Sofia.I could feel the boys turning white as the look of absolute rage took over his wrinkly face. The way that he clenched his jaw and squinted his eyes made me slightly cower into my seat, the look in his eyes almost looked like...his...Like.. Adrian's and I gulp, wishing that I haven't talked back as the old bastard yelled causing me to flinch back."WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU JUST SAY TO ME?!"Luca jumped out of his seat gripping the old hag by the shoulders as he hurried over to my side, in an attempt to attack me. And during the chaos of his rage fit, we don't hear the front door unlocking. "Let me teach her a fucking lesson! The whore!" He flailed his arms around wanting to get out of the strong grip that my brother has on him.Mama hurried to interrupt his hatefulness filled words but failed to make him stop. "Father, don't -""Shut up! You're the one that caused this in the first place. You wouldn't listen to me! And look what it got you. A whore of a daughter, marrying three men
Six years later..Sofia."Momma! Miss Ania gave me this! It's so fluffy!" Throwing his hands up, I break a smile at the sight of his big blue eyes gleaming as he shook a new stuffed toy. It was his birthday today and his friends and his preschool teacher wanted to throw him a little party at the park. It was a win win situation, whereas the kids got out of class to play and have some fun and I had my little boy distracted while I planned his party at home and I thankfully managed to finish everything up in time to pick him up."Look, look, loooook! Lydie gave me this," he blushed at the mention of the cute red head. She was Layla's daughter and Camille's four year old niece."Wow, those are amazing," I gushed matching his enthusiasm, "You know, you can open the rest of them at home. I'll help you. Now, stay with your friends while I go say hi to your teacher, okay?" I kissed his temple, brushing away his dirty blond curls "Okay!" He agreed, jumping up as skidded over to his classmat
Sofia.-Hope that this would give you the justice that you deserve, too.A.H-Ripping the yellow envelope, I pulled a flashdrive, a stack of pictures and a note. I read the messy cursive writing on the folded piece of paper a second time. Unsure of what to feel..I was... relieved but confused. I obviously still didn't know who the stranger was nor did I know how he knew anything this personal about me.However, it didn't matter, now.All what mattered was the slight feel of satisfaction that coursed through my heart. I would be lying if I said that I wasn't a little happy that they got what they deserved. Honestly, It was long overdue. Revenge felt good. Not great.And it had me questioning everything. The thought itself of Adrian's death, his dark eyes staring into nothingness as his equally dark, sick and twisted soul left his body was... satisfactory but it was still missing something.Closure was something that people took for granted, thinking that that they can just move on
Sofia.Flashback..."Here!" A hand grasped onto a lilly, holding it to my face, blocking my vision of the sweet brown haired boy as he looked at my reaction. "This is for you, Sof!"Awestruck, I blushed, shakily grabbing the beautiful flower. Giving him a blinding smile, my eyes glistened in the warm sun energizing my gloomy self. "It's so pretty. Thanks!""It's no biggie," his lips stretched into a full blown grin, giggling as I caught his warm eyes. I felt myself turn beet red, fidgeting with my hands as he uttered, shyly. "Pretty people deserve getting pretty things!""Y-you think.. that I'm p-pretty?" I stuttered, rocking on my heels, back and forth. Not used to the adorable and effortless way he complimented me in. And in the state that I was in, I couldn't believe that he really thought that I was anything close to being... pretty.The word seemed so foreign.Because I was no match to the flower he had compared me with."Mhm, really cute too.""T-thanks," I stammered, turning my
Sofia.Accepting the call, I held my breath, not wishing to let it go as if it was my last. Waiting for him to commence and say something... anything. But only silence greeted me. Not a single word from his side, only shallow breathing and prolonged sighs.As if he was preparing himself.I was too, in a way."Do you know how many times I have waited for you to s-show up?" I willed myself to whisper, clutching my phone tighter. Emotions hogging my airway. "You promised me, you know. I thought that you-" I heaved a harsh breath, plopping to the cold marble floor."Bella.... Please," he started, "Listen to me for a second.""No, you listen to me, Sir." I whisper- shouted through with this hide and seek game that he was pulling me into. "You can't just disappear for years on end and then fucking show up. And you absolutely, cannot and will not ever approach my son or I swear to whatever that is holy..."I let my threat hang in the air as I brush my hair back. The simmering anger I felt ju
Sofia.My eyes began to water. My mouth felt too dry and my throat felt parched but not from emotion. But because of who was sitting right in front of me. Being him. Fucking Arsen.There was one great thing about me that I took pride in. My ability to remember every single person that I meet's name. Be it days, months or years, I always remember. It was a talent at this point. For me to not forget this man from six years ago.The same idiot that tried to slyly swerve his way into my life.Clenching my jaw, I plastered a smile on my face as I faced him, grinning at me without a care taking sips of his latte. "What the fuck is this?" I almost growled. "Couldn't bother telling me that I actually know you?""Oh, do you, now?" He looked smug.I rolled my eyes and asked. Genuinely curious. Slightly vindictive. Overly caffeinated. "What's your endgame?" I felt my fingers twitch as looked at me like a curious puppy. "What do you mean?" His confusion made it even worse for me to keep my comp
