Note:_
This is the story of Colin Xavier Mariano and Amyra Valentina De Luca.
It is separate from Jay and Kiefer's story. I wanted to share their journey—Because their lives deserve to be told, too. Their pain.Their choices.Their love. In this book, every character has a story. Every heart carries something worth understanding. You can skip this part if you'd like—But I truly hope you don't. Because I believe…You might fall in love with their story—Just like I did.
And if you do—
I'd love to hear your thoughts. ❤️
Third Person (POV)
Colin Xavier Mariano was never meant to be born into love.
His parents—Jashfer Mariano and Reycee Mariano—were forced into a marriage they never wanted.
They resisted. Fought. Begged for another choice.
But none was given.
If they refused—
Their families would die.
So they married.
Not for love.
Not for each other.
But to save everyone else.
Even after marriage, they remained strangers.
They lived under the same roof—
But never as husband and wife.
Jashfer's father saw it.
And decided to end it.
One night—
He drugged them.
Locked them in a room.
And forced fate to do what they refused to.
That night—
Created Cole.
Before he was even born, Colin Xavier Mariano was declared the heir of the Mariano Empire.
A child destined for power.
But never for love.
He grew up surrounded by people—
Yet completely alone.
Ignored.
Unwanted.
Invisible.
By the time he turned five—
The fragile illusion of family was shattered.
His parents built separate lives.
Separate families.
Separate worlds.
From those broken paths came more children—
Percy.
Jay.
Jare.
But secrets never stay buried.
When the truth surfaced—
Jashfer's father returned.
With another threat.
If they tried to break the marriage—
He would kill their children.
And just like that—
Love died again.
They let go of everything.
Choose distance.
Choose silence.
Choose survival.
Years passed.
Pain became routine.
Distance became understanding.
Jashfer Mariano and Reycee Mariano became something else.
Not lovers.
Not enemies.
But partners.
Bound by a life neither of them chose.
But none of that explained—
What it felt like to be their son.
Cole (POV)
I was never meant to be born into love.
I knew that long before anyone said it out loud.
I don't remember warmth.
I don't remember being held.
I don't remember anyone choosing me.
I remember silence.
Cold looks.
And the feeling of being… unnecessary.
Invisible.
By the time I was five—
I understood something clearly.
In this family—
You don't get love.
You earn your place.
Or you disappear.
So I stopped expecting anything.
Stopped needing anything.
Stopped… feeling anything.
Until him.
Jare.
He didn't understand distance.
Didn't understand silence.
Didn't understand me.
All he knew was—
I was his brother.
"Kuya…"
That word followed me everywhere.
No matter how many times I ignored him…
No matter how many times I walked away…
He came back.
I tried to avoid him.
At first, it was intentional.
Distance.
Silence.
Indifference.
It was easier that way.
Safer.
But then—
Something changed.
Without realizing when—
I started noticing him.
The small footsteps outside my room.
The quiet pauses.
The hesitation.
Sometimes—
The door would open just a little.
Then close again.
He never came in.
Never crossed the line.
He just…
Waited.
Every day.
At the same time.
Standing there.
Looking at the door—
Like he believed it would open.
Like he believed I would let him in.
And sometimes—
Without understanding why—
I found myself staring at that same door.
Waiting.
I don't know when it started.
I don't know why I didn't stop it.
But I did.
I waited.
Just like him…
I started to change.
I learned how to speak more.
How to laugh.
How to exist… without feeling like I didn't belong.
After Jare came into my life—
Everything was different.
For the first time…
I felt warmth.
I felt what it meant to be part of a family.
I got closer to Mom and Dad.
Not completely.
Not perfectly.
But enough.
And Jare—
He never left my side.
He would drag Mom and Dad to every school event.
Every competition.
Every small achievement—
Just so I wouldn't feel alone.
And somehow…
I didn't.
For the first time in my life—
I wasn't alone.
But peace never lasts in this family.
Everything changed when I turned fifteen.
Jare was ten.
Jay-Jay had an accident.
Serious enough to shake everything.
At the same time—
A lawsuit hit Dad.
And behind it…
It was something worse.
I asked him why we couldn't bring her back.
Why couldn't we protect her?
His answer stayed with me.
Cold.
Heavy.
Unforgivable.
"She threatened to kill Jay… if I get near her."
