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Chapter 10
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His uncle's sweetheart Chapter 11
"Thanks for the ride, Liam," Bernice said, finally outside the car and offering him a gracious, warm smile."Anytime, Bernice," Liam told her, his eyes loitering a bit on her for one last moment before he nodded. "Take care of yourself, okay?”She nodded and waved after him as he pulled away. It had been nice, just a quiet dinner with Liam and talking about life. She did feel a little lighter, but strange unease had settled in her chest as she made her way up the drive to the house she shared with Rafael.A cold draft hit Bernice in the face as she pushed open the front door. The only sound in the house was that of the refrigerator. She stepped inside, then stopped to listen to the thudding of her heart, waiting for Rafael's voice to call her name, but there was nothing."Rafael?" she called, peering across the semifull/dim living room. She could make out his outline sitting on the couch, staring at a blank television screen. "Rafael, I'm back."He didn't move, didn't even turn in the
Last Updated : 2024-10-29His uncle's sweetheart Chapter 12
"Where is Rafael?" Bernice demanded, tones quivering with anger and desperation, as she finally turned to face him. Indeed, she had not even bothered blotting the tears still staining her cheeks. "I'm not signing anything until I see him."Ethan's face remained ice, unconvinced by the rebellious act. There he stood, aloof, gazing at her, as he had a few minutes earlier-with his hand clutched to the divorce papers. "Bernice, this is no subject for discussion. Rafael does not wish to see you; he has decided.".Bernice shook her head, unreceptive. "Then he can come and tell me that himself," she returned. "I deserve to hear it from him. If he wants me out of this house, then he'll have to look me square in the eye and tell me why."Ethan squared his jaw, ticking his face in frustration for a second. "You're making everything way harder than it has to be," he threatened, coming nearer in a low, dangerous tone.Bernice didn't twitch. "No," she said firmly, tightly securing her face with he
Last Updated : 2024-10-29His uncle's sweetheart Chapter 13
"What are you still doing here?" Rafael asked, finally pent-up irritation to boil over as he moved into the living room; he had been hoping that by now Bernice would have packed up her things and made her exit quietly. Here she was, though, right in the middle of his living room, still defiant and unbowed.The sight of her rejuvenated his anger all anew. He could look at her, and all that stared back was betrayal—acting out what she had been doing all this while. And worse still, he saw how blind he was to it all."I cannot do this." Bernice's voice quivered as her eyes stuck to the divorce papers lying before her, splayed on the desk. Her fingers trembled to try and hold the pen steady in her hand, which felt like it weighed a ton.She sat down in her room, surrounded by heavy silence, her thoughts racing. All would be renounced: her marriage to Rafael, her plan of revenge, above all—her dignity. She almost heard mocking laughter from Ethan and saw a smug look on Olivia's face while
Last Updated : 2024-10-29His uncle's sweetheart Chapter 14
"I saw you," he said, with a betrayed look in his eyes. "In the restaurant. With that man. You were smiling at him, laughing with him like… like I didn't even exist."Her eyes widened in surprise. How was he able to know this secret? "Are you saying I'm having an affair with someone else?" Bernice voiced out angrily; her eyes slanted, pinched, staring at him.Rafael's heart thumped against his chest as his consciousness seized at the realization of what he said. He had just unmasked himself and given her a glimpse of what he tried to hold off, leaving him standing there completely vulnerable, far more than before. “Stop acting all innocent like you don't know what I am talking about."I didn't cheat on you, Raf". Her eyes looked like she was about to tear up. "It just feels like you have already laid the sentencing in your mind".Rafael said nothing back. His throat strangled with effort as he kept trying to get the right words to say. He had been so clear and determined to leave th
Last Updated : 2024-10-29His uncle's sweetheart Chapter 15
"Ethan, here are the papers you wanted," Ethan strode powerfully into Rafael's office with a folder of papers. His totally professional businesslike manner may have been intact but out of those eyes, there was something about Rafael which set Ethan's teeth on edge.He was gathering up his papers on the desk, glancing back toward Ethan as their eyes met. That twisted-knife feeling hit him full force, as fast as he pushed the emotion aside. He reached for the documents, flipping with a practiced eye through them. "Thanks," he said curtly enough without looking up.Ethan had slouched at the edge of the desk, an easy pose, but his eyes seemed as sharp as razors. "How's that investment deal coming along?" he asked, light in tone.Rafael didn't raise his gaze from the papers before him. "It's good. Just ironing out a few wrinkles before moving forward."Ethan nodded again, but this time forced some interest into the action. "Good to hear. You have always been good at closing deals."Rafael
Last Updated : 2024-10-29His uncle's sweetheart Chapter 16
Ethan left the office, letting the door swing shut behind him as he strode on down the hall, a barely subvocalized smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Dinner tonight huh? His mind whirled noiselessly. But he'd be stupid- no, beyond stupid to let his defenses down just because he finally saw a small chink in Rafael's armor. The invitation itself had been a surprise if not suspicious. But Ethan was not the man to refuse a challenge, at least under such high stakes.And it tugged at something deep within—one part anticipation, another unease: dinner with Rafael and Bernice. Actually, he had been playing a very long game, one of diligent tactics working toward weaving his own threads that finally were to bring Bernice down and put him in with Rafael. This night could be the turning point, but only if he played his cards right.He left the building, heading for his car, as anticipations of the night overwhelmed the weariness from making inroads in the thinking process. As he drov
