I stared at the masked man, my face a mask of cold composure. He was doing his best to provoke me, to get under my skin, but I wasn't about to give him the satisfaction. Around us, the room was tense with anticipation, eyes flicking between us as if expecting a fight to break out any moment. "You think you can protect your family from us?" the masked man sneered, his voice dripping with condescension. "You're far from home, Romanov. Here, you're just another player in our game." I kept my expression neutral, my eyes boring into his. "And you think you're in control?" I replied evenly. "That's cute." Helios, standing nearby, let out a booming laugh, clearly enjoying the exchange. But I wasn’t here for his amusement. The masked man took a step closer, his attempt at intimidation almost laughable. "You’re just a puppet," I said, my voice low and steady. "Following orders without a mind of your own. Tell me, how does it feel to be nothing more than someone’s errand boy?" The man's ey
As I stare through the glass of the incubator, watching our daughter’s tiny chest rise and fall, relief floods through me. The doctors said she was gas-poisoned, but now she’s stable. Annizah leans into me, her warmth a stark contrast to the cold hospital environment. The steady hum of the machines around us fades into the background as we stand together, united in our silent vigil. “This world is so dangerous,” Annizah whispers, her voice trembling. “I never realized just how much until now.” I tighten my arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer. “Do you regret it? Choosing me, this life?” She looks up at me, her eyes filled with love and sadness. “I don’t regret choosing you, Vincenzo. I only feel sorry that you had to be born into this kind of lifestyle. But I love you, and that’s all that matters.” Her words are a balm to my soul, and I press a kiss to her forehead. “I promise you, Annizah, I’ll take care of everything. I’ll end this once and for all. Our family will b
A month has passed since the hospital incident, and our daughter, Fiore, has been growing healthier and stronger every day. The threats against our family have seemingly quieted down, but I’ve learned not to let my guard down. Even in moments of peace, I remain vigilant, always on edge, always searching. In my study, I sit hunched over my laptop, scanning through files and databases, desperately trying to find any trace of my half-brother. Despite our advanced technology and the network of contacts at my disposal, he remains elusive. It's as if he’s a ghost, slipping through every net I cast. Just then, Mark walks in, his presence a surprising interruption. “Got any leads?” he asks, casually leaning against the doorway. I glance up, my brows furrowed in confusion. “Why are you asking?” He smirks, a glint of mystery in his eyes. “I might have some clues for you.” My interest piqued, I shut the laptop and focus on him. “What do you know?” Mark shrugs nonchalantly. “Let’s jus
Months had passed, and I found myself in my third trimester. The peace that had settled over our lives was unnerving. After everything we'd been through, the calm felt like the eye of a storm. The house was quiet, almost too quiet, and even the daily routines had taken on an eerie normalcy. My stomach was so big now that moving around was a challenge, and even simple tasks left me exhausted. I couldn't help but feel a constant, underlying sense of dread, as if something was waiting to disrupt our fragile tranquility. Every day felt like a countdown to an unknown event. I spent my time trying to distract myself with books, TV shows, and preparing for the baby, but the nagging fear never really went away. It was as if the silence around us was amplifying my anxieties. The peaceful facade was only skin-deep; beneath it, I knew there were unresolved threats, lingering shadows from our past conflicts. I was sitting on the couch, trying to find a comfortable position, when Vincenzo walked
PROLOGUEI found myself gazing at the crowd, bewildered by the unfamiliar surroundings. How did I land in a place like this? Each person was adorned in exquisite dresses and sharp suits, radiating an innate elegance. It seemed as if grace and sophistication were second nature to everyone present.I wore a light blue backless dress, with my hair up in a tight bun and just a bit of makeup. It made me feel like a completely different person. My parents were busy chatting with some important people, not paying attention to me at all. I couldn't shake the feeling of being out of place in the fancy crowd."I see you've got a beautiful lady right here," an old man remarked, a smile playing on his face as his gaze rested on me. Uncomfortable, I couldn't help but avert my eyes. The way he looked at me sent shivers down my spine, yet my parents remained oblivious, seemingly turning a blind eye to the situation."Ah, yes, of course. This is our daughter, Annizah," my dad chimed in, placing a han
I don’t know what happened next. It happened so quick before I could even process it. The last thing I knew, I was inside his limousine, and we’re actually driving back to his place.To say I was scared is probably an understatement. After my parents talked to him, my mother ensured that an agreement about our wedding was made, pushing me to go with him instead of returning home.I casted a glance at him. He was leaning on the backrest with his eyes closed. His throat and Adam’s apple were exposed. His slicked hair has somehow lost its neatness and was now disheveled. He looked at peace, as if he wasn’t just about to ruin my life. However, despite that unfortunate fact, I couldn’t deny how attractive he was. He didn’t look like one of those guys I’ve ever seen. He was taller, more masculine, and goddamn hot.But then again, looks can be sometimes deceiving.Vicenzo isn’t someone I can trust my life upon. Although I am destined to marry him, that didn’t give me the full assurance that
I was escorted by a maid towards the room I’ll be staying at in this mansion. I was still shaking from shock and fear from what happened. I was terrified to say the least, and I couldn’t even bring myself to bat an eye as I was conscious about my surrounding. I feel like at my given moment, someone’s gonna jump and attack me.“Here, have some milk, miss,” a middle-aged woman said as she handed me a cup of warm milk. I accepted it with reluctance. She gave me a soft, kind smile. “My name is Arcel, and I’ve been working here for quite some time now. Master has never brought a woman home before, so we were all so thrilled to finally be meeting you, miss Annizah,” she said.I couldn’t help but to flinch. Not only did place felt scary, but the people were also oddly kind to be working in a place like this. I glanced at Arcel. She looked to be around her late twenties, with enough knowledge and experience to not be oblivious about what’s happening. And for that reason, I felt more scared th
My breath came in labored, heavy gasps as I watched him lift his shirt. His muscles flexed with each movement, drawing my attention. His body was rugged and disproportionately large, muscles in all the right places. Heat flushed through me uncontrollably, igniting my entire being.Vicenzo held my face, his gaze piercing, as if I were nothing more than prey in his eyes. "Listen to me, bellezza," he whispered. "I own you, baby. And I won't let you go. Not now, not ever."Through gritted teeth, I asked, "W-Why are you doing this?""Because you belong to me.""Don’t be absurd! Nobody owns me!" I yelled, frustration and anger bubbling up, but he only tightened his grip on my face, causing me to wince in pain."I do," he hissed, his glare intense, but it quickly softened into a smile. "You are mine, and I'll always ensure it stays that way. Do you understand?"Shivers ran down my spine as I observed the emotions flickering across his face. There was no denying it; Vicenzo was disturbed."Ju