I slowly opened my eyes to the sunlight streaming through the window, warming my face. Stretching lazily, I absorbed the peaceful morning glow flooding the room. Memories of last night seeped in, blending with the gentle dawn light. With a tired sigh, I sank into the warmth of the bed, cherishing the tranquil moment before the day's hustle and bustle began. As I savored the tranquility of the morning, a sudden movement caught my eye. Startled, I turned to see Vincenzo, clad only in a towel wrapped around his waist, stepping through the bathroom. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of him, his tousled hair and rugged features bathed in the soft morning light. The towel hung dangerously low on his hips, revealing the tantalizing contours of his sculpted physique, and I couldn't tear my gaze away. "Good morning, bellezza," he murmured, his voice husky with sleep as he approached the bed with a predatory grace. The air crackled with tension, charged with the unspoken desire that simm

We ate in silence as the food arrived. Although delicious meals were a regular occurrence for me, dining in a 5-star restaurant made the experience feel extra special. As for Vincenzo, he remained quiet, elegantly chewing his meat while casting unsettling stares in my direction. I ignored his gaze, focusing instead on savoring my meal.Soon enough, the chef and other staff delivered a variety of dishes to our table, each one meticulously prepared. I couldn't help but be impressed by their attentiveness and hospitality. However, a nagging thought lingered in the back of my mind – were they genuinely accommodating, or simply wary of displeasing Vincenzo?Well, whatever the reason, I thought to myself, I'm just happy to experience this before I die.Vincenzo's voice cut through the silence, cold and precise. "Did you enjoy the food here?"I paused, taken aback by the sudden question. His gaze bore into me, demanding an answer."Yes," I replied cautiously, choosing my words carefully. "Th

Arcel rushed to me while I was in the garden. I have been staying and resting here since it’s the pace where I can actually be at ease. There were less guards here, less violence, and there were plants were refreshing, giving me a peace of mind.“Ma’am, you have received a call,” she said as she handed me the phone. It was my phone who were confiscated from me when I first got here. Though Vincenzo gave it back to me a week ago—right after the incident in the car.I took the phone, feeling curious and a bit nervous. Who could be calling me here? As I answered, I braced myself for whatever news might come.“Annizah, dear?” I heard a familiar voice of a woman, and I stopped when I realized who the caller was—it was my adoptive mother.“M-Mom?” I asked, suddenly feeling a knot in the pit of my stomach.I clenched my fists, trying to calm down the emotions I felt that was starting to overwhelm me. Ever since she made up that negotiation with Vincenzo to have me as a collateral, not once d

Vincenzo's been acting different lately. He's, like, way nicer and chill around me now. It's kinda surprising, but in a good way. Like, he used to be all serious and stuff, but now he's, like, actually pretty cool most of the time. Don't get me wrong, he still has his grumpy moments, but overall, he's way easier to hang out with. I gotta say, it's a welcome change. It's way less tense when we're together now. We can actually talk and joke around without it feeling awkward or anything. It's like a weight's been lifted, you know? I'm kinda hopeful that this means things are gonna be better between us from now on. I sighed as the maids adjusted the dress on me. The fabric, a striking shade of crimson, draped over my figure like a second skin, accentuating every curve. Its halter-neck style offered modest coverage at the front, while the daring backless design added a touch of sophistication. The skirt stopped just above my knees, not too short, not too long. I slipped into black stilet

"You have access to him in a way that no one else does. Use that to your advantage. Extract the information I need, and you'll be rewarded handsomely."His words echoed in my mind, sending a chill down my spine. He wanted me to betray Vincenzo, the man I had reluctantly agreed to marry. It was a betrayal that cut deep, even if our relationship was merely a facade.I stared at him for quite a while, my mind grappling with the information I had just heard. After revealing Vincenzo's past to me, he was now asking me to essentially stab him in the back?Although Vincenzo and I didn’t have the best relationship, and he made it clear to me before that our marriage was strictly business, betraying him was out of the question for me. Perhaps, he had lied about marrying me altogether, but wasn't that better? I could live a normal life and we could continue on our separate paths. For some reason, it hurt to think about, but it was a reality I had to face in order to survive.After all, I had al