That was the first time I truly understood—
Power wasn't enough.
Not yet.
But before I could process it—
Everything fell apart again.
Jare found out the truth.
That I was only his half-brother.
That Reycee wasn't his real mother.
And just like that—
The bond we built began to crack.
"I understand now…" he said, his voice shaking.
"Why were you so cold before… why did you avoid me…"
My chest tightened.
Even before he finished—
I knew what was coming.
"Even if I were you…" He continued, forcing a smile that didn't reach his eyes,
"I would hate me too."
"Jare—"
But he ran.
Before I could say anything.
And after that—
He avoided me.
Every time I looked for him—
He disappeared.
Every time I got close—
He walked away.
For a week—
He treated me like I didn't exist.
Like I used to treat him.
Maybe…
I deserved it.
One night, I was lying on my bed—
Thinking.
Overthinking.
Drowning in things I couldn't fix.
A knock broke the silence.
I opened the door.
Jare stood there.
Trying to stay strong.
Trying not to cry.
But the moment he saw me—
He broke.
He hugged me tightly.
Like he was afraid I would disappear.
"I really like you, Kuya…" he said, his voice trembling.
"I don't need the Mariano Empire… so don't hate me."
For a second—
I just stood there.
Then I exhaled.
Pulled him closer.
And kissed the top of his head.
"You're worrying about something stupid," I said quietly.
"I never hated you."
A pause.
"You're my brother."
I pulled back slightly, looking at him.
A small smirk forms.
"And if you think you can beat me and run Mariano…"
I tilted my head.
"Try."
That night—
He told me everything.
How much he cried.
How scared he was.
How much he didn't want to lose me.
And I realized something.
I was weak.
Not in strength.
Not in power.
But in protection.
I couldn't protect my family.
Not from threats.
Not from fear.
Not from people stronger than us.
So I made a decision.
I would never feel that helpless again.
That's when—
I created it.
FORTIS GROUP.
Strength.
Not just a name—
But a promise.
I built it from nothing.
Gathered people from different countries—
People who needed protection.
People who were willing to give loyalty in return.
Because in my world—
You could only survive if you were useful.
Or loyal.
Preferably both.
I didn't just build connections.
I built control.
Future heirs of powerful families.
Influential figures.
Hidden players behind empires.
They all became part of my network.
And me?
I stood at the center of it.
Watching.
Learning.
Growing.
I attended every banquet Dad went to.
Every high-profile meeting.
Every place where power spoke without words.
That's where I saw her.
Amyra Valentina De Luca.
A name that carried power—
And a presence that demanded attention.
She wasn't just part of the room.
She controlled it.
The way she stood.
The way people listened.
The way no one dared to underestimate her—
Even for a second.
She ran her company like she was born for it.
Head high.
Unshaken.
Unbreakable.
She was exactly the kind of person I needed.
A core piece for FORTIS.
She was two years older than me.
Seventeen—
When she lost everything.
Her family.
Her name.
Her protection.
The world called it an accident.
I didn't.
I knew the truth.
Her uncles killed them.
Wrapped it up clean.
Turned blood into paperwork.
And still—
She survived.
Built everything back.
Alone.
That's why I wanted her.
That's why I didn't stop.
Even after four rejections.
I walked toward her.
She noticed.
Of course she did.
"You again?" she said, folding her arms.
"Do you just appear everywhere I go now?"
"You already know why I'm here," I replied calmly.
She let out a small, humorless laugh.
"A Mariano… chasing me for power?"
Her eyes met mine—
Sharp.
Unimpressed.
Then she stepped closer.
Too close.
Her voice dropped to a whisper near my ear.
"I don't trust people who chase power," she said softly.
"It eats them alive… when the time comes."
And just like that—
She walked past me.
Like I wasn't worth another second.
Behind me, Haru let out a low whistle.
"Why are you chasing a woman like that, bro?" he said, amused.
I turned slowly.
My gaze is cold.
"What if she's a woman?" I said.
A pause.
"I saw her capability."
My eyes drifted to the exit—
Where she disappeared.
"And I don't let go of things that matter…"
After I returned home, everything changed.
Mom got a call.
Percy had met with an accident—he fell off a hill into a river.
For two days, we searched every inch.
Every road.Every corner.Every possibility.
