Amber’s pov: “Well, thank you,” I say before cutting the call. That's considerate of him…Not going to lie, I am impressed. I bite my lips thinking about him, then I break out of it, and reach the table for a meal. Ugh, I don’t want to eat today. But I'm so hungry. Whatever. I take a picture of yesterday’s painting and send it to Killian asking him if it's okay. He responds with a voice message saying, “Okay? Are you kidding? It’s a masterpiece!” I smile, and despite my hurting back, work on the large canvas. After an hour, I feel exhausted, so I get back into bed. The sheets are changed, so they’re back to the stainless white beauty. “Amber..” Bianca enters with a glass filled with red liquid in her hand, “Drink this.” She hands it over to me. “Thank you, but what’s this?” I ask her staring at the glass. “Pomegranate juice, my mother used to drink it when she got bad cramps. I’m lucky to never have that kind of discomfort, but I remember her recipe.” This might be the most that she
Amber's pov: The clock ticks until it reaches five, and I wait impatiently on a sturdy back cushioned chair, clicking my heels on the floor. Alessandro and five other men walk out in sync as the guards open the door. He slightly tilts his head upon setting his gaze on me, and his eyes show me a soft look hidden behind his lashes. I stand up and walk up to him aloof from the men surrounding him. He does not display any form of physical contact for the first few seconds. “Meet my wife Amber Bianchi,” he announces to all the members standing there. Everyone is shaken by the revelation, but they try to keep a straight face. After exchanging a few words and greetings, a middle-aged man with grey hair and a strong build walks into the scene. Everyone except Alessandro bowed to him, and I stand tall by his side. Alessandro moves away from me, “Javed.” They smile at one another, it was a bizarre sight, and the man asks, “So, you’re his wife?” Javed’s tone was rather young for his age. “Yeah
Alessandro’s pov: Amber’s usually glowing eyes are gone, they display tremendous worry. “Sure, what’s it about? The party?” I ask casually and her eyes sink into deeper pain. I know exactly what I'm doing, and as much as this hurts, I've got to speak this way cause my hands are tied. “Alessandro, you told me that you can't tolerate Julia the day we signed the contract, but the day of my art gallery’s inauguration, you told me that you slept with her. And yesterday, you told me that we’ve got to convince the crowd about our marriage being legit but we should play it cool in front of Julia. I’m lost, so can you put me on the right track?” She asks with fury and skepticism. “I don't have to explain myself, or my actions to you, Amber,” I raise an eyebrow while speaking. “When it concerns me, you should,” she says. “How does this concern you?” I let out a sigh. I want her to tell me what she wants from me. “You and I are married, sure only on the contract,” she changes from whisper to no
Amber’s pov: His cold demeanor is questionable. I don’t know what led to his shift in behavior, but I am determined to find out. All night I’ve been thinking about what Alessandro said. Mhm, I need to mend their relationship as well. Not for him, but for Bianca. I’ve already convinced her to attend the welcome party, this will be their first step at coming together. Today’s morning rays are brighter than ever…But not my mood. Alessandro has made it clear that Julia is a “personal” subject. So, let that be that. I’m better off suppressing the matter, and saving myself from the headache that it’s going to cause me. I walk down the stairs and see Alessandro enter the padlocked room. Mhm, if I convince Harlow to give me the code, I can eavesdrop on him. “Harlow! My favorite brother-in-law!” I greet him with cheer. He is taken aback. “I need something from you,” I say. He rolls his eyes asking, “When are you not asking for a favor?” I chuckle and say, “Unlock that door for me.” He asks,
Amber’s pov: He’s doing all this for my art gallery? For the first time in forever, someone has cared about my art venture since my mother. My fingers trace his face as I think about how to safeguard him from all the pain. He wants to avenge his father’s death, but I know that killing someone will only bring him more pain. For now, Julia is the thorn in his path, and I will eliminate her. Not Alessandro style, but rather in some other way. We get home with our guards' assistance. and I hold him close to me all night long. The Next Morning: Alessandro’s pov: My head feels heavy. “Alessandro, drink up,” she holds up a glass of something to cure my hangover. I remember bits of our conversation from yesterday…I told her about Dante, my parents, and how much I hate this life. “Whatever you heard yesterday, don’t act upon it,” I order her fierce self. “I won’t, I’ll keep it to myself,” her eyes are back to how bright they used to be. I want to feel close to her, I want to hold her,
Alessandro’s pov: “What do you know about Javed?” I interrogate. She says, “When you were drunk, you told me about how he is threatening to take away my art gallery if you don’t divorce me.” “What else did I say?” I ask worriedly. “You confessed how scared you are to let go of me,” she smiles. “Nothing else, right?” I ask. She shakes her head. She doesn’t know that I need him to avenge my father’s death…That’s good because she’s not in trouble. “Amber there’s more to it, and you can’t know about it,” I tell her. “Alessandro, I am no child, I can handle it, let me in.” She displays a soft look. “It’s not about that, we’ve established a code of silence about the matter, and all those who’re not part of the underground and know about it have been eliminated,” I mumble. She isn't shaken, “I don’t care about the consequences, Alessandro, just tell me, I can't sit by and watch the pain that you’re facing all alone.” She speaks without a breath of air, “It hurts me, and I don’t even kno
Fear. The only word to describe Amber’s current state of mind. Alessandro was a man of his word, and he had given her his word stating that he would protect her at all times, but as he stepped away from her, and walked into the house, her hopes were crushed. As Javed took slim steps towards her, she backed away up until her back touched the stone pillar. He smiled as though she were his prey. He was angry that his daughter, who had not once been verbally disrespected, had blood flowing down her cracked lip. “Amber, I have dealt with your father in the past, he is the best of the best in the business world, but I know that your death will not worry him.” Javed's bitter words didn't hurt Amber, she knew exactly how her father was. “Before I kill you, I’d like for you to beg for forgiveness.” Amber is stubborn. She smiled at his face, and said, “Javed, you’d be a fool to think that I’d ever do something like that.” Javed smiled back and said, “Well, isn’t it sad, your beloved husb
TW: Violence There was irony in Alessandro’s statement…He told Amber that he trusted her after she broke his protocols, but with all that he could draw from her, he knew that she was reckless, nevertheless, honest in all that she did. Sure, she was defiant, but only when she knew better. He believed that she was an innocent soul. “Amber, I was seventeen years old when I lost my father.” Alessandro said as he traced the sponge to cleanse her skin, “The image still haunts me. The worst part? I was right in front of him, and yet, I was helpless.” Amber thought of the time she felt the same way when she couldn't save her mother. “I was shackled to the ground…My hands were tied above my head with spiky handcuffs, one move, and I might as well have lost my hand. In front of my eyes, he stood on a high-rise platform with over fifteen men surrounding him.” Alessandro shuddered before he went forth with his words. Amber’s skin was completely clear now, all the dirt was on the sponge. Alessa