Verena stared at Louis, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Is he really your son?"
Louis's gaze didn't waver. A faint, unreadable smile tugged at his lips as he studied her reaction.
"Why?" he asked smoothly. "Would that make you refuse to marry me?"
His tone was calm, but there was a challenge in his eyes—one that made her heart race.
"Marry?" Little Benny blinked, looking between the two of them with wide, curious eyes. Then, as if something clicked, his entire face lit up. "Yes! Yes! Marry my daddy, pretty auntie!"
"I—" Verena's breath caught in her throat.
Children didn't usually welcome strangers into their family—especially not as stepmothers. But Benny… he looked at her like she was magic.
Like he'd just made the best wish and it might actually come true.
Her lips parted in surprise, unsure of what to say. "You… you really want that?"
Benny nodded so hard his curls bounced. "Then you'll always stay! You smell like pizza and hugs. And you made me laugh." He leaned in closer, his voice a secretive whisper. "I don't laugh much at home."
Verena's chest tightened.
She looked up at Louis, searching his face for any sign of contradiction, any hint that this was all a game. But instead, she found something far more dangerous—certainty.
He was watching her with that unreadable, all-consuming intensity that made her feel exposed and known at once.
"I don't make decisions based on impulsive proposals or adorable children," she said finally, her voice softer than she meant it to be. "I've survived too much to gamble on a fairy tale."
Louis took a step closer.
"It's not a gamble if I never let you fall."
Verena laughed faintly, almost bitterly. "That's easy to say when you're standing on solid ground."
"Then step up beside me," he said simply. "And we'll both stay standing."
She shook her head slowly, but there was the faintest shimmer in her eyes. "You're impossible."
"And you're still here," he replied, glancing meaningfully down at her feet. "That counts for something."
Benny tugged at her hand, beaming. "Please say yes? Then we can all eat pizza together forever."
Verena crouched to his level, brushing his hair back gently. "We'll see, bunny. First, I need to make sure your dad isn't the scary villain everyone says he is."
Louis arched an eyebrow.
Almost scowl.
"You've survived worse."
"Exactly." She rose again, eyes locking with his. "That's why I'm cautious with the things I want to last."
And Louis, for once, didn't argue.
He just looked at her like he'd already made up his mind—and wouldn't be changing it anytime soon.
She walked away without noticing Little Benny's fallen face. He only wanted a mummy but Auntie rejected him.
…
Verena went to the shop to start her work again even though pizza boxes were thrown out by Little Benny.
She could only pay the sum and started delivering again.
"I am back!" She informed her boss but was pushed on the counter.
"Where have you been? Look at this. Calls after calls and yet no delivery was done! You knew the payment was done online. How could you do this?" The boss glared at her.
"I am sorry. There was a misunderstanding. I am ready… to pay…"
"Ha! You are fired! I don't need a murderer like you. Of course, I will cut your bonus and send all the money back to the customers online… such a headache!" She spot more venom words to Verena before she walked away.
Verena was speechless.
She was also furious when she heard her calling her murderer. What happened? She recalled her boss didn't know about it. She never call her that before. So can it be…
Just then Verena turned around to go out. She saw Ariana sitting on the table. When she saw Verena looking at her she look away. Acted as she didn't saw her.
Verena sighed.
What had she expected? Her life would be so easy?
This witch would never let her live a peaceful life at all.
She had headache, so she didn't want to fight with her now. Verena simply started heading towards the door.
When she turned to the corner of the alley she heard Ariana's voice calling her. She didn't turned but could hear her panting.
"Sister, I am sorry. Don't think that I told her anything. She was so mean to you. I wanted to help but then I thought you should learn to—"
Slap!
Ariana was so shocked that she held her cheek in her palm.
Verena's chest rising and falling with restrained fury. Her eyes, once soft and hurt, now burned with quiet rage.
Ariana stared at her in disbelief, palm pressed to her cheek. "Y-You hit me?"
Verena's voice was low but sharp. "Don't call me sister."
Ariana blinked. "But I was just trying to—"
"To what?" Verena cut her off. "Humiliate me behind my back and play the saint to my face? You were always good at that."
"I didn't mean for her to fire you—"
"But she did." Verena's tone was cold now. "And you didn't stop her. You never stop anyone when it's me being destroyed."
Ariana looked down guiltily, her lips trembling. "You've changed since prison."
"No," Verena snapped. "I grew up in prison. You stayed the same. Petty, poisonous, and always pretending to be the victim."
Ariana's eyes widened, stung. "You don't mean that."
"I do." Verena took a step closer. "You think I don't see what you're doing? Whispering my past into people's ears, poisoning every small chance I get? You're not sorry. You're scared—because I'm not the girl you could walk over anymore."
Silence lingered between them. The sounds of traffic buzzed faintly in the distance, but in this narrow alleyway, it felt like the world had paused to listen.
Finally, Verena exhaled, her voice steady. "I don't need you. I never did. And I'm done pretending you didn't choose to hurt me."
Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked away.
Ariana stood in the alley's shadow, her cheek still stinging from Verena's slap. She slowly pulled out her phone, dialed a number, and said coldly, "Do it."
Hanging up, she glanced down the path where Verena had disappeared.
Her tongue slid across the small cut on her lip, tasting blood. A wicked smirk curved her mouth.
"She'll learn not to touch me," she whispered.
…
Verena had only made it a few steps into the next alley when a sudden force slammed into her, pinning her back against the cold brick wall.
She didn't flinch.
"Well, well," a greasy voice sneered beside her ear. "What's a pretty thing like you doing here all alone? Wanna have a little fun?"
"Fuck off!"
"Yes I will… definitely!" He pulled her towards him but she pushed him off her.
"Don't resist!" He yelled.
"Did Ariana sent you?" Verena could vaguely understand who was behind all this facade.
"Ha ha ha, little beauty, don't be mad. Come over to brother's side. Brother is better than that fat brother. Let's develop our feelings first!"
Just as his fingers touched her cheek, she shoved him back with a sharp elbow, but two more men emerged from the shadows—then three more.
They closed in like a pack of wolves, circling.
Her eyes darted between them. All of them were older, stronger, seasoned street thugs.
Her instincts screamed at her to run, but there was nowhere to go.
So she fought.
A punch to the stomach, a knee to the groin. She twisted, dodged, struck. But for every one she struck down, another took his place.
Two became five, five became ten. Her body burned from effort, but she refused to fall.
A thick arm grabbed her from behind; she twisted and slammed her heel into his knee. He howled and dropped.
But it wasn't enough.
Someone grabbed her by the hair. Another yanked her jacket. A boot struck her shin. Still she didn't stop. Still she resisted.
Then—crack!
A blow landed at the back of her head. She stumbled forward, the world tilting.
Her vision swam, and her knees buckled.
Through the blur, she caught a glimpse—someone tall and fast, cutting through the gang like a storm.
One of the thugs who had struck her was lifted off the ground and hurled across the alley like he weighed nothing.
Who…?
That was her last thought before darkness pulled her under.