Twenty-five years earlier, Monalisa's pov, One month had passed since my relationship with Bruno crumbled, and every day felt like an eternity. I missed him with an almost physical pain, an all-consuming longing. I couldn't sleep, couldn't eat, couldn't focus on anything. My days were spent in a haze of grief and regret, wondering what I could have done differently, and how I could have prevented this from happening. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't find a way to make things right again, except I was ready to go against Don Pablo and risk Bruno's life. The realization that Bruno was unwilling to compromise, that he would not bend his desire for the sake of our relationship, was devastating. It was a painful reminder that sometimes, no matter how much we want something to work, it just isn't meant to be. And as much as I wished we could find a way to make it work, I knew deep down that he was not ready to make the sacrifices I needed him to make. It was a bitter pill to swa
BRUNO'S POV,The incident from earlier kept replaying in my mind filling me with worry, I couldn't stop myself from thinking about what would have happened if Monalisa hadn't shown up in time, As I dwelled on that, my mind went back to her proposal, I kept weighing the weight of her words and the implications, that would mean me going back to my vomit, even as I tried to find a good reason to change my conviction, I was yet to lay my fingers on any, making me skeptical about it all."Daddy!" Isabella called me back to the present, which made me fix my gaze on her in response,"Is anything the matter?" She asked in her small shrill voice, "You've been pacing about since we got home, you look worried." She added, making me realize I was standing right in the middle of the room,"Oh Bell! It's nothing, your daddy is not worried at all." I responded forcing a smile to my face in an attempt to dissuade her from her conviction,"No Dad, you're worried, it is written all over your face," sh
SYLVIA'S POV, "I'm sorry, miss," Raynold said, his voice as hard as granite. "I cannot allow that."The finality of his statement hung heavy in the air, suffocating me with its weight. He straightened his spine and fixed his gaze on a distant spot, unwilling to meet my eyes, as I pleaded with him,I pleaded with Reynolds, desperation bleeding into my voice. "Please, I won't take long. He's here already, waiting outside. Just give us a few minutes, I beg of you.".I knew I had to press more if I wanted him to bend a little, how could I let go of the perfect opportunity to spend some time with Antonio, when I had carefully drafted out my plans, I had lied to both my father and stepbrother about stepping out to get something downtown."Reynolds, we're still friends right?" I said, looking into his eyes, even though his eyes were far from mine, "At least I know I don't see you as just my guard," I paused, allowing it to sink in, I knew eliciting his pity was one way to get him to bend
MONALISA'S POV,On getting back home to my apartment, I realized Antonio was nowhere to be found, I wondered where he was as I emerged from his room, getting back to the living room, I found him coming from the door."Where are you coming from?" I inquired lightly, with a smile that startled him, he wasn't expecting my return,"Mom!" He exclaimed, gasping as he heard my voice, his expression was as hard as a rock, a direct opposite of what I had expected,"Where did you go?" I rephrased my question, taken in his countenance, I walked casually towards him, beaming with joy, as I anticipated his warm welcome,"That's what I should be asking you, Mom," his voice reverberated with anger as he said that,"Where are you coming from?" He added with so much boldness I hadn't seen before, making my brows crest as I took in the change in his demeanor,I had seen him angry before, but it was nothing compared to the look on his face and the matching resentment in his voice."Tonio, what's gotten
MONALISA PARKER'S POV,"I'd leave and never come back, I promise you!"Were the words that swirled around my head as I walked to Don Pablo's mansion, my steps were quick and short, and as flashes of the encounter lingered, the scene from that moment that strolled by, revealed the determination on my son's face which made my heart beat accelerate from my trepidation,"I love her mom!!" Echoed in my head like I was being hunted by ghosts, feeling with dread and worry,I was so consumed in my thoughts, that I just wanted to report to Don and hurry back home so that I could have enough time to think and strategize my plot.For the first time since I left Bruno, I was worried, dread lurked at the edge of my anxiety which filled me with uncertainty,As I dwelled on the encounter, I felt my heart sink from the thought that my son was in love with the sister of the same man who had stolen my innocence, forced himself on me, and trampled on me, It made my anxiety grow and filled me with the u
SYLVIA'S POV,My heart skipped a beat immediately after I saw Bobby standing right at the entrance of the Mansion, his gaze bore a hole through me as he stared at me, As I approached him, the sound of my heartbeat grew louder with every step I took, as the distance between us wore thin I mustered all the courage I could find, and I let out a huge sigh in an attempt to brace myself for the upcoming confrontation.As I tried to walk past him, his words hit me like a thunderbolt halting me right before him."Where are you coming from?" With his gaze as wide as woe, he glared at me, I straightened my spine, and looked into his eyes, shoveling my fears behind me I replied in a tone matching his, "I went to get groceries."I knew confronting him fearlessly was the best way to counter my brother and scale out of that war without getting hurt,His expression contorted into an angry smirk as fury sparkled in his eyes,"Groceries!" He said with gritted teeth,"I'll ask you again," he continu
SYLVIA'S POV,His steps were long and heavy, an expression of the anger in his heart, as he strode out from us without turning back, determined by his resolved,I turned to look at my father whose eyes were crinkled and lips pursed as he stared at him, I saw the pain written in his eyes, the scowl on his face conveyed the hurt in his heart, and the disappointment he felt, that was the first time I had seen my dad and Bobby got into an open disagreement,As his steps faded into the distance my father closed his eyes, absorbing the pain he was going through, I felt a renewed sense of hope that my father would stand by me, since he was able to endure the pain of disagreeing with his son,"Daddy I'm sorry," I wailed, hoping to get into good favor with my dad, even though I had felt bad for being the cause of his pain, I also hoped he would understand me, "it wasn't entirely my fault dad, I just love him too much," I continued, sobbing as I spoke,My mother's hands supported my shoulders,
BRUNO JOE'S POV,I ran as fast as my feet could carry me, out of my daughter's class that afternoon, my heart pounded hard against my chest as my eyes darted to all corners in search of my daughter, a thousand thoughts swirled around my head at the same time, as my legs carried me towards the open field, The words from her head teacher kept resounding in my head "She was taken away by your friend." She had said, which filled me with dread, I knew whoever it was, was an enemy,With every passing second, I felt my world, crashing down on me, my fear got the best of me and desperation crept in, my breath grew ragged as my eyes traveled down a million distances within seconds, hoping to find nothing else but Bella,"Bella!""Bella!!" I found myself screaming at the top of my lungs as I stood there confused about the direction to turn to,It was happening again, and this time to the only treasure I held dear, the last time I felt this way was when I heard the gunshot at the brothel, ever