Sophia's POV. He held my hand as we strode along the narrow road, our steps synchronizing. Only our breath echoed in the stillness; the world around us was silent.If anyone had told me that I’d fall deeply in love with Alessandro, I would’ve denied it at first. But here I am, with my heart completely entangled in his presence.My current wish is for my Father not to do anything wrong. I know he’s capable of it, but I still hold on to the hope that I might be able to change his mind.“So…” Alessandro’s deep voice broke the silence. I looked up at him, catching a glimpse of his face. He smiled sweetly at me. “What’s next?” he asked, his voice carrying a playful storm, and my cheeks flushed lightly.“I don’t know if you’d remind me,” I teased, and he stopped walking. I halted too, looking up at him in mock confusion.“What’s wrong?” I asked, but he just smiled back at me.“Since you don’t know what’s next, I don’t know either. So I guess we should both just stand here and stare at each
Sophia's POV.I stood there staring at my father in utter disbelief. I was wondering if this was a nightmare or something else. The father I loved would never lay his hands on me. I was so shocked that he just slapped me without showing any remorse. He was acting like it was his right to hurt me because I was in love with someone who supposedly ruined our lives. But he should know that Alessandro did not ruin our lives. We were the ones that got involved indirectly with him. Ryan was the one who damaged everything. If he hadn't deceived me, then Father wouldn't have helped me by taking that loan. We would have been happy and free by now. Alessandro did not cause this. He was just doing what anyone who was being owed would do. It was business. I wished my father could understand this but right now, I couldn't stand the sight of him."I don't know what that bastard has done to you. Maybe he has given you one of his drugs that has unfortunately damaged your brain," Father accused, h
Sophia's POV."What?" I gasped, utterly defeated.What was happening to my father? Had he just lost his sense of reasoning or was this a toxic trait I hadn't noticed in the past?How could he ask me to pick between him and Alessandro? Why couldn't I just have both of them in my life? Why was he so insistent on ruining our relationship."Father..." my voice cracked. "This is totally absurd and I won't stand for it. I'm going to my old room right now, and I don't want to disturbed. I'll stay there until this is healed."As I turned my back on him, he barked, "You have to make a choice Sophia. You're my princess, my art queen, not some sex toy he could play with!"I slowly turned to him, clearly fed up with his tantrums."I'm not Alessandro's sex toy. I'm the woman he loves, his girlfriend," I asserted. "In the past if you had made this demand, I would have chosen you. But after this..."I trailed off, touching my face."I don't think so!" I spat, glaring at him. "You aren't even remorse
Author's POV. "What?" Alessandro gasped, looking baffled. He didn't understand why she was making such a request. He knew she wasn't in approval of his mode of making money, but he never expected her to just make such a demand. "Sophia, I don't understand," He shook his head. Sophia couldn't hold back anymore, "I just want to have a normal life. A life where we can walk through the park without guards hovering or tailing us every time. I want people to know that you are mine.I'm tired of always looking over my shoulder, wondering whether someone is going to kill me or you. I want us to live in a world without issues,""That world doesn't exist, birdie," he countered, his voice firm yet gentle."Yes, it does," Sophia asserted, more tears slipping down her cheeks.She moved close to him and cupped his face in her hands."People around the world are living without so much apprehension. I know that this seems very sudden, but I can't keep living this way," She confessed, her heart sin
Sophia's POV.Despite how Alessandro reacted to my suggestion, I still felt that he was hurt and was simply pretending, so I wouldn't get her. Although I was in his arms, enjoying his warmth, I could feel his troubled breaths.I shouldn't have let my emotions influence my reasoning. I had just let my father achieve his aim. I knew something broke in Alessandro tonight, and it was my fault.Why did I have to ruin the great time we had with my father's influence? Why couldn't I just—"Birdie, you should sleep already," He whispered, wrapping his arms a bit tighter around me. "I told you that I'm not upset with you."I didn't want him to get more worried so I just kept silent and pretended to be asleep. I felt him slowly pull himself from me, making my head slip onto the pillow. I could sense that he was looking down at me but I didn't move an inch. "She's asleep, that's great," He whispered, covering me up with the duvet. He sighed loudly and slipped out of the bed, leaving me there.
