Sophia's POV. I stood there looking at her in uttrer disbelief. How could she lie so easily to my face, then come here just to confess the truth and further ruin my relationship with as Alessandro? This woman was certainly cunning, unbelievable, and dangerous. What exactly did she know about Alessandro and his gang? Was she once part of them? I thought he helped her go abroad to further her studies, so she wouldn't live the life that he did. "Laura, would you be willing to hurt someone who sent you abroad and changed your life?" I asked, staring at her in curiosity."Why not? He didn't do me a favor by sending me abroad. He did it in order to keep me away from him. He knew how much I loved him but he constantly rejected me and treated me like his sister or a little girl!" She raised her voice. "He never took my feeling seriously even when he said he would. He just kept treating my emotions as if they were irrelevant. He said he couldn't imagine falling in love, but then he falls h
(Sophia’s POV).My heart pounded violently against my chest, each beat fast and excruciating. I strained my ears to catch the sound of slow claps and the deliberate click of heels against the floor.Someone was approaching. I struggled against the ropes binding me to the chair, a surge of panic making me want to scream. But to whom? My mouth was gagged so tightly, stuffed with a handkerchief to ensure I couldn't make a sound.My eyes were blindfolded, the fabric tied so securely that not even a sliver of light could seep through. I was engulfed in darkness, forced to rely solely on my ears to discern the sounds around me.From what I could gather, there were likely four men in the room with me. The ropes binding me were unyielding, ensuring I remained seated against my will.A chuckle shattered the silence, dripping with mockery at my feeble attempt to escape."What do you think you are doing? Trying to free yourself?" someone asked. I ignored the taunt, my hands still struggling agai
Sophia’s POV. Beep. Beep. The gentle sound of the machine beside me forced me back to consciousness, and as my eyes fluttered open slowly, it landed on the ceiling and it took a while of glancing around the room before I realized I was in a hospital and the memories came rushing back. “…take her far away and kill her.” The words of Ray that had played out of the recording filled my head and I felt a sharp pain twist my chest like something had just pierced through it. Ray sold me off so he wouldn't pay me back and his intentions were to kill me. How? That man said he loved me, he said he was willing to do anything for me and wanted me to be the mother of his children. I had given him all my money, trusting him when he mentioned his mother was dying. I believed it when I saw a video of her critically sick in the hospital. That money was the only money my father had left after his company went bankrupt years ago. He had sacrificed that money so I could fulfill my dream of host
Sophia’s POV.“I must say Sophia, you surpassed my expectations and this exhibition is the best I have seen so far. I would be making a donation at the end of the day to support you and if you don’t mind, my company would like to market some of your art pieces.” One of the men father invited said to me and a wide smile appeared on my face as I thanked him profusely.It’s been two whole weeks since the incident with the stranger and Ray’s disappearance. I had filed a report at the station and they said they would handle it but there was no development on the case and I knew better than to bank on the police to save me from the stranger.“I am someone you don’t want to cross paths with but when you do, it doesn’t end well for you.”Those words were my driving force over the weeks. I needed to raise his money and the only way to stand a chance was the exhibition. Father surpassed my expectations, I had no idea how he had managed to put together all the funds we needed but he did and sim
Sophia’s POV.My hands trembled as sweat dropped from my face to the floor even in the cold. I was trembling like a leaf in the wind and my heart was beating out of control.“I didn’t steal anything Sophia. I swear it, I simply borrowed the money and I was going to pay back after the auction was over. You can ask the…”“Keep quiet or I will make you do so.” The stranger threatened and father swallowed hard but didn’t keep quiet. He kept mumbling that he was innocent but no one was listening to him other than me.Every single one of the guests at the auction were now standing outside with their phones out and their cameras flashing. I could tell they were taking pictures and recording videos of the embarrassing situation my father was in. I could imagine the horrific headlines the blogs would use about my father at dawn.After the scandal that had happened the last time that caused father to lose his company and everything he owed other than the house we were currently living in, he wa
Sophia's POV.The air around me grew thick with tension. My breath hitched, chills creeping down my spine with each passing second.He tilted his head, his lips still inching closer to mine."Sophia..." The way he said my name sent twists of nerves to my stomach. "I have no time to waste."His words snapped me out of the trance I'd fallen into, and I pushed his hand off my chin."I guess you aren't ready to do anything, afterall," He said, his voice hoarse and laced with irritation."No!" I blurted. "I mean that I'm..."I trailed off, thinking about his request. He just wanted me to show him affection, right? I doubted someone as heartless as him could ever fall in love. This was just about seducing a man who was romantically deprived, nothing more. I'd seen plenty of romantic movies and imagined countless passionate scene, I also had some experience too. I could use that to pull this off.Though I'd never seduced anyone before, I could perfect the task if it meant saving my father.
