Without further ado, he walked out of the office and met with the national police officers who were waiting for him. He walked between the officers without being handcuffed.Katia took her boss's wallet, feeling unsure, and exited the office. She stood next to her desk as he left.She looked at the wallet and then let it fall onto her desk. She sat down in her chair and opened it, starting to search through its compartments.In one of these compartments, she found a photo of a woman of medium height, who seemed to be around 1.80 meters tall. She was very beautiful, with short reddish hair and beautiful brown eyes.She appeared to be a woman who kept her figure perfectly and had smooth, fair skin. In the photo, she was holding Stefan's arm."Is she his girlfriend? Does he have a girlfriend and married me? Ugh, I hate him!" the young brunette thought. "Now that I think about it... why did I agree to marry him?"She continued searching for the card until she found a white card that read
Stefan walked down the street in downtown Seattle around ten in the morning, accompanied by a man who was halfway between blonde and brown-haired, with a slight bronzed touch to his skin.He had a light beard, and his eyes were a very pale shade of blue. He was tall, muscular, and well-built, with a broad back. At that moment, he had a serious expression.His hands were large and appeared strong. He seemed to be the same age as his friend.This man was Hilbert, Stefan's best friend, and he had managed to get him released without any charges against the German.They sat down on a terrace."Can you finally tell me what happened? Why were you accused?" Hilbert asked, frustrated with his friend."It's... something you wouldn't understand. You never understand what I do," Stefan excused himself."Stefan... a girl called me saying you were arrested. It's not the first time I've bailed you out, but if you keep this up, things will get complicated, and I won't be able to do anything," his fri
"Let's pick up Lucía, and that way, they won't bother us, and they'll be entertained," Madeleine suggested with a smile."Alright. Although with my mother... I'm not sure she'll pay much attention. Since she arrived, it's been 'grandma this... grandma that...'. It's like I don't exist anymore," Katia told her, leaning against the wall."Don't say that. Dani loves you a lot, Katia," Madeleine put a hand on her shoulder, accompanied by a smile that was both tender and teasing."I know... Well, I guess it's normal. After so long, he's with his grandmother, even if he doesn't remember her.""Haha, he's just a child, Katia, and he's only four years old! Haha. Lucía acts the same way when she sees my parents or Joshua's. They're people they rarely see, and when they are with them, they try to get their attention. But, of course... then they want us to buy them toys!""Well, my mother already buys him toys. I'm going to need a separate apartment just for all their stuff," the young woman wit
— If you're not in your department, then... why? — He glanced sideways, waiting for his response. — I don't mean to intrude, but you should tell her the truth about your health. She doesn't deserve...— I know. Listen... I've put your number down to be notified if something happens to me — there was a pause, and then he heard him cough again. — If I happen to pass away before the seven months are up, don't tell her. Tell her the treatment will last a few more months...— It's not good to lie to her. She already hates me, but if I lie, she'll hate me even more.— You must forgive me for getting you involved in all of this — the man on the other end apologized.— Don't worry — she sighed. — About putting me as your contact, I don't think it's a good idea, but maybe it's better. She might accuse me of trying to get rid of you.— That could have happened if I hadn't told her anything... Besides, she wouldn't have agreed to be married to you while I was away.— Your girlfriend has a terrib
Katia was in the room where her son slept, with an oxygen mask helping him breathe. Her eyes were red from crying all night, and she had dark circles from lack of sleep.She held her child's tiny hand while moistening her lips with her tongue. With her free hand, she gently stroked his forehead. The doctor had told her that the child wouldn't make it and that he would pass away in a few days.Although she didn't want that to happen, there was no solution; nothing more could be done for the little one. Once again, she broke into tears, burying her face in the mattress.She didn't care that the door had opened or that someone saw her crying.Stefan's breathing was uneven as he had rushed there as soon as he found out. He remained silent as he watched and listened to her cry.He wanted to approach and hold her, but he didn't know if she would allow it. He took out his phone and left the room, searching for a phone number. But before he could dial it, the child's doctor passed by him.He
After spending a couple of hours in the hospital due to mild hypertension caused by the shock of losing her son, Katia returned to her apartment.Alice, worried about her daughter, decided to stay with her. Richard, on the other hand, went to prepare everything for their grandson's burial. The burial would take place in Katia's hometown, Oregon.The next day, they all traveled there, where Katia's aunts and cousins were waiting for them."We were looking forward to seeing you, but not under these circumstances," one of her aunts said to her."Your Wyoming relatives couldn't make it, but they send their heartfelt condolences for your loss," Alice informed her.At that moment, Katia opened her eyes, and tears gradually filled them. Unable to help it, she collapsed into her mother's arms.She had quickly transitioned from the first stage to the fourth stage of grief, which worried her parents.As the doctor had advised them, it was best for Katia to have some time alone to process the lo
