Alysha leaned back in the chair, her vision blurring as tears spilled down her cheeks. The memory of Sisi’s sweet voice, her bright giggle, her innocent face as she called out “Mommy,” played over and over in her mind like a haunting melody. The ache in her chest grew sharper, deeper, with each thought. How was it possible that her own daughter could feel so close yet be so far out of reach?Her gaze fell on the newspaper lying open in front of her, Ivan’s face staring back with that intense, piercing expression. Ivan Anderson Suegra. The name, the face—both pulled at her, stirred something inside her that she couldn’t place. But there was something there, a connection she couldn’t deny. It felt too strong to ignore, yet it remained just out of reach, slipping through her grasp like sand.Who is he to me? she thought, frustration mingling with the grief. She hated the gap in her memory, hated the fog that kept her from understanding who this man was, why he seemed so familiar. And Sis
Days passed, each one filled with Alysha’s silent, stubborn resolve. She worked on the project, scribbling notes and running through data, all the while waiting, preparing. Seraphina and Neil were undoubtedly watching her every move, monitoring her progress. But she knew that any slip in her façade would mean fewer opportunities to see Sisi, fewer moments to try and reach her daughter. And so Alysha forced herself to go through the motions, pretending compliance, each day letting the Hollands believe she was slowly breaking under their control.Then, finally, Seraphina appeared at the villa again, her face expressionless. She opened the door to reveal Sisi standing by her side, her small face lighting up at the sight of her mother.“Mommy!” Sisi called out, running to her. Alysha’s heart melted as she crouched down, opening her arms and gathering Sisi close, savoring the warmth, the familiarity.But Seraphina’s cold, watchful eyes reminded her that this moment was a transaction, a too
The next day, Neil entered the villa, his presence casting a shadow over the room. Alysha immediately pulled Sisi closer, wrapping her arms around her daughter as if she could shield her from whatever Neil might try to do. Her heart pounded, each beat filled with defiance and fear.Neil paused, observing her fierce grip on Sisi, before taking a slow, deep breath. He stepped forward, his eyes narrowing with a cool determination.Alysha’s voice was steady but filled with quiet fury. "Neil… if you're here to take my daughter from me, then listen closely. I’ll ruin everything about this project. Every file, every formula. I’ll destroy every bit of work we’ve done."Neil’s jaw clenched, his gaze hardening. For a moment, they stood in tense silence, locked in a battle of wills."Why don’t you understand?" Alysha continued, her voice breaking slightly but holding strong. "She’s my daughter. The only person I have left in this world."Neil’s expression shifted, an unreadable look crossing his
In Armin’s personal Villa in Boston.Seraphine shifted and now sat on Armin's lap. Armin could not stop staring at her. Her unmistakable and intoxicating beauty held him captive. Her gray eyes sparkled and her red-brown hair fell down her shoulders.Armin's breath caught in his throat as he gazed up at her, taking in her full view. The way her lips curved into a knowing smile, and the way her physique matched his perfectly, made it impossible for me not to be drawn towards her. She leaned forward, her face close to his, and her warm breath touched his skin, making his pulse quicken.Without saying anything, Seraphina kissed him deeply and passionately. Their mouths moved together and her kiss was filled with hunger and desperation. Armin could taste her desire, her need for being the one and only in his life. She kissed him like she wanted to be in his heart forever.Seraphina's fingers were tangled in his hair as she kissed him harder, her body grinding gently against his, feeding th
In the grand hall of Rodriguez Manor, a storm of emotions hung thick in the air. Armin Rodriguez stood with his arm around Seraphina Holland, his eyes blazing with defiance. His father, Gabriel, and mother, Lilian, stood frozen in shock, their faces a mixture of disbelief and anger. Meanwhile, his younger brother, Bjorn, watched with a devilish grin, savoring the chaos as if it were his favorite show. In the corner, Alora, the adopted special child of the family, looked around with wide, confused eyes, struggling to grasp the gravity of the situation.Gabriel’s voice roared through the hall. "Armin! How dare you bring Seraphina here?"Armin’s gaze remained unwavering. "She belongs to me," he declared, his voice firm. "And I want her to become Mrs. Rodriguez."Lilian’s hand flew to her mouth as she hitched in horror, her eyes wide with disbelief. "But Armin," she whispered, her voice cracking, "you already have a wife. Alysha Jarl is your wife!"Armin’s lips curled into a cold smile. "
Seraphina’s voice quivered as she stepped forward, her eyes glossy with unshed tears. “Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez, I don’t know why you hate me so much!” she pleaded, her hands clasped together, trembling. “I have always loved Armin since I was a child. What is wrong with me?”Lilian’s face twisted in anger, her eyes sharp as daggers. “What’s wrong?” she hissed, her hands slamming down on the table, making the glassware shiver. “The hell wrong is your blood! You are nothing but a bastard!” Seraphina’s breath caught in her throat, and her eyes widened. Her lips parted, and for a second, the room fell into a thick silence. Her body went rigid, as if Lilian’s words had physically struck her, leaving her rooted to the spot.Armin’s face darkened, and he stepped between them, shielding Seraphina with his body. “Mom!” he barked, his voice echoing off the high walls. “In which era are you living? People don’t need to get married to have a child.”Lilian’s gaze burned like a lit flame, and she s
Alora rushed toward Lilian, her small frame trembling as she clung to her mother’s waist, her eyes wide with fear. She shook, her body shivering uncontrollably as she tried to speak, but her words stumbled out, tangled and broken. Her lips quivered, and her eyes welled with tears, her desperation evident.Lilian glanced down, her expression softening as she stroked Alora’s hair. “My dear child,” she cooed gently, her voice a whisper against the chaos. “Mommy will play with you later, okay? Look, I’m talking to your brother now.”But Alora shook her head frantically, her grip tightening. “Mom! Seraphina... killed... Seraphina...” she stammered, her voice rising in panic. Her face was flushed, her breath coming in short gasps as she struggled to form the words.Lilian’s eyes widened as she and Gabriel exchanged a look, confusion clouding their faces. Seraphina stiffened, her eyes narrowing as she watched Alora, a flicker of alarm passing over her face before she masked it with a cold sn
Bjorn leaned casually against the marble pillar, with his arms folded and a smirk on his lips. He glanced at the various characters in the unfolding drama, including his parents, his brother, Seraphina, and the trembling Alora. The tension was thick, the air electric, but to him, it was nothing but another act in the endless play that was the Rodriguez family.He observed Alora struggling to speak, her face contorted with fear and confusion, and a sluggish smile slipped across his face. She tried hard, but no one was listening. He looked at Seraphina, her expression cool and composed, her words silky as honey as she twisted the situation. It was amazing how easily she could lie.Bjorn was not blind to the details of what Alora was trying to say. He knew when something was wrong and Seraphina looked very scared for a short time, which showed him something important: she had secrets. Big ones. He enjoyed uncovering those secrets more than watching his family fall apart.The smile of Bjo