"Vicenta was only twelve years old but she endured worse—all the pain, all the hardships. It was so heartbreaking to see but I was always there to pick her up when she passed out cold. I always tended to her wounds and sneaked in food and medication but I had my own duties and could not stay longer until she regained consciousness."Carmencita paused, her watery eyes glazed over as if looking through the objects around her. She wiped off her tears with the back of her hand but more kept rolling down uncontrollably. Rosana could feel her pain because she also was on the verge of shedding tears. Without words, she leaned closer and covered her trembling hand with hers, soothingly. Whatever she was feeling now must've been very much worse back then. "Finally, I got the chance to speak with her but she shut me out and would not listen to whatever I had to say. She blamed her late father and me for ruining her life and cursed the day we had her. She cursed us both for everything and wishe
•••Flashback continues•••Sergio took a deep, shuddering breath, and began to undress. His body was a masterpiece of power and control, each muscle rippling with strength. He removed his shirt, his jacket, and his pants, revealing a body marred only by the scars of his upbringing. His face, a stony canvas of duty and shame, remained impassive as he disrobed, his movements deliberate.He gazed down at the girl lying unconscious from pain and exhaustion, her n@ked form revealing the wreckage of her young body. Bruises bloomed across her skin like violent flowers, blood trickles from her wounds, a crimson tribute to her suffering and her limbs were twisted at unnatural angles. The sight of her, laid out before him like an offering, sent a wave of anguish crashing through his heart. His lips pressed into a thin line and his eyes were raw with conflict. He knew what his father expected of him but every fiber of his being rebelled against it. And yet, he had to comply. Lowering himself ont
"That's enough, Carmen, you did what every mother would have done. I'm sorry the Mistress had to go through all of that. I had forgiven you the moment I learned she was your daughter and you were only trying to protect her. I could not have you locked away and executed after everything you have done for me"Carmencita smiled softly as more tears rolled down her cheeks. "I did nothing for you, dear child. I was only carrying out my duties and was more than happy to take care of you. You reminded me of what I had lost and you made me feel alive once more, you made me feel like a mother. While I was away, I kept praying for you and that precious little one"Rosana gasped and her eyes widened. "You knew?"With a smile, she nodded. "A long time ago. From your increased appetite to your glowing appearance. Do not forget I observe a lot of things""And you never said anything. You... You never told the Mistress" Carmencita nodded and she furrowed her brows. "But why?""I was only trying to p
Enzo froze, disbelief and confusion clouding his vision. He had not expected the defiance to slip away, and to be replaced by submission—Lucretia, on her knees, calling him Master with her head lowered to the ground. When she spoke again, her voice was steady but he could still hear the pain. “You have broken me all over again, Master. I was a føol to ever think I would one day be free and live a normal life where I can make my own choices and live with them”The raging fire in his chest was doused by a wave of unexpected emotion. He stood there for a moment, his mind a tangled mess of emotions, warring against each other like two beasts locked in battle. Rage, confusion, desire—they swirled together like a storm inside him, threatening to rip him apart.What was she doing?He moved towards her and stopped inches away from her face. She wouldn't look up at him so he pressed his cold fingers against her chin and pushed her face upwards to meet his. He searched her eyes, probing for si
Thankfully, they arrived at the villa soon enough and got out of the car. Enzo led her inside and stopped to ask the two maids they came across about Rosana. As they spoke, Lucretia couldn't help but notice how the girls blushed and smiled nervously at him. He returned the gesture by flashing one of his charming smiles as they walked away. The other maids they came across weren't an exception. They returned his compliments with a blush and seemed free around him. Did they know he was a devil in disguise? Certainly not. As they kept laughing and smiling, she felt a white-hot anger rising within her like a flame.It was nothing new that the female population was attracted to Enzo. He was like a magnet, drawing them in, and charming them with his easy smile and flattering words. She had seen the girls at the club, swooning whenever he went around and it never bothered her. But now, it felt like a knife was in her gut, twisting and slicing.No, no, she couldn't be jealous because he was
Munika clenched into fists as she paced in her dark, unkempt room, her eyes darting back and forth in panic. She had been so careful, so meticulous, but now her plan was in ruins, the Mistress nowhere to be found. Her phone rang and she rushed over to check the caller. With her heart pounding, she answered the call. "Tell me you have found that worthless soul"A deep, male voice responded. "I have not. She was discharged from the hospital before I arrived.""Well, she is not back here so she's gotta be somewhere, hiding. Are you certain she was discharged?""Yes.""Then, where did she go? She does not know anywhere else aside from this mansion and the confines of her master's bedroom." She paused and resumed pacing. "You need to find her, she could not have gone far""I hacked into the cameras, she was taken away by some soldiers."She stumbled backward, her eyes widening with fear. If she was taken by Sergio's men, that could only mean one thing: Vicenta, the Mistress was back and w
The air was thick with smoke, the haze clinging to the rich, leather furniture and mahogany bookshelves. Behind an antique desk, Sergio sat, the leather of his chair creaking as he leaned back. Enzo and Ville sat before him, each, having a glass of whisky in hand while Alfonso stood at attention beside the desk, his hands clasped behind his back. "What news, gentlemen?" he asked, his voice low and gravelly.The men started talking about their various businesses, and operations, as well as the Russian's attack. "We have played around with them for far too long. We need to attack" Enzo said, his tone clipped and precise. Alfonso pulled up a series of schematics and dossiers on his holographic interface, "We have cut off all of the Russian arms dealers who supply their weaponry and have also destroyed all their safehouses where they have been storing their ill-gotten gains. Our assets identified a weak point in their security perimeters, a point of entry that could be exploited to our
WARNING: This chapter contains explicit descriptions of violence that may be triggering for some readers. It is not recommended for readers under the age of 18❌🚫 ፠፠ ONE HOUR LATER ፠፠ In the damp, dark depth of a secret dungeon, screams could be heard as well as the cracking of bones and burning of flesh. The Russians were strung up by their wrists, their feet barely touching the floor. A few of them were dead from continuous torture while the rest were barely hanging on. "Please..." Pyotr begged in their language. The effects of the sedatives had expired a long time ago and now, he was feeling every pain inflicted on him. Before him, Enzo stood, his cold and calculating eyes sweeping over him with dispassionate cruelty. He began tightening the ropes around his wrists, the skin stretching and the nerves screaming in protest. With a quick, practiced motion, he plunged a branding iron into a roaring furnace. The metal seared white-hot and with a single, vicious smoke, he seared his