"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,
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
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
"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:
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
"What is happening here?" she asked in a very low voice which was barely above a whisper.Bernice's eyes darted from left to right then she began to shake from so much pain, the betrayal she felt was second to none,it cut through her like a very hot knife.Hot tears spring from her eyes as she watches the scene before her.This was unbelievable. Never in a million years will she believe that Ethan will do something like this to her. She could have forgiven him right here and now if only he had done it with someone else then it might be better but it was with nobody but her best friend Olivia.The shock was still plastered on her face as more tears streamed down her eyes.He was the same person who had called her just a few hours ago that he had running temperature and he needed some money for drugs but here he was groaning and moaning with her best friend beneath him,both of them entangled in ceaseless ecstasy.And to even think that she had turned down a marriage proposal from Italy
With shaky steps she got out of the cab and walked into the restaurant. It was already evening, the wind was so chilling and she hated herself more for not putting on something warm.She got into the most expensive restaurant in Italy. She had given the P.A a call and he had sent the address to her after making her wait for 30 minutes. But it really didn't matter now she was there already.She needed to act as soon as possible, her rent had expired and she had sacrificed lots of sleepless nights to make sure she was not a dropout."You must be Ms Francisco ."A waiter impeccably dressed came up to her, staring at her closely. Her hands tightened on her little bag and she nodded numbly."All right then, this way."He motioned with his hand and she followed him to a private lodge which was more beautiful and magnificent than the rest of the restaurant, so large and strikingly beautiful that it was only befitting for the rich. "Mr Fernandez will be with you shortly." the waiter said to
She wanted to say something but the words were stuck in her throat and immediately a knot tightened in her stomach. She felt so suddenly hot and didn't know how to continue with the discussion. She only stared at him. "Are you okay?" he said ."You are turning red already, what's the problem?"It's nothing, she stuttered ."I'm just having a mad headache. ""Anyways, I would like you to meet me at my Mansion tomorrow so that we can discuss this further and introduce you to some of my family members ."before she would nod or comprehend what he was saying he had already gotten up and was out of the door. Taking a cab back to her apartment brought back memories which didn't want to have She thought about what Raphael had said to her when she pushed the door open and got in She was greeted by silence which she already knew was waiting for her. She avoided dinner, climbed into bed and as soon as her head touched the pillows she fell asleep.It was the chirping of the bird early the n
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
"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:
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
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
"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,
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
"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'
"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'
"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