"Lorenzo and the others—they haven't changed a bit in ten years, not since I left the organization." Samara smiled as she and Elijah lay wrapped in each other's arms in their bed.
The night had grown deep, yet sleep refused to visit either of them.
"Did you miss your life as an associate back then, darling?" Elijah asked, making Samara lift her head to meet his gaze. Their eyes locked, warm and steady.
"Honestly? I do miss what I used to do—running dangerous missions to gather intel, going up against rival clans. But I don't regret leaving to become your wife. I'm happy being with you, being a mother to our daughter. I miss my old life, yes… but I love the one I have now with you. Besides, I'm still part of Senza Pietà—I'm married to their Il Capo, after all."
Elijah kissed her forehead before pulling her close again.
"I'll be forever grateful you chose to stay with me. I love you and our daughter more than anything."
"Taddeo says you turn into a total softie when you're with me," Samara teased, as Elijah ran his fingers through her hair. "I know you're still the same man I first met—you're just kind to me because you love me."
"My soft side is only for you and our little one to see. I suppose that's what Taddeo means." Elijah sat up slightly, smiling down at her.
"Do you remember how we first met? The moment I saw you, I wanted to strangle you. Now… those memories just make me smile."
"I remember you doused me with water and punched me square in the jaw because you thought I'd groped your backside," Elijah chuckled, recalling their first encounter a decade prior. Samara burst out laughing.
She settled back against the sheets, wrapping her arms around him.
"You fell in love with me because of that punch, didn't you? I never left your mind after that day, did I?"
"You shattered my peace back then," he said, his voice low and tender. "But I've come to love every second of the chaos you brought into my life."
The couple spent the rest of the night reminiscing, lost in stories of their past ten years together.
THE NEXT MORNING
Elijah left early for a board meeting at Veritas Pharmaceutical. Samara, too, headed to Veridian—her coffee shop— to help the morning shift staff before picking up their daughter Veronica from school. After that, she planned to stop by Elijah's office.
So much had changed since she became Mrs. Penelton. Samara cherished her roles as a mother and wife, though she still had to deal with busybodies who loved to flaunt their status and look down on others.
Today was one such day. As she organized inventory behind the counter, she spotted three faces she'd hoped to never see again—people who'd mocked her relentlessly years ago, back when they had no idea what she truly did for a living.
"Well, well—look who we have here! Who would've thought we'd find Samara Cortez in a place like this. Wait… are you a waitress? Or maybe a barista now?" Monica Natividad sneered, her voice loud enough to turn heads. Monica had always made it her mission to humiliate anyone she saw as beneath her—and she'd brought her usual sidekicks, Lore and Fatima, along for the show.
Samara's wedding to Elijah had been small and intimate—only family in attendance. They'd kept their relationship low-profile for safety, so it was no surprise these three had no clue about her life now.
"Long time no see, Monica. Ten years have passed, but you're still the same bully you've always been. Sorry to say, but Veridian doesn't serve coffee strong enough to wake up someone with manners like yours." Samara smiled sweetly, knowing exactly how to get under Monica's skin—just like she had back then.
"How dare you talk to her that way! Do you know she's married to the city mayor? He spoils her rotten—if you want to keep your job here, you'd better show some respect!" Lore snapped, making Monica preen with satisfaction.
"Respect? Why should I, when none of you know the meaning of the word? Are you here to order coffee, or just to cause trouble?"
"Call your manager!" Monica shouted. "Someone like you doesn't belong working at a classy place like this!"
Samara laughed softly, then fixed the trio with a steady gaze.
"Why call the manager when the owner is standing right in front of you? I'm Samara Penelton—founder and CEO of Veridian."
The shock on their faces was priceless.
"W-What?! You own this place?!" Monica stammered.
"That's right."
"Impossible! How could you run a successful business like this? Last I heard, you were a nobody waitress at some dive club!"
"I've worked hard for ten years to build this. Surprising, isn't it?"
"Or maybe you married some old rich man for his money!" Fatima piped up, and Monica and Lore immediately nodded in agreement. "You sold yourself to a geezer just to get ahead?"
"Sorry to burst your little bubble, but my husband isn't 'old' like yours, Monica. Last I checked, the mayor is in his fifties. Mine is only in his thirties."
Monica's face darkened with anger.
"Don't you dare insult my husband!"
"You and your friends insulted mine first. Being married to a mayor doesn't make you untouchable, Monica. You didn't intimidate me back then—and you sure as hell don't scare me now. If you're not here to buy coffee, leave my shop. I don't want your attitudes driving away my customers."
"This isn't over! You'll regret this day!" Monica spat, storming out with Lore and Fatima trailing behind her.
"Poor mayor," Samara muttered, shaking her head. "Married to a greedy, spiteful woman like that." She turned back to her work, pushing the encounter from her mind.
When it was time to pick up Veronica, Samara said her goodbyes to her staff and headed to the school in the car Elijah had gifted her years ago. But when she arrived, her heart clenched—she found her daughter in the waiting area, tears streaming down her face as a young girl stomped on scattered sheets of paper, while a woman stood nearby watching with a smirk.
Samara parked quickly and rushed over.
"What do you think you're doing to my daughter?!" she demanded, and Veronica threw herself into her arms.
"Mommy! S-She ruined my art…" Veronica sobbed, pointing to the crumpled, smudged papers on the floor.
"You destroyed my daughter's work?" Samara's voice was sharp as she turned to the pair.
"Excuse me? How dare you yell at my niece?" the woman snapped. Samara studied her face, then frowned—she'd seen her before.
"There's a difference between yelling and asking a question. Your niece destroyed my daughter's art, and you just stood there watching?"
The woman grinned smugly.
"She deserves it. She goes around bragging that her father is Elijah Penelton—the Elijah Penelton, CEO of Veritas Pharmaceutical, the richest man in the city? I work as his personal secretary, and I know for a fact he's single. Your daughter is lying—and it seems you've filled her head with delusions too."
Samara immediately placed the woman—Natalia Flores, Elijah's new secretary. Their low profile meant no one at Veritas knew he'd been married for ten years—a necessary precaution for their safety, but one that clearly had its downsides.
"Mommy… tell her I'm not lying…" Veronica whispered, clinging to her mother's shirt.
"What if my daughter is telling the truth? What if she really is Elijah Penelton's child—and I really am his wife? You'd lose your job for spreading lies about your boss's personal life."
"Please! His wife? And you call me delusional? So what—you're saying you're Mrs. Penelton?"
"You call him 'Eli'?" Samara asked, incredulous. "That's how you address your boss?"
"That's right—and one of these days, I'll be Mrs. Penelton too. So tell your daughter to stop making up stories. Come on, Amira—Eli will be looking for me at the office." Natalia turned to leave with her niece, leaving Samara staring after them in disbelief.
"Mommy…"
"It's okay, baby—stop crying now." Samara gathered the ruined artwork and stroked her daughter's hair. "How dare that woman call your father 'her Eli'?" She managed a smile for Veronica. "Sweetheart… would you like to visit daddy at his office?"
"Yes, mommy! I want to tell him about the girl who bullied me!"
"That's my brave girl. Let's go show her exactly who you are—and who I am." Samara thought to herself, picturing Natalia's face when she realized the truth. She took Veronica's hand and led her to the car, ready to pay her husband a surprise visit at Veritas.