Nobela ni Danielle

Gabriel's POV "The operation was successful," Miguel announced with a sigh of relief, and my heart leaped for joy. "Does that mean they're on their way?" I questioned, my heart beating erratically with a strange mix of joy and dread. Miguel nodded affirmatively. "Yes, they are. The culprits are on their way to the station too. Why do you seem so... uneasy?" "It's nothing," I lied, my voice barely above a whisper. "I guess I'm just so happy that we came out on top." That was a big lie. The truth was I wasn't ready to see them. Not Joyce. Not Adrian. Not even Rafael. The thought of facing them, of seeing Joyce’s eyes—eyes that once held so much love but now only reflected betrayal—made my stomach churn. I wanted to be as far away as possible. Meeting me might ruin her newfound happiness and I didn't want that to happen. I wanted her to be happy while erasing every memory of me in her head. I had caused her so much pain. I had been a shadow cast over her past; I refused to b

Adrian's POV"We are?" Torres questioned, his face etched with shock as he stared at my computer screen with keen eyes. "How's that even possible?""Story for another day," I said dismissively, looking out the window. "It seems the men I demanded for are on their way. We should head there too.""Wait a minute," Torres raised a finger to stop me. "I think someone is coming heading our way."As if on cue, a shadow emerged from the dimly lit alleyway. Madrileño stepped into view, his dark clothing blending with the night, his tanned skin faintly illuminated by the passing streetlights. His expression was unreadable, but his purposeful stride spoke volumes."Why are you here?" I questioned with much curiosity in my voice and a frown on my face. "I thought we agreed on you leading the men.""I am leading them," Madrileno replied confidently. "I just came to let you know of something so that you can be prepared.""What's that?" I asked, refusing to beat around the bush. "Spill it out, so yo

Adrian's POV"Then we go after him," I said. "Let's head to the airport now!"Torres nodded, already speaking into the radio.He cocked his gun. "Time to end this."With that, We all rushed back and jumped into the van, peeling off into the night.I picked up the radio and connected to Miguel."Keep us posted. We're heading to the airport now," I stated."If we don't catch up with him now, we won't be able to find Joyce and Rafael," Torres sighed, revealing the bitter truth, his voice laced with discomfort and urgency as he looked out the window. "It might take years to find them if we lose this opportunity.""Positive thoughts and words only, Torres," I scolded, calling him by his name for the first time. I was annoyed with Daniel's close escape. I still hadn't come to terms with the fact that he had betrayed me after so many years of service to Santoria Industries.The fact that he knew everything about Rafael and Joyce meant he had been working with the enemy for years. Who knows? H

Lionel's POV"Ugh... You don't have to be so timid with me. I know what women like you are capable of," I scoffed, hoping for a reaction.Nothing. Absolutely nothing. She jus sat here like a statue. I cast her a side glance.She was sitting next to me with a stiff posture and a face void of any emotions. After my men caught her trying to escape, it was as if an icy shell had formed around her. She hardly spoke and rarely reacted to anything I said or was happening around her. Her questioning had ceased, and I couldn't predict her next move.It was disturbing. I exhaled through my nose, unsatisfied. Was she planning something? Had she truly accepted her fate? The fire in her eyes had become dull and unreadable. Her facial expression was indifferent like she had accepted her fate. I hated it. I wanted her to rebel against me. It was much more pleasurable that way. Her facial expression was indifferent like she had accepted her fate.Save for the small hum of the engine and the regu

Adrian's POV"You both made mistakes. You're both in the wrong," I rebuked. "You should work on yourselves instead of taking your anger out on each other. Don’t know how you plan to fix this mess, but remember—we’re all in this together. Whether you like it or not, we have a common goal."The room fell to a heavy silence. Gabe let his breath out in a slow hiss as he leaned against the warm sheets of the bed. Madrileño ran a hand over his face, still breathing sharp and unevenly. Part of me did think their little fight was somewhat amusing, but I needed to be the voice of reason here. I had to be the mature one."I'm sorry," Gabriel mumbled. Everyone turned to him in shock. Gabriel was not one to apologize. "I'm sorry I killed your child. I shouldn't blame you for my mistakes. I should have never gotten married to that bitch, and I'm going to keep on regretting it for the rest of my life."Madrileño’s jaw tightened, hands flexed at his sides. His lips parted as if he wanted to argue

Adrian's POVHaving this innate ability to sense danger, or detect a person's aura, is part of being a shrewd businessman, which not everybody could understand save the people concerned. It was an instinct sired from long years of high-stakes negotiations and betrayals, something that most people just wouldn't understand unless they lived in this world.Gabriel had it. So did I.And right now, every alarm inside me was going off as I watched him stare Madrileño down, his body rigid with restrained fury.The cell's air was thick with unsaid words and stress. Gabriel could already tell something was off with Madrileno. I could sense their mutual hostility suffocating the air between us.Madrileño was standing stiff, his jaw clenched tightly and Gabriel was seated on the edge of his bed with fingers tightly clenched into fists. Well, whatever their issues were could be sorted out after everything had been settled."So what exactly is it you found?" I asked, my expectant gaze fixed on Iva

