Alessandra's interest in Josh was more than mere flirtation. Her initial flirtation was an attempt to see his reactions and potentially exploit any vulnerabilities he might have. But Antonio figured out her manipulative tactics, and he quickly intervened to protect Josh from being entangled in Alessandra's web of influence.Not liking Antonio’s interference, Alessandra's expression abruptly darkened, her eyes flashing with annoyance as she looked at him, "Tell your old man I'm calling off the deal," she hissed, her voice dripping with icy contempt. "He couldn't deliver on time." With that, she turned on her heel and strode out of the room, her two henchmen following behind her.With Alessandra's departure, the room's atmosphere shifted once again, the tension that had momentarily enveloped the room, now going away. Josh was still thinking about Alessandra’s over friendly behavior towards him. The rapid shift from Alessandra's intimidating demeanor to a playful one while talking to hi
Josh was stunned by Mario's remark. Son of a traitor? What did he mean by that? Why did he call him that, Josh wondered.He found himself feeling offended and confused at the same time. He didn't like being called the son of a traitor, but he also didn't know why he had been called that. Could it be that maybe his father, whom he had never met had done something, that made Mario say that? “What do you mean by that?” Josh asked, his tone showing his displeasure at the undeserved accusation.The table was filled with an intense atmosphere. Antonio had a surprised expression on his face, as he didn't expect Mario to address Josh like that, the same thing could be said about Giovanni, he was just as shocked as Antonio, not having had anticipated something like this.Mario stood up, a cold look in his eyes as he glared at Josh. “Oh, you don't know? Your father…” Mario was about to say something to Josh, but he didn't finish his sentence, as Giovanni cut him off. "Mario, enough. You will
Even with the suspicion lingering, Josh still agreed to meet up with the the man who clqimed to be his dad. Although he acknowledged that it was stupid and naive of him to believe a total stranger,his curiosity was greater, as he needed to get to the bottom of this and figure out the the truth about his father.After agreeing on a location they would meet, Josh hang up the phone. Putting his cellphone into his pocket, he turned around, about to walk back to the breakfast table, when he noticed Antonio standing In Front of him. He raised an eyebrow in surprise, wondering why and how long had Antonio been standing there. “Hey, what are you doing” Antonio smiled faintly. “Hey Josh. Sorry, I couldn't help overhearing you through the phone, your phone has a perfect and loud speaker..” he said in a joking tone. Clearing his throat he continued, “Anyways, a little advice, I wouldn't meet the guy you just came from talking with.” Josh stared at Antonio with a surprised expression upon hear
Mario words hit Josh hard, like a tone of bricks. His offensive remarks cut deep, showing just how much he disliked Josh. It was even more clear to him now that Mario didn't like him, not even slightly, and the fact that he was in the family, didn't sit well with Mario. Josh stayed silent, choosing not to respond to Mario's harsh words. Well, it was not like he had a response for Mario anyways, he was at a loss of words. And honestly, a part of him agreed with Mario, he didn't belong in this family.Lost in his thoughts, he thought about the reality that not everyone in the family welcomed his presence with open arms. It became evident that navigating the dynamics within the family wouldn't be smooth, and Josh recognized the need to adapt and overcome the challenges that lay ahead.Mario eyed Josh, with a derogatory gaze, to him Josh was inferior to him, in every way. “Say something, cat got your tongue?” He asked, a smug smile playing on his lips, expecting Josh to say something aft
"I appreciate the invite, Sofia, but I'm not really into proms. Plus, we barely know each other. I'm sure you can find someone who would make a better date for you.” Josh replied to her question respectfully. Because he had no idea that she just wanted to use him as a means to fend off her boyfriend, Josh was thinking she was romantically interested in him, hence she was asking him out. But he wasn't attracted to her like that, and that's why he had turned her down.Sofia rolled her eyes, realizing that she might have come out like she was interested in him romantically. “It's not a real date, I just want you to pretend like we are dating.” She explained.Josh was taken aback by her words? Pretend that they were dating? Why would they do that? A confused frown replaced his annoyed expression, Josh enquired, "Why?” Sofia let out an annoyed sigh, not liking that Josh was asking too many questions. Her shoulders slumping slightly, she replied. "Look, my ex-boyfriend won't leave me alone
After he was done getting ready for the prom event, Josh was ready to leave. He let out a sigh as he grabbed his cellphone and key card and headed towards the door. Grabbing the door knob he was just about to open it, when he heard a knock on the door. Josh opened the door, and Sofia walked inside the room. Sofia was dressed in a stunning golden gown that accentuated her curvy body. The dress flowed effortlessly around her figure, making her look even more beautiful than she already was. Josh was stunned by her beauty when she walked in, but he quickly composed himself.As she walked in, her gaze fell on Josh, and for a moment, she seemed to lose her breath as she just stared at him. His handsomeness was undeniable, the suit made his natural good looks even more noticeable and gave him an air of sophistication she hadn't seen before. “Wow.” She said as she fixed her gaze on him, her eyes filled with admiration. “You look incredible.” She complimented. And she was spot on with that