Sophia's POV. I continued twirling my tongue around his cock, making him release more moans. "Go faster!" Alessandro commanded, pulling my hair harder.I went faster, sucking him more relentlessly. My tongue twirled around it as my life depended on it, and my hands moved more rapidly around his thickness, caressing it."Yes, good...so good!!!" He laughed.His cock began swelling in my mouth as he was getting to his edge. I whimpered as my tongue swirled more mercilessly around his shaft.He released a primal moan and came straight into my mouth. I thought of spitting out his cum once it entered, but it tasted a bit better than I thought. I slowly pulled his cock from my mouth and gulped it.Some of his cum splashed on my face, and I wiped every bit of it and put the droplets in my mouth."Does it taste that good?" Alessandro asked, his voice deeper than the sea."It tastes better than I anticipated," I grinned, moving up to him and bringing my lips closer to his."Do you want a tast
Author's POV. Sophia felt astounded and confused. Why was Alessandro's friend calling herself his fiancée? It made absolutely no sense. "What do you mean by that? Alessandro only mentioned you as his childhood friend and that you'll help him in starting up a company. He never mentioned that there was anything other than a cordial relationship between both of you," Sophia said, trying to stay calm. "Who the fuck are you anyways to question whether we have a cordial or romantic relationship? Are you a whore who doesn't know her place?" Laura questioned, staring disgustingly at Sophia. Sophia was deeply insulted by her words. How could Alessandro keep her identity from Laura? "Who are you? If you can't answer my question then I want you out of this mansion!" Laura yelled, pulling her back to reality. "I'm his girlfriend!" Sophia snapped back. "Girlfriend? Are you delusional or what?" Laura spat, her gaze boring at Sophia. She scrutinized her intently and noticed the pendant on he
Author's POV. After blocking him, she switched off her phone and kept it in the pocket of her jean trouser. She stepped out of the elevator and dragged her suitcase to the sitting room.Laura was still there, leaning against the couch as if waiting for her. They exchanged a few glares before Sophia headed to the door without a word. Suddenly Laura called her name, causing her steps to come to a halt. Sophia turned to her with an irritated expression. "What do you want from me? I'm leaving. Isn't this what you want?" Sophia spat angrily. "Yes, you are doing exactly what I want," Laura grinned, happy that Sophia was so easy to fool."I want that pendant on your neck," Laura demanded, extending her hand. "Pendant?" Sophia gasped, reaching for the pendant on her neck. She was angry at Alessandro but couldn't give this to someone else."What do you want it for?" Sophia demanded. "I want it because I'm sure Alessandro gave it to you, and you do not deserve anything from him. I'm his
Author's POV.After ending the call with the spy, Angelo returned to the drink table to get a glass of whiskey. The night was looking up but his mind was not at rest yet. It seemed like there was something he was forgetting.“Fowler? Fowler!” he had to yell because the music was too high. “Yes, boss!” He moved the girl on his lap off him, running to Angelo's side. “You called?”“Our plans have been pushed forward,” Angelo told Fowler about Alessandro's plans to pick up his shipment and Fowler grinned.“That's good news, boss. If you can capture Alessandro yourself, you will no longer need Marcus'" help.”Marcus! That was what or who, rather, he had been trying to remember.“Speaking of Marcus, it has been a while since he and I spoke. What's going on with him?”Fowler paused in the act of refilling his glass, surprised that Angelo had not heard about what happened to Marcus.“Boss, Marcus is very sick and has been hospitalized for almost a week. The rumor is that he may not survive i
Author's POVAngelo went through the videos, his sleazy grin growing wider with every one he reviewed. Laura stood in front of him nervously, twiddling her thumbs and managing a smile whenever he looked at her.“This is good, very, very good material indeed. Finally, I can deal with Alessandro as I always wanted to.”Laura cleared her throat noisily and Angelo paused in his musing, sliding his eyes towards her.“Deal with Alessandro how? I was hoping we could use the videos to extort from him or to force him to do anything we want.”“We? Who is this 'we' you speak of?” Angelo lifted a scarred eyebrow and let out a bone chilling laugh. “There is no 'we' in this. There is only me but don't worry. I'll pay you a token for your part in my victory.”Laura went pale, rubbing her sweaty palms against her skirt. “What are you going to do to him?” she eyed the scary bodyguards hanging around Angelo and suddenly wished to be anywhere but there.“Alessandro? Oh, that's an easy question. I'm goin
Author's POV. Sophia swallowed hard as she did not know what to answer Alessandro. How was she going to tell him that she did care that was why she had been acting the way she was to him."Well, I guess you don't have any answer to that," Alessandro snickered.Sophia swallowed hard because of the lump in her throat. She knew he was hurting which was why he was acting that way towards her but she still had to try even though he believed that she did not care for him."Alessandro, it's..." She tried explaining but he cut her off."I don't know why you are suddenly acting like you care when you won't so please leave me alone if you don't have anything meaningful to say and stop toying with my emotions," Alessandro said and walked away.Sophia almost crumbled at the weight of his words and actions but she refused to break down."No, I will not be weak at this point. I will not allow him to intimidate me into not stopping him," Sophia decided.She concluded that she was going to stay back
