“Amore, I’m sorry,” Luca said, grabbing her arm.“Are you sure you are? Look at how sober Katie is because of you!” Kiara whisper-yelled, disappointed with Luca’s behavior. “Besides, you should be apologizing to them, not me.” She looked into his eyes.His eyes softened, and he nodded, stepping away from her and moving towards his children. He crouched to reach their level, “Look, I’m sorry.” He shook their hands, rubbing them sweetly. Before he could progress with his apology, Katie burst into tears—tears that she had been holding all along.“Oh, baby.” He pulled Katie into his arms, rubbing her back. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered, angry that he made Katie cry. As tears streamed down her face, Katie hiccuped, “It’s okay.”“I’ll get you some water,” he pulled away, navigating towards the kitchen to grab a bottle of water. He opened it and placed it in the hands of a hiccuping Katie. She gulped it down almost immediately, coughing a little. “Drink it slowly.” He urged, wiping the corner
Kiara opened the door to find Annie standing right there. At first, Annie didn't even realize that Kiara was standing right there in front of her. “Oh, my babies!” Annie crouched to her daughters' levels, coming eye to eye with them, “You both look so gorgeous. What are you doing by the door? She looked down at their feet, “You were preparing to go out with your father?” She asked with a tilt of her head, expecting a response from Katie, the eldest. “Oh, we were just about to step out with Aunt Kiara, she's–” Annie raised a finger, immediately silencing Katie. Her eyes darted past the door and met the familiar eyes she had always hated. Kiara was here. What on earth was she doing here?“And what the hell are you doing here?” Annie immediately stood up from her crouching position, entered the house, and shut the door behind her. She wasn't about to cause a ruckus and let the whole neighborhood know that she had an issue, but she wasn't going to let this pass by. First, it was the car
Taking a shaky breath, Kiara viewed the message once again. Her eyes were traveling over the designated address once again. “Okay, let’s do this.” She breathed, pressing the flashing white button to start her car.She pressed the address into her car’s GPS with unsteady, sweaty hands. What was Luca hiding? I’m fucked. Kiara thought to herself as she reversed out of the gate, getting on the road. The drive was long, and it almost seemed as if she was going to a totally different town. She stopped by a gas station to fill up her tank again, waiting patiently.Once she was done, she got back on the road. Glancing at the estimated time of arrival, she scoffed. 1:45 P. M? And it was currently 12:25 P.M. Regardless, she focused on the road, refusing to let anything stop her. Her stomach growled lowly as her eyes were glued to the road. There was no way she could stop for something to eat, she’d just grab lunch when she got to the destination.After a while, she pulled up in the tiny shop. I
“It-It’s Luca.” She said in a small whisper.“Oh, fuck, fuck!” Kiara ran her hand through her hair, in panic mode. “What the hell are we going to do?” She whispered, keeping her voice low.“I don’t know, can you distract him?” Marissa asked, shoving her belongings into her bag and switching off the laptop, keeping that away as well. “Yeah, but just hurry, he’s heading over here, but I don’t think he can see me.”Marissa picked up the last of it, “I’ll head out through the front door.”“What about the bell?” Kiara’s eyes widened, as she noticed that Luca was almost right in front of them. “Shit, you’re right. I’ll figure something else out.”“Okay,” Kiara stood up from her chair and moved into the next aisle close to the table, pretending to look through some fine china and antique glass sets. The dust tickled her nostrils and she could feel a huge wave of sneezes coming up, but this wasn’t the best time to do that. She tried her best to hold it in, but they kept coming one after the o
“What’s going on?”“Oh!” Kiara’s eyes darted up, seeming to forget that Luca was still sitting right across from her. “It’s my mom, she thinks they’re going to have to shift the tea party.” She said breathlessly.“So you came all the way out here…for nothing?” Luca smirked, trying to hold his laughter in. His eyes glanced from Kiara to the phone in her hands.“No, no,” Kiara waved her hand in the air, dismissing his question, “She still wants me to get the porcelain, including…a tad bit more teacups.”“Oh, okay, that’s fair. Shall we get to it then or are you still texting her?”“We can look around now.” Kiara stood up, putting her phone on silent and slipping it into her back pocket. Luca eyed her phone sticking out of the back pocket and curiosity began to get the best of him.They slipped through aisle after aisle, looking at all the expensive and antique tea party sets. “They all look so pretty, I don’t even know which to choose.” Kiara sighed, halting in front of the sets. The on
Kiara’s head banged as she spooned some more ice cream into her mouth. “Can you slow down?” Damian chuckled as he dug into the ice cream sundae in front of him. People buzzed all around them in the shop, and the busy atmosphere somewhat calmed Kiara.“It tastes so good, but it’s giving me brain freeze.” She mumbled through her last spoonful of ice cream. “I think I’ve had enough.” She pushed the sundae bowl towards Damian, rubbing her stomach gently. “Are you sure?” Damian chuckled, as he swiped through his phone.“I’m sure. I think if I go any further, I’m going to get sick.” She groaned, relaxing into her seat. It had been about two days now and Kiara was more on edge than ever. “Well, I’ll have to finish it all on my own then.” Damian shrugged, eating the ice cream slowly. Kiara watched her father intently as her breath caught in her throat. Although she wasn’t sure yet, she felt as though her father was in danger or the central subject of the project. It would be uncalled-for if