Sofia, surprised by Josh's tone, looked over at him, asking, "What's wrong?"Josh glanced at Sofia as he asked. "What are those guys from another college doing here?" He darted his gaze back to Brian and his classmates,as he continued to ask, “Isn't this your college’s prom?’ Sofia shrugged her shoulders. "Oh, well, the two colleges decided to host the event together," she explained casually.A heavy sigh escaped Josh's lips, his mood plummeting further with the unwelcome sight of his college mates. He knew them too well, so he could already anticipate their attempts to turn his night into a living nightmare. As he and Sofia entered, a wave of attention swept through the room. His outfit, impeccably tailored and outshining a lot of the other students, inevitably drew him into the spotlight. He looked captivatingly handsome tonight, attracting nearly half the room's gaze, his presence shared with Sofia like a spotlight illuminating them both.As soon as the people who came from the
As Brian and his minions' mocking laughter echoed through his ears and the hall, Josh felt a familiar surge of anger build up within him. This wasn't the first time Brian had humiliated him, the previous year something like this had happened, and every time he remembered it, it felt like a fresh wound. The only difference between now and back then, was that he didn't have the strength to defend himself back then, but now things were different. Lately, Josh had started to have confidence in himself, unlike when he was broke.His anger continuing to rise, Josh subconsciously clenched his fists, his jaw tightening with each new insult that Brian and his friends said. It was really irksome having people whose only goal was to make his college life as hard as it can be, and Josh had endured that for many years, but now it was time to put an end to it.Noticing Josh's clenched fists as if he was ready to fight him, Brian smirked as he stopped closer to him. “Oooh, look at that, it seems li
“And when you find him? What happens then?” He asked.Josh watched his grandfather closely, waiting for his answer. Whatever Mr. Ramirez chose to do with Reaper would say a lot about the kind of man he truly was.It was safe to say Josh didn’t know his grandfather that well. He had power, control, and influence, but what kind of person was he underneath it all?“He’ll face justice. What do you think?” Mr Ramirez said. “We’ll hand him over to the authorities.”Josh hadn’t expected to hear that.If this had been Giovanni, Reaper wouldn’t have made it past sunrise. No trial. No mercy. Josh still remembered how effortlessly his other grandfather had executed those two men for betraying him, no hesitation in his actions.This was the difference between Mr. Ramirez and Giovanni. One believed in fairness, the other in ruthless control.Josh was happy to see that his grandfather from his mom's side was a different person from Giovanni.Just then, Catalina walked in, her sharp gaze immediately
Josh ignored Catalina. But he also didn’t bother trying to go with them to see Matteo. Mr. Ramirez shot Catalina a cold look in disapproval. “If it weren’t for Josh, Matteo wouldn’t have made it here in time.” He scolded.Catalina said nothing, but she had a slight look of realization across her face. No matter how she felt about Josh, it was thanks to him and the other two people that Matteo was here at the hospital in time.She, Dean, Marco, and Isabella went inside the ICU where Matteo was.Josh stayed back, leaning against the wall. He didn’t show it, but the rejection bothered him.When Marco and Isabella made it clear they didn’t accept him, it bothered him, but not that much. Catalina, though… She was his deceased mother’s sister. He expected her to treat him with at least some kindness. Guess he was wrong for thinking that.Josh exhaled slowly, pushing the thought aside. He wasn’t about to beg for acceptance. If they didn’t want him around, fine.Without another word, he tur
Mr. Ramirez’s gaze remained cold as he looked at Dante. “Where is this… Reaper?” he asked Dante hesitated, shaking his head in denial. “I… I don’t know, sir.”Mr. Ramirez studied him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Before he could say anything else, the waiting room doors burst open.Mateo’s parents, Catalina and Dean, rushed inside, their faces filled with worry. Marco followed closely behind them, equally as worried.“Dad, how is my son? Where is Mateo?” Catalina asked, her voice shaking.Josh tensed as he watched them. It was the first time he had ever seen Mateo’s parents in person. Since Matteo was his cousin, then the woman must be his mom's sister, his aunt. Josh also noticed a resemblance between her and him, it was subtle but still noticeable. Mr. Ramirez turned to them. “I have spoken to the doctor. He is stable… we’ll be able to see him soon.”A shaky breath of relief escaped Dean's mouth. “Thank God.”Catalina clutched her husband’s arm, but the worry in
