Arya woke up to the smell of pancakes and bacon. She salivated even before opening her eyes. “Good morning, princess”, Leonardo said as he sat next to her. There was a breakfast stool on the bed packed with pancakes, bacon, eggs and toast. He didn’t forget to add her favourite smoothie. “Good morning, husband. All this for me?”, she asked with a smile. “Yes, wife. And there are many more to come”, he said. Arya’s mouth fell. “This is enough to feed us both and two other people”. “Yes, but you need to eat for two. I don’t want my daughter hungry and stressing her mum”, he said with a stern look. In that moment, Arya felt her heart clench. She definitely wasn’t eating all of that but she loved that he….wait a minute! “You said daughter, how did you know that?”, she asked. “I don’t know for sure. I am just manifesting it”, he responded. If the size of her breakfast shocked her, then Leonardo’s statement electrocuted her. “Manifesting? Really?”, she asked. He
Leonardo walked into the office to see Rob and his closest soldier leaders. “Good morning, Don”, they greeted He returned a gruff nod and sat while Rob increased the television volume. “…..where the Masimo mansion owned by the philanthropist, was brought down to nothing in flames”, the reporter said to the camera. A footage of the damage followed after and Leonardo smirked. Philanthropist my ass. The number of people killed by his drug testing alone was enough to populate a town. Rob turned down the volume. “Another day to acknowledge the fact that you’ll always be undefeated. I was a bit skeptical when you told us not to strike back in kind”, Rob said. Of course. Why strike when you could pit the two stronger siblings against each other? A knock was heard on the door and one of the soldiers opened it. A skinny looking man walked in, holding a platter. The placed it on the table and opened it. Nadia and her twin’s head, which was already bruised an
Maria stared at her phone for a long minute before picking it up. “So, what have you decided?”. She hissed at the text message. She normally went solo but she screwed up and they were angry. You messed up, again. The sentence rang in her head. FLASHBACK Maria looked at her watch. 3:58am. “Where could this fucker be?”, she asked herself. She stood outside the hotel building hoping he or she would step out. She wasn’t given a room number after all. 3:59am. She hesitated. “Should I step in or wait here?”, she sighed and rubbed her eyes. She couldn’t text the sender back because it was from an anonymous source with a “no reply” setting. “Miss, this way”, she heard a voice from behind. She jumped and turned around. A tall man with a scarred face was in her view. “You scared the shit out of me”, she cursed. Her eyes flew to her wrist. 4:00am. The fucker was right on time. “My boss is ready to see you now”, the man ignored her words. “You
Arya put on her sunglasses and walked behind Leonardo as they stepped out of their bedroom. She was almost three months gone and a vacation was a great idea to not only get break, but also to hide the pregnancy a little bit longer. “You’re walking too fast for me”, she said, half running and half walking behind him. “I do forget you’re just a girl”, Leonardo said and slowed down his pace. “Yes, I’m just a girl who would die from running after her husband”. “A short girl”, he added. She furrowed her brows. “I’m not short. You’re just too tall. Who knows, you could be an alien”, she retorted. “It’s okay, shortie”, he teased her further. When he saw she was no longer responding, he picked her up. “Hey, put me down”, she said. “Nope”, he said and carried her down the stairs. Even though Arya was mad, she was glad he carried her down the stairs. She was barely pregnant but couldn’t function properly without him. Bianca and Rob stood outside
“I don’t think we should be doing this”, Arya said breathlessly. Leonardo smirked and dropped his hands. “You’re right, princess. I’d prefer to take my time in exploring every inch and every curve of your exquisite body”, he said, drawing out his words. Arya’s legs instinctively clamped shut but she laughed lightly. “It’s okay, Shakespeare”. She hit the partition button and faced the fighting children. “Welcome, remind me to get the car wash thoroughly”, Bianca said. Arya slapped her forehead. “Want to push that button again, amoree?”, Leonardo taunted in her ears. She rolled her eyes at him and turned to Bianca. “Relax, we were just talking”. “She never said you weren’t just talking”, Rob answered. Arya face fell. “Oh, you guys are now friendly with each other just to mock me”. “We are not friends, he sometimes uses his brain. Although, those times are extremely rare”, Bianca said. “Not as rare as you being nice or approachable”, Rob threw back. “Why w
Arya must have slept for a long time because when her eyes opened, she was in her husband’s arms as he carried her in bridal style to the car. “Hey, sleepy head. Are you feeling okay?”, Leonardo asked. She yawned and blinked a couple of times. “Yeah, we are already here. Where are we exactly?”, she asked. “France”, he drawled casually. Arya’s attention was all focused on him now. France was an exquisite choice for a relaxing and romantic getaway. Renowned for its unparalleled romance, France offers stunning landscapes, world-class cuisine and a rich cultural heritage. They could explore the charming streets of Paris, enjoy serene moments in the Loire Valley's chateaux or indulge in the luxurious tranquility of the French Riviera. Its beauty, history, and gastronomy makes it a perfect place for a couple seeking romance and relaxation. “I have always wanted to come to France. I hear it’s very romantic”, she said. As they got to the car, a security guard held the door
