A glass of untouched whiskey sat on Matteo's desk, his fingers resting lightly on the rim. His mind wandered to a time he had tried so hard to bury, a chapter of his life drenched in sorrow and betrayal—the years after his parents’ untimely death.The Cold Embrace of LonelinessThe day Matteo’s life changed forever replayed in his mind like a cruel film. He was only fifteen when the news came that his parents had been in a fatal car accident. Matteo had sat on the edge of his bed in stunned silence, clutching a photograph of his family. His father’s booming laughter, his mother’s soft, reassuring voice—they were gone, leaving him in a world that suddenly felt colder and emptier. Matteo hoped his stepmother, Lily De Cannio, would provide some semblance of comfort. She had been in their lives for only a few years, marrying Matteo’s father after his mother’s death. Though she had always seemed distant, Matteo believed she would at least care for him now that they shared the same loss.

The Days of TormentMatteo leaned back in his chair. His thoughts wandered back to a time when the world was far less forgiving—a time when his stepmother, Lily De Cannio, ruled his life with cruelty and deceit.The bullies she had allowed, encouraged even, returned to his mind with startling clarity. Their sneering faces, their cutting words, and their vicious actions were etched into his memory, a stark reminder of the dark years after his parents' untimely death.A Household of HostilityLily had always claimed to the outside world that she was doing her best to raise Matteo after the tragic loss of his parents. To their neighbors, she played the role of the grieving widow, taking on the noble task of parenting a child who wasn’t her own. But behind closed doors, the façade crumbled into ash.Under her roof, Matteo was no more than an inconvenience, a living reminder of a man she had never truly loved. She ensured he knew his place—lower than the servants, an unwelcome guest in hi

The Dark Secrets of Lily De Cannio For weeks, Matteo had been wrestling with memories of his stepmother, Lily De Cannio, the woman who had shaped much of his pain. But tonight, it wasn’t just her cruel words or manipulative schemes that haunted him—it was the darkest part of her world, the shadowy underbelly that had pulled him in against his will. Lily De Cannio had been more than a tyrannical stepmother. Beneath her socialite persona lay a woman deeply entrenched in illegal activities, including the drug trade. And Matteo, young and powerless, had been one of her pawns. The Revelation of a Double Life Matteo had been just fourteen when he first stumbled upon the truth. It was a late night, and the mansion was quiet. Unable to sleep, he had wandered downstairs, hoping to sneak a snack from the kitchen. But as he passed the study, hushed voices stopped him in his tracks. Curiosity got the better of him. Peeking through the slightly ajar door, he saw Lily sitting at her desk, flank

The Breaking PointMatteo remembered how he used to walked the rain-slicked streets of Millan, as he made his way home. His backpack, heavy with cash and contraband, hung loosely from his shoulders. The weight of it felt like a constant reminder of the life he had been forced into, a life dictated by his cruel stepmother, Lily De Cannio. But that might, as he walked through the murky streets, something within him stirred. The anger, the shame, the hopelessness—all of it boiled to the surface.He stopped under the lights of a streetlamp, taking a deep breath and rubbing his face in frustration. His reflection in the puddle before him showed a tired, defeated boy. The boy who once had hopes, dreams, and aspirations. The boy who had wanted more for himself. Now, that boy felt buried beneath the weight of his mistakes and the invisible chains Lily had bound him with. His fingers trembled as he reached into his pocket, pulling out a crumpled picture of his parents. He stared at their smi