Reaper stepped back, yanking the knife free from Mateo's side.Mateo staggered backward, his hand instinctively flying to his side, pressing against the wound. He felt weak, struggling to stay on his feet.Warm blood seeped between his fingers. His breath came out in uneven gasps, his body refusing to keep up with what had just happened. He did not think Reaper would pull a knife and take this too far.Josh was in shock for 5 full seconds,but as soon as he was back to his senses he called out, “Mateo!” He lunged forward, catching his cousin before he could collapse completely.The garage fell into stunned silence. Even The Ghosts looked momentarily unsure, shifting uncomfortably as if they hadn't expected Reaper to take it this far.Leo swore under his breath and rushed to Mateo’s side. “Shit. Quick, we need to get him out of here. Now.”Dante, who had been frozen in shock, suddenly snapped back to reality. He turned to Reaper, his expression unreadable. “What the fuck did you just do
Mateo exhaled loudly, his irritation evident. “I can’t believe Dante invited those guys,” he muttered, shaking his head.Just then, as if summoned by the complaint, a man around Mateo’s age approached them. “What’s up, fellas?” he greeted cheerfully, completely ignorant to Mateo’s scowl.Mateo frowned as he glared at him. “Dante, what the fuck! You invited that guy here?” He asked angrily, but in a hushed tone. Dante frowned. “What are you talking about?” Mateo gestured toward the Ghosts with a glare. “Why the hell are they here?”“Oh, you mean Reaper and his friends?” Dante rubbed the back of his neck, realizing what he had done by inviting Reaper here. He didn't think Mateo would be here when he invited Reaper. But now, he realized that he shouldn't have, not only was Mateo probably feeling betrayed by him, but the whole party was nervous and they were right to be so. “Yeah… I told them to stop by.” Dante replied.“Why?”Dante sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Look, it’
Four people walked through the door, and strolled in like they owned the place.Josh didn’t recognize them, but the party’s reaction told him everything he needed to know. These guys weren’t just regular party guests.He overheard snippets of whispers around him. Everyone was surprisingly talking about how much trouble these guys were. That they shouldn't be here.“Shit, what are they doing here?” Someone asked irritably.“Who the hell invited the ghosts here?”“This is about to get messy…”As Josh listened more he caught the name. The four guys who walked in were members of The Ghosts, a gang known for their ruthless reputation and the fear they left in their wake.They weren’t just infamous, they were the kind of people no one wanted to cross. Wherever they showed up, trouble followed, and from the way the entire party fell silent, it was clear everyone knew it.The group walked in confidently, completely unfazed by the attention they were getting. One of them, a tall guy, known as
Josh's eyes widened slightly at Mae's question. What made her think she was a De La Cruz? Well, the De La Cruz family was one of the college's sponsors, so it wasn’t surprising that some people might assume things.Plus, Mae didn't assume anything wrong. Still, no one was supposed to know he was a De La Cruz, yet.Just as Josh was about to answer Mae’s question, the professor’s voice sounded in their ears."New girl, Mr. Josh, if you're done with your little conversation, perhaps you’d like to pay attention to the lesson?" The professor sad sternly.Josh immediately turned back to face the front, straightening in his seat. Mae also did the same, however there was an amused glint in her eyes.Josh exhaled quietly. He was glad that the professor had intervened because that was close. He wasn’t sure how much Mae actually knew about him, but for now, the topic had been dropped, at least for the moment.After classes ended, Josh left campus and arrived home in the evening. The moment he s
“Uh... umm...” The student stammered, his earlier confidence disappearing. Josh’s calm yet commanding demeanor, his unblinking gaze, and the way he stood there , blocking his exit, made it clear this wasn’t the same Josh they were used to seeing. He was scary.Kathy scoffed, leaning forward with a look of smug amusement. "Oh? Or what?" she challenged, her voice still filled with mockery. "What’s your next move if he doesn’t pick it up?”Josh’s eyes shot to her briefly before he replied simply, “You’ll see.”“Is that a threat?”At that immediate moment, right behind Josh, the principal entered as well. His expression remained unreadable as he scanned the room before his gaze landed on Kathy."Kathy.” He called out to her, and without any hesitation he said, “You're expelled from this university.”Kathy felt the blood drain from her face upon hearing the principal's words. “Excuse me?” Her voice broke as the words sank in. She blinked rapidly, sure she must have misheard him. Expelled?
A murmur of confusion filled the lecture hall upon hearing Josh's bold words. A few students exchanged uncertain glances. It was hard to tell if he was simply putting on an act to show off to Mae, or if he was being serious. They were certain at first that he was putting on an act, however now they weren't any more. No one would be this confident when their future was on the line, especially someone like Josh, who supposedly had everything to lose.“What does that mean?” someone whispered.“Is he still pretending?” another scoffed, though there was a slight hesitation in their voice now. The initial impression that Josh was acting had started to crack, and the possibility that he might actually be serious lingered.Kathy, too, hesitated for a brief moment, her smirk wavering slightly as she considered the possibility that Josh might actually be serious.But she caught herself quickly, rolling her eyes. “Please,” she scoffed. “You’re just embarrassing yourself at this point.”Just t