WARNING: THIS EPISODE CONTAINS SEXUAL CONTENT AND MAY BE TOO SENSITIVE FOR SOME READERS. SONG RECOMMENDATIONS: PONY BY GINUWINE AND CONTROL BY SABRINA CLAUDIO Leonardo’s eyes moved up and down her figure before he swallowed. “You don’t make anything easy, do you?”, he asked. She smiled coyly before walking sexily to the walk-in closet. Leonardo decided against following her for her own sake and stood by the bed, waiting for her to dress up in private. To his utmost surprise, (and pleasure), she walked out naked, again. “You know what, I’ll just stay naked for the rest of the evening”, she said. He pulled his eyes back to her face with so much self control. “Princess, it’s thirty past seven, you might catch a cold”. “Relax, it’s July and it’s summer. I can’t catch a cold”, she said and winked at him. “Do you really have to make this hard?”, he asked. “I see it’s not the only thing I’m making hard”, she said, her eyes on the bulge of his pant
Arya felt a thousand times lighter after their passionate sex session. She was currently seated at the dining table with Leonardo, staring at her appetizer. It was French onion soup, which is a rich onion soup with a toasted bread and melted cheese on top. It looked too delicious to eat. “I hope you like it, chèrie”, Colette, the housekeeper of the beach house said. Normally, Leonardo would love to be alone with his wife but, she was pregnant and Colette could fill the role of a midwife, as she is originally a mid wife, housekeeper and cook. Colette was initially hired for her midwife duties but she took one look at Arya and decided to make their meals. “Colette, this looks too good to eat”, Arya cried. “But you have eat it all, ma chèrie. You need to eat well for the little one too”, Colette answered in her thick French accent. “And this is why I chose Colette. I can be sure you’d eating well if I ever have to step out alone”, Leonardo chirp
Isabel cradled the baby close, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten as the infant’s soft cries filled the room. Her daughter. She traced the baby’s tiny features with trembling fingers—her button nose, her soft cheeks, and the tiniest fingers she had ever seen. A fierce protectiveness gripped her heart, unlike anything she’d ever felt before. But the moment of tenderness was fleeting. The cold, harsh reality of her situation came crashing down on her. She had no home, no job, and no way to provide for herself, let alone a newborn. The room reeked of decay and dampness, its peeling walls and rat-infested corners a far cry from the safe haven a child deserved. The baby’s cries grew louder, piercing through Isabel’s haze of despair. “Shh, shh, I’m here,” she whispered, rocking her gently. But the cries didn’t stop, and Isabel realized with a sinking feeling that the baby was hungry. She looked around the room, her heart racing. There was no milk, no clean water—nothing. Panic cla
Arya gasped, her eyes wide with shock. “You got impregnated by your mother’s boyfriend?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Isabel nodded solemnly. “I did. I did all I could as a pregnant teenager with no home. I wish I’d known about the convent back then—it would have made my life so much easier. With little to no source of income or support, I was miserable and alone in the trenches of this town after I had to leave the old one. I won’t bore you with all the details. But when I was in labor, I had to make some difficult decisions.” FLASHBACK Isabel sat in the corner of her dimly lit room, chewing on the last bit of food she’d managed to scavenge. Her stomach cramped painfully, but she wasn’t sure if it was from hunger or something worse. It had been four days since her last meal, and her body was weak, her limbs trembling with every small movement. The cramps intensified, radiating through her body, and a wave of nausea swept over her. She pressed her hands again
“By the time I turned sixteen, much had changed in my life, though little for the better. I was the scorn of the town, whispers trailing me wherever I went. It wasn’t just the shame of my past that followed me like a shadow; it was the doors that slammed shut in my face, the jobs that paid me barely half of what they should, the side-eyes from those who thought they knew my story. And then there was Mama’s boyfriend, Stanley, who moved into our already-cramped home.” FLASHBACK Isabel stumbled into the house after a long, grueling day of work. The sun had long since set, and her body ached with exhaustion. She immediately headed to the kitchen, her stomach growling in protest, but her heart sank when she found the pans empty. She had prepared the food earlier that morning before leaving, but as usual, there was nothing left for her. Not a scrap. Her younger siblings, Amanda and Jacob, had already gone out for their own work, leaving the house silent save for the faint rustling