Sophia's POV."You're pretty tricky, little Sophia..." He said, smirking as he looked down at me. "But not tricky enough for me.'I shot him a glare. He was always a contradiction, saying one thing and doing another. "Don't glare at me."His grip tightened around my neck, and a soft, yet startled sound escaped my lips."ah!"He scoffed, releasing me. "Tch." He slipped off me and walked away.My hand flew to my neck, rubbing at the place his fingers had pressed as if to erase the feeling. The door creaked open as he moved to leave.I sat up quickly, my eyes widening. "Where are you going?" I asked, a bit too sharply. He didn't answer. He just walked out, leaving the door to swing shut behind him. I stood, ready to go after him, but changed my mind at the last moment."Damn it!" I muttered, stomping my feet. "My best chance to seduce this man has just been completely ruined.""Why did he even stop me?" I whispered to myself, frowning. "I thought men liked these things. Why is he pret
Alessandro's POV."Of course, my body had to betray me at the worst possible moment. Great timing,"I thought, sarcastically."I guess you're a bit easier than you—"Her words snapped something in me. My cock instantly deflated, and I shoved her hand off my thigh.She looked stunned, fear in her widening eyes. A reaction I was all too familiar with. People around me always feared me, no one ever treated me differently.But I had to admit, her boldness this morning surprised me. She came off as a fiesty little vixen, but her attempts to seduce me where as weak as the others who had tried. I almost wanted to break her for it. "Easier, huh?" I growled, hovering swiftly over her.She gasped and closed her eyes, trembling. "Please don't hurt me," She whispered, her lips quivering.I gazed down at her, gritting my teeth. A part of me wanted to make her pay for her stupid remark, and misplaced confidence, but I held back. With a huff, I pulled away and went to the elevator, pressing the bu
Sophia's POV. I stood there looking at her in uttrer disbelief. How could she lie so easily to my face, then come here just to confess the truth and further ruin my relationship with as Alessandro? This woman was certainly cunning, unbelievable, and dangerous. What exactly did she know about Alessandro and his gang? Was she once part of them? I thought he helped her go abroad to further her studies, so she wouldn't live the life that he did. "Laura, would you be willing to hurt someone who sent you abroad and changed your life?" I asked, staring at her in curiosity."Why not? He didn't do me a favor by sending me abroad. He did it in order to keep me away from him. He knew how much I loved him but he constantly rejected me and treated me like his sister or a little girl!" She raised her voice. "He never took my feeling seriously even when he said he would. He just kept treating my emotions as if they were irrelevant. He said he couldn't imagine falling in love, but then he falls h
Sophia's POV. As we got into the car, I didn't understand the feeling of guilt that suddenly surged through me. I shouldn't be feeling guilty for making him feel exactly the way I did. He deserved everything that was happening to him. But remembering how he cried the other time, how he told me his story, everything seemed all too true to me. My emotions were suddenly all over the place. I didn't understand how to feel the moment. Should I be annoyed at myself for being petty? or annoyed at him for playing the victim and making me feel guilty? The more I recalled how hurt filled his eyes, the more guilt gnawed at my heart. But I wanted it to stop. I didn't want to feel this way anymore. He didn't deserve my sympathy or empathy. "You don't have to feel guilty," Ray said as if he read in my mind. "He cheated and betrayed on you. You're not even doing anything with me, which means you're still being loyal. You're doing too much. The last thing you should do is feel guilty about thi
Sophia's POV.Father gave me Ray's phone number and I went embarrassingly to my room to call him. I knew I shouldn't be doing this because it would make him feel important or that he had a chance with me, but I had no choice. There was no one else to truly defend me from Alessandro. If Alessandro were to act violently and attempt to take me away, Father would not be able to stop him, and the police wouldn't do anything if they were called either. Ray, despite being a weakling, might be able to do something. Letting out a deep sigh, I dialed his number and without hesitation, he answered, as if recognizing my number. "Hello, Ray," I muttered, my voice shaking nervously. "Sophia? Is this you?" He asked, sounding surprised. "Yes, it's me," I replied flatly. "I thought you didn't want to see me. You left so angrily. I can't believe you're calling now," He uttered, making me flush. "Yes, I know," I rolled my eyes, irritated. "I'm calling because I need a favor from you," I said, my
Alessandro's POV.I could feel my heart clenching in my chest as I watched him nibbling on her lips. Unable to contain the anger riling through me, I dashed to him and pulled him away from her, instantly throwing my fist at his face. He fell to the ground and blood splattered out of his mouth, but I didn't stop there. I went to him, pounced on him and began punching his face relentlessly. Sophia screamed behind me, telling me to stop. "Alexandra, stop it. You are going to kill him!"She yelled. However, I was too angry to listen to her. I should have stopped right there, maybe I would have salvaged what we had left, but the anger within me was too much. No one had the right to touch what was mine, especially after all the hurt he had caused her. I wasn't going to take this nonsense from him, I would teach him a lesson he would never forget. Without hesitation, I landed another punch on his face that forced blood into his eyes."Alessandro, please!" She cried out. I hated that sh
