Aliana’s POV

It had been years since we left our past behind, but sometimes it still felt like yesterday. The chaos, the uncertainty, the bloodshed—it had once defined our lives. But now? Now, life was different.

I stood in the kitchen of our home, the scent of freshly brewed coffee filling the air as the morning light filtered through the large windows. My restaurants were thriving, both of them—one by the beach, the other nestled in the heart of the city. People loved my food, my ideas, my vision. It had taken years of hard work, but I had built something lasting.

Yet, even with all the success, my favorite...