章 4: Chapter 4: Shadows of the Past

Haunted by memories of his stepmother's abuse, Alexander struggled to reconcile his past with his present. He confided in Isabel about the emotional scars that had shaped him. "She treated me like a pawn, using me to expand her power," he revealed one night, his voice filled with pain.

Isabel listened, her heart aching for him. "You don't have to be defined by her cruelty, Alexander. You can choose a different path."

Her words planted a seed of hope in his heart, but the ties to the mafia were not easily severed. He knew that breaking free would require a strength he wasn't sure he possessed.