DANTEAs I lay on my bed that night, I couldn't shake off the events of the day. My heart ached as I thought about Anna Scott, the woman whose life was tragically cut short. Her death had left a void in my life, one that I knew would never be filled. It seemed that each passing day brought me no closer to finding her killer.Despite my overwhelming grief, I knew I had to do something to honor Anna's memory. And so, I resolved to start a charity foundation in her name. I would transfer all the money in her account to the charity, just as she would have wanted. She never cared for the extravagant gifts or the lavish lifestyle that I had provided her. Instead, she had always yearned for a simple life filled with love and laughter.Reflecting back on the time I spent with Anna, I couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. If only I had known how little time she had left on this earth, I would have done everything in my power to make every moment count. But my foolishness had cost her everyt

ANNAI could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I tried to mask my fear. . "Torturing me isn't going to get us anywhere," I said, desperately hoping he would reconsider. "Just give my brain some time to come up with something."The man shook his head, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "Like I said earlier, I don't have that kind of time," he sneered. "But don't worry, this method will definitely work. A little shock is all your brain needs."My eyes widened as he approached me with a knife, the sharp glint of its blade catching the light. "What are you going to do with that?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper."What do you think we do with knives?" he taunted. "You were once Dante's lover, surely you know what he does with his knives. But for clarity's sake, I'm going to cut you open and stitch you up again. And we'll do it every day."I gasped as he plunged the knife into my lower abdomen, the pain radiating through my body like a wildfire. I could feel my blood pooling be

DANTEThe world has a peculiar way of surprising us. Just when I thought I was the only one terrible at protecting those I cherish, someone proved me wrong. I couldn't help but fixate on the photograph of Orlando's daughter – a truly beautiful girl, tragically lost to us through suicide. The media labeled it as such, but they never disclosed the motive behind her desperate act.Orlando did an impressive job of concealing the truth behind his daughter's suicide, yet rumors persisted and spread through the streets. Whispers suggested that one of his associates had violated her. I'm perplexed as to how he managed the situation so covertly and still stayed hidden. Even though he's mourning the loss of his daughter, it won't dissuade me from seeking vengeance, from chopping his body parts bit by bit. The only thing that will save him is if he had no hand in Anna's death.As I continued to stare at the pictures, a knock interrupted my thoughts. I invited the person in, and Tom entered the

DANTE Surprised and angered by the audacity of someone hacking into an account connected to me, I demanded, "Have you identified the hacker?"Tom replied hesitantly, "The transaction was executed seamlessly."My frustration grew. "No one besides Anna and me has access to her account details. So if I didn't initiate the transaction, who did?"Tom's response was straightforward, "The only person who holds the answer to that question is Nathan Miverton."Running my finger over my lips, I contemplated the situation. "I'll investigate further. In the meantime, I want you to dig into Clifford Cameron."Curious, Tom inquired, "May I ask who he is?""He's the individual who prompted Lisa to seek a new gynecologist. Lisa happens to be married to him," I revealed. Turning to Matteo, I added, "I need Miverton's home address.""Yes, boss," they both acknowledged in unison before promptly leaving my office.I rose from my seat and poured myself a glass of Scotch, needing some respite as I contemp

ANNAInitially, I had the impulse to pull away, but upon further reflection, I chose to surrender to the moment. Screw Dante and his hold on my thoughts. Goodness, did I really just think of Dante while engaged in a kiss with another man? If I decide to pursue someone else, I shouldn't harbor an ounce of guilt, considering that despicable individual abandoned me to suffer at the hands of Orlando, all the while frolicking around with that superficial bimbo. In that instant, I sensed a void, and it was then that I noticed Xavier had ceased our kiss, his gaze fixed upon me."Are you thinking of him?" he inquired, his words tinged with a mix of curiosity and concern.Goodness, is this what it feels like to experience both guilt and shame simultaneously? "I apologize, Xavier, but trust me, thoughts of intimate moments with him didn't cross my mind."He offered me a feeble smile, his eyes filled with understanding. "It doesn't necessarily matter what specific thoughts are running through yo