move in. It's a fresh start for you and your children."Tears welled up in my eyes as she opened the envelope and saw the keys to my new home. I couldn't believe her
Kiara's pov_I woke up early on the day of the model shoot, my nerves already jangling. I had been working on how to become a model for a few days now, because this was the biggest opportunity I had ever gotten. The problem was, I was poor. Really poor. I lived in a tiny, run-down apartment with thin walls and even thinner blankets. I didn't have much in the way of clothes, either. And it was this damn modelling that got me an advance residence to live comfortably and right now, I can even put my life to it to make sure it becomes a success. But I wasn't going to let that hold me back. I pulled out my best dress - a simple, black shift that I had picked up at a thrift store - and carefully laid it out on my bed. I didn't have any fancy lingerie or shapewear, so I made do with a plain white bra and panties. I grabbed a pair of tights and slipped them on, then added a pair of black heels that I had scrounged up from a yard sale.Next, I turned to my makeup. I didn't have a lot of fancy
Kiara's pov_I woke up early on the day of the model shoot, my nerves already jangling. I had been working on how to become a model for a few days now, because this was the biggest opportunity I had ever gotten. The problem was, I was poor. Really poor. I lived in a tiny, run-down apartment with thin walls and even thinner blankets. I didn't have much in the way of clothes, either. And it was this damn modelling that got me an advance residence to live comfortably and right now, I can even put my life to it to make sure it becomes a success. But I wasn't going to let that hold me back. I pulled out my best dress - a simple, black shift that I had picked up at a thrift store - and carefully laid it out on my bed. I didn't have any fancy lingerie or shapewear, so I made do with a plain white bra and panties. I grabbed a pair of tights and slipped them on, then added a pair of black heels that I had scrounged up from a yard sale.Next, I turned to my makeup. I didn't have a lot of fancy
MATEO'S POVI sat in my apartment, staring at the wall in front of me. It was just after midnight, and I had been given my next assignment. I was a Mafia killer, and my job was to take out anyone who posed a threat to the organization.I sighed and stood up, heading over to my closet. I pulled out my black suit and slipped it on, checking my reflection in the mirror. I looked like a shadow, all dressed in black. It was a fitting look for a killer.I walked over to my nightstand and picked up my gun, loading it with precision. I had been trained to use a variety of weapons, but this was my favorite. It was small and easy to conceal, but it packed a powerful punch.With my gun in hand, I left my apartment and headed towards the meeting place. It was a secluded alleyway on the outskirts of town, far from prying eyes. I knew that the other members of the Mafia would be waiting for me there.As I arrived at the alleyway, I saw that the others were already there. They were all dressed in bl
KIARA'S POV Months later...It felt as if I had been robbed of my breath as I saw the man I loved most being rushed to the hospital in a state that I could never imagine. My heart flipped, and then tears came. I gathered all of my strength as I ran down the stairs towards him. He should live! I wanted him so desperately to live, even though we are not together anymore.I knew he would be mad at me for running in my current state. heavily loaded with a five-month pregnancy. I held the stair rod and ran down, also being careful not to fall. "What happened to him?" Will he be okay? I asked, running after one of the nurses. She managed to spare a glance at me and then continued with his rush to the emergency room. I saw Caleb; he was walking up and down at a panicked pace. I wanted to ask him, but I was not sure if he would be able to listen to me. He had pleaded for me to get back with Mateo, claiming that his life and happiness depended on it, but I won't listen to that shit. He was