"You want to marry?" Ara asked, utterly stunned. Nate gave a silent nod. At a loss, she glanced at Killian, hoping for some anchor, but he looked just as surprised as her. Inhaling a sigh, she shifted her attention to her eldest. "Don't you think you're too young for marriage?" Ara asked, her tone soft but laced with concern. Nate looked up at her. "Age doesn’t matter, Mom, not when we’re sure it’s the right thing for us. I know she is the one for me. She has this calmness in her, Mom, and so much compassion.. I've never met someone like her before. She brings peace and purpose to my life. She inspires me to be a better person..." he paused, reaching for Ara's hand, his fingers lacing gently with hers as his expression softened into an earnest plea as, "Mom, You always say we should follow our hearts.....my heart leads straight to her." Ara could only gape at him, trying to process the philosophical lines her son had just delivered. Ara groped for the right words. "You love he
The giant oak door swung open to reveal Ara, Nate, and Hannah. Nate stood in the back, but his towering frame was impossible to miss.Sera's guts clenched with dread the instant she saw him. His eyes were already locked on her, cold and unblinking, like a wolf observing his prey. Visions from that night suddenly began flashing before her eyes— Gruesome, bloody, brutal— forcing a trembling breath from her lungs. He smirked, amused. "Sera," Hannah beamed before hugging Sera. Sera tore her gaze from him and hugged her back, forcing a smile that she barely felt. She was too nervous to reciprocate Hannah's enthusiasm. "I am so happy you could make it. Please, come in," Ara told Mr. and Mrs. Diaz, stepping aside to usher them in. Sera tightly gripped her mother's wheelchair, knuckles turning white as she forced herself to move forward.Just as Sera entered, Ara touched her shoulder softly, met her eyes with a fond smile, and said, "I was hoping you'd come." There was something in her
She squirmed, but he didn't stop. "You broke your promise, hurt me, and I am still here pleasing you. Tell me, who else would rever you like I do?" he taunted against her lips while gliding his fingers through the thatch of her pubic hair. She whimpered, curling small, as his fingers separated her outer lip and caressed her core. His lips caught hers in a gentle, langurous kiss while his fingers teased delicate circles over her clit, drawing a soft gasp from her. She squirmed against him and tried to push him away, but he was like a boulder, huge and unmovable. "Who is going to kill for you like I do?" he murmured against her lips mid-kiss, pinching and soothing her swollen nub. His fingers slid lower to her spasming hole."Who is going to work your body like I do?" he growled, circling her slick opening with his middle finger before plunging it deep inside, drawing a sharp gasp as she arched into him. Her eyes locked with his, shed a lone tear, and her fingers curled weakly around
No. I hate him. The confession burned on the tip of her tongue, aching to be spilled. One second was all it would take- but one lifetime of facing its consequences. His threat pounded in her skull- menacing, cruel, and certain. She knew he meant every word; he'd follow through, just like he always did. "Nate is difficult....... sometimes," she replied instead, trailing her fingers along the counter's edge. "That he is," Ara agreed with a sigh. "His temper issues are a nightmare to deal with..." guilt settled across her features as she continued, "Sometimes, I feel like I failed them, like I should’ve been there more. I got so caught up with my other kids that I couldn't give Nate and Gigi the time they deserved." "Don't doubt yourself. They couldn't have gotten a better mother than you. You were always there when they needed you.." her eyes softened with a hidden wound as she continued, "...trust me, that means a lot for a child." Her mother was never there for her when she needed
The slap sent his head sideways."You thought we wouldn't find out?" she seethed, trembling in rage. "You will break the girl, and we wouldn't know," she barked sharply. Realisation struck Nate. She betrayed him again. Again. He ground his jaw. "You will never see her again, much less torment her," Ara stated in finality. Nate stood there, jaw tight but saying nothing, his silence only stoking her anger. With a firm grip, she snatched the front of his shirt, making him meet her eyes. "Do you hear me?" Ara demanded, her voice sharp and steely as she tightened her grip on his shirt. "Say it. Say you won’t trouble her again. I’ve raised you better than this."Nate swallowed. "I can't do that, Mom," Nate murmured, as if she was asking him of something that was beyond his control. "I..I love her," he confessed, words trembling with raw, fervent intensity. Sera was astounded. Her son had never refused her before. This was the first. "Pack your bags. You're leaving for the States tonig
He picked up her dad and drove a fist into his stomach, making him double over. Sera and Mary screamed, begging him to stop, but Nate had just started. If she thought she had seen his worst, she couldn't have been more wrong. She underestimated him, took his threat as empty words— what a grave mistake to make. He swung his fist to land another deadly blow when Sera crumbled at his feet."Please, stop. He'll die, please," she clutched his leg, weeping inconsolably. His fist paused mid-air before he glanced down at her. She was trembling like a leaf, scared to her core. Bending, he wrapped her locks around his tightly clenched fist and hauled her to her feet. She gritted her teeth, enduring the pain searing her scalp."So protective of your family, huh," Nate commented, his voice carrying a dark, mocking edge. "But your pleadings and begging are not going to save them now.." his voice climbed a notch as he added, "Unless, of course, your 'family' decides to give me what I want. Then, m