She clenched her fists under the sheets. She was really annoyed, but she was also curious as to where he wanted to take her.She shook her head.She heard the door close and, seconds later, noticed how someone sat on the edge of the bed and stroked her head above the sheets. He knew that hand and closed his eyes, enjoying his mother's caress.Katia turned to her mother, put her head on her mother's legs and stared into nothingness."You should get out, Katia. If you go on like this…" Alice began to say worriedly."But I don't want to go with him, Mom," she interrupted."He was the only one who dared to enter your room and the only one who wanted to take you out since... since we buried Adri," she put her hand on his forehead. "If you don't do it for you, do it for him. He wouldn't have liked to see you like this.""But…""No buts. Don't make me make you go," she cut him off with a smile.Katia snorted."Fine, I'll go," she accepted without much encouragement. "But I'm not going to be
Richard looked at his third daughter in astonishment because he didn't think that was the reason, and Stefan felt the same way due to the response she had given her father.Katia bit her lower lip, mentally cursing herself for lying to her father, as this was the second time she had done so.The first time had been when she informed them that she was pregnant with Oscar, when in reality, it was the result of a rape.She shrugged and wished her mother would come to her aid."Please, let the lie be believed," she wished with all her might mentally."Are you not pregnant by this man?" the lieutenant asked after a few minutes."No! Of course not, Dad. Adri just died, how do you expect me to get pregnant by him?" she asked irritably. "Dad, I love him. Don't dwell on it. Just like you and Mom still sleep together despite being divorced, I can marry whoever I want. I'm free and of legal age. I'm not a child anymore."Richard stared at his daughter in astonishment because it was the first tim
"Madeleine, welcome to our family," she said to her son's wife and then walked away to sit next to her wife.Katia swallowed hard, butterflies in her stomach were fluttering with force.Stefan and Richard Jr. had positioned themselves on either side, forming an intimate circle with them just before the ceremony began."Katia, tell him before the ceremony starts," Madeleine urged her friend, whispering in her ear.There was anticipation, but also uncertainty pulsing in her words.Katia nodded, gripping Madeleine's arm in silent support. The Judge, an elderly man with a warm smile, was adjusting his papers at the front, getting ready to commence the ceremony.It was the right moment to share the news."What to say?" Stefan asked in a whisper, looking at Katia.Katia swallowed hard again before letting the words out."I'm pregnant, Stefan... and it's twins," she told him in a hushed voice, her eyes meeting Stefan's, filled with excitement and expectation.Stefan was left speechless, for
Hilbert helped his friend by taking his arm to help him stand, and then everyone congratulated the couple.At that moment, Madeleine and Katia decided to get married on the same day and... in Lourmarin.For each of them, that place held a different meaning, but they both agreed it was a beautiful location for a double wedding.Joanne and Stefanie Elein were overjoyed. Their parents were getting married, and they would become one united family. Richard, the father, looked at his eldest son and his youngest daughter, and seeing them happy, he was happy too.For some reason, he looked at the lawyer and smiled half-heartedly."I should start having more conversations with that man, as he's the one my daughter Elyse has chosen," he thought. He looked around the room, and taking advantage of his wife's proximity to their children, he approached Hilbert and said,"I think I'll need a lawyer to help me with my will. Can I count on you?""Of course, sir," Hilbert replied, somewhat surprised, a
A group of men gathered behind the young brunette, but the leader of the group took Katia as a hostage, pointing a gun at her. Müller, despite having something against Stefan, had nothing against the woman who looked at him with fear, feeling the gun against her temple. Katia began to silently cry, looking at the inspector for help.The police were in a dilemma. They couldn't shoot without harming Katia. Both the gang and the law enforcement group had their weapons aimed at each other, with the young brunette caught in the middle."Stefan... help me..." Katia silently wished, her eyes closed as tears streamed down her cheeks.She was so focused on seeking help from the man she loved that she didn't realize someone was speaking behind her. Suddenly, she felt the man shifting, and as she turned around, she was surprised and relieved to see Mark.The man nodded for her to run towards the group of men behind those traffickers. The other Richter family's hitmen surrounded Katia to "hide"