Last Updated : 2024-10-29His uncle's sweetheart Chapter 17
"You've got it all wrong, Rafael," said Liam with a very slightly smirking expression as he leans back in his chair.The late afternoon sun diffused to a golden glow that now bathed Rafael's study, the two men seated there facing one another. A vastly colorful contrast to his entry.Rafael's arms crossed and he looked war on him. "Wrong? I saw you with Bernice, Liam. You can't tell me that wasn't something."Liam only laughed, shaking his head'. "Oh, I'm not denying we were together. But it's not what you think." He reaches into his pocket, then pulls out his phone. "Here, take a look at these."He took the phone gingerly when Liam offered it to him, his other arm still tense on his chest, fingers curled a bit, as if he might snatch it away. He glared suspiciously at the pictures running across the screen, squinting a little to try and get through the information. One picture showed Liam and a nice-looking lady, both wide-smiling at the camera. One of them showed them holding a baby
Last Updated : 2024-10-29His uncle's sweetheart Chapter 18
That explanation Rafael had been awaiting long, very impatiently. Bernice and Liam fixed their eyes keenly on him with expressions one could hardly explain but they looked full of hope.Ethan's jaws parted to speak, but no words came forth. His mind was totally blank; which eluded him. For the first time in his life, Ethan felt speechless, and he knew he was in deep trouble.He counted off the seconds, each one dragging into infinity, for Ethan to find a way to wriggle out, but he found none. No clever lie, no smooth excuse could get him out of this.Finally, Rafael spoke, wrestling his voice into hardness. "I don't know what you're playing at, Ethan, but I'm no fool. If you have something to say, say it now. Otherwise, I'll make sure you regret ever crossing me.".Ethan's mind echoed with the reality: he'd been cornered, trapped in every sense of the word, like a rat, and there was no getting out of the consequences of what he had done. Game over. Ethan had known it."Ethan," Rafael'
Last Updated : 2024-10-29
Latest chapter
His uncle's sweetheart Chapter 143
Bernice sat on the bed, staring with malice at the small clock on the nightstand. The hours crawled forward one heavy second after another. She had not slept. Her mind turned to tumble over and over what happened, what could happen. She stared and stared at Mia, her daughter still unconscious, the soft rise and fall of her chest the only sign that she was still alive, still with her.The room was dark, except for the dim light of the street lamps outside, and the quiet around her was choking her."What am I to do?" Bernice whispered into the darkness to nobody in particular. Her voice cracked the deeper the weight pressed down into her bones; she'd never felt so lonely, cast between two worlds.There was Alexander, she immediately remembered the promise he had made to stand by her side, fighting, and the firmness in the faith in her. Then there was Rafael: a force of nature who, by means, contacts, and resources, could go ahead, making even Alexander's aid so insignificant against
His uncle's sweetheart Chapter 142
"I am not letting her leave here, Rafael." Bernice spoke in quivered silent strength, standing behind Mia's hospital bed. She ran her fingers smoothly through her daughter's disheveled hair. Days of unconsciousness had passed and with each minute in this clean and silent room, she felt further smothered by a sense of helplessness with the choices she made, and just not coming out of this crushing burden.Rafael stood framed in the doorway of the room, and he was as always commanding. Yet only a little while prior to this, he received updates about his legal team's handling of the situation. At all times, he kept him two steps ahead of all games. His lips pucker as he gazes at Bernice's nervy movements, eyes snapping over to their pale girl's face.“Mia needs the best care, Bernice," he said-too softly, but with the underlying authority not to be denied. "And that's in Rome. You know it as well as I do."She looked up at him, her heart pounding in her chest. The impossible decision:
His uncle's sweetheart Chapter 141
Early morning light struggled through the heavy curtains, laying long shadows in the living room of Alexander's mansion. She sat at the front of the sofa, her fingers bunched into fists in her lap. The last couple of days had been like whirling dizzying moment after moment with tension and uncertainty. Now, in the quiet aftermath of Rafael's ultimatum, she felt lost-more so than ever before.The door opened, rattling the silence of that room as he came inside. Face emotionless, from those eyes, Bernice could tell, he was concerned. He gently closed the door behind him and sat calmly beside her."Bernice," he said hoarsely to her as he sat next to her. "We really need to talk."She nodded, her head not turning his way. There was nothing more to say. Nothing-but the crushing burden of what she had to try and hold together.“I won't let him take you and the kids. I am going to fight him, Bernice. I will fight him with all I have," Alexander stated now resolutely.Bernice's eyes flicker
His uncle's sweetheart Chapter 140