“Marissa, I’m surprised to see you here.” Kiara exclaimed with a big gasp. She glanced at the frail girl on the bed and back to Marissa. “I can explain.” Marissa started, holding her hands out and gesturing for Kiara to calm down. “I'm sure you can.” Kiara moved closer to her, staring at her intently.Marissa took a harsh gulp before she began to speak, “Clara is my niece. I was informed by the NGO that she wasn’t feeling too good, so I decided to pay her a visit. When I got there, she wasn’t there, so I began to panic.” “Oh… they didn’t tell you she was at the hospital?” Kiara straightened her posture, looking into Marissa's sad eyes. “I asked again and that’s when they told me, so I came down as soon as possible. They told me that she had to undergo some sort of surgery.” Marissa babbled, placing her hand on her forehead, while her other was resting on her waist. “So, here I am.” She smiled weakly; one that didn’t reach the depths of her heart. “She feels so cold, and I don't
Was Marissa playing mind games on her or was she being genuine with everything she did? Different thoughts flooded Kiara’s mind as she lay on the bed in her room, staring up at the ceiling. Marissa and she parted ways back at the hospital, and she told Kiara she would get a call the next day at exactly 11:15 A.M. That’s what she was waiting for now, but the call never came through. She glanced at her phone and realized that five more minutes had passed. “Of course, she stood me up again.” Kiara scoffed, sitting up and putting her hair up in a ponytail, securing it with a hair tie. She wasn’t in the mood for games, and she wasn’t in the mood to be led on either. All she wanted was a little bit of honesty, all this talk of ‘Project Seraph’ and whatnot made her sick to the stomach. She stood up and stretched her tired limbs out, yawning while at it. As she made her way to the bathroom, her phone finally rang, vibrating in the middle of the crumpled blankets on her bed. She reversed in
“What?” Luca exclaimed, terrified Harrison had more things to interrogate him about. Harrison closed in the distance again. It’s obvious it makes Luca very uncomfortable every time he does that. “At Eric’s house, we found a mask—a perfect match to the one used in the kidnapping of Kiara Lux, and a file that had the name Thompson Greco. Then there’s the CCTV footage.”Luca’s heart pounded in his chest. “CCTV footage?” he repeated, his voice laced with disbelief.Harrison nodded, pulling his phone from his pocket. He tapped the screen a few times and turned it toward Luca. “Take a look. Recognize that car? It was out there when Kiara entered that restaurant. Can you see it’s the same car Kiara and this mysterious man who was obviously hiding from the CCTV returned to? The same vehicle that took her? Funny thing, it’s registered under an alias we’ve traced back to one Thompson—Thompson Greco. Rings a bell?”“And guess what?” Harrison scoffed. “The car that chased Kiara’s the other day
Luca froze, stool in hand, as the loud bang on the door reverberated through the room. Open up. It’s the police.” The voice cut through everything that made sound in his house. His pulse quickened, anger and paranoia blending into a volatile mix. He knew that voice—Detective Harrison.The last person he wanted to see.Luca tossed the stool aside, its legs clattering against the broken glass on the floor. He stalked to the door and yanked it open, his face a mask of barely controlled rage.“What the hell do you want, Harrison?”Detective Harrison stood there, his imposing frame casting a shadow over Luca’s disheveled entrance. “Detective, sir! I love to be referred to as Detective Harrison.” Harrison corrected him subtly. His sharp eyes took in the state of the house—broken bottles, shards of glass, the remains of a demolished TV. His lips curled in disdain.“I address you however I deem fit, detective—I mean, Harrison.“Well, well,” he drawled, stepping inside without waiting for an
Luca slumped in the leather armchair in his living room, his hands gripping the armrests so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The echoes of Annie’s words reverberated in his mind: “I’m going to fight for full custody, Luca. And this time, you won’t win.”His jaw clenched as he stared at the half-empty bottle of whiskey on the desk. The house, once his pride, now felt like a hollow monument to his failures. The silence was deafening—a stark reminder of what he’d lost.Luca wasn’t angry because he loved the children that much or even because he wanted them around. No, his rage stemmed from something deeper, something darker. He’d lost control. Katie and Sam had always been pawns in his game—a way to keep Annie tethered, a means to assert dominance. Winning custody had been a symbolic victory, proof that he still held power over her. But now, that power was slipping through his fingers.“Damn it!” he roared, sweeping the whiskey bottle off the desk. It shattered against the wall, a
