Isabella I was numb from the whole ordeal. I could not even understand what was going on. I did not ask for any of this things. All I wanted was to live peacefully with my husband but even that was too much ask. I still found it unbelievable and part of me hoped that what happened was not real.One minute, I was talking to Emilio and the next he was riddled with bullets. What even made the whole thing much more disheartening was that I knew who the shooter was. I almost fainted out of shock when Damien pulled off the mask from the shooter's face, a wave of horror and disbelief washed over me. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It was Robert, my ex-boyfriend, lying lifeless on the floor. The man who once claimed to love me was now a cold-blooded killer. My mind couldn't process it all. How could someone I once cared for become a murderer?Tears welled up in my eyes as I struggled to come to terms with the reality of the situation. A deep sense of pain and despair settled in my ch
Damien I intensely disliked talking to cops. But in this case, I was going to have to. There was no other way around it. At first I wanted my lawyers to handle all the legal issues but that was not going to be necessary.This was because, Michael had somehow wound his way into being a detective again. He had been wrongfully accused of taking a bribe. The problem was that he thought that I was behind his demotion from captain to detective."This is a crime scene now, Mr. Moretti, you are coming with me," He said and I could see the glee in his eyes. He seemed to believe that he had me cornered. I was going to change his belief system. If he wanted an enemy, I would gladly become one."I am assuming that I am under arrest?" I asked."Well, you did kill a man, so...""Evidence suggest that he came in guns blazing," I curtly replied."I will be the judge of that," He replied."I am afraid that I do not trust your judgment, after all you are not so...clean yourself," I replied with deep m
Damien I waited long enough before my lawyers burst into the interrogation room. "Took you long enough," I muttered and stood up from the steel chair. I adjusted my clothes and left with them.As I was leaving, I saw the determined look on Michael's face as I walked past him.Stryker stepped into my path, his eyes burning with fury. "This isn't over, Moretti," he spat, his voice low and menacing.I arched an eyebrow, unfazed by his threats. "Oh, I'm counting on it, Detective," I replied, my tone dripping with sarcasm. "After all, what would life be without a little excitement?"He clenched his jaw, his fists trembling with rage. "You think you're untouchable, don't you?" he growled, his voice barely above a whisper.I chuckled, a cold, humorless sound that echoed off the walls of the hallway. "Let's just say I have friends in high places," I said, my smile widening into a predatory grin.Stryker's eyes narrowed into slits as he took a step closer, his breath hot against my face. "You
Isabella Surrounded by mourners, I felt a wave of overwhelming grief wash over me. My father, Emilio, was being laid to rest, his life cut short by the senseless violence that had invaded our home. I struggled to hold back tears as I watched his casket being lowered into the ground, a final farewell to the man who had been my pillar of strength for so many years.Damien stood beside me, his hand tight around mine, offering silent support in the face of my anguish. Ava, my second mother, stood on my other side, her arms wrapped around me in a comforting embrace. Their presence was a balm to my shattered heart, a reminder that I was not alone in my grief.Amidst the sea of mourners, I couldn't help but notice the presence of enemies and adversaries. Natalia, my husband's persistent ex-lover, stood at a distance, her gaze cold and calculating. Camilla, the woman who had brought so much turmoil into our lives, lingered nearby, her expression unreadable. Even Senator Kelly, the corrupt p
Damien I took some time off work to fully be there for my wife as she mourned her estranged and deceased father. It was disheartening watching Isabella break down over and over again. Most times, she wanted to be alone and I respected her privacy.Isabella did not want me to orbit around her like she was some fragile girl but I could not help it. The stress of the grief she was going through could affect our child and that was what scared me the most.As I watched Isabella mourn her father's passing, a profound sense of guilt weighed heavily on my shoulders. Emilio's death was a tragedy that I couldn't shake off, knowing that it happened under my roof, under my watch. I wanted nothing more than to ease Isabella's pain, to take away her sorrow, but I felt utterly helpless in the face of such profound loss.Every moment with Isabella felt like walking on eggshells, afraid that any wrong word or action would only add to her grief. I tiptoed around her, offering what little comfort I cou
Damien "We need to talk," I curtly said to the other man at the end of the line. "You want to turn yourself in?" Michael asked. "And prevent you from actually doing your job? You wish," I sarcastically replied. I heard a scoff. "Why now?" "Because my life and that of my family are at stake because I want you to get the justice you've always wanted, because I am tired of looking over my shoulders, take your pick," I replied to his question. "I do not trust you, Moretti," He muttered in a hard voice. "And you think I do?" I fired back. "At least we both know where we stand," He curtly replied. I was going out on a limb here because Michael and I had a common enemy. The Founder's Association. This mysterious clique was behind numerous murders and the destruction of countless businesses and properties. The only reason I was even thinking about joining forces with the detective was that he hated the Founder's Association with as much passion as I did. He was my unwanted ally for
Isabella Each morning brought with it a heavyweight, a reminder that my father, Emilio, was no longer by my side. The ache in my heart seemed to deepen with each passing day, as I grappled with the reality of his absence. Everywhere I turned, his presence lingered—a silent echo of the love and warmth he had brought into our lives.In those moments of despair, I found solace in the arms of my mother-in-law, Ava. She was a pillar of strength, her unwavering support a source of comfort in my darkest hours. Yet, even her gentle embrace could not ease the pain of knowing that my child would never know the love of their grandfather.The void left behind by Emilio's passing seemed insurmountable, a gaping hole in the fabric of our family. I mourned not only for my loss but for the loss my child would never fully comprehend—a grandfather's love, forever out of reach.Ava, however, refused to let grief consume me. With unwavering determination, she sought to lift my spirits, whisking me away
Damien Returning to the office after the recent turmoil felt like stepping into a minefield, each step fraught with the risk of detonating hidden dangers lurking beneath the surface. As I walked through the familiar halls of Renaissance, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gripped me like a vice, a constant reminder of the precarious balancing act I was now forced to perform.Every interaction, every word spoken, had to be carefully calculated and measured, lest I inadvertently reveal the truth lurking beneath the facade of normalcy I presented to the world. I couldn't afford to let slip even the slightest hint of my alliance with Michael, for fear of the consequences it could bring crashing down upon us both.My colleagues greeted me with smiles and nods as I made my way to my office, their cheerful demeanor a stark contrast to the turmoil raging within me. Behind their friendly facades, I couldn't help but wonder who among them could be trusted, and who might be secretly wo