Alessandro's POV. “Alessandro?” She gasped at the sight of me. I wondered why she was dressed so formally at this hour, but I was more glad to see her. I should have come long ago, however, business casualties held me back. “I’m sorry, Sophia. I know that you think I betrayed you but that's not the case. I wish you could just give me a chance to explain myself and the circumstances surrounding whatever Laura told you,” I muttered, staring softly at her. My heart sank when her expression went from one of shock to disgust. “I don't care what happened between both of you. I don't want to know any details, I just need you to leave,” She spat, glaring at me. “I can't leave without getting you to listen to me. I don't know what to exactly what she told you but just know that they are all lies. Laura has been secretly in love with me for a while now, and she just told you lies to send you away,” I explained desperately. I wished I hadn't invited Laura at all to the US, maybe all this
Sophia's POV. “Despite how good it sounds to use him, I can't bring myself to doing it. I just don't want anything to do with these men,” I responded, shaking my head. “However, I understand where you're coming from. I know you want the best for me but I’m just tired of living in constant deceit and lies. Let's just forget about using him and find another way forward,” I muttered with a sigh. Father's face fell at my words. I didn't like to see him disappointed at me but I couldn't do what he was saying. I was tired of having those men in my life that have given me nothing but pain. “I can't force you into doing anything. But I still plead with you to consider it. It might not be the best idea but it's the easiest way we can get out of this debt,” Father whispered, pulling closer and kissing my forehead. I closed my eyes and let out another audible sigh.“I'll go make something for you,” He whispered, standing to his feet. “What do you want?”I knew he was not happy with my decis
Sophia's POV. I remained in my room, wondering what they were still talking about. I hoped my father wasn't believing anything that that bastard was saying. I would feel so betrayed if he believed anything from him. I still couldn't believe that Ray expected me to believe those nonsense tales of his. He was no different from Alessandro. The only difference was that he wasn't a mafia king and hadn't killed so much people. As more thoughts ran through my mind, my phone suddenly rang. I let out a sigh and grabbed it from the nightstand. Staring at the screen, I saw an unknown number. A frown spread across my lips and i was hesitant to answer the call. However, I decided to. Upon answering the call, I heard a familiar voice that sent chills down my spine. “Birdie,” Alessandro's voice chimed through the speaker. I instantly clenched my fist, hating how I dreaded and missed that voice. “How dare you call me after all your lies?” I gritted out. “I can explain everything that happene
Author's POV. Ray had a small smile on his lips as Sophia paved the way for him to enter. Upon entering, Marcus led him to one of the couches and they sat. “Father, I don't believe anything he is saying,” Sophia frowned. “I don't believe him either, but we can't just dismiss his side of the story. Alessandro can do anything to have his way and he probably deceived him too,” Marcus said, considering Alessandro's atrocities. He was willing to trust everything against Alessandro. Alessandro was a devil to him, and if he could still find a way to destroy him, he would. “Okay, can you tell me everything from the beginning?” Marcus inquired, more curiously.“I'm not going to stand here to listen to this. I'm heading to my room and by the time I come out, I don't want to see him here,” Sophia spat irritably, walking away. As she left, Marcus turned his attention to Ray. Ray felt a bit uncomfortable being alone with Marcus, but he was ready to spew more lies and have his way. Sophia wa
Author's POV.“What the hell are doing here?” Sophia raised her voice, her face filled with astonishment. She hadn't expected to see Ray at her doorstep after torturing herself with thoughts of him last night. She was slowly getting over their meeting—why did he have to show up again? “How did you find me? What the fuck do you want from me, you cunt!” Sophia sneered, unleashing her anger. “I wanted to find you, and I didn't know where you lived, so I had you traced days before we met coincidentally at the shopping mall,” Ray admitted, his expression already laced with remorse. “I know I hurt you, Sophia, but it wasn't my intention. I planned to come back but things didn't go as I had planned—”“That's why you gave me up as collateral to those brutal bastards to kill!!!” Sophia cut him off, her voice filled with rage. “I’m sorry, I know what I did was cruel, but I was trying to buy time. Things just backfired at that moment and I couldn't come get you. Please forgive me, “He ple