Maria sat down beside Kiara on the bed. She’s trying to persuade her to give the therapist another chance. It's been days since the last time it resulted in chaos. They hadn’t even gone through any form of therapy before it happened. She recounted the incident from that day in her mind. “Tell me, baby, who’s the driver guy?” Kiara’s panic attack escalated quickly. Her breathing grew rapid and shallow, her body trembling uncontrollably as she clutched her chest. Damian carried her into the house, his movements frantic but careful. Maria followed closely, her hands shaking as she dialed the family doctor.Within minutes, Dr. Rourke, their trusted physician, arrived at the mansion. He examined Kiara, who was still hyperventilating and crying softly. After administering a mild sedative to calm her, he turned to Damian and Maria.“She’s having a severe panic attack,” Dr. Rourke explained gently. “This isn’t just fear—it’s deep psychological trauma. It’s crucial that we get her to open up
Katie pulled out her phone with trembling hands, her fingers fumbling over the screen as she dialed their mother’s number. The pounding on the door was relentless, the sound reverberating through their tiny room. Sam clung to Katie’s side, her stuffed animal crushed against her chest."Mom, pick up," Katie whispered, her voice shaking as she stared at the phone. The ringing felt endless, each second dragging out painfully. Finally, Annie's voice came through the line."Katie darling. How…” Katie’s shaky voice interrupted her usual questions about their well-being. What's wrong?" Annie's voice was filled with concern."Mom, it's Dad," Katie said quickly, her voice cracking. "He's out of control. He’s drunk—I think, and... and he's trying to break into our room!""What?!" Annie’s tone turned sharp with alarm. "Are you and Sam okay? Did he hurt you?""We’re okay for now," Katie replied, her voice breaking. "But the door... it's not going to hold much longer. You have to come home. Ple
Luca’s eyes darkened as the table crashed to the ground, spilling its contents in a noisy heap. His jaw clenched, and a vein throbbed at his temple. The air in the room seemed to thicken with tension as Sam stood frozen, her small hands trembling at her sides."You clumsy little brat!" Luca bellowed, his voice echoing off the walls. "Can't you do anything right?"Sam’s eyes filled with tears as she stumbled backward, her small frame trembling. "I-I’m sorry, Dad," she stammered, her voice barely audible. "I didn’t mean to... I promise I’ll fix it."But Luca wasn’t hearing her. His rage blinded him, fueled by his own frustrations and fears. He took a step forward, his injured hand throbbing but forgotten in the storm of his anger.“Sorry isn’t good enough!” he roared, raising his uninjured hand. Before Sam could react, the first blow landed—a harsh slap across her cheek that sent her sprawling to the floor. She whimpered, clutching her face, her tears streaming freely now.“Get up!” he
Meanwhile, back at Luca's, it's been turmoil. He had been on the run, unsure of what his fate would be. He has been hiding away, scared that the police are looking for him. When he realized that there had been no search or warrant for him, he decided to return to his house. "That betrayal must have gotten away with Kiara. If they are unable to find Kiara, they might never find out that I've been the one behind the kidnapping all along." He thought. However. That afternoon, word came from one of the boys he forced out to find Kiara, that Kiara had been found and, as in fact, been discharged from the hospital and now home with Damian. Luca stormed into his room, his injured hand hastily wrapped in a bloodied cloth. His face was a mask of fury and frustration as he paced back and forth. He couldn't even go to the hospital to have proper treatment. The faint smell of antiseptic from his poorly tended wound mingled with the scent of whiskey he had poured himself moments ago. He gulped
Well, that’s because he might be a culprit,” Harrison declared. “What?” “We’ve traced the missing funds from your accounts—millions of dollars—directly back to him.”Damian’s eyes widened, and he swung his legs over the side of the bed, fully awake now. “You’re saying Eric embezzled the money?”“Yes,” Harrison confirmed. “He used sophisticated software to launder the funds and make them untraceable. We were just about to bring him in for questioning when we found his body.”Maria sat up, her expression a mix of confusion and alarm. “What is it?” she whispered.Damian held up a hand to silence her, his focus still on the call. “Tell me you’re kidding.” “I’m afraid it’s the truth, Mr. Lux.” Harrison continued. “The missing papers have also been in his possession. But the mysterious thing is, not a dime is missing from the money. It was a new account he opened. He kept the documents also, under the same name. I don’t think he saved the money for himself.” “Do you think someone else w
Maria stood at the edge of the room, her face pale but resolute as she watched Damian absorb her words. His expression hardened, and his jaw set tight like a coiled spring.“What do you mean Luca called again?” Damian asked, his voice dangerously low.“He called to check on Kiara,” Maria replied cautiously. “That’s what he said. He added that he was relieved to hear she’s safe.”“Relieved?” Damian scoffed, his tone bitter. “That snake doesn’t deserve to say her name. He’s no friend of mine. My daughter was kidnapped, and he did nothing.”Maria sighed, stepping closer. “Darling, he called several times you were away, he called to check if we'd decided to hand over the company to them as they demanded. He said he couldn’t reach you. He even pleaded with me to convince you to do as they say so we can get Kiara back safely.” “Oh really? What a wonderful job he did. Giving a piece of advice from the comfort of his home when in reality he did nothing. If you don’t know, that amounts to not