Gia didn’t realize that Raven’s absence beside her could make her feel so incredibly empty.Before they were together, she had spent much longer periods alone, yet now, it only took an hour for her to start craving his presence.Gia got up and knocked on the bathroom door. When there was no response, she opened it, only to find it empty. She wondered where Raven had gone so early in the morning?Although curious, Gia decided not to overthink it. Raven was most likely exercising as usual. He was very disciplined about working out in the mornings, especially when he had free time.He has free time, as his work obligations are entirely on hold. Jasper had been instructed not to contact Raven while they were here.However, Gia’s questions resurfaced when, after leaving the bathroom, she still didn’t see Raven in the bedroom. She had spent quite a while there, so he should have returned by now.Given their unusual circumstances, worry began to creep in. Gia wouldn't be so concerned if they
After running for a while, Gia’s legs trembled with cold. The length of her skirt barely reached past her knees. Fortunately, the knitted coat she wore somewhat protected her body. Although it was thin, at least it kept her from freezing instantly outside.Gia wandered aimlessly, following some dull instinct that led her to who knew where. Her mind was shrouded in a fog of anger and hatred. Several times, she roughly wiped her forehead, trying to erase the horrific memory she’d just witnessed. But, of course, such a physical act did nothing to help.The image of the woman’s flawless, bare body kept relentlessly flashing through her mind, and then there was Raven...Gia stopped walking and leaned against a stone pillar by the roadside, clutching her coat tightly. A groan she had been holding back slowly escaped her lips, turning into sobs and tears. She had promised herself she wouldn’t cry again.Leaning her body against the stone pillar, Gia kept pressing her chest repeatedly, trying
Aria chuckled softly at Gia’s startled expression. To her, that face looked amusing."Don’t be so surprised. I work as Matteo’s secretary at his company. It’s just a normal company, nothing to do with... you know what."Aria seemed to avoid mentioning the Ranallo family’s illegal business. Gia recalled Raven’s explanation about Ranallo expanding their operations. It appeared Aria was part of that expansion.“You work at a legitimate company?” Gia was surprised to hear that Matteo owned one.Aria nodded. “Matteo started this business about six years ago after your father passed away.”Gia nodded in understanding. “But he’s still running the... you know what, right?” Following Aria’s lead, Gia avoided naming the elephant in the room.“Yes, because it’s not something you can just leave overnight. It’s my guess, but Matteo might be trying to leave that world behind.”"Trying?!" Gia shrieked in disbelief.“He’s tried to kidnap me twice—most recently, he sent Luca. When that failed, he trie
Gia straightened her back instantly when she heard Aria’s response.“Are you sure it’s Belle with those characteristics?” Gia reiterated, unwilling to risk any mistakes.“Of course, I’m sure! I’ve known Belle far longer than you!” Aria replied her voice firm and without hesitation.Gia fell silent, lost in thought. The dark storm cloud that had loomed over her mind earlier suddenly dissipated. Aria’s story felt like sunlight piercing through her mental fog. Gia began piecing together the puzzle of what had indeed happened.Somehow, Raven had left the room last night and never returned. But the discovery of Raven with that woman bore the markings of Leone’s interference. He was the first to point out Raven’s whereabouts—a location that made no sense.From the beginning, Matteo had vehemently denied the possibility of Raven being in that part of the estate.“Ha... Ha... Ha!” Gia suddenly burst into loud, hearty laughter as she stood up.Her abrupt laughter startled Aria. When she first
“What do you mean? Don’t joke like that!” Gia finally managed to utter some words.“I’m not joking!” Aria retorted, her tone firm and confident.“Why would he do that?! That’s such an absurd thing to do…” Gia struggled to accept the reality unfolding before her.“And the friend Matteo stabbed back then was Dante.”“Who?!” Gia’s voice grew louder, her shock mounting. This new piece of information was even more startling than the last.“This is insane! Hold on a second!”Gia’s brain felt like it was about to explode. She couldn’t process the overwhelming complexity of everything she had just heard. She massaged her temples gently, trying to calm the pounding in her head.“This is madness... complete madness!” Gia repeated, unable to find any other words to say.“I’m not saying that Matteo stabbing him was justified. Matteo genuinely could have killed him. At that moment, he fully intended to kill Dante,” Aria explained.“Can you tell me the whole story? I can’t think straight anymore,”
"I... but..."Belle tried to protest again but couldn’t find the right words. Suddenly, she moved to swing the door shut to close it.Luckily, Aria acted quickly, blocking the door with a kick. "Don’t even try it. Explain now!" Aria demanded.Gia blinked rapidly, almost forgetting who Aria was. Aria had been a well-known fighter at school back then. Before his death, Aria’s father had been a police officer who had trained her in self-defense.That background made Aria resolute in standing her ground. Leone’s actions must have been genuinely vile to force Aria to surrender."Speak!" Aria barked.Her shout caught the attention of several neighbors. Two or three doors creaked open, revealing curious faces. But they quickly retreated upon realizing that Belle was the source of the commotion. They lost interest immediately, as Belle’s dramas were all too common.Clicking her tongue in annoyance, Belle swung the door wider, gesturing for them to enter. She didn’t want the neighbors watching