Until I found him.
Alive.
He was lucky.
Too lucky.
But his spine was badly injured, so we admitted him to a hospital under strict care.
Hidden.
Protected.
Untouchable.
I made sure nothing about him leaked out.
No records.No visitors.No trace.
Mom asked me not to tell anyone he was alive.
So we buried the truth.
Two years later
I went to a bar.
And I saw her.
Amy.
Drinking.
Alone.
I walked toward her.
She noticed immediately.
Of course she did.
"Tss… you again?" she muttered, clearly annoyed."How do you always end up wherever I go?"
"Trust me… I walked in and spotted you," I said.
I didn't look away.
"Stop staring at me," she muttered, taking another sip.
She looked… different.
Quieter.
"You look sad," I said.
She let out a faint breath.
"You're really good at reading people."
"Maybe," I replied."But with you… It's easy."
A pause.
"Even when you smile…"
My voice lowered.
"Your eyes don't."
She froze.
The smile on her lips faded slowly.
"Today is my parents' death anniversary," she said.
A tear slipped down her cheek.
I didn't ask anything else.
"Do you want to share a drink?" I asked.
She nodded.
For a while, we just sat there.
Silence—but not uncomfortable.
"Why aren't you asking anything?" she asked after a while.
"If you want to tell me… " You will," I said quietly.
A small pause.
"I just want to stay… beside you."
That night—
We drank.
Not to forget.
But to endure.
After that—
She started avoiding me.
At parties.
At meetings.
Everywhere.
Maybe…
Because I saw a side of her—
She never wanted anyone to see.
Then—
We got a mission.
An underground target.
Simple on paper.
Deadly in reality.
I checked the details.
Something felt off.
But we moved anyway.
And then—
Everything went wrong.
Gunfire.
Ambush.
Chaos.
We were outnumbered.
Outplayed.
I got hit.
Hard.
For a moment—
I thought…
This was it.
Then—
A car screeched beside me.
The door flew open.
Strong hands pulled me inside.
Before I could react—
She stepped out.
Amy.
Gun in hand.
Eyes cold.
Unshaken.
She fired—
Not hesitating.
Not missing.
One shot.
Two.
Three.
Like she wasn't afraid of death—
Like she had nothing left to lose.
She fought like survival was the only thing that mattered.
And in minutes—
It was over.
Silence replaced the chaos.
She got back into the car.
Looked at me briefly—
Just to make sure I was still breathing.
Then drove.
The hospital lights blurred past.
"Why did you save me?" I asked, my voice rough.
She didn't look at me.
"Maybe…" she said quietly,"I don't want to see you die."
I let out a faint breath.
"You were… impressive out there."
A small pause.
"When did you learn to fight?"
She finally glanced at me.
"My life taught me," she said."Whether I wanted to or not."
And just like that—
I understood.
She wasn't strong because she chose to be.
She was strong—
Because she had no other choice.
After I turned eighteen—
She came to me.
"Happy birthday, Coco."
I frowned.
"Coco… what?"
Then I saw what she was holding.
Papers.
My eyes narrowed as I took them.
"Where did you get these?" I asked.
FORTIS GROUP.
She shrugged slightly.
"Angelo gave them to me."
A small pause.
"Do you like the gift?"
I looked at her.
Then back at the papers.
"Best gift," I said.
After she joined—
Everything became easier.
Stronger.
Sharper.
When we had time—
We fought.
Not arguments.
Not words.
Real fights.
She challenged me every single time.
And every single time—
She brought me down.
It took me two years—
To finally gain the upper hand.
But strength wasn't our biggest difference.
It was this.
One mission.
One target.
One mistake.
We were supposed to eliminate him.
I did.
Without hesitation.
But she didn't.
"I couldn't," she said.
Her voice was quieter than I'd ever heard it.
"There was guilt in his eyes."
I frowned.
"If someone regrets it… truly regrets it…"
She looked at me.
"They don't deserve to die."
Then she made me promise.
"If you ever see that…"
A pause.
"Don't kill them."
I didn't answer.
Not properly.
Because when the moment came—
I still pulled the trigger.
And after that—
She stopped talking to me.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Just…
Silently.
Like I no longer existed in her world.
After that—
I buried myself in work.
Mariano Empire.
FORTIS Group.
I stayed busy.