Sofia The coffee shop buzzed with faint chatter, the clinking of cups and soft murmurs weaving a comforting symphony around the chaos brewing in my chest. It was an ordinary day for everyone else. For me, it was the unraveling of truths that left my soul raw. Arsen’s words hung heavy in the air, a weight I wasn’t sure I could carry. He told me everything. Even the things I didn’t want to know. “You didn’t have a goddamn clue,” he said, his smirk sharp as a blade. “I controlled everything that had to do with you, Bella. I’ve had your back when you needed me most, and you thought I didn’t care, didn’t you?” I opened my mouth to respond, but he cut me off, again. His dark eyes gleamed with satisfaction, reveling in his power over the moment. “Funny? I highly disagree with that, Bella Mia.” “Would you stop cutting me off!” My voice rose sharply, loud enough to turn a few heads. Heat flared in my cheeks, both from frustration and embarrassment. His laughter faded, but the smugness in
Sofia.I sat cross-legged on the soft carpet of the living room, Lorelai nestled between my legs. She giggled as I gently tied her tiny curls into uneven pigtails, her sweet voice bubbling with excitement. Jade, my six-year-old, lay sprawled beside us, humming a cheerful tune as he filled his princess coloring book with a kaleidoscope of colors that only made sense to him.For a brief moment, I felt grounded. This was my peace—the warmth of my children, their laughter filling the room, and the world outside fading into irrelevance.“Mama, do you think my dragon princess can breathe fire and sing?” Jade asked, holding up his masterpiece.I chuckled. “Of course she can, baby. She’s your creation, so she can do anything.”“Just like you, Mama,” he said, grinning. My heart melted at the simplicity of his love.Before I could respond, the tranquility was shattered by the unmistakable sound of heavy boots against marble. The sharp thud of the front door slamming shut sent a jolt through me,
Nikolai.The sun had just started its lazy climb when I stepped outside, coffee mugs in hand and sleep still clinging to the corners of my mind.The estate grounds were soaked in golden light, the grass jeweled with dew like nature had cried a little last night but decided to make the best of it this morning. A breeze swept through the lemon trees, carrying that light citrusy scent Sofia always said reminded her of summers in Italy. The air felt warm but not heavy, peaceful but not silent—alive in a way that made my ribs loosen.It smelled like hope.And after everything we’d survived—everything we were still clawing our way through—I wasn’t going to waste that. Peace like this was rare in our world. You had to hold it tight, two hands and all heart.Across the lawn, I spotted her first.Sofia sat on a picnic blanket under the olive tree—her olive tree, the one she’d stubbornly refused to let the gardeners trim because “It has character, shut up.” Lorelai was perched between her legs,
Sofia.The house was quiet again. Not the warm hush of family sleep like before—this was different. Tense. Coiled.I closed the door to the master bedroom behind me with shaking fingers. They weren’t here. I’d kissed them all goodnight. Told them I loved them. And then I’d said what none of us had ever dared to say aloud.“I want to be with him tonight too. I want Arsen.”There’d been silence. Tight jaws. Clenched fists. But they’d nodded , nevertheless. Not because they wanted to, but because they respected it. Me. Him.And now I was in the hallway, heart thudding like a warning bell.His door was open.The room was barely lit—moonlight spilling across the bed where he sat, shirtless, head bowed, tattoos twisting over his arms and shoulders like shadows, his scars full on display. He didn’t look up. “Are you going to come in,” he said, voice low, “Or are you just staying and leaving a second after?”My throat tightened. I walked in.He still didn’t move.“I'm sorry I couldn't stay wi
Sofia.The house had settled into sleep. Deep, contented sleep—the kind that comes after too much food, too much laughter, and just enough wine to make your muscles hum. I’d tucked Lorelai in with Aurelio, kissed her goodnight, and left them curled up like something sacred. It made my chest ache in the best way.But now…Now I was tiptoeing back into the room I shared with my husbands.The lights were low, golden and soft like candlelight, spilling across skin and sheets. Nadei was sprawled on the bed like he’d been sculpted there—shirtless, his long legs tangled in the duvet, green eyes glinting as he scrolled through his phone. Nikolai stood at the mirror adjusting his watch strap, because even undressing was apparently a production with him. Nial was at the foot of the bed, all quiet storm in his black tee and sweatpants, sipping his herbal tea from a mug like he wasn’t watching me like prey.My mouth went dry.“Hi,” I said, breath catching a little.Nadei grinned, stretching like