Dragged by Aria, Belle emerged from the front room. Her sudden appearance caught both Leone and Stella off guard. Stella’s furious sneer, sparked by Gia’s earlier insult, gradually faded into a frown.Belle walked timidly, frequently glancing at Leone. She seemed to be second-guessing her decision—whether or not to expose Leone’s schemes.“Just remember my promise,” Aria whispered in Belle’s ear. Belle, exactly knowing who Aria worked for, regained her composure.“Tell everyone what he offered you!” Gia demanded, pointing at Leone.“Belle, don’t do anything reckless. You know I never asked you to do anything like that.” Leone tried to sway Belle, but his uncertain gaze betrayed him.Gia raised her hand and touched her ear, drawing Belle’s attention to the absence of her earring. The subtle gesture reminded Belle of the reward she would receive, which she understood immediately.“He told me to pretend to sleep with that man to make you angry and leave him,” Belle announced, pointing fi
"Ensure they leave!" Matteo nodded, and the guard following him quickly ran after Stella and Leone, leaving only Dante behind."You should go! I’ll deal with you later,” Matteo said to Belle.“Don’t harm her! She’s helped me!” Gia quickly reminded him that Aria had already offered Belle protection.Matteo looked at Gia, who appeared very serious. “Dante, assign her a guard. I don’t want Leone seeking revenge on her,” he instructed.Dante nodded, then lifted his phone to make a call. Two minutes later, someone arrived to escort Belle out.“Raven’s still alive, isn’t he?” Gia, now standing steady, felt a slight sense of relief after hearing Matteo’s explanation. However, her worry returned when Matteo hesitated to answer.“You didn’t kill him, did you?” Gia asked again, her fear growing.“I didn’t kill him. He’s alive,” Matteo finally replied.Matteo nodded at Dante, who then left the room.“Rave!” Gia screamed upon seeing Dante half-dragging Raven, who limped with every step.Matteo ha
King Gustaf held Raven’s hand tightly for a moment. He was aware that their happiness depended on each other.He kept his eyes on Raven as their hands separated.“Well then, I’ll take my leave.” King Gustaf saw no reason for further pleasantries, so he turned around immediately. But before taking a step, he glanced back.His gaze focused on Lonan, who had remained silent and lowered his head after declaring he would be a witness.“I truly wished you had married Willow, but I couldn’t force her. I’m sorry. And please forgive Willow for her mistake this time.” His eyes flickered toward Raven as well, not just Lonan. Then, finally, he stepped out.Two deep sighs of relief filled the room as the door closed—one from Lonan, one from Raven. Raven picked up his phone, checking something. Maybe he was telling Jasper to cancel a plan.“King Gustaf will keep his promise because he will never let Willow’s name be tarnished in the eyes of society. He always avoids scandals so that Willow can live
Gia didn't know who Tilda was, but Raven's intense reaction made her suspect something. Raven clearly cared about whoever Tilda was."Why can't I mention her name? She's Willow's mother!"Gia's suspicion proved correct. King Gustaf disgustingly uttered a name that would surely shake Raven. He mentioned someone Raven loved as dearly as her own family. It was a deceitful move.Raven's face burned with anger, yet the furrow in her brow showed she was thinking. That name had driven her to get engaged and save Willow's life. The inner battle flared up again—this time, it was Raven's turn."For Tilda's sake, I beg you: don't press those charges. And please hand over that recording. You surely don't want to ruin Willow's life, right?""He ruined himself without my interference. You only sped up his plunge into ruin by continually excusing all his misdeeds." Raven stopped using the formal "you" when addressing King Gustaf. Merely mentioning Tilda's name ignited deep emotions within her."You
King Gustaf stared at Al and Frey. "Are they your children?" Gia wanted to answer with a scathing remark with the word idiot, just like she'd used earlier to respond to Lonan's question. It was blatantly obvious who Al and Frey's parents were. "Yes," Gia replied politely. The time when she could curse at the king had long passed. "Then you must understand my feelings. The feelings of a father who must do everything to protect his child." King Gustaf quickly turned to Raven. Unfortunately, his emotionally charged statement was met with a mocking laugh from Raven. "No. I can't understand your feelings. Because I'll make sure these two don't grow up to be manipulators who casually stab others in the back," Raven retorted sharply. King Gustaf's jaw tightened in anger. "What's going on?" Gia demanded. Seeing Raven provoke the king's anger, she felt some satisfaction, but she still didn't grasp the full context. "I'm filing charges against Willow. This time, I'll ensure she
