Bianca picked up her phone from the desk as the persistent ringing continued to slice through the quiet of her small apartment. The sound had been going on for a while now, vibrating softly against the desk like a stubborn reminder she couldn’t ignore.She glanced lazily at the screen.The moment she saw the name displayed there, her lips tightened.It was Giulia.Her thumb hovered over the screen as she weighed whether to answer or ignore. She eventually didn't answer.However, the phone kept ringing, up to three times.Giulia clearly wasn’t giving up.Bianca exhaled slowly, slightly annoyed but also aware that refusing the call again might raise suspicion.Reluctantly, she swiped to answer."Hello, dear. How’s life going on with you?” Giulia’s voice sounded immediately. It carried a soft warmth, the kind that only came from genuine concern.There was also a hint of relief, as though she had been worried Bianca wouldn’t answer.The kindness in her voice was almost painful to hear.Bi

"How are your parents now? I hope they’ve gotten better." Giulia asked softly, her voice laced with genuine concern as she studied Bianca’s face.Bianca let out a slow sigh, her fingers threading through her hair in a restless motion.For a brief second, her gaze drifted elsewhere, as though she was searching for the right version of the truth to present.“They’re fine now,” she replied at last. “Thank you for your support during the difficult times.”Her tone was calm, but there was something off about it. Something too measured, too carefully arranged. The sadness in her voice felt rehearsed, like lines memorized rather than emotions lived.To anyone who wasn’t paying close attention, it would pass as normal. But beneath the surface, there was a hollowness, a quiet absence of sincerity.Giulia, however, didn’t notice. Or perhaps she chose not to.“You don’t have to thank me,” she said warmly, pulling Bianca closer until her head rested gently against her shoulder. Her touch was comf

“It’s okay,” Giulia said, her voice soft but strained, as though she were carefully placing a lid over something that threatened to spill. “I must’ve just forgotten I told you.”The words sounded casual enough, but there was a stiffness in her posture, a tension in the way her fingers curled slightly against her palm.She didn’t wait long before steering the conversation elsewhere, eager to escape the direction it had taken.“So when do you intend to resume work?” she added, forcing a lightness into her tone that didn’t quite reach her eyes.They had always shared everything. Secrets, fears, and laughter whispered in the quiet hours of the night. But this was different.It wasn’t just her secret; it belonged to Dante too. And they had made a promise.No matter how close she and Bianca are, Giulia knew there are boundaries she couldn’t cross.“If you want,” she continued, brushing an invisible speck off her dress just to avoid eye contact, “I could help you extend your leave.”Bianca’s

"Master, a lady and a man are at the gate, requesting to see you."Dante paused mid-step, his fingers still resting lightly against the edge of the table. For a brief moment, silence stretched across the room, heavy and deliberate. He hadn’t scheduled any meetings today. No business partners nor allies had requested to visit him.That alone was enough to make his instincts sharpen."And who did they say they are?" he asked the security man, his voice calm but edged with curiosity.The security man hesitated. He opened his mouth to talk but ended up saying nothing."Are the names so hard to pronounce?" Dante added, this time lifting his gaze fully to meet the guard’s. The warning in his eyes was unmistakable.This exact carelessness was what he had despised in the Santoro household. It was one of the many reasons he had left so abruptly."I'm sorry, I didn't request that from them," the guard replied quickly, his voice laced with fear and regret. "But they seem to be related."For a f

At Kingswood High School, the atmosphere had transformed into surreal, an intersection between past and present.Memories clashed with reality, and success was no longer a dream but something worn like clothing.Cars streamed steadily through the grand iron gates, their polished exteriors gleaming under the soft afternoon sun. Engines hummed and roared in a symphony of wealth. Some were subtle, others deliberately loud.Luxury sedans, rare sports cars, and customized vehicles filled the compound, turning the once-familiar school grounds into a display of prestige. It was no longer just a reunion but a stage.Today marked the official old students’ reunion, and it was evident in every detail.Dignitaries arrived one after another. Men in perfectly tailored suits, women radiating elegance in designer outfits.Some stepped out alone; others were followed closely by assistants or security personnel. Their movements were calculated, their smiles polished, and their presence intentional.In