"My... aunt?" The words felt foreign on my tongue, like speaking a language I'd never learned. My mind raced through memories of my mother, trying to recall if anyone had ever mentioned a sister of my mother's. But there was nothing – just empty spaces where family history should have been. But the
I sat at my desk, absently clicking my pen against the stack of papers I should have been reviewing, my mind still caught in a loop of last night's events. The memory of Isabella's face – so eerily similar to my mother's – kept floating to the surface of my thoughts, making it impossible to focus on
I recounted the conversation, watching as Alexander's expression grew increasingly stormy. When I finished, he let out a short, bitter laugh. "So they've begun their move already. Earlier than I expected." "Their move?" I leaned forward, confusion and frustration mingling in my chest. "Alexander, w
I gathered my things, taking a moment to straighten the papers on my desk and slip my phone into my bag – a recent gift from Roman that still made me smile whenever I looked at it. To think we've both reached the point where he can openly give me gifts like these. And now there's a risk that I mi
The last thing I wanted was to give her what she wanted. Attention. She laughed, the sound sharp and brittle, echoing slightly in the hallway. "Oh, our father was right – you really have become quite haughty, haven't you?" Her eyes glittered with malice as she leaned in slightly, her expensive p
The reaction was immediate and exactly what I'd hoped for. Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd like waves, disapproving glares directed at Bertha, whose mouth opened and closed soundlessly as she realized what I'd done. The whispers grew louder, more pointed – "Did you see that?" One whisper
The bell chimed softly as I pushed open the diner's door, and the familiar scent of coffee and grilled food wrapped around me like a warm embrace. My heels clicked against the checkered floor as I made my way inside, my eyes immediately finding Vincent in the booth by the window. The afternoon sun s
The lunch with Vincent felt like navigating through a thick fog of my own thoughts. My mind kept drifting back to Maria – her fearful glances, the way her hands trembled, the undercurrent of tension that seemed to vibrate between her and Vincent. The diner around us became a blur of muted sounds and
Hi, hope you're doing good and the year has been going well for you? You must've noticed the lack of updates and I sincerely apologize for it. After my grandma's passing, things haven't been the same and I'm sad to admit that I went down a spiral and I had to take a step back for my mental health
That now seemed like a lifetime ago. A lifetime of promises I broke. "I know," I whispered, reaching across the table to take her hand. "And I'm so sorry, Greece. I was wrong, and I was selfish, and there's no excuse for it." She didn't pull away, but her eyes remained full of hurt. "Do you have
Maybe I was foolish, I was too afraid to face Roman and even her… I was a coward, the one thing I told myself I wasn't. I sank into the chair opposite her, hands clasped tightly in my lap to hide their trembling. "It's complicated," I managed, knowing how inadequate the words were. "Complicated,
AMELIA I felt like I'd been punched in the gut, all the air leaving my lungs in one desperate rush. Greece Wellington's presence was like a ghost from my past life, one I'd tried desperately to forget. My fingers tightened around the shopping bags, knuckles turning white as I struggled to maintai
"I swear," she laughed, her voice filling the car with warmth, "if he could bubble-wrap me and the baby, he would." I couldn't help but smile, watching her face light up as she talked about her husband. "He's just nervous. First-time dad and all that." "Oh, speaking of nervous," she grinned, tur
AMELIA Morning sunlight filtered through the thin curtains of my bedroom, casting warm patches across my chilly sheets. I should have felt lighter, triumphant even. The family was finally under control, the threats neutralized, and the Guerrero name secure. Yet as I lay there, staring up at the ce
The color drained from their faces so quickly it was almost comical. Uncle Stefano actually tugged at his collar, while Uncle Paolo seemed to sink further into his chair. "Ricardo made his choice," Uncle Marco said, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity despite his obvious fear. "We are mere
AMELIA The meeting wasn't one I was looking forward to but it was something I had to get done. Something that I hoped would remind me of all the reasons why I was in Italy. All the reasons why I became a completely different person. I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, taking in ho
AMELIA TWO YEARS LATER… I was twenty-seven years old, younger than my mother was when she had me, and five years older than she was when my grandfather entrusted the Guerrero family's responsibility to her. Despite trying my best not to think about her, everything I did, everywhere I walked in It