"Oh... My... God...," Lonan muttered as he saw Raven enter carrying Freya. Gia followed behind, with Al playfully twirling around her neck.They had to wrestle a bit while heading to the hospital. Al began teething and fussed whenever things didn't go his way.Freya, who always imitated her older sibling, considered crying together a fun activity. As a result, Gia and Raven had to fight through a torrent of tears before they could leave the house."They…"Lonan shot a disbelieving glance. He rarely saw Raven accompanied by a cute baby; in his opinion, it didn't seem right. In fact, Gia used to feel the same—but that was then. Gia feels something is missing without Freya clinging to Raven's chest.It wasn't Gia's idea to bring them to the hospital; Raven requested it. He wanted to introduce Al and Freya to their uncle. It was a common wish, and Gia simply couldn't refuse."Are they twins?" Lonan asked."You don't eat enough apples. How can you ask such a stupid question? The answer is
Gia peeled the apple on the table and cut it into smaller pieces. That wasn't how she ate apples—she preferred whole ones, eating them with the skin on.The apple wasn't for her. After placing it in a bowl, Gia carried it to the patient's bed and set it on the table. The person sleeping in that bed jumped awake at the sound of movement and footsteps.Gia glanced sideways, and their eyes met. Too late to look away, she could only huff in irritation.Lonan looked toward the bowl of apple. "I thought you'd never do something kind for me again."Gia snorted. "Exactly! I didn't do this for you. I did it for Raven. He'll be upset if he finds out I still despise you."Lonan gave a bitter smile. He had set his hopes too high. Gia always tried her best to be kind to him because she knew that if she kept showing her dislike, Raven would end up sad. Gia understood that feeling well—it reminded her of the time she watched Matteo and Raven argue.Of course, that argument couldn't compare to the ha
Raven felt a little calmer after Gia invited him to sit. Although he still felt anxious, his breathing steadied. He leaned back in his seat while gripping Gia's hand.Doctors had been operating on Lonan for about four hours, and they still hadn't given any news about his progress. Based on her experience, Gia could only guess that the knife must have injured one of his organs—she couldn't tell how severe the damage was.The wait felt like hell to Raven. He no longer displayed any emotion, as if his tears had drained every ounce of feeling. The overwhelming memory of his parents leaving haunted him, and he clung to the hope that Lonan would pull through.All his anger melted away and gave way to hope. He no longer cared about Lonan's mistakes—they now seemed insignificant.Whenever a lousy memory threatened to overwhelm him, Raven squeezed Gia's hand, and Gia stroked Raven's arm gently. Gia reminded him of other parts of his life that still awaited him, assuring him that his world woul
From the beginning, Willow never planned to jump in or be fooled by Raven's blatantly apparent lies. Willow orchestrated this drama to get close enough to Raven so that they could hurt him.Now, Willow screamed in anger as their plan failed once again. Willow didn't care at all that Lonan collapsed and bled because of what they had done."Lonan!"Raven finally realized what was happening and roared Lonan's name. He tried to catch the falling body but couldn't manage it well."No!" Raven roared again when he saw the red stain spreading across Lonan's stomach.Gia pushed aside the nearby guards and ran toward them."Help him, Haze… I beg you," Raven whimpered. He clutched Lonan's head as Lonan began losing consciousness.Gia studied the wound that kept bleeding. The knife is still stuck there.Gia pressed her hand against the wound to stop more blood from flowing out and to prevent Lonan from going into shock from excessive blood loss."Call for help!" Gia shouted. Many ambulances waite
Yesterday's mini forest that once looked peaceful and comfortable had transformed into a warzone. Gia now understood why all the police were downstairs. The royal guards had taken over their duties—not just the ones earlier on the stairs, but a much larger force now spread across the roof. Their primary purpose here wasn't Willow but because their master was also on the rooftop. King Gustaf stood roughly five meters behind Willow, trying to coax her down. Willow had already stepped outside the safety railing, facing the open air, her hands still gripping the rooftop's edge barrier. "Don't jump! Willow!" Gia could faintly hear his desperate pleas. "I should've made that barrier taller," Raven muttered. The railing would have been sufficient to prevent someone Gia's height from climbing over. But Willow, tall as a giraffe, stood only a few centimeters shorter than Raven. Her perfectly proportioned body—especially those long legs—made it easy for her to vault the barrier.
“What's going on?!" Gia demanded, staring at Raven. Her face was pale, and her hand covered her mouth, holding back a torrent of curses.“How did she get in?!” Raven shouted, still directing her question to Jasper at the other end.After hearing Jasper’s response, Raven lowered the phone from her ear. Her eyes shifted to Lonan, who now looked as if he were having a heart attack."You gave her your pass card?" Raven asked quietly.Lonan shook his head. “She came to apologize yesterday... I didn't know... she must've taken it then.”He straightened up and rushed toward Raven.“We have to go there...,” Lonan said, shaking Raven’s arm."Why?"“Can someone explain what's happening?” Gia hated being left in the dark.“Willow is trying to kill herself. She's on the roof of the Lindgren Tower, ready to jump,” Raven explained.“She...” Gia couldn’t find the right words—Willow was beyond crazy.Raven didn’t look at Gia as he spoke. His eyes were fixed on Lonan, who kept shaking his arm.“We hav