He walked in, picked out what he liked without glancing at the price tags, and headed straight for billing.Earning money is a real hassle if you don't have a degree and are in hiding. Nate slid the mask onto his face and strode down the narrow lane towards the ring where his opponent waited. At the end of it, the underground buzzed with his opponent's name, looked like the motherfucker was popular. Good, he didn't like easy anyway. Rio had brought him here. Since they were lying low for a while, they needed money to survive. Rio had offered to help, but Nate had declined. He had never let anyone pay for him. Maybe it was his pride or his obsession with staying in control, but that's how it was. Owning others wasn't his thing. And like hell, he would feed Sera with other man's money. He was her sole provider—everything from her clothes to food would come from his pocket. After Nate refused the financial help, Rio showed him this place. Here, he could both train and fight. The perfect
He returned to their room, carrying a tray of sandwiches. This time, he wasn't leaving until she’d eaten. Water hitting the tile echoed from behind the bathroom door. She was still in the shower. Setting down the tray, he scanned their room. The servant quarters at his estate looked way better than this pathetic excuse of an apartment. He knew that because every Christmas Eve, his mother took them to the servants’ quarters to hand out gifts. A small gesture of gratitude she insisted on. The only merit this building held was its anonymity. He waited and waited, but when she didn't open the door, worry began to take root. He got up and crossed the room with quick strides. "Princess?" he called, knocking at the door, but no reply came. The shower was still on; he could hear it. "Open the door, princess," he demanded, knocking harder, his worry edging into urgency. The lack of response from her side was making him restless. He retreated and kicked the door. A few more times and the doo
He returned to their room, carrying a tray of sandwiches. This time, he wasn't leaving until she’d eaten. Water hitting the tile echoed from behind the bathroom door. She was still in the shower. Setting down the tray, he scanned their room. The servant quarters at his estate looked way better than this pathetic excuse of an apartment. He knew that because every Christmas Eve, his mother took them to the servants’ quarters to hand out gifts. A small gesture of gratitude she insisted on. The only merit this building held was its anonymity. He waited and waited, but when she didn't open the door, worry began to take root. He got up and crossed the room with quick strides. "Princess?" he called, knocking at the door, but no reply came. The shower was still on; he could hear it. "Open the door, princess," he demanded, knocking harder, his worry edging into urgency. The lack of response from her side was making him restless. He retreated and kicked the door. A few more times and the doo
He walked in, picked out what he liked without glancing at the price tags, and headed straight for billing.Earning money is a real hassle if you don't have a degree and are in hiding. Nate slid the mask onto his face and strode down the narrow lane towards the ring where his opponent waited. At the end of it, the underground buzzed with his opponent's name, looked like the motherfucker was popular. Good, he didn't like easy anyway. Rio had brought him here. Since they were lying low for a while, they needed money to survive. Rio had offered to help, but Nate had declined. He had never let anyone pay for him. Maybe it was his pride or his obsession with staying in control, but that's how it was. Owning others wasn't his thing. And like hell, he would feed Sera with other man's money. He was her sole provider—everything from her clothes to food would come from his pocket. After Nate refused the financial help, Rio showed him this place. Here, he could both train and fight. The perfect
He picked up her dad and drove a fist into his stomach, making him double over. Sera and Mary screamed, begging him to stop, but Nate had just started. If she thought she had seen his worst, she couldn't have been more wrong. She underestimated him, took his threat as empty words— what a grave mistake to make. He swung his fist to land another deadly blow when Sera crumbled at his feet."Please, stop. He'll die, please," she clutched his leg, weeping inconsolably. His fist paused mid-air before he glanced down at her. She was trembling like a leaf, scared to her core. Bending, he wrapped her locks around his tightly clenched fist and hauled her to her feet. She gritted her teeth, enduring the pain searing her scalp."So protective of your family, huh," Nate commented, his voice carrying a dark, mocking edge. "But your pleadings and begging are not going to save them now.." his voice climbed a notch as he added, "Unless, of course, your 'family' decides to give me what I want. Then, m
