LOGIN(Author's POV) Tiziana knew exactly what it meant whenever Stefano spoke about Celeste like that. She had learned to recognize the flat tone in his voice whenever he mentioned her. It was the voice of a man who was still holding on to something he had never truly let go of. She said nothing. She simply turned her face toward the window and continued looking outside. At Vitale Group International, Vincenzo sat across from Arturo with a cup of coffee in his hand. He looked completely relaxed, as though he had nowhere else to be. Arturo leaned back in his chair. "You heard what happened last night." "The painting?" Vincenzo asked before taking a sip of his coffee. "Yes." "Dad isn't taking it well." "He shouldn't," Vincenzo replied calmly as he placed the cup on the table. "That child has never been taught proper boundaries. If nobody corrects her now, she'll only become more difficult as she grows older." Arturo looked at him carefully. "You're enjoying this." Vincenzo raised
(Author's POV) Lavinia sat down across from Luca. She had not slept properly for weeks. Every time a car slowed down outside the house, she thought the police had come for her. Every time her phone rang with an unknown number, her heart dropped. Celeste had not done anything yet, but the waiting itself had become a punishment. Every day she expected something to happen, and the fear was slowly wearing her down. Luca put his phone aside and looked at her. "I need to tell you something," he said calmly. Lavinia looked at him without saying a word. "What happened before, I'm not going to report it, and I'm not going to bring it up again. But you have to stop. Whatever you're planning, whatever you're thinking about doing to Celeste, it ends now." "Luca..." "I mean it." He looked straight into her eyes. "If you go after her again, I'll drop out of school." Lavinia jumped to her feet. "Don't you dare say that!" "You know I will." His voice stayed calm. "My future is the only th
(Author's POV) On the other side of the city, inside a large shopping mall, Vincenzo stood quietly in the corridor outside a bridal boutique. Celeste's clutch was tucked under one arm while he held his phone in the other hand. He was reading a message from Carlo, completely focused on the screen, when something small crashed into his leg. The impact was enough to send the little person stumbling backward onto the floor. Vincenzo lowered his eyes and saw a young girl sitting there, staring up at him. She had a high ponytail, a bright pink jacket, and the kind of expression that showed she couldn't decide whether she wanted to cry or be angry first. He recognized Bianca immediately. Not a single emotion showed on his face. He slipped his phone into his pocket, crouched down, and calmly helped her to her feet with one hand. Once she was standing again, he stepped back to leave a comfortable distance between them. Without saying a word, he took out his phone again and continued read
(Celeste's POV)I stayed quiet for a moment before speaking."That sounds like a lot for one week."Vincenzo stepped closer to me, his expression calm."He'll be fine," he said. "The whole point is to let him sit with the discomfort he has earned. For sixty years, he's believed he could judge a person's character the moment he met them. Now he's about to learn that he isn't always right."I didn't smile, but I felt myself relax a little."What if he never accepts me?" I asked quietly.Vincenzo gently kissed my forehead."He will," he said. "He always comes around when someone is worth keeping."I didn't answer, but I didn't move away either.For almost a year, I had lived with people who made me feel like I was only tolerated instead of truly wanted. The Wynne family had mastered that kind of quiet rejection. It was never open or obvious. It was hidden in small things. A glance over the edge of a teacup. A pause that lasted just a little too long. The way Adelina would fold her hands
(Author's POV) Chloe fell silent. She sat there for a few moments, thinking everything through before letting out a quiet, bitter laugh. "Of course it was." She had spent her whole life watching Tiziana fool the people around her. She knew that gentle voice, those sad eyes, and the way Tiziana always managed to make herself look like the most helpless person in every room. It was all an act. Everyone believed it except Chloe. She had seen through her long ago. "Tiziana had her own grudge against Celeste," Chloe said. "She needed someone else to take the blame, so she used you." Tiffany lowered her head and stared at the ground without saying a word. "Think about it," Chloe continued. "Celeste walked away from her marriage to Stefano Conti. Do you understand what that means? Half the women in this city would have done anything to keep a husband like him. Why would a woman like Celeste waste even a second thinking about Zachary?" She slowly shook her head. "None of it ever made s
(Celeste Moretti's POV)I arrived at the entrance of Aetheris Biotech almost an hour early.It was the same place where Adelina had cornered me the last time. I stood there alone with both hands tucked into the pockets of my coat while I watched the morning sunlight slowly spread across the quiet plaza. The place was almost empty, peaceful even, but I knew that calm would not last for long.Two of the new security guards noticed me standing there and walked over. One of them cleared his throat awkwardly before speaking."Ms. Moretti... should we expect some kind of fight today? We were wondering if we should have riot gear ready... just in case."I looked at him with a straight face."Do either of you have any snacks?"He frowned in confusion."Sorry?""Snacks. Chips, crackers, anything."I pointed across the street toward a convenience store."You should go buy a bag and find a good place to sit. Trust me, you're going to want to enjoy the show."The guard looked even more confused.
(Author's POV) Stefano sat down slowly and stared at the ring she'd been wearing. It wasn't something she'd bought for herself. He knew enough about jewelry to know that piece had a history. Someone had given it to her. He picked up his phone and stared at it. Then he put it back down. Meanwh
(Celeste Moretti's POV) His grip was easy, unhurried. Like it was nothing. I went slightly rigid. Then I reminded myself that Eleanor was right there, watching us, and that looking like a woman who had never held her husband's hand before would raise more questions than I wanted to answer. I
(Author's POV) Later, Tiziana appeared in the hallway outside the sitting room, wearing her most carefully casual expression. "Grandmother," she said, "I heard something about Uncle Vincenzo..." "Did you?" Eleanor picked up her coffee cup. "Is it true that he..." " Tiziana, darling. Your uncl
(Celeste Moretti's POV) "Option two: In the next thirty minutes, you write a full statement. Everything that happened, in your own words, with your signature at the bottom. Carlo will be in the room as a witness." "I'll also read it on camera." I paused. "I keep the statement and the recording