The penthouse was quiet but for the lying phone on the coffee table that vibrated without cessation. Rafael cast his gaze at the screen with Gabriel's name across it. Very much against his will, he reached to pick up the receiver, seemingly awaiting news of a disaster."Rafael," came the anxious, strained tone of Gabriel. “Things are not looking good here.”Rafael settled in and braced himself, taking a long deep breath. "What's up?"“About all the losing financially, continual leaks with our projects, and some rat is inside to take us down. We reach the breaking point unless something's done and fast". Gabriel's voice cracked in the stress. "I am doing all I can. Still, we need you in Rome, we need you here, now.” Rafael ran a hand through his hair as his mind whirred on. It had spiraled out of his control at the company, but this? This wasn't what he was expecting. The weight weighed upon him now, yet he was not in a position to have a choice anymore."I'll be there as soon as I c
His uncle's sweetheart Chapter 139
"Mama…”The weak voice sliced through the antiseptic silence of the hospital room. Bernice froze; her breath had seized up in her throat. Whipping toward the bed, she felt her heartbeat suddenly increase."Mama…"Again, Mia's voice whispered weakly, yet clearly.Bernice took wing to her daughter's bedside, her fingers quavering, gently laying them over Mia's white pale face. "Mia, my sweet child," she stammered her words, where the dampness of the wet flow of tears running from her eyes couldn't stop. "Mia, can you hear me now?"She blinked once: her wide eyes opened unfocused. "Mama…sleepy.”A sob of relief tore itself from Bernice's lips. She leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss on the child's forehead. "It's okay, baby. You can rest. Mama is here, and I'm not going anywhere."The door creaked open behind her, but she didn't turn around. All her attention lay wholly with Mia."Is she awake?" The word fell into the silence like an atom bomb dropped into it, spoken by Rafael in low,
His uncle's sweetheart Chapter 138
Rafael called up a friend in Florence, he needed someone to talk to. "You have to stop blaming yourself, " Lucas said as he poured him two glasses of whiskey. "You have done all you could.Rafael stood by the window of his penthouse in Florence; a glowing city skyline lay outside, but he was far away in his thoughts while clenching his jaw showed no sign of relaxation. Events in the hospital were running in an infinite loop in his mind; that Mia was his daughter, fiery defense by Bernice, and Alexander smug interference haunted him.Rafael turned to him then, his face dark. "I haven't done everything. Not yet." He took the glass but didn't drink. "I've lost too much already. My children are out there-one unconscious in a hospital bed, the other missing. And I had no idea either of them even existed until now."Lucas blew out a slow breath, setting his glass on the table. "What is your plan?Rafael's eyes flash down. "To win them back. All of them."Lucas raises one eyebrow. "Even Be
His uncle's sweetheart Chapter 137
"Well, here we are," Alexander said, breaking the taut silence as he lounged casually against the sterile white wall of the hospital corridor. His eyes darted between Rafael and Bernice. "It's about time we brought this circus to a close."Rafael's jaw tightened; his hands were deep inside the pockets of his fitted jacket. "I didn't come here for your commentary, Alexander.""No, you came here to confirm what you already know deep down," Alexander shot back, irritation lining his voice. "You're the twins' father, and knowing it is a whole different thing than being able to handle it."Bernice sat down in one of the waiting room chairs and shifted uncomfortably, her eyes on the floor. It hung heavy in the silence between them until she finally filled up her lungs to continue."Can't we do this somewhere else?" It was a soft tone yet unyielding. "This is a hospital. Our daughter's life is hanging by a thread.Rafael's eyes locked onto hers. "Our daughter? You are uttering the word 'our'
His uncle's sweetheart Chapter 137
"Well, here we are," Alexander said, breaking the taut silence as he lounged casually against the sterile white wall of the hospital corridor. His eyes darted between Rafael and Bernice. "It's about time we brought this circus to a close."Rafael's jaw tightened; his hands were deep inside the pockets of his fitted jacket. "I didn't come here for your commentary, Alexander.""No, you came here to confirm what you already know deep down," Alexander shot back, irritation lining his voice. "You're the twins' father, and knowing it is a whole different thing than being able to handle it."Bernice sat down in one of the waiting room chairs and shifted uncomfortably, her eyes on the floor. It hung heavy in the silence between them until she finally filled up her lungs to continue."Can't we do this somewhere else?" It was a soft tone yet unyielding. "This is a hospital. Our daughter's life is hanging by a thread.Rafael's eyes locked onto hers. "Our daughter? You are uttering the word 'our'
His uncle's sweetheart Chapter 136
"Tell me we finally have something concrete," Liam growled; the strain in his voice was audible. Across the messy desk in Detective Marcus's office, dimmed light danced around the shadows of the wall, files and photos and maps everywhere, some reminding them of the time spent chasing shadows.Marcus pushed on his glasses, eyes sharp even with a face that seemed etched with exhaustion. "We do," he said, tugging a folder out and sliding it across the table. "Olivia has been in and out of several places around Rome, but this isn't some socialite thing; she isn't hitting dinners and charity events-these are low-profile, late-night trips, and Ethan has been spotted most times in the office and meeting business associates, they are rarely together.”Liam's eyes narrowed. "Ethan? Why am I not surprised? Always had an agenda of his own."Marcus nodded. "They are being cautious but not cautious enough. Our surveillance team followed Olivia to an industrial area on the outskirts, quiet, with