Sophia's POV. I clutched my phone tightly in my hands and my knuckles were almost turning white. How in the world did Laura know I was here? I had only spent one night here and she already knew? It felt suspicious. It was either she was monitoring me from outside, or she had someone in Alessandro's house."I hope you understand that I do not make empty threats," Laura's voice came in again."Please Laura," I whispered, my voice raw with emotions."Please, just give me a week, I swear, I will figure something out, I will look for a way out, please, don't do this," I begged her as my body trembled.On the other end, I heard Laura sigh but there was no sympathy in her voice."Fine! One week Sophia, just one week, and if you stay there even a minute more, I will hand over the evidence to the enemy without a moment" She replied."Yes, I understand, thank you so much," My stomach twisted.The call ended with a sharp click but not before I heard Laura's mocking laughter.I stood there, fr
Sophia's POV. I couldn't help staring at everything in awe. “Sophia, you've been staring long enough. Say something, anything,” he prompted me and I noticed how tense his posture was. He was actually anxious about what I would say. “Is this it? Is this all of it? Am I supposed to be impressed or something?” I remarked, brushing imaginary dust off my shirt. “You don't. . .you don't like it?” He was surprised and the only problem was that I did like the painting studio, maybe even too much.The studio was the definition of perfection, my own heaven on earth. I was surrounded by artwork that dated back to before I was born. Just being in the presence of such genius was enough to prompt inspiration to paint. The inner me was screaming and jumping with ecstatic joy but Alessandro could not know that or he would think he had found a way to win me over.“It's nice, I guess,” I faked a yawn, slapping a hand over my mouth. “Can I go to bed now?”“To bed?” He checked the time on his watch
Sophia's POV. I gritted my teeth as Alessandro's grip on my wrist tightened.The words he had spoken earlier still rang in my ears.He was not going to let me go nor was he going to annul the deal and worse, he going to take me back with him.I was furious with him. Furious that he was using my father's mistakes against me and that he still had his grip over me. But then, I was also angry with myself because deep down, I knew that a tiny part of me wasn't against the idea of going back to me instead, I was fighting myself not to feel happy about it.Gosh, I had missed Alessandro, I missed him so badly but then...I turned to glance at my father who was looking both guilty and terrified.Was this why he was insistent on me marrying Ray? Because he knew that Alessandro was already in trouble. Trouble that he had orchestrated with Alessandro's enemy. That was why he was talking about security and all because he knew that Alessandro was in danger.My father bent his head in shame. I gu
Alessandro's POV. “What?” I exploded, letting my hand on Sophia's arm fall away. “You are getting married to Ray?” I was getting fed up with the drama surrounding Sophia and her father.“No, wait. Alessandro, it's not what you think. How could you tell him that, Father?” Sophia asked Marcus, who was glaring at me from his pitiable state.“Because it's true. You promised me that you would marry Ray so, what is this criminal doing here?” Marcus questioned.Sophia shook her head vehemently to challenge Marcus' claim. “No, Father, you made me promise to marry Ray and I agreed just so you would feel better. I don't want to marry Ray, Father.”“What are you. . .” he coughed, cutting short his words briefly. Marcus' was not looking good, more like a living ghost. But I didn't really give a damn. Sophia was never getting married to Ray, not while I was still breathing.“Change of plans,” I announced and yanked Sophia by the hand, pulling her to myself. She fell against my chest, gasping when
Sophia's POV.I sat frozen in my seat where I was seated close to my father as Ray's words rang in my head.I should meet up with Alessandro and fix a day when we can talk and call all deals off.My fingers tightened around the strap of my purse.It had been two weeks since I last saw Alessandro, two weeks since I shattered his heart and mind and now I was supposed to face him again?Ray kept on talking and yapping about logistics and how we should meet in a public place and all but I was not listening anymore. My mind was filled with different emotions and thoughts as a feeling of dread settled in my stomach."You are quiet," He observed."But you will do it, won't you?" He asked.I swallowed hard and looked at my father who was staring at me with expectations in his face."Yeah, I will do it." My voice came out smaller than I had intended.It wasn't a lie, I was going to do it because I had no choice but that didn't mean that I was ready to do it.---It took me a week before I fina
Sophia's POV. I sat outside my house, waiting for Ray to get there. I had to take Father's clothes and some food to him but I had no money on me to take a taxi. Ray's car was my only hope to get to the hospital. He blew his horn when he got to the gates and I rolled my eyes at his obnoxious behaviour. There was more than one reason why Ray and I could never be together again, despite what I promised my father.I grabbed my bags and headed outside, Ray opening his car door to let himself out. He reached for the bags but I withdrew, keeping them out of his reach. “I just want to help, Sophia, nothing more. You are overreacting. Come on, let me help you with the bags.”“Just open the door for me, Ray. The bags are not that heavy and I can carry them.”He stood there staring at me for a full minute and I met his gaze squarely. When he realized that I was not backing down, he held open the back seat and I dropped the bags in there. “I got you something to eat,” he broke the silence aga