Once they had landed at Munich Franz Josef Strauss Airport, Stefan's chauffeur Frederick picked them up to drive them to the brown man's house, but Katia refused.She wanted to go straight to the hospital to see Stefan.After arriving at the private hospital, they went to the room where Stefan was resting. When they opened the door they found Federica sitting next to him and Jürgen, who was leaning against the wall. The dark-haired man looked at him in surprise, as he didn't know how the woman had found out. Katia walked over to the bed and stood next to her ex-husband. She caressed his face, holding back her tears, and kissed him.Federica approached her husband and smiled at him after hugging him. Hilbert began to ask what had really happened and Jürgen told him. Katia listened to them sitting on the edge of the bed.Suddenly the door opened, ushering in the police, but the one who caught everyone's attention was a tall, slender man, although at first glance it could be seen that
The sound of the cell phone she had in her left hand since she sat down to eat made her snap out of her world, fixed on a single point.She didn't have the number saved, but upon seeing the number it began with, she knew it wasn't from there."Hello?" Katia answered and took a sip of champagne."Katia, it 's Federica. Happy New Year," she heard on the other end of the line, but it was clear that Federica was sad about something."Happy New Year to you too, Federica. Is... your brother around?""Katia... I don't know how to tell you this, but...""Federica... don't scare me. What's going on?" This made everyone look at her. "What's happening?""Do you remember that my brother and Jürgen were trying to stop the mafia war?""Of course, I remember. That's why he went back to Germany. Has something happened to him?" she asked with fear. Madeleine approached her sister-in-law and put her hands on her arms. "Please, Federica. Tell me what's going on.""My brother was shot in the chest. He's
She had finished showering and the only thing around her body was a towel that reached a few inches below her butt. Took off the towel that surrounded her hair and dried it with that cloth while she looked at herself in the mirror.She stood still as she thought of Stefan. Since he had left she had been using the masturbator she had before she met him, and while she was showering, she had been touching herself thinking about him.Katia needed him to touch her the way he only knew how to touch her and feel his kisses around her body, her neck and kiss her lips.She shook her head not to think about him and not to tempt desire again.She took off her towel and then put on a black strapless set and a colutte also in black and combed her hair a little to get rid of the knots that had come out after wetting her hair.Then she came out of the bathroom and stared at the dress on the bed."Why did you have to choose pink, knowing that I don't like that color?," she said with her hands on her
That night, after putting her daughters to bed, Katia returned to the living room and poured herself a glass of red wine. Ever since she had broken up with Stefan, she did this every night when she felt down.She left the bottle on the coffee table in front of the couch.Katia took the glass of wine and took a small sip while she thought about what Zelig or Stefan had told her. Although to her, he would always be Stefan, as that's the name she had known him by.Did either of them really have the blame?She, barefoot with the glass in her hand, walked across the floor to the entrance and approached a small bookshelf in that area. She sat on the floor, leaving the glass by her side, and opened the door of the piece of furniture, starting to search inside.After a few minutes, she pulled out a frame. She sat on the floor, staring at the photo, and took a sip of wine."You have no idea how much I wish I could talk to you, Oscar... Why did you have to die?" Katia thought, without moving fr
Federica and Katia went up to the top floor where the cafeteria was located. They sat at a table near the large window, and the brunette waitress brought two soft drinks, one for each of them.Unable to help it, Katia felt uncomfortable, but she didn't want to tell the woman sitting across from her. The babbling of the triplets caught her attention.They were three beautiful children, just like their parents, and they were utterly adorable with their chubby cheeks. Judging by their age, the babies couldn't be more than a year and a half old.Not knowing what to say, Katia took a sip of her drink and sighed."My brother told me that Joanne looks a lot like you," Federica commented, making her companion look at her. "Listen, Katia. It's true that my brother is... a mafioso," she said in a hushed voice so no one could hear. "But there's something I'm sure of: he loves you and misses both of you. Over these five years, he's delayed his visit to the Seattle Delegation because of your rejec
Suddenly he saw his daughter suddenly stand up and run into the President's office. Zelig jumped in surprise and crouched down to keep up with his daughter.He noticed that Katia had not moved from where Joanne separated from her and that she was not looking at him."I promise to come another day," Joanne said to her father."I'd love to," he said with a smile. "Now go on. Your mother is waiting for you.""Daddy, why didn't you say hello to mommy?," she asked innocently.Zelig noticed Katia watching them and saw her snort."Mommy is mad at me for something I did a long time ago, but as long as I get to see you again, I'll be happy. Do you know why?" The girl shook her head. "Because you look so much like your mother.""Grandma says Stefanie Elein looks more like Mommy..." she pouted tenderly."I don't think so. You... you have the same look as your mother and her same smile," she stroked his cheek, smiling. "Go on, go. Your mother will be more upset with me as long as you're still her