That night, the house was silent.Too silent.The twins were asleep upstairs, their soft breathing the only signs of life.The kitchen was dark. The living room untouched.Only a dim light glowed from the hallway lamp, casting long shadows across the polished floor.Alessandro sat alone at the edge of the couch, elbows braced on his knees, his head in his hands.He had been sitting there for hours, waiting.Waiting for Antonia.Waiting for something he couldn’t name — forgiveness, maybe. A miracle, more likely.Finally, he heard the soft click of the front door.Antonia.She entered quietly, slipping off her heels with a tired grace. She looked worn down to the bone — her blouse slightly rumpled from a long day, her hair pulled into a messy knot.Even exhausted, she was the most beautiful thing Alessandro had ever seen.He rose immediately, heart hammering against his ribs."Antonia," he said, his voice rough from disuse.She didn’t even glance at him.She crossed the living room word
The morning came slowly, grey and heavy with the weight of everything unsaid.Antonia hadn’t slept.She had lain awake on the hospital couch, staring at the ceiling, the cold sinking into her bones.Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Antonio’s tiny body lying still after the crash.She heard the voice on the phone —cold, final."Divorce him.""Or next time, you’ll bury your sons."A mother's worst nightmare woven into a single sentence.She rubbed her hands over her face as the first light of dawn crept through the window.It was time to move.To pretend.To survive.She found Alessandro already awake, sitting at Antonio’s bedside, holding their son’s hand in his much larger one.He looked up when she entered, relief flashing across his handsome face."Good morning, amore," he said, his voice rough with sleep and worry.Antonia offered a small, brittle smile."Good morning."It felt foreign on her tongue.He rose, crossing the room toward her, and instinctively, she stepped back
The house was quieter than usual that evening, the weight of the day's events still hanging heavily over everyone.Antonia moved around the kitchen, setting plates down on the table, her movements mechanical. She glanced at the twins, who sat side by side, absently pushing their peas around their plates.Alessandro entered the room carrying a small, neatly wrapped box.He paused for a moment, seeming almost uncertain — a rare sight for him.Antonia noticed, her brows knitting slightly, but she said nothing.He cleared his throat, drawing the boys' attention."I have something for you," he said, his voice warm but soft, as if afraid of shattering the fragile calm in the room.Matteo’s head snapped up immediately, eyes wide with curiosity.Antonio looked up too, hesitant."This," Alessandro said, setting the box carefully in front of Antonio, "is for you, Antonio."Antonio blinked, startled, then looked at his mother for permission.Antonia gave him a gentle nod, even as her heart squee
The sun had barely begun to rise when Antonia slipped out of bed.She moved quietly, careful not to wake anyone — especially Alessandro.The house was wrapped in a fragile peace, the twins still asleep, their soft breathing echoing faintly down the hallway.Antonia paused by their bedroom door, her hand resting lightly on the frame, her heart twisting painfully in her chest.She could see them curled up together, Matteo’s arm slung protectively over Antonio even in sleep.It took everything in her not to crawl into bed with them, to hold them close and never let go.But she had work to do today — work she couldn’t afford to delay.By the time the clock struck seven, Antonia was out the door, dressed simply in a pale blue blouse and dark jeans, her hair pulled into a loose braid.The address she’d been given sat crumpled in her hand, damp from how tightly she’d been clutching it.The lawyer’s office wasn’t far — a small, discreet practice tucked away on the quieter side of the city.It
The morning was crisp, the sun barely climbing over the rooftops, casting a warm, golden light over the sleepy town.Antonia drove silently, her hands firm on the steering wheel, her mind heavy with the weight of the day ahead.The twins, seated in the backseat, chattered excitedly about their new gadgets, their innocence a balm to her aching heart.Antonio’s small voice floated forward from the backseat.“Mama, will you watch me today when I show the teacher my new ear aid?”Antonia forced a smile through the tightness in her chest.“Of course, amore,” she said warmly, glancing at him through the rearview mirror.He beamed, his bright blue ear aid glinting proudly under the morning light, matching the watch on his tiny wrist.Antonia's heart clenched.They deserve better. A safer life. A future unburdened by secrets and danger.As she pulled into the school’s parking lot, she turned to the boys, smoothing Matteo’s hair and adjusting Antonio’s jacket."Be good," she whispered, kissing
The evening sun dipped low, casting a warm, golden glow over the sprawling Amato estate.Dinner had been a quiet, tense affair — the twins happily chattered about their day, oblivious to the storm brewing between their parents.Alessandro had sensed it the moment Antonia walked through the door.There was a new distance in her.Not anger — something colder, something final.After dinner, Antonia wiped Matteo’s and Antonio’s mouths gently, her touch lingering a second longer on Antonio’s ear aid, her heart tightening."Go get ready for bed, amore mio," she murmured, ruffling their hair.The boys ran upstairs, their laughter echoing down the marble halls.When she straightened, she found Alessandro watching her from across the dining room, his arms crossed, his eyes shadowed.She didn't flinch.She didn’t even pretend to smile.Without a word, she wiped her hands on a towel and motioned him to follow her into the private study.Once the door closed behind them, silence fell — thick and