Because it was easier than thinking.
Easier than remembering.
She stopped involving herself.
Stopped crossing my path—
Like whatever we had…
Had become a problem she chose to avoid.
When we did meet—
It was brief.
Professional.
Distant.
She spoke only about work.
Nothing more.
Nothing personal.
So I did the same.
Then—
My grandfather died.
And not long after—
Dad was diagnosed with cancer.
Everything fell on me.
Responsibility.
Pressure.
Expectations.
I handled it.
I always do.
But somewhere in between—
I burned out.
Not physically.
But here.
Something changed.
I wasn't the same person anymore.
I became what Mariano needed.
A CEO.
A leader.
A man who didn't hesitate.
And she—
Moved on.
We stopped meeting.
And even when we did—
We avoided each other.
Like strangers who knew too much.
Three years later, then one day—
On Kiefer's birthday—
I heard something.
Amyra Valentina De Luca—
Was looking for a husband.
For a second—
Everything went silent.
It felt like something—
Sharp—
Drove straight through my chest.
But I didn't have time to process it.
Jay was missing.
That came first.
Always.
I spoke to Kiefer.
Got what I needed.
And then—
I went to her.
Because no matter what changed—
One thing didn't.
I still wasn't ready to let her go.
She was talking to someone.
Smiling.
I didn't like that.
Before I could think—
I walked straight toward her.
Grabbed her wrist.
And pulled her into an empty hall.
"Why are you smiling at him?" I asked.
She didn't pull away.
Didn't look surprised.
Instead—
She leaned closer.
Just enough to make it dangerous.
"Are you asking me as my boss…" she whispered,
A pause.
"Or as Coco?"
My jaw tightened.
"Luca… you want to marry?"
She studied me for a second.
Then shrugged lightly.
"I'm twenty-five," she said."I want a family."
A small pause.
"I want kids."
Something twisted inside my chest.
"Then what about us?" I asked.
She let out a quiet laugh.
Not amused.
Not soft.
"What us, Cole?"
Her eyes met mine.
Clear.
Steady.
"Every time I tried to talk about us…"
A pause.
"You avoided me."
"So I'm moving on."
She stepped back slightly.
Creating distance.
"If you want," she added casually,"I can even find you, someone."
A faint smirk.
"Just tell me your type."
Something snapped.
"I didn't know my type," I said.
My voice low.
Firm.
"I don't want anyone else."
I stepped closer.
Closing the space she created.
"I want you."
For a second—
She didn't respond.
And then—
Footsteps.
"Kiefer?" I turned.
"I found Jay," he said.
Everything else disappeared.
I looked back at her.
This wasn't over.
Not even close.
"Now I need to protect my sister," I said.
My voice is colder now.
Sharper.
"But listen carefully."
I stepped closer—
Just enough for only her to hear.
"If you marry anyone but me…"
A pause.
"I'll kill him the moment he touches you ."
Her eyes didn't flinch.
But mine didn't either.
And then—
I walked away.
I found Jay.
Brought her back to New York.
Safe.
The moment we arrived—
I sent them to the mansion.
And I went straight to her.
Valentina Corporation.
Her world.
I walked into her chamber without knocking.
She was in a meeting.
Didn't matter.
"I need to talk to you," I said.
She didn't even look at me.
"Later," she replied calmly. "I have a meeting."
I glanced at everyone in the room.
Then back at her.
"I also have something important to discuss," I said.
A pause.
"My future."
Silence fell instantly.
Her eyes lifted to mine.
She understood.
"I'll be back," she said, standing up.
We walked into her cabin.
The door closed behind us.
She turned to me.
"What now?" she asked."Did you finish your family problems?"
I didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
"Marry me."
She froze.
"What the hell are you saying?" she snapped."Are you drunk?"
"I'm completely sober," I said.
Her eyes searched mine.
Trying to find hesitation.
There was none.
"Didn't you say you wanted to marry?" I continued."To have a family?"
A step closer.
"Then be my wife."
My voice lowered.
"Be the mother of my child."
"Do you even hear yourself?" she asked, disbelief clear in her voice.
"I do," I said.
And I took out the ring.
"I came here with this."
She went quiet.
"I've thought about everything," I continued.
"No dates."
"No gifts."
A breath.
"I won't be the kind of man who does all that."
