Victoria Bella Volkov:One thing I know for sure—this life feels like a dream, but I’m still not sure if I want to wake up from it or keep on sleeping.I woke up this morning, the soft lapping of the waves hitting the yacht’s side filling the quiet of the room. The sun had barely started to rise, and through the large windows, I could see the soft pinks and oranges of the sky blending into the deep blue of the sea. It looked perfect, like something out of a movie, but it felt a little too perfect to be real.I stretched, the softness of the bed sinking beneath me as I slowly sat up. I had to pinch myself—was I really here? Living this life? I glanced at Vincenzo, already awake, his eyes scanning something on his phone. He didn’t seem to be bothered by the opulence of everything around us, but I sure as hell was.I pulled my knees up to my chest, trying not to disturb him as I wrapped myself in the blanket and let my thoughts drift. My life before… well, it wasn’t this. I was never use
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:The air was cool but refreshing as we stepped onto the rooftop, the kind of cold that wakes you up and sharpens your senses. I kept my hand steady on her back, guiding her forward, watching her reaction instead of the view. I already knew the city looked stunning from up here. What I didn’t know was how she’d take it—and I wanted to see every second of it.“Easy… easy, honey,” I murmured, my voice low, almost teasing. She was wearing heels, but her steps slowed as she caught sight of the skyline, the city lights sprawling like a thousand diamonds scattered across the earth.She stopped, turning her head slightly, and then her lips parted. Not a word yet, just this little breath of wonder that made my chest tighten in a way I wasn’t used to.“This is…” she started, then stopped, shaking her head as if words couldn’t do it justice.I couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips. “Incredible?” I offered.She laughed under her breath, the sound soft and ungu
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:A week of luxury. A full week of indulgence, excess, and pleasure. Some might call it hedonism; others might envy it. For me, it was a way I could give Little Mouse a token of our love. Today I was going to give her a diamond ring.The jeweler’s showroom was immaculate—rows of glistening gems, polished surfaces, and velvet-lined cases meant to scream exclusivity. Yet, none of it impressed me. Earlier, I’d found a ring that caught my eye, but upon closer inspection, it was disappointing. It lacked substance, charm. Cheap.No man worth his salt would give such a thing to his wife, least of all me. My wife deserved something unique, something unparalleled.It took a few minutes. Before I saw it. It was hidden from plain eyes and then moment I saw it, I knew it was for her. For my wife!.By the time I stepped out of the showroom, the sun had begun its descent, painting the Dubai skyline in hues of gold and crimson. The staff were busy loading the rest of the day’s
Victoria Bella Volkov:Tonight, something changed. Vincenzo’s been quiet all day, almost like he’s waiting for something. And then it happened—while I was in the bathroom, he got a message. I didn’t see the details, but I saw the look on his face.“Is something the matter?” I asked, drying my body.“No,”“You're a pretty bad liar!. You face is not giving, what is it?” I pressed on and he sighed.“Alright… I uhm. I used to be a bully in school…” he said and I smiled.“Like the good bully or bad bully?” I asked, causing him to raise an eyebrow.“What the heck is good bully?”“The kind of one you do to someone who's so dumb..you know what I'm talking about right?” “Alright ... .I was a bad bully who almost killed a boy who was on scholarship in our school…And now the video was sent to me, not only that....I didn’t know someone would release it publicly,” Vincenzo continued, his voice low and tense.I paused, the towel slipping from my hands as I stared at him. “Publicly? What do you m
Christopher:“What the fuck did you do that?!” I shouted, slapping Luciano across the face.Luciano wiped the blood from his lip, eyes blazing. "Oh, so now you get it? Too bad you’re too late. You had your chance, Chris. A whole damn week. A week to decide. Your friend, or your boss." His voice lowered, dripping with bitterness. "You know, what I posted online? Those documents? You handed them to me. You’re the one who gave me the means to strike. You didn’t even hesitate."I shook my head, my stomach turning. "You told me this was about vengeance. You told me we were just going to shake up his operations, make him feel it. Not... not this."Luciano scoffed, stepping closer. "What did you think? You thought you were just helping me leak a few shipments here and there? A couple financial hits? We’ve been pushed around for too long, and now, this is the price. Vincenzo took everything from me, from you. You want revenge, right? Or were you too cowardly to see it through?"I clenched my
Warning:This chapter contains explicit content, including themes of violence, non-consensual acts, and abuse, which may be triggering for some readers. Please proceed with caution and prioritize your well-being.~~~Luciano Brown:I leaned back in the chair, staring at the files scattered across the table. My chest was tight with anger, but it was a calm, cold anger. The kind that made you think clearer, plan sharper.Christopher had done his part. The documents he handed over were pure gold. Shipment records, bank transactions, and emails that Vincenzo probably thought were buried forever. The man had always been arrogant, thinking he was untouchable. That’s the problem with people like him—they never see the storm until it hits.I picked up one of the papers, reading it again. It was an email between Vincenzo and some official. Bribery, plain as day. Enough to get his accounts frozen and drag him into court. I chuckled under my breath. “This is going to sting.”But I needed more th
