Lisa unlocked the door and pulled it open only to freeze.“Antonio…” she breathed, her chest tightening.He stood there, tall, smug, his tailored suit pressed as though he had stepped out of an expensive magazine shoot. His lips curled into a mocking smile.“You look surprised, Lisa. Did you really think you could hide from me forever?” His eyes scanned the modest house, a glint of contempt mixing with satisfaction.Lisa’s shock turned into fury. “How did you even find this place?”Antonio chuckled, slow and deliberate. “They might have stripped me of wealth, but not power. Connections, Lisa. Power never dies, it just changes hands. And you, my dear wife, could never really disappear. Not from me.”At the word wife, Lisa’s body stiffened. She opened her mouth, but before she could respond, Xavier rose from his seat. Calm, steady, his voice carried a quiet warning.“Antonio.”Antonio’s smirk widened as his gaze landed on him. “Well, well… look who’s here. My replacement. Filling my spa

A single golden lamp glowed on the round table where Xavier, Celeste, and Teacher sat at the private lounge. The air was heavy with cigarette smoke, though no one smoked.Xavier leaned forward, fingers tapping the polished wood.“I’m ready,” he said, voice steady. “I’ve gathered everything I need. Documents. Witnesses. Transactions. And Celeste…” his eyes found her, lingering, “your testimony seals it. Antonio doesn’t walk away, this time, he rots in prison.”Teacher let out a dry laugh, leaning back in his chair.“Prison?” he scoffed. “You still don’t get it. Men like Antonio don’t suffer in a cage. They adapt. They bribe. They buy their way into comfort. You put him behind bars, he’ll still be sipping brandy and pulling strings from the shadows. That’s not punishment.”Xavier’s jaw tightened. “It’s justice. And justice is all I’m after. I won’t have blood on my hands, this time. We all agreed no bloodbath in this process, and that is why I've agreed to get involved with the both of

The penthouse was quiet, too quiet for Irene’s liking. She sat on the edge of the velvet couch, legs crossed, her nails tapping against her thigh. When the door finally opened and Antonio stepped in, she didn’t bother hiding the scowl on her face.Antonio loosened his tie and gave her a sharp grin. “There you are. I was beginning to think you’d keep sulking forever.”Irene’s eyes narrowed. “Sulk? That’s what you call it? You are going to disregard what happened the last time?”He poured himself a drink, ignoring her glare. “That’s what it looks like. A little fight and suddenly you disappear, dodge my calls, act like I put a knife to your throat.”She rose to her feet, heels clicking against the marble floor. “What we had wasn’t a little fight, Antonio. Don’t insult me.”Antonio smirked, swirling the glass in his hand. “Insult? No, baby. I’m reminding you that we’re stronger than some petty disagreement. You and me...we burn, we fight, we break things. And then we come back, because w

Lisa’s heart beat so loudly she thought the entire restaurant could hear it. Xavier’s sudden presence was already enough to unsettle her, but when he stepped closer, his eyes hard, his posture calm yet commanding, she felt the ground beneath her shift.He didn’t glance at her mother at first. His eyes were fixed on Lisa, searching her expression. Then, with deliberate slowness, he looked at the older woman and pulled out the chair beside their table.“Interesting,” Xavier said, his voice smooth but heavy with something darker. “I didn’t expect to find you here, Lisa. Or you,” he added, his gaze sliding to her mother.Lisa’s mother’s demeanor changed instantly, like a switch being flipped. She let out a bright laugh, her hand flying to her chest. “Xavier! Oh, my goodness, look at you. You’ve grown into such a fine man.” Her eyes raked over him, pausing at the sharp cut of his navy suit. “This must have cost a fortune. And you...” she tilted her head, her smile widening. “...you look ev

The corridors of St. Hilda’s Academy buzzed with the chatter of children and the faint scrape of shoes against polished floors. Antonio stood by the office door, his tall frame filling the space with authority that drew the eyes of passing teachers. His suit was immaculate as always, his watch catching the light whenever he adjusted his cufflinks. He wasn’t just a father summoned for a school disturbance, he carried himself like a man who still believed the world belonged to him.Emerald sat on a chair outside the Vice Principal’s office, her small hands folded in her lap. Her eyes were downcast, but the stiffness of her shoulders betrayed the storm inside her. When Antonio arrived, she looked up, startled.“Daddy?” her voice was soft, uncertain.Antonio’s expression softened immediately, and he crouched down to her height, brushing a hand over her hair. “Yes, sweetheart. I came as soon as they called me. Don’t worry, Daddy’s here now.”Before Emerald could respond, the Vice Principal