Author’s POV.The house had quieted down into that soft, post-dinner lull—where even the shadows on the walls seemed to breathe slower. Distant murmurs echoed from the living room, where the others were watching some awful old mafia film Luca claimed was “a classic.” Someone was already asleep on the couch. Probably Renzo. He always passed out after too much pasta like some kind of carb-loaded bear who was getting ready to hibrenate.Aurelio wasn’t with them.He was in the hallway upstairs, sitting at the edge of his old bedroom—the one he hadn’t dared sleep in yet. Too many pieces of him still scattered like glass inside it. Too many ghosts watching from the corners.He stared at the room like it might bite him.The bed was made. The same comforter. Same shelves. Someone had even fixed the frame of the photo he’d apparently shattered during one of his more violent post-surgery episodes. A picture of the five of them—Sofia in the middle, arms folded, eyes rolling. Him grinning with an
Author's POV. The dining room buzzed with the strange, delicate noise of almost normal. Silverware clinked. Someone—probably Valentino—had already cracked a joke that made Sofia roll her eyes but smile anyway. The scent of roasted garlic and marinara filled the air like nostalgia on steroids. Aurelio sat at the long table—not at the head, but somewhere in the middle—flanked by people who were supposed to be his family. Despite their warmth, their laughter, the endless attempts to make him feel at home, he still felt like the odd man out. But he noticed things. Like how Nial grumbled at his overcooked chicken while quietly passing napkins like he was trying not to breathe too loud. Arsen sat at the far end, balancing Alexei on his lap, slicing soft bread one-handed while talking to Sofia, who had Jade snuggled against her side. They were so, in their element. In their nature. Then— “Uncle Liooo!” A high-pitched squeal cut through the hum of conversation. A tiny bolt of cur
Aurelio.The toy soldier hadn’t moved.It still sat like a goddamn sentinel on my nightstand. Plastic. Ugly. Important.I don’t know why I hadn’t thrown it out the window.Maybe because it felt like it belonged more than I did.Jade had curled up next to me earlier, warm and trusting like he didn’t know I was broken. And even after he left the room—pulled away by his father—I could still feel the ghost of his tiny arms around my waist. And that? That shook something loose inside me more than any punch ever could.-Later in the day.I was in another room, arms up against Nial as we circled each other. We were sparring. That was their fucked up version of making me remember, it wasn't conventional. Wasn't something in one's right mind would do but I was willing to try as long as it meant they wouldnt look at me in that empathetic way they all did. I was going to try to find me.Whoever that was.“Stop thinking.”Nial’s voice snapped like a whip. Cruel and unforgiving.He was circling
Aurelio.The name was just a sound. Letters. Noise.But the weight behind it? That wasn’t noise.That was pressure. Gravity. Like I’d been dropped into a life that expected me to perform, to remember, to be this person they were mourning like he was already dead.Aurelio Verticolli.Everyone in this room knew who he was.Except me.And the worst part?I felt like I was disappointing them just by existing.Sofia hadn’t let go of my hand. Her grip was gentle, but I could feel the tension in her fingertips—like she was holding onto hope with every fiber of her being, and the second she let go, she’d fall apart.That made my chest ache.Even if I couldn’t remember her.I studied her profile—soft lines drawn tight with exhaustion. She looked like she hadn’t slept in days. Weeks, maybe. Her eyes were red-rimmed but fierce. Protective. She was a fighter. I didn’t need memories to know that.Sofia Verticolli. My sister.“Why are you all still here?” I asked suddenly, voice rough, a little cra
Aurelio.The man on the other side of the glass had a smirk that felt like it belonged to someone I should know. Someone important. Someone close.But I didn’t know him.I didn’t know myself.I clenched my jaw, something burning in my chest—frustration, maybe. Anger. A gnawing sense of wrongness that had been there since I woke up.The name they kept calling me—Aurelio Verticolli—felt like a suit that didn’t fit. Too tight in some places, too loose in others.I should recognize it. I should recognize them.But when I searched my mind, it was just… nothing. blank.Like looking into a fogged-up mirror and knowing there was a reflection behind it, but never being able to see it clearly.The man at the window tilted his head, still watching me like he was waiting for something.“You ready to remember who the fuck you are?”The words scraped against something raw inside me.Was I?I didn’t answer.He smirked again, but there was something sharper behind it. “Don’t worry. We’ll remind you.”
Sofia.The world blurred around me.The sound of my own breath—ragged, sharp—was the only thing keeping me tethered to reality as I clutched Lorelai in my arms.Aurelio is waking up.Vale’s words echoed in my skull, but my body had already moved before my mind could process them. I was rushing to get to the door.The air rushed past me as I made it to the front door, barefoot, heart hammering, pulse wild. Luca grabbed my arm before I could get into the car, his grip strong but careful. “Sofia, relax—”“I need to see him,” I snapped, shaking him off.“We’re coming with you,” Nikolai said from behind me.There was no room for argument. I didn’t care about security, the logistics, the doctors, or the tests.I just needed to see my brother._At the hospital.The room smelled sterile. Like antiseptic, bleach, and something too clean to be comforting. It made my senses twitch at the overly powerful smell.I stood in the doorway, my pulse thundering in my ears, my hands clenched into fists