Jack pedaled along the familiar streets, the weight of Suzzy’s revelation still heavy on his mind. He couldn’t shake his anger toward Sonia for framing Melissa and putting them through so much turmoil. But Suzzy’s panicked plea for him to keep the secret rang in his ears. She was terrified, and Jack understood her fear—Jeremy and Sonia were powerful within the Decastro household, and Suzzy was just a maid with no protection.At the mall, Jack and Suzzy both finished their shopping. Suzzy lingered near the exit, looking uncertain as she glanced at Jack.“Thanks for earlier,” Suzzy said hesitantly. “I should get going.”Jack looked at her and then at the full bags she was carrying. “I could drop you off at the villa,” he offered.Suzzy’s eyes widened in surprise. “Drop me off? How?”“With my bicycle,” Jack replied with a grin, motioning to his bike.Suzzy hesitated, glancing at the sturdy but simple bicycle. “I’ve never climbed one before,” she admitted, looking nervous.Jack chuckled.

The atmosphere at the dining table was heavy with silence. The clinking of silverware on plates echoed in the room, but not a single word was exchanged. Master Decastro sat at the head of the table, his hands clasped together, his gaze fixed somewhere in the distance. His daughters, Sonia and Cindy, were quiet, their expressions unreadable. Jeremy was uncharacteristically still, staring down at his food, while Melissa and Jack sat at the far end of the table, the tension between them palpable.For a few moments, the only sound was the occasional scrape of a knife or fork against porcelain. Jack, seated beside Melissa, could feel the unease thickening in the air. His eyes flicked to her, noting the way she was trying to maintain her composure, even though he knew she must be just as uncomfortable as he was. His gaze then shifted to Master Decastro, who remained stoic as ever.Finally, it was Melissa who broke the silence. Her voice was calm but resolute as she addressed the room. “Why

The morning air at the Decastro villa carried a quiet tension, one that seeped into the walls and hung over the family like a thick fog. In the east wing of the estate, Master Decastro stood by his study window, watching the maids bustling around the courtyard below. His face was unreadable, but his mind was restless. Last night’s events had shaken the family in ways he hadn’t expected.Two maids stood in front of him, waiting for instructions.“Go to Jack and Melissa’s villa,” he finally said, his voice firm but calm. “Help them pack their belongings. Make sure they’re ready to move back here.”The maids exchanged glances, unsure if they had heard correctly. Master Decastro’s pride was legendary, and seeing him bend so far as to welcome Melissa and her husband back to the villa was nearly incomprehensible. But they dared not question him. With a bow, they left to carry out their orders.As they exited the study, Cindy stormed in, her face flushed with frustration.“Father,” she start

The late afternoon sun blazed high in the sky as Jack rode his bicycle along the empty streets, his thoughts consumed by the drama unfolding back at the department. Every turn of the pedals seemed to echo his frustration. Returning to Melissa’s family’s home felt like walking into a battlefield, one where he was always the target. The insults, the cold treatment, and the constant feeling of not being good enough gnawed at him.Jack loved Melissa more than anything in the world, and for her, he was willing to endure it all. The sharp words, the sneers, and even Cindy’s blatant hostility—none of it mattered as long as Melissa was by his side. But that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt. He clenched the handlebars tightly, his knuckles turning white.“I didn’t sign up for this to be easy,” he muttered under his breath. “But why do I feel like I’m always fighting alone?”He had no idea where he was going; he just wanted to get away for a while, to breathe. The air around him felt heavy, like the

The dining room of the Decastro mansion was filled with the soft clinking of silverware against porcelain plates as the family enjoyed a warm breakfast. The morning sun filtered through the tall windows, casting long golden beams onto the polished dining table. It was an unusually peaceful morning, with little conversation beyond the occasional requests to pass bread or refill tea. That was, of course, until Master Lemaire Decastro decided to break the silence.“You know,” Master Lemaire began, spreading butter onto his toast, “I’ve been thinking about buying a ranch.”Jeremy, sitting across from him, nearly choked on his juice. He wiped his mouth quickly, staring at his grandfather with an incredulous expression before bursting into laughter. “A ranch?” Jeremy asked, still chuckling. “Grandfather, since when have you been interested in taking care of a ranch? You don’t strike me as someone who enjoys mucking out stables or feeding horses at dawn.”Sonia, seated beside him, chimed in