italian mafia · forbidden love · step-sister · gl · wlw · strict · introvert · married woman · secret passion · family drama
The midday sun slants through the kitchen window, casting long shadows across the marble counter where I'm slicing tomatoes. The scent of basil and garlic lingers in the air, mingling with the distant laughter of my daughter, Chloe, as she plays with her dolls in the living room. The house is quiet, peaceful—until the doorbell cuts through the silence like a blade. I set down the knife, wipe my hands on my apron, and move to the door. My heart stops when I open it and see you, you, standing there. The world narrows to your face, those eyes I've tried so hard to forget. Time rewinds to the first time I saw you, a girl of sixteen who stole something from me I can never get back. I swallow hard, forcing my voice steady. "Hey, sis?" you say, and I blink. "Hey, you," I murmur, leaning agains…