Arya woke up with her a banging head ache. There was a bright light above her head and it reflected in her eyes. “Ouch”, she said and tried to sit up but she couldn’t. Her hands and legs were tied to whatever she was lying on. Soon, her memory came rushing back. FLASHBACK “Ladies….. In a hurry, are we?”, the familiar voice asked. “Come close to us and I’d claw your eyes out”, Bianca replied. Arya was still in shock and she felt a sharp pain in her chest. Russo brought out a gun. “Walk back in”. “Oh, fancy pants. Who needs a gun to capture two helpless women?”, Bianca said. “Not today, lawyer. Don’t try to outsmart me”. Bianca pinched Arya’s shoulder which jotted her back to reality. “Walk back in, ladies. While I’m still trying to be nice”, Russo warned. “You might as well take us fighting. We have nothing to loose”, Arya said. “I love you, Arya. Don’t try to force me to hit you”, Russo said. “And this is your version of love?”. “How is it any di
Arya swallowed as Russo stared her down with the blade to her throat. She tried to distract him. “You will fail. You will never have me”. "But I will. And I do. In a couple of seconds, you’ll be free of these monsters that the devil you call your husband has planted in you." “Big talk for someone who’s trying to kill innocent babies. You are worse than the devil”. He smiled. “You seem to have a taste in men”, he trailed the tip of the knife on her cheek. “I didn’t even choose you. You forced yourself into my life.” “Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?”. “No. I’ve never had the urge to kill anyone in my life, but you. I’ll personally take care of your murder”, she spat in his face. She watched as his eyes fell on the blade and his expression changed. He must have seen Bianca. Just as Bianca was about to run the knife through him, he turned and she stabbed his arm instead. “You fucking bitch”, he screamed, veins popping on his forehead and neck. His face was contorted w
Leonardo stared at the woman on the couch. His woman. Russo and Fin were tied up and under watch but he resisted the urge to kill them both. He knocked them out, though. But that was him doing nothing. Bianca wasn’t hurt, not physically at least. He had managed to shoot Russo’s hand that was holding the gun just in time. One second late, his sister would have been history. Although Russo missed his shot, the bullet hit the wall so close to her and Arya might have assumed she was hit. Bianca was currently unconscious in one of the rooms upstairs. His men had their eyes on her. “Don, Lucy is here”, Rob said. Soon, the doctor and her teams rushed in with their equipments. “Good morning, Don. I had to bring half the hospital supplies in case it is a serious case”, Doctor Lucy said as her staff put the equipments to use. Doctor Lucy had come a fetal doppler as well to check the babies heart rate. Leonardo grudgingly left his wife side and the medical team got to wo
….. Leonardo felt the earth shake beneath him. Whatever happened, Arya must not die. “Go on”, he said. Doctor Lucy hesitated. “I…I don’t…”. “Go on, Doctor”, he said in a surprisingly calm tone. “It is not a cervical issue. Her case is very complicated and luckily, we brought the necessary equipments”. “Lucy, go straight to the point”, he was loosing his darn patience. “It’s a placenta abruption case. The placenta has detached from the uterine walls. This situation is both harmful for mother and children. She’s bleeding profusely and the babies can’t get oxygen”, she said. Leonardo was too stunned to speak. “How could this have happened?”, he had a hard time processing the news. “Shock must have caused it. I’m sorry, Don. We have to carry out a caesarean section on your wife. Otherwise, she won’t survive. Neither will the babies”, she said. “What the fuck do you mean caesarean section. It’s very risky”. “I’m sorry, Don. It’s the only way”, she said. “H
Leonardo stared at the woman on the surgical table in horror and fear? No, that was not possible. He had no fear. He was the Don. She was lying unconscious with an incision in her abdomen. He resisted the urge to push everyone out so he could hold her and keep her safe in his arms. His chest tightened and so did his fist. “Incision in the uterus”, he heard the doctor say. They already made the first incision and was going for the second. There was only too much he could take but he felt that if he took his eyes off her, she’d disappear. Tension was evident in the room as everyone held their breath. Leonardo’s heartbeat was the loudest sound he could hear, like a drum in a silent forest. He already had anxiety about the whole child birth situation but this only made it worse. The second incision was finished and he watched as they tried to bring the babies out. The nurse pushed on her abdomen lightly and he winced. It was traumatizing. There was no way he
The phone rang out but no answer. “There is only so much I can take in a day”, Carls ended the call in frustration. “Chill out. What is the problem now?”, Maria asked. There was a white powdery substance on her nose. “Don’t tell me to chill out, junkie. Our guy is not picking up. The Don must have caught him spying”, Carls said fearfully. “You call me a junkie and yet, you like my ideas”, Maria laughed. “You are a drug addict, no doubt. But you’re a much bigger psychopath. That is what I need you for”, he said. “I could say same for you”, she laughed and continued “The show must go on, regardless of who falls on the way to victory.” He felt attacked. “I won’t let you fall”, he said. Maria bursted into a fit of laughter and he stared at her in shock. “Do you think I am that stupid? I know you would drop me the very first chance you get as long as I’m no longer useful. I can’t blame you for that, Carls. Arya is having my Leonardo’s baby and it’s obvious he has gone
Rico watched the cabin from afar. He saw the guards protecting the cabin and he wondered where their spy could be. He decided to call Greg but he didn’t pick up. He wondered if the Don had caught him lurking around. His phone rang and he picked up. “What’s the update?”, Carls voice boomed from the other end of the call. “I just got here and I can’t find Greg”, Rico said. “Then get to work. We don’t need Greg”, Carls retorted. “Yes, boss.” “Good. I errr, I might be busy with stuffs but don’t hesitate to call me. I got a text from Greg a while ago. I tried calling back but he is not picking up”, Carls said. “Same here. I will give you updates, boss”, Rico said and Carls ended the call. Just as he tried to survey his surroundings, he heard a twig breaking not so far from him. He pulled out his gun. “Who’s there?”, he asked but there was no response. Just as he moved from the spot, he saw Greg standing at a distance. “Psst”, he said as he walked closer to Greg.
Arya! No. It could not be. Even though he believed it, his heart dropped to his stomach. He only just got her back. In his arms, his sister shook. It was obvious they both had same thoughts and fear. “Never mind, Don. One of the prisoners tried to escape”, a soldier said. His racing heart slowed down. “What is the problem?”, he asked. “It’s the Greg guy. Should we get rid of him now?”. He shook his head. He intended to get as much information as he could from them. Bianca sighed in relief. “Don’t worry too much. You know your health is still fragile”, he said and frowned in concern. “Like you were not worrying yourself. She’s just as important to me, you know. And so are the babies”, she retorted, trying to hide her tears. He held back his response so as to not hurt her feelings. “You do not have to worry anymore. They are alright now.” “For how long? How long before someone strikes again? I love Arya but she has changed you. I admire it too but these are dange
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