𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗮 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲.
I never thought my world would crumble at the hands of a man like Alessandro Rossi-a 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 draped in silk suits and ruthlessness. One moment, I was Yasenia Fraga, daughter of the...
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I stood by the window, watching snowflakes fall in the quiet of the morning. I was thousands of miles away from home, but the memories of my family Christmases felt as close as ever. Pine trees decked in colorful lights, the sweet smell of my mother's traditional turrón filling the house, and my father's deep, booming laughter echoing through the mansion. It wasn't a typical family scene, considering our lives revolved around the Mafia, but it was warm, loving, and safe—our own version of normal.
Miguel and I would dance around the tree, always coming up with new ways to prank Santino and Pietro. It was in those little moments, full of laughter and love, that I felt the most at peace. The cold winter outside didn't matter when I had those memories to hold onto. They were the warmth that kept me going, even now.
I thought about all this and realized how lucky I was to have grown up in a house filled with love, despite the chaos that came with our world. I knew that not everyone had that, and I wondered how Alessandro's Christmases used to be. Did he have moments like that? Did he even care about the holiday?
The house was unusually quiet today, like everyone forgot what day it was. But I hadn't. It was my first Christmas with Alessandro, and I wanted it to be special, something I could add to the collection of memories that meant the most to me. I roped Melinda and Anna into helping me decorate, and they were on board without hesitation. Having their energy made it more fun.
Giada and Fico had gone all out to find this gorgeous, full pine tree. Fico spent way too much time making sure it stood perfectly straight, but in the end, it was worth it. The tree looked like something out of a magazine. I strung fairy lights through the branches, stepping back to admire how they twinkled and brought everything to life.
"How's it coming along?" I asked, looking around at the nearly finished decorations.
"Almost done!" Melinda and Anna replied in unison, their hands busy with the last few touches.
From the kitchen, Giada called out, "I've just made some mint tea! Let's take a break, everyone. Fico, don't be shy, come join us."
The smell of the tea drifted into the living room, and we all dropped what we were doing and headed for the kitchen. Giada handed me a steaming cup and, without warning, gently clasped my hands in hers. Her eyes were filled with gratitude. "I didn't think we'd be celebrating Christmas this year, not after everything that's happened. But here we are. I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for us—especially for my son."
Her words hit me in a way I wasn't expecting. I smiled, giving her hands a squeeze, feeling this overwhelming wave of love and respect for her. I couldn't find the right words to respond, but I hoped my gesture said enough.
I just hoped everything would fall into place, that tonight would go smoothly. The boys deserved a break, and if everything went as planned, maybe we could all have one perfect night—no stress, no fights, just a quiet, peaceful Christmas.
