"Fabian is up," the doctor announced, walking towards the Antonio family as they were all asleep, apart from Mikel, who was guarding the entrance of the door.Mikel would have summoned additional guards to secure the perimeter, but the fewer people who knew Fabian was in the hospital, the better.Sandra rubbed her eyes as she sat up on the chair she had slept on. "What time is it, and where is my son?""It's seven in the morning, and Mr. Fabian is still in the VIP ward," the doctor answered, but Sandra wasn't listening. She was checking her phone and realized they had not only fallen asleep but also overslept.She quickly sent a text to her assistant, 'Reschedule the meeting to the evening. I'm unavailable at the moment.'"Great, now let's go see him." Sandra gestured for everyone to stand, but just as they were about to move, the doctor stepped in, blocking their path.Sandra stared at the doctor as if he had lost his mind.What was he trying to do? Stop The Tigress from going to see
"Excuse me?" Fabian's eyes bulged out and his voice faltered."Oh, don't pretend. I may not have heard everything you said, but I am not stupid," Sandra retorted, steadying her gaze on her son."Please, Mrs. Antonio," Mikel began, trying to discourage Sandra from pushing the topic as he knew it wouldn't end well for anyone. "Fabian needs his rest—""Exactly, rest from what?" The older woman scoffed. "Your boss has refused to tell us why, how, and who stabbed him, knowing fully well that we are all worried sick.""I believe he has his reasons, Mrs. Antonio. Maybe you can have this conversation another time," Mikel pressed on."Get out of my sight, Mikel, before I lose my temper," the tigress scowled."Yes, ma." Mikel nodded and was about to leave the room when Fabian called him back."I have asked him to be here with me, Mother. He isn't going anywhere.""Then you have to choose; me or him?" She tilted her head slightly."Are you for real right now? I don't have the strength for this c
Loretta was still wallowing in her pain when the door to the basement was pushed open.Loretta shuddered as she feared her death was near. She began to regret not succeeding in her attempt to kill Fabian.The thought of how he had survived three stabs still messed with her head.She could remember Fabian catching up to her though he was injured; it was as if he didn't feel a single pain."Who's there?" She played strong, though she believed it was time for her death."It's me. I need you out of here this instant." Wilma ordered. "What?" Loretta was surprised. "Is he killing me himself, or is he getting someone to do it?"Wilma stared at Loretta as though she was going crazy. "Are you okay?""Am I okay? Does that question matter at this moment? I am about to be killed, and you're asking me if I'm okay? How can—""You're not dying, Loretta, at least not today, so come out of here before I change my mind."Loretta was surprised by what was happening. She couldn't believe she wasn't dyin
Loretta couldn't believe her ears. She stood frozen in place as she wondered how true Tasha's words were. Fabian breaking up with his girlfriend because of her wasn't a story anyone could buy. "I... I'm sure there's a misunderstanding... somewhere," Loretta stuttered. "That's your business. Meanwhile..." Tasha took a few steps forward, and Loretta swallowed. "Who attacked Fabian?"All color drained from Loretta's face, and her heart began to pound as Tasha asked that question. How could Loretta tell the blonde lady that she stabbed the mafia boss? Tasha wouldn't hesitate to kill her. "Mr. Fabian was attacked? How?" Loretta had to play dumb. Tasha chuckled a bit, "You might be able to fool Fabian, but I can see right through—"Tasha was interrupted by the sound of the door closing. "I'm done with you. We'll continue this conversation later," Tasha spat and left the room. Loretta sat on the bed and began to think about her actions. On the other hand, Tasha had gone down to narr
"Please, please, don't tell them, please," Loretta pleaded with Mikel, always coming down to tears as he caught her trying to climb up.Mikel stood for some minutes, weighing his loyalty before signaling her to go up.He didn’t do it because Loretta begged, but because, for some reason, his boss cared about her.Loretta didn’t hesitate for a second as she ran back to her room, turned off the lights, and jumped on her bed, covering herself with her blanket.Loretta didn’t want to die, and now she had eyes on her: Tasha, the tigress, and maybe Mikel.All she wanted to do was leave this place and escape with her father. Dying in there would break her father's heart, and she didn’t want that.But just as she heard some cars start and drive away, which she knew would be Fabian’s mom or Tasha’s, everywhere grew silent.She heaved a sigh of relief and adjusted herself on the bed, only to hear approaching footsteps toward her door."Please don't come here, please don't come here," she muttere
"What the—" Loretta sprang up from the bed and found Fabian sitting in front of her.She looked out the window and realized it was morning already.What was he doing in her room? How long had he been there? Did he plan to kill her in her sleep?"Good morning, Miss Cruz, is anything the matter?" Fabian greeted with a warm smile on his face.Loretta held her blanket tight, holding it so close to her like her life depended on it. She kept wondering how he was still smiling, knowing full well that she had stabbed him.But then again, why would he call her by her surname? He was up to something, but what?"W—What... are you do–doing here?" Loretta stuttered, her voice barely audible."I think you should be asking me how I spent my night, not why I'm here. Or did you expect me to die at the hospital?"'Hospital? He was at the hospital? Damn! This is bad, so, so bad,' Loretta cried in her head."I'm sorry." Loretta's voice broke."Why are you sorry?" Fabian ran his hands through his perfect
It's been more than a week, and Loretta had not stepped her feet out of the room.She was worried and was already feeling bored. The only events she engaged in were waking up, bathing, and then having breakfast, lunch, and dinner offered to her in her room.She couldn't help but wonder why Fabian had not come to check on her.Was he still angry about the stab? Tons of thoughts kept filling Loretta's head.She wasn't a little girl; she knew what it meant when a Mafia boss got a woman as his pet.Apart from the last time she met Fabian, that was his only attempt to kiss her, which he didn't succeed at.Wait a minute, why did she care about him and his touch? Was she missing him already?Missing the man who shot her father's leg and dropped her here? The man she tried to stab and escape from? Well, the situation was complicated.Loretta had considered leaving or escaping several times, but she remembered the Mafia boss's threat.First, she didn't know how he knew her plan as she never sa
"I'm sorry, what?" The brown-haired woman couldn't believe her ears...Go out with the most feared and respected mafia and billionaire? That was something way above her league.But why was he doing it? The reasons weren't clear to Loretta."I said that—""I'm sorry to interrupt, but what would you like to have?" The waiter with a strong Italian accent asked."Whatever she will have is fine by me," Fabian said with a smile on his face.Why the hell did he do that? Well, it seemed like Loretta wasn't in the mood for games, so she ordered, "I'll have a Bruschetta, just a small one, and a half portion of the Carbonara, okay? And a glass of Pinot Grigio, thanks."The waiter bowed and left."Didn't know you like things in halves?" Fabian asked, but his hands were drawing some circles on the back of Loretta's wrist, and it did something to her.She was uncomfortable, but she liked the discomfort. She wanted him to stop, and at the same time wanted him to continue.Snapping herself out of it,