Arya burst into the room, emotions swirling in a storm of frustration. Leonardo, shirtless and in sweatpants, lay on the bed with his laptop, his brows furrowed in deep concentration. When he looked up and saw her, his expression immediately softened. “What’s wrong, babe?” he asked, concern evident in his voice. “Fuck! I’m so tired of all of this! When does it actually end?” Arya's voice was thick with anger and despair as she shouted, letting out everything she had bottled up inside. Leonardo remained quiet, letting her vent, and placed a gentle hand on her back for support, feeling the tension in her shoulders. “We can talk about it when you're ready,” he said quietly, his voice calm and steady. She took a shaky breath, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Isabel said she’s my grandmother,” she blurted out. He froze, stunned by her revelation. It explained so much—Isabel’s secretive behavior, her willingness to help them even at great personal risk. “How do you fe
Arya walked into the Mayor’s office, her mind still swirling with thoughts of her time at the convent, which had ended permanently. Henry had called her the day before, insisting that someone come to the Townhouse to collect a certificate for her volunteer service. She had kindly turned him down, but Henry was insistent, not taking no for an answer. Arya found herself wondering where this sudden niceness was coming from. She didn’t trust a single soul in this town, not even after everything she’d done to protect herself, including running a secret background check on Ricardo—though he would never find out about that. “Ah, Dona, welcome to my office,” the Mayor greeted, his voice oozing charm as his secretary led her into the room. Across from him sat Isabel and one of the council members, Frederick. Arya couldn’t bring herself to look at Isabel, her gaze fixed firmly on Henry instead. “Thank you for having me,” Arya said, offering a smile that barely touched her lips. Henr
She took a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. “It’s… it’s all too much, Leo. Everything. Isabel, the Sisterhood, my parents—I never even had the chance to mourn them, and now all of this…” He squeezed her hands, the warmth of his touch grounding her. “You don’t have to carry this alone. I know it feels like the world is crumbling, but we’ll get through it. We always do.” She gave a bitter laugh, wiping away a tear. “You warned me about this life. You told me it would be hard, that it would come with pain and danger. And I thought I was ready. But now…” He brushed a strand of hair from her face, his expression softening. “You are ready. You’re stronger than anyone I know. And you’re not alone.” She broke down into even harder sobs, and he just held her close, letting her cry against his chest. His arms were wrapped around her tightly, and he whispered soothing words, his touch gentle and comforting. As her body shook with grief, he fought the urge to share what had happe
By the time they finished work, dusk had settled over the city, casting long shadows across the streets. “I need to get back to the cabin,” Leonardo said, gathering his things. “My wife’s there, and we’ll wrap things up once we’re back.” He knew Arya had gone to the convent earlier to confront Isabel, and although his instincts told him she was safe, a faint sense of urgency nagged at him. Working here, dealing with everything else, had given her space, but he couldn’t help wanting to check in on her. Behind him, Ricardo and Rob were in yet another argument, voices rising and falling as they debated. Leonardo had long since learned to tune them out. Instead, he let his thoughts wander. Spending most of his childhood alone, with only the company of books he’d memorized cover to cover, he’d become accustomed to living inside his mind, finding peace there. But something shifted. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a flicker of movement, something or someone moving too delib
Leonardo walked into the room to find everyone already seated, waiting expectantly. He took his seat, and Rob slid a few files across the table. “These are all we could gather, boss. I double-checked—it’s everything they had,” Rob said, his tone firm. Leonardo picked up the files, scanning through them quickly. Setting them back down, he looked up, addressing the room. “Someone is playing a twisted game with my wife. She suspects it might be the Mother Superior, but I’m not convinced,” he began, his voice steely. Rob tensed beside him. Usually, they didn’t discuss these matters openly, especially with others around. But Rob must have trusted Leonardo’s judgment since he didn’t attempt to question it. “Of course, we don’t suspect any of you,” Leonardo added, glancing around the table. “We trust you all completely, especially after the support you’ve shown. And if we need further assistance, we’ll reach out.” He nodded at Ricardo, who took the cue. “You heard the Don. We
Arya could hardly believe Isabel’s audacity. Her voice trembled with anger as she glared at the Mother Superior. “Don’t sit there on your high horse, pretending you don’t know what I’m talking about.” Isabel sighed, placing her reading glasses delicately on the table. “I get that you’re the wife of a very powerful man, a Don, but Arya, I don’t need to hear about the issues in your marriage. I have done nothing wrong, and I genuinely have no idea what you’re accusing me of.” Arya recoiled, taken aback by the indifference in Isabel’s tone. “What? Why would you say that?” “Why shouldn’t I?” Isabel responded sharply, her expression unreadable. Arya narrowed her eyes, studying Isabel's face. “No. Why would you assume this was about my marriage, Isabel? What makes you think that’s what I came here for?” Isabel raised an eyebrow, her mouth curling in a faint, mocking smile. “Oh, it’s not? Then I’m truly sorry for the misunderstanding. But tell me, Arya—what exactly are you accusi