The slap sent his head sideways."You thought we wouldn't find out?" she seethed, trembling in rage. "You will break the girl, and we wouldn't know," she barked sharply. Realisation struck Nate. She betrayed him again. Again. He ground his jaw. "You will never see her again, much less torment her," Ara stated in finality. Nate stood there, jaw tight but saying nothing, his silence only stoking her anger. With a firm grip, she snatched the front of his shirt, making him meet her eyes. "Do you hear me?" Ara demanded, her voice sharp and steely as she tightened her grip on his shirt. "Say it. Say you won’t trouble her again. I’ve raised you better than this."Nate swallowed. "I can't do that, Mom," Nate murmured, as if she was asking him of something that was beyond his control. "I..I love her," he confessed, words trembling with raw, fervent intensity. Sera was astounded. Her son had never refused her before. This was the first. "Pack your bags. You're leaving for the States tonig
No. I hate him. The confession burned on the tip of her tongue, aching to be spilled. One second was all it would take- but one lifetime of facing its consequences. His threat pounded in her skull- menacing, cruel, and certain. She knew he meant every word; he'd follow through, just like he always did. "Nate is difficult....... sometimes," she replied instead, trailing her fingers along the counter's edge. "That he is," Ara agreed with a sigh. "His temper issues are a nightmare to deal with..." guilt settled across her features as she continued, "Sometimes, I feel like I failed them, like I should’ve been there more. I got so caught up with my other kids that I couldn't give Nate and Gigi the time they deserved." "Don't doubt yourself. They couldn't have gotten a better mother than you. You were always there when they needed you.." her eyes softened with a hidden wound as she continued, "...trust me, that means a lot for a child." Her mother was never there for her when she needed
She squirmed, but he didn't stop. "You broke your promise, hurt me, and I am still here pleasing you. Tell me, who else would rever you like I do?" he taunted against her lips while gliding his fingers through the thatch of her pubic hair. She whimpered, curling small, as his fingers separated her outer lip and caressed her core. His lips caught hers in a gentle, langurous kiss while his fingers teased delicate circles over her clit, drawing a soft gasp from her. She squirmed against him and tried to push him away, but he was like a boulder, huge and unmovable. "Who is going to kill for you like I do?" he murmured against her lips mid-kiss, pinching and soothing her swollen nub. His fingers slid lower to her spasming hole."Who is going to work your body like I do?" he growled, circling her slick opening with his middle finger before plunging it deep inside, drawing a sharp gasp as she arched into him. Her eyes locked with his, shed a lone tear, and her fingers curled weakly around
The giant oak door swung open to reveal Ara, Nate, and Hannah. Nate stood in the back, but his towering frame was impossible to miss.Sera's guts clenched with dread the instant she saw him. His eyes were already locked on her, cold and unblinking, like a wolf observing his prey. Visions from that night suddenly began flashing before her eyes— Gruesome, bloody, brutal— forcing a trembling breath from her lungs. He smirked, amused. "Sera," Hannah beamed before hugging Sera. Sera tore her gaze from him and hugged her back, forcing a smile that she barely felt. She was too nervous to reciprocate Hannah's enthusiasm. "I am so happy you could make it. Please, come in," Ara told Mr. and Mrs. Diaz, stepping aside to usher them in. Sera tightly gripped her mother's wheelchair, knuckles turning white as she forced herself to move forward.Just as Sera entered, Ara touched her shoulder softly, met her eyes with a fond smile, and said, "I was hoping you'd come." There was something in her
"You want to marry?" Ara asked, utterly stunned. Nate gave a silent nod. At a loss, she glanced at Killian, hoping for some anchor, but he looked just as surprised as her. Inhaling a sigh, she shifted her attention to her eldest. "Don't you think you're too young for marriage?" Ara asked, her tone soft but laced with concern. Nate looked up at her. "Age doesn’t matter, Mom, not when we’re sure it’s the right thing for us. I know she is the one for me. She has this calmness in her, Mom, and so much compassion.. I've never met someone like her before. She brings peace and purpose to my life. She inspires me to be a better person..." he paused, reaching for Ara's hand, his fingers lacing gently with hers as his expression softened into an earnest plea as, "Mom, You always say we should follow our hearts.....my heart leads straight to her." Ara could only gape at him, trying to process the philosophical lines her son had just delivered. Ara groped for the right words. "You love he
Panic seized her in its vicious grip as she felt his fingers fumbling with the knot of her bathrobe. No..no..no....her eyes turned wide in alarm. Every tug sent her fragile heart slamming against her ribcage. Hot tears flowed down her face as she squirmed beneath him, desperate to break free. "Sshhh," he shushed her while peppering hot, passionate kisses down her jaw. "Wha..what are you do..doing?" she stuttered, still writhing under him. With one last tug, the bathrobe fell open. "We've waited long enough," he whispered hotly against her warm, supple skin. It was long overdue. Without a hint of hesitation, he slid his hand beneath the robe and grasped her delicate mound. A guttural groan followed her whimper as he squeezed it lightly. She was so soft, so irresistibly warm. His insides clenched with the urge to claim her in such a way every inch of her skin would be carrying his name."Don't..it's wro..wrong," she quavered, too weak to push him off her. She clutched his shoulders