The evening sun dipped low, casting a warm, golden glow over the sprawling Amato estate.Dinner had been a quiet, tense affair — the twins happily chattered about their day, oblivious to the storm brewing between their parents.Alessandro had sensed it the moment Antonia walked through the door.There was a new distance in her.Not anger — something colder, something final.After dinner, Antonia wiped Matteo’s and Antonio’s mouths gently, her touch lingering a second longer on Antonio’s ear aid, her heart tightening."Go get ready for bed, amore mio," she murmured, ruffling their hair.The boys ran upstairs, their laughter echoing down the marble halls.When she straightened, she found Alessandro watching her from across the dining room, his arms crossed, his eyes shadowed.She didn't flinch.She didn’t even pretend to smile.Without a word, she wiped her hands on a towel and motioned him to follow her into the private study.Once the door closed behind them, silence fell — thick and
My heart thundered against my ribcage as I stared at the people in front of me, my breath hitching in disbelief. "What do you mean she ran away... and I should take her place as the bride?" The words came out in a whisper, trembling on my tongue, then a little louder, laced with horror.I scanned their faces, desperate for any sign that this was a cruel joke. But all I saw was panic... urgency... and expectation. My hands trembled violently as I took a step back, the walls of the room pressing in on me."I can't believe Beatrice decided to run away on the day of her wedding... and now I have to take her place." My voice cracked as the words escaped, foreign and surreal. My pulse roared in my ears, palms slick with sweat. This couldn't be happening. Not to me.Tears welled in my eyes, blurring my vision. "No, Mommy, I can't! I won't marry that man for Beatrice's sake!" My fists clenched by my sides, my chest rising and falling in sharp, ragged breaths. "Why don’t you just tell his famil
The evening sun dipped low, casting a warm, golden glow over the sprawling Amato estate.Dinner had been a quiet, tense affair — the twins happily chattered about their day, oblivious to the storm brewing between their parents.Alessandro had sensed it the moment Antonia walked through the door.There was a new distance in her.Not anger — something colder, something final.After dinner, Antonia wiped Matteo’s and Antonio’s mouths gently, her touch lingering a second longer on Antonio’s ear aid, her heart tightening."Go get ready for bed, amore mio," she murmured, ruffling their hair.The boys ran upstairs, their laughter echoing down the marble halls.When she straightened, she found Alessandro watching her from across the dining room, his arms crossed, his eyes shadowed.She didn't flinch.She didn’t even pretend to smile.Without a word, she wiped her hands on a towel and motioned him to follow her into the private study.Once the door closed behind them, silence fell — thick and
The evening sun dipped low, casting a warm, golden glow over the sprawling Amato estate.Dinner had been a quiet, tense affair — the twins happily chattered about their day, oblivious to the storm brewing between their parents.Alessandro had sensed it the moment Antonia walked through the door.There was a new distance in her.Not anger — something colder, something final.After dinner, Antonia wiped Matteo’s and Antonio’s mouths gently, her touch lingering a second longer on Antonio’s ear aid, her heart tightening."Go get ready for bed, amore mio," she murmured, ruffling their hair.The boys ran upstairs, their laughter echoing down the marble halls.When she straightened, she found Alessandro watching her from across the dining room, his arms crossed, his eyes shadowed.She didn't flinch.She didn’t even pretend to smile.Without a word, she wiped her hands on a towel and motioned him to follow her into the private study.Once the door closed behind them, silence fell — thick and
The morning was crisp, the sun barely climbing over the rooftops, casting a warm, golden light over the sleepy town.Antonia drove silently, her hands firm on the steering wheel, her mind heavy with the weight of the day ahead.The twins, seated in the backseat, chattered excitedly about their new gadgets, their innocence a balm to her aching heart.Antonio’s small voice floated forward from the backseat.“Mama, will you watch me today when I show the teacher my new ear aid?”Antonia forced a smile through the tightness in her chest.“Of course, amore,” she said warmly, glancing at him through the rearview mirror.He beamed, his bright blue ear aid glinting proudly under the morning light, matching the watch on his tiny wrist.Antonia's heart clenched.They deserve better. A safer life. A future unburdened by secrets and danger.As she pulled into the school’s parking lot, she turned to the boys, smoothing Matteo’s hair and adjusting Antonio’s jacket."Be good," she whispered, kissing