“Do your vocal cords suddenly stop working? Is that enjoyable?” Ralph asked again, his eyes flashing with an emotion Silvia couldn't name.“I don’t understand sir”.“You’re smiling”, he said, pointing to her lips and sitting on a stool. She had no idea Ralph Spade knew how to sit on a stool. Wasn’t he only accustomed to the finest things? What was an old wooden stool even doing in a mansion as fancy as this? She adjusted her smile, making her expression serious. Was smiling grounds for a punishment?“Forgive my manners sir”, she bowed her head. Sometimes she felt like she was in an ancient drama. Slave to the evil emperor. Except this time the emperor had kissed her. He was a foolish emperor.“How dramatic. I’m not asking you to stop”, Ralph’s face hardened. Silvia stretched her lips into something that resembled more of a grimace than a smile. It reminded her of the times where her mother would scold her and force her to smile. Her mother that she couldn’t see, because of this man.

Her breath stalled as she touched her swollen lips. He had kissed her. Silvia considered herself resilient and strong, she knew she could endure anything as long as it was for a good cause, but this was levels above what she expected would happen to her in this cursed place.Hunger, thirst, being overworked, beatings. They were all bearable as long as she still had her body and her soul to herself. But he had kissed her like he wanted to suck out her soul.Silvia had never felt so helpless in her life. A tear slipped down her cheeks and she blinked, snapping out of it. She wiped it, she still had her life, it was a one time thing. It would never happen again. She hoped.A part of her was curious about who this Alexander was. If he truly was Ralph’s brother, why had Ralph kissed her? Did he have non-brotherly feelings for this Alexander? She found it highly unnatural. She found everything that went on in the house highly unnatural. They were so rich but they appeared to be suffering ev

The sunlight streamed in between the curtains, waking Silvia from her the slumber she had experienced months ago. With her body still frail, she felt relieved after the broth sha had yesterday.Silvia rose gradually, gauging her energy. Her head had stopped spinning, but her limbs still felt unsteady. A rap at her door surprised her. "Y-yes?" she shouted, her voice more assertive than the day before. Then the door swung open...before Ralph entered, dressed in a tailored suit, with a perfectly shaped beards. He stood uncomfortably at the entrance, hesitant to step in."You're awake," he noted, his voice calm. "How do you feel?" Silvia wrapped the lightweight blanket around her shoulders, experiencing a feeling of consciousness. "Improved, sir." "I appreciate the meal." Ralph replied with a decisive nod. "Put on your clothes and join me in my study in fifteen minutes. We have to discuss an issue." Before she had a chance to reply, he shut the door, leaving Silvia looking at him in

Three days without nourishment seemed like forever. Silvia's stomach had transitioned long ago from sharp hunger pains to a void that caused her limbs to feel heavy as lead. She had been allowed water and slight comforts, but even that made her feel queasy as she drank it gradually from the bathroom faucet. On the morning of the third day, Silvia pulled herself out of bed, her uniform fitting more loosely than earlier. The mirror showed hollow cheeks and shadows under her eyes. Spraying cold water on her face, she tried to brighten herself for the day's activities.On that day, Silvia was especially cautious with her work: arranging the heavy bottles in the wine cellar, and dusting off the Persian rugs on the front porch. These tasks kept demanding energy that Silvia no longer had."You look terrible," Rebecca remarked with glee as Silvia entered the kitchen for her instructions. Savoring her morning espresso, she sat at the counter, the strong, rich smell causing Silvia's hungry be

Silvia's eyelids slowly shifted to the sunlight pouring in through unusual curtains. Her body felt heavy, and her mind was filled with tiredness. The sheets beneath her seemed gentle, excessively gentle. This wasn't her mattress. She jerked up, her heart racing. She noticed...the luxury, crystals on the nightstand. This was Ralph's bedroom. How had she ended up...Her last memory was tucking Ralph in, discovering the picture, and going to her own bedroom. Was she so exhausted that she fell here instead? Definitely not. She would not have made that mistake. A gentle groan from beside her made her pause. Ralph was lying on the other side of the bed, completely dressed, with one arm covering his face. His breathing was consistent and peaceful, his expression tranquil in sleep. Silvia carefully shifted to the bed's edge, wishing not to disrupt it. She had to go before... The door suddenly burst open, slamming against the wall with a loud thud. Rebecca stood by the entrance, dressed in

After Silvia was done cleaning, it was already past midnight. Her fingers ached from all the work whilst her back throbbed intensely. The pains of hunger had transformed into a constant, gnawing discomfort. She entered the kitchen hoping to find something, anything, to eat before getting into bed. The kitchen was dim and quiet. Silvia switched on the little light over the sink, trying to remain quiet. She pulled open the fridge, the gentle light casting shadows on her weary face. There were dinner remnants, but she didn't dare to take them. Rebecca would notice. She looked and found a crust of bread and a little bit of cheese concealed behind the dishes. That would need to suffice. A sound on the door made her start as she shut the refrigerator. Ralph stood there swaying a little, his tie undone about his neck and his eyes red."What are you doing?" he mumbled, holding onto the doorframe for balance. Silvia swiftly concealed the bread behind her back. "Not a thing, sir." "Simply ti