I met her eyes.
Steady.
Honest.
"But if you're my wife…"
My voice softened—just slightly.
"When I come home…"
A pause.
"I can hold you."
"You'll be mine."
Silence.
Heavy.
"I'm not perfect," she said quietly."I don't even know how to cook."
A faint smile touched my lips.
"I'm not looking for perfect," I said."I want you."
A pause.
"Only you."
"I can cook," I added."Jay said I could open a restaurant after tasting my pancakes."
She raised a brow.
"But I can't live on pancakes alone."
I stepped closer.
"Then I'll learn," I said.
Soft.
Certain.
"There's time…"
A pause.
"After you marry me."
For a moment—
She just looked at me.
Then—
Slowly—
She extended her hand.
"Put it on," she said."Before I change my mind."
I didn't hesitate.
The ring slid onto her finger.
Perfect.
She looked at it.
A small smile forms.
"It's pretty," she murmured."Exactly my style."
And just like that—
She said yes.
That evening—
I took her home.
No hesitation.
No second thoughts.
I called everyone.
Dad.
Mom.
Jare.
Percy.
Jay.
They all gathered in the living room.
Watching.
Waiting.
I stood beside her.
Calm.
Certain.
"I'm going to marry her," I said.
I didn't ask.
I informed.
Silence—
For a second.
Then—
Mom broke it.
Her face lit up instantly.
"Wow…" she said, walking straight to Amy."I'm finally getting two daughters on the same day."
She pulled her into a warm hug.
Amy stiffened at first—
Then, slowly, I relaxed.
Jare laughed.
"Finally," he said, shaking his head."My brother is actually getting married."
Percy smirked from the side.
"Never thought I'd see this day."
Jay stepped closer, studying her for a second—
Then smiled.
"She's cool, Kuya."
I glanced at Amy.
She wasn't saying much.
But I could see it—
She was overwhelmed.
Not by power.
Not by pressure.
But by something unfamiliar.
Warmth.
And this time—
She didn't push it away.
Years passed.
Four.
And somehow—
Everything changed.
We had Kai, our son.
She still runs her empire.
Still sharp.
Still unstoppable.
Nothing about her became smaller.
Except—
The distance she used to keep.
Now—
She comes home.
To us.
To a family that chose her—
And never let go.
And for the first time in her life—
She isn't surviving.
She's living.
Amyra Valentina De Luca
Amy (POV)
I grew up in a home filled with love.
A father who never said no.
A mother who never let me feel alone.
A brother who stayed by my side—
No matter what.
It was simple.
Warm.
Safe.
Until one day—
It was gone.
Everything.
They called it a tragedy.
An accident.
I knew better.
I survived.
The only one.
At the funeral—
I didn't cry.
Not because it didn't hurt.
But because I refused to break.
Refused to give them what they wanted.
Pity.
Control.
Ownership.
Because the moment my family died—
People stopped seeing me as a girl.
And started seeing me as an opportunity.
Guardianship requests came one after another.
Relatives.
Business partners.
Strangers pretending to care.
Not for me.
For Valentina Corporation.
My name.
My power.
My inheritance.
So I made a decision.
I destroyed every attempt to control me.
I took my company—
And I ran it myself.
No guidance.
No protection.
No second chances.
Every day became survival.
I learned how to fight.
How to shoot.
How to read people before they speak.
Because if I didn't—
I wouldn't last.
Little by little—
It took me two years to change.
Softer parts of me disappeared.
Trust became a weakness.
Emotion became a risk.
I became colder.
Sharper.
Untouchable.
And it worked.
No one could reach me.
No one could break me.
Until—
He did.
I was seventeen
When a fifteen-year-old boy walked up to me.
Confident.
Calm.
Watching me like he already knew something I didn't.
Colin Xavier Mariano.
He didn't look at me with pity.
Didn't look at me with greed.
He looked at me—
Like I was something worth understanding.
And for the first time in years—
I didn't know what to do with that.
He was just a boy.
A boy who kept chasing me—
Asking me to join FORTIS.
Of course, I researched it.
I always do.
A group built on power.
On protection.
On control.
They protect what matters to you—
But in return…
They own a part of you.
I don't belong to anyone.
So I refused.
Once.
Twice.
Four times.
And still—
He didn't stop.