The sun had barely begun to rise when Antonia slipped out of bed.She moved quietly, careful not to wake anyone — especially Alessandro.The house was wrapped in a fragile peace, the twins still asleep, their soft breathing echoing faintly down the hallway.Antonia paused by their bedroom door, her hand resting lightly on the frame, her heart twisting painfully in her chest.She could see them curled up together, Matteo’s arm slung protectively over Antonio even in sleep.It took everything in her not to crawl into bed with them, to hold them close and never let go.But she had work to do today — work she couldn’t afford to delay.By the time the clock struck seven, Antonia was out the door, dressed simply in a pale blue blouse and dark jeans, her hair pulled into a loose braid.The address she’d been given sat crumpled in her hand, damp from how tightly she’d been clutching it.The lawyer’s office wasn’t far — a small, discreet practice tucked away on the quieter side of the city.It
The house was quieter than usual that evening, the weight of the day's events still hanging heavily over everyone.Antonia moved around the kitchen, setting plates down on the table, her movements mechanical. She glanced at the twins, who sat side by side, absently pushing their peas around their plates.Alessandro entered the room carrying a small, neatly wrapped box.He paused for a moment, seeming almost uncertain — a rare sight for him.Antonia noticed, her brows knitting slightly, but she said nothing.He cleared his throat, drawing the boys' attention."I have something for you," he said, his voice warm but soft, as if afraid of shattering the fragile calm in the room.Matteo’s head snapped up immediately, eyes wide with curiosity.Antonio looked up too, hesitant."This," Alessandro said, setting the box carefully in front of Antonio, "is for you, Antonio."Antonio blinked, startled, then looked at his mother for permission.Antonia gave him a gentle nod, even as her heart squee
The morning came slowly, grey and heavy with the weight of everything unsaid.Antonia hadn’t slept.She had lain awake on the hospital couch, staring at the ceiling, the cold sinking into her bones.Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Antonio’s tiny body lying still after the crash.She heard the voice on the phone —cold, final."Divorce him.""Or next time, you’ll bury your sons."A mother's worst nightmare woven into a single sentence.She rubbed her hands over her face as the first light of dawn crept through the window.It was time to move.To pretend.To survive.She found Alessandro already awake, sitting at Antonio’s bedside, holding their son’s hand in his much larger one.He looked up when she entered, relief flashing across his handsome face."Good morning, amore," he said, his voice rough with sleep and worry.Antonia offered a small, brittle smile."Good morning."It felt foreign on her tongue.He rose, crossing the room toward her, and instinctively, she stepped back
That night, the house was silent.Too silent.The twins were asleep upstairs, their soft breathing the only signs of life.The kitchen was dark. The living room untouched.Only a dim light glowed from the hallway lamp, casting long shadows across the polished floor.Alessandro sat alone at the edge of the couch, elbows braced on his knees, his head in his hands.He had been sitting there for hours, waiting.Waiting for Antonia.Waiting for something he couldn’t name — forgiveness, maybe. A miracle, more likely.Finally, he heard the soft click of the front door.Antonia.She entered quietly, slipping off her heels with a tired grace. She looked worn down to the bone — her blouse slightly rumpled from a long day, her hair pulled into a messy knot.Even exhausted, she was the most beautiful thing Alessandro had ever seen.He rose immediately, heart hammering against his ribs."Antonia," he said, his voice rough from disuse.She didn’t even glance at him.She crossed the living room word
The couch creaked softly as Antonia shifted under the thin throw blanket, the cold of the leather beneath her seeping into her bones.She squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to sleep, to escape the ache that wrapped around her chest like a vice.Sleep didn’t come easily.Her mind was a battlefield — memories clawing their way to the surface, sharp and merciless.Still, somewhere between exhaustion and heartbreak, she drifted into a restless slumber.And the past came rushing back.—She was in their bedroom.Morning sunlight filtered in through the gauzy curtains, painting the room in a soft golden glow. The air was warm, and the faint scent of Alessandro’s cologne lingered in the sheets.Antonia stirred slightly, still half-asleep, feeling the heavy comfort of the blankets around her — and then...A kiss.Soft, lingering, pressed to the hollow of her shoulder.A low chuckle followed as she buried her face deeper into the pillow."Wake up, bella," Alessandro murmured against her s
The city moved around her — cars streaming by, people bustling down sidewalks — but inside Antonia’s car, it was quiet. Too quiet.She gripped the steering wheel tighter as she pulled into the underground parking lot of SKYE TECH. Her new reality pressed against her chest, heavy and suffocating.Today would be the first day she worked side by side with Alessandro after everything. After the lies. After the breaking of trust she thought would never happen between them.As she turned off the ignition, she caught sight of herself in the mirror. Her face was perfectly composed — makeup flawless, hair neatly tucked into a bun — but her eyes betrayed her. They looked tired. Guarded.Still, she straightened her shoulders. She wouldn't let him see how much he had broken her. She wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.Stepping out of the car, she grabbed her handbag and headed for the elevators.Each step echoed around her, sharp and solitary.When she reached the executive floor, she hesitated