Semua Bab Arrange Marriage [ Craving ]: Bab 71 - Bab 80

•Sofia•The kitchen was filled with the warm aroma of sizzling vegetables and the gentle clinking of pots and pans as Greta and I worked side by side, finishing up preparing dinner. I chopped fresh herbs with precision, and Greta stood at the stove, stirring a bubbling sweet sauce.As we worked, I felt Greta's gaze drift away from the stove, lost in thought. "You know, Alma was always the good one," she said, her words laced with a mix of nostalgia and sorrow.My hands paused, sensing the shift in Greta's tone. I turned to face her, offering a compassionate gaze.Greta continued, her words spilling out like a gentle stream. "She always listened to Mom and Dad, never got into trouble... She was like the perfect child." A faint smile played on her lips, but it was tinged with sadness. "Makes perfect sense she was Dad's favourite, and he's doing everything in his power to avenge her."My expression mirrored empathy, and my eyes filled with understanding. I set down the herbs with a soft

My stomach dropped. I'd known she was under some kind of scrutiny and an arrest was impeding, but hearing her say it aloud brought a cold, harsh reality to the situation. Part of me had hoped this was only a part of my father's scheme to show her the power he held over everyone, but it seemed he was taking things too far."Arrested?" I repeated, the word heavy on my tongue. "Have they found definitive evidence that could grant an arrest warrant?"Olivia's gaze dropped. "It's complicated. There are more charges of embezzlement and conspiracy on top of the ones related to Ava's condition... None of it is true, at least not the way they're framing it, but I don't have time to explain. All I need you to know right now is that they're coming for me, Dominic, and I need someone from the outside helping me. Someone I know I can trust entirely.""Certainly. You can trust me, Olivia, and you know it. Tell me what you need me to do."She sighed deeply, casting her eyes forward. "There are high

"Please!" I begged, my voice rising, my breath coming in shallow, panicked gasps. "Just tell me where she is! My sister could be hurt, or alone, or worse, and I—I don't know if I can—"Just then, my mother's voice cut through the haze, sharp and unmistakably furious. "What's going on here?"I whirled around to see her standing in the hallway, her eyes dark with anger. She looked from me to the nurse, her brows knitting together as she took in the scene."Mom," I said, my voice filled with accusation. "How could you do this? How could you take Ava without telling me? You promised!"She stared at me, her mouth falling open in genuine shock. "What are you talking about? I didn't transfer Ava. I thought you would be here with her right now. They wouldn't let me see Natalie either. Was that your doing, Sofia?"The anger I'd felt toward her fizzled, quickly replaced by cold, numbing confusion. I blinked, trying to make sense of her words. "Wait—you didn't—?""No," she said firmly, her face

•Dominic•Teodoro stood in the middle of the destruction he'd created, his frame imposing despite his slight sway from too much whiskey.The rage in his eyes was tempered only by the faintest glimmer of despair, the cracks of a man who had lost too much but refused to accept responsibility for any of it."Where are they, Dominic?" he demanded again, his voice slurred but no less venomous. "Where is my family? Where is my wife? My children? You think you can take them from me?"I stood a few feet away, the tension in the room so thick it was hard to breathe. I felt Sofia's lingering gaze from the stairway behind me, her worry anchoring me, but I didn't dare turn around.If she came down, she'd be walking straight into his line of fire, and things would definitely escalate and blow out of proportion. I knew I wouldn't be able to control myself if he tried to harm her in any way."They're not yours anymore," I said, my voice calm but firm, though my stomach churned. "They're not possessi

But the murmurs weren't just for Ava. Greta's sleeveless gown, a stunning midnight-blue piece that swept elegantly to the floor, bared the scars etched across her arms and upper back. The jagged lines, a brutal history written in her skin, caught the light as she moved.It was brave. It was beautiful, and it was impossible to ignore.The weight of the crowd's stares hit me like a wave. I didn't hesitate. "Stay with Ava," I murmured to Sofia, before striding through the sea of whispers and glances toward them.Greta noticed me first. Her lips quirked in a soft, knowing smile, but before she could say anything, my hands were on her shoulders. I leaned in close, shielding her as best I could from the sea of prying eyes.The instinct to protect her was immediate, visceral, and unrelenting. My hands moved to remove my jacket, ready to drape it over her, but she stopped me."It's okay," she said softly, placing her hand on mine. Her voice was steady, but her eyes shimmered with unshed tears