I ignored him.
Dismissed him.
Walked past him like he didn't exist.
But something about him—
Didn't change.
He never looked at me the way others did.
Not as a girl.
Not as someone fragile.
Not as someone to control.
He looked at me—
Like I was capable.
Like I was dangerous.
Like I was… equal.
Everyone else saw my gender.
He saw my strength.
My power.
Everything I built—
Without help.
And that—
Was new.
Then two years later, on one night—
He found me.
Drinking.
Not judging.
Not questioning.
Just… there.
"I'm not here to ask anything," he said quietly."I just want to stay beside you."
No pressure.
No expectations.
Just presence.
For the first time—
I didn't know how to respond.
So I looked at him.
Really looked at him.
And something shifted.
Something I didn't want.
Didn't expect.
Something… dangerous.
So the next time I saw him—
At a party—
I walked away.
And after that—
I avoided him.
Everywhere.
Every time.
Because I knew—
If I didn't—
I might not be able to anymore.
When he turned eighteen—
I joined FORTIS.
I told myself it was a strategic decision.
A calculated move.
But the truth?
My life… started to feel different.
Lighter.
We trained together.
Fought in the ring.
No holding back.
No hesitation.
Bruises, sweat, silence—
And sometimes…
Conversations.
About childhood.
About things we never told anyone else.
Somewhere along the way—
Without me noticing—
He crossed my boundaries.
And I let him.
He became part of my life—
Without asking permission.
Without forcing his way in.
He just… stayed.
Until one mission—
Changed everything.
We had a target.
Clear.
Simple.
But when the moment came—
I couldn't do it.
I saw something in his eyes.
Guilt.
Real.
Unavoidable.
And suddenly—
I wasn't there anymore.
I was back.
That day.
That "accident."
My father's face.
His pain.
The moment everything was taken from me.
My hand froze.
But Cole—
Didn't.
He pulled the trigger.
And just like that—
It was over.
After that—
I couldn't look at him the same way.
I tried.
But every time I met his eyes—
I saw it again.
Not him.
But that moment.
That face.
That guilt—
That he chose to ignore.
So I did the only thing I could.
I avoided him.
Not because I hated him.
But because—
I couldn't face what I felt when I looked at him.
I found out about his grandfather.
He was gone.
And not long after—
His father was diagnosed with cancer.
For the first time—
I saw cracks in him.
So I tried.
I tried to be there.
Not as a member of FORTIS.
Not as an ally.
But as… someone who cared.
And he pushed me away.
At first—
I thought it was temporary.
That he just needed time.
So I waited.
Days turned into weeks.
Weeks into months.
Years.
Three years—
Of distance.
He buried himself in the Mariano Empire.
In power.
In responsibility.
And I let him.
Because I understood.
I even found out his brother was in the hospital.
Hidden.
Protected.
But still—
I didn't push him.
Because I knew—
If I did, he would only step further away.
So I stayed where I was.
Waiting.
Hoping—
He would come back.
But he didn't.
Not once.
Not even a glance.
And that's when I realized—
Waiting wasn't enough.
So I did something reckless.
Something unlike me.
I let a rumor spread.
That I was looking for a husband.
I wanted to get married.
Not because I needed one.
But because—
I wanted him.
Because out of everyone—
He was the only one who saw me.
Not as the heir of Valentina.
Not as power.
Not as something to gain.
But as… me.
And if that was the only way to pull him back—
Then so be it.
That's how—
I saw him again.
At the Watson new hire party.
After three years—
He finally looked at me again.
But he left again.
For his family.
I didn't hate it.
Because I understood.
He loves them.
The way I once loved mine.
The way I still do.
So I didn't ask him to choose.
I didn't fight it.
I just…
Wanted a place beside him.
Because I knew—
If I became part of his family—
He wouldn't leave me behind.
He would protect me, too.
Care for me, too.
Just like he does for them.
And then—
He came back.
Not with apologies.
Not with explanations.
But with a ring.
And a question that wasn't really a question.
He asked me to marry him.
And I said yes.
Not because it was perfect.
Not because it was easy.
But because it was him.
We got married.
And for the first time—
I lived a life I never even allowed myself to imagine.
A home.
A family.
A place where I wasn't alone.
He didn't just give me a future—
He gave me a reason to live again.