I tightly held onto my hand, feeling the pain. Throughout the day, I had been handling different types of guns under Martina's guidance. Her training methods were unusual, characterized by relentless intensity, as if there was an impending deadline. In reality, there was one — Martina had committed to train me only during her one-month stay in the country before leaving again.I vividly remember the day I approached Martina for assistance. She questioned me skeptically, "Are you sure?" Her challenge was evident. "I didn't suggest you change for my brother; I'm only telling you what I've observed and noticed.""I understand, Martina. It's valuable that you shared your observations with me. It made me realize that maybe I don't naturally fit into Marco's world. So, I contemplated a way to belong. If you can impart all the necessary knowledge to me, I'm willing to do whatever it takes and fully embrace your teachings."After much contemplation, I decided to visit Martina's house. Althoug

We arrived at his home, relieved to find that it was still in their possession."Thank you for the ride, Maddie. Please, come inside. I'll prepare some food," he offered."Oh, there's really no need—""Come on, Maddie. We rarely get to see each other, and now you're refusing me? Consider it a way for me to show my gratitude for your earlier help. Your gesture might seem small, but I genuinely appreciate it."I bid farewell to the guards who remained outside, not joining us inside the house. Since I was already there, I decided to visit Aunt Aurora. She was still asleep upon my arrival, but I was glad to hear she was feeling better.Carson and I made our way to the living room, where a spread of food awaited us."It's comforting to see that some of our loyal staff members have chosen to stay by our side, despite the challenges we're facing," Carson commented.As I took a sip of my juice, I expressed empathy towards Carson. "Do you still not have any idea why all of this has happened to

I have been abiding by Marco's wishes, but we haven't been communicating. This situation has left me feeling resentful, as if Marco doesn't trust my ability to look after myself. It's as though he believes I'll encounter danger at every turn and end up in a catastrophe as soon as I step out of the house. Feeling trapped indoors, I find myself with nothing to occupy my time. Even when I do manage to go out, I require Marco's approval, and once granted, I'm accompanied by a swarm of bodyguards. The level of security I have sometimes makes me feel like I exceed that of the First Lady. Consequently, I often lose my motivation to venture outside. This has been the state of affairs for an entire week, and despite occasional conversations with Marco, we find ourselves in a cold war of sorts. Even my training sessions have shifted to being carried out within the confines of my home. It's different when emotions come into play; it affects the accuracy of my aim, causing each bullet to consiste

The journey with Marco remained silent. I couldn't resist pinching my hand as a reminder to express my gratitude for his significant gesture towards Alec.As the car halted at a red traffic light, I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to address Marco."Thank you," I whispered, attempting to avoid meeting his eyes, but eventually succumbing to their pull. "I know you went out of your way to help Alec.""He means a lot to you, Maddie, and I'm always ready to assist those who are important to you. You don’t have to thank me," Marco replied.His words moved me deeply, causing my lips to quiver. I longed to reconcile with Marco, wondering why it took me so long to initiate this conversation.As the car resumed its movement, it unexpectedly came to a halt again at the roadside, catching me off guard. Now, only Marco and I remained, stranded in the middle of the street.I gazed out the window, pondering our location when suddenly, Marco's chilly hand reached out to touch mine. Startle

Without exchanging words, Marco went straight to our room, and I quietly trailed behind. There was an unspoken tension between us as we avoided making eye contact. Upon entering the room, I came to a halt. The weight of my concerns was too heavy to ignore. While I understood that not everyone desired children, they held a significant place in our marriage. I craved understanding Marco's reasons or intentions, even if they didn't involve having children immediately, just to ease my restless thoughts."Marco," I called out to him, but he remained with his back turned towards me, unfazed by my words. "I want to have a baby."My hand tightened, anticipating his reaction. He froze as my words sank in, revealing that this was a topic he had anticipated but dreaded discussing. His reactions alone conveyed a wealth of meaning, leaving me feeling like I already had my answer, even though no words were exchanged.Marco slowly pivoted, reluctantly meeting my gaze. His eyes mirrored the darkness