Vincenzo Dante Volkov: I didn’t bother turning my phone back on. The notifications had already spoken for themselves. Whoever was behind this knew exactly where to strike, and they’d done it with precision.Victoria returned to the room, her expression unreadable. She handed me a tablet, the article pulled up on the screen again.“This isn’t just about you,” she said, sitting beside me. “They’ve dragged your family into it too.”I skimmed through the text, my jaw tightening. Names, dates, transactions—none of it should’ve been accessible. Yet there it was, laid bare for the world to see.“What’s the plan?” Victoria asked. Her tone was calm, but I could tell she was calculating just as much as I was.“For now, nothing,” I said. “The more I move, the more attention I draw.”Victoria didn’t argue. Instead, she leaned back, staring at the ceiling as though piecing together her own strategy.My phone buzzed again, despite being on silent. A new message popped up on the locked screen: “Thi
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:By noon, the calls had reached a boiling point. My father’s voice boomed through the landline, demanding answers I didn’t have.“What the hell is going on, Vincenzo? Do you know how bad this looks?”“I’m handling it,” I said curtly, pacing the length of the suite. “Pa, can you stop panicking?”“Panicking?!” He let out a bitter laugh. “This isn’t just about you anymore. This is about the Volkov name.”I hung up without another word. My father’s lectures had always been his way of reminding me that I was the black sheep of the family, or throwing in how my twin brother, Ivan, was exactly what they had wanted.Victoria sat on the balcony, scrolling through her phone. She didn’t look up when I joined her. “They’re not going to let this go, you know,” she said, her voice quiet but firm.“I know,” I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck.I sat beside her, not knowing what to say. The weight of the situation was settling in, creeping up on me like a storm on the horizo
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:“Alright… You can do it!” This was me encouraging my wife in the hospital bed.In the blink of an eye, a few months had already passed, and we were doing really great—absolutely great.Victoria was in the labor room, and although I wasn't the doctor helping her give birth, I was still there. I wasn’t going to leave her.“Push!!”“Ahhh!!”It was a long night. Victoria had been in labor for hours, and I could see the exhaustion on her face. Sweat slicked her forehead, and her grip on my hand tightened with each contraction."Easy... easy..." I whispered, trying to keep her calm, but she wasn’t hearing it. She was too focused on the pain."Push!" the nurse said, her voice sharp and clear. Victoria squeezed her eyes shut, letting out a loud cry of frustration."Push! You’ve got this, Victoria," I said, doing my best to be encouraging. She glared at me between breaths."Yeah, right. You’re the one who put me in this position!" she shot back, her voice strained. I kne
Victoria Bella Volkov:A family celebration was happening today. I was in my room, feeling nauseous.My baby was five months along now, and this had to be the best experience of my life. Having a doctor for a husband was a unique kind of blessing. Vincenzo handled my check-ups, prescribed medications, made sure I had a good day, and constantly reminded me to eat fruits, especially those rich in vitamin C.Juliet and Christopher had come over for the family celebration.What was the celebration about again? Oh, right. It was for Vincenzo—him officially reuniting with the family.Don Nikolai was returning today too, and the house was bustling. Everyone seemed busy with something. I stayed in the room with Juliet.“So... we went for a scan, and guess what? We’re having twins!” she announced, her eyes sparkling.“Oh my God, Juliet! Twins? That’s beautiful! I can’t believe it! I envy you so much!” I pulled her into a warm hug.“I’m going to miss you, Juliet. I can’t believe you and Christo
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:“Mum, I want everyone to stay put. I’ve spoken with Victoria, and it seems like something is wrong.”“I found out where she is. She’s in a deserted warehouse, not too far from here—probably about a 40-minute drive.”“Yeah, that’s the same place you mentioned. I feel like she’s being held captive, and I’d bet 100 bucks it’s that stupid Luciano.”“All right, Dante. Be careful, okay…” my mother said, pulling me into a hug.“I’m going with you,” Cassandra said, but I shook my head.“No, I need to go alone.”“No, I’m not allowing that,” she said firmly. “I’m saying this as the Don’s wife. Let’s go!”The drive to this place was nerve-wracking. My guns were ready. Cassandra didn’t like the idea of going alone, so she insisted on coming with me.The plan was simple: she’d stay inside. If anything went wrong, she was to come out.As soon as I arrived, the darkness and silence of the place hit me. I knew my wife wouldn't willingly stay here. Hell, even if she weren’t my
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:"Alright… to the left!" I instructed the construction team.The new project was underway—a major road for a remote village. We were so far from the city, and the heat was unbearable. Even the AC in the car couldn't cool me down."At this point, I want a sign that says 'Slow Down,'" I added, knowing the road would lead to a dusty area. Accidents were common here, so a warning was necessary."Boss, you should take a break and have lunch. It's past time, and we're almost done for the day," Evelyn suggested. I nodded, checking my wristwatch.It had been a while, and Little Mouse still hadn’t answered her phone. I dialed again, but the call wouldn’t go through. I figured it was a network issue and decided not to try again."Instant noodles?" I raised an eyebrow as Evelyn placed them on the table."Finding real food here is impossible, boss. I don’t know why we’re even here. You should have let the Construction Manager handle this. It's so hot... there isn’t a single
Victoria Bella Volkov:“Tiger, are you going to drive me to the supermarket?” I asked, trying to hide the disappointment in my voice as I noticed the tension in his expression.He shook his head. “No, I'm already running late. Why don’t you go with one of the guards, hmm? Just... don’t leave without security.”I pouted a little but nodded. “Fine. Can’t believe you're not taking me. But I’ll manage. I’ll leave now...”“I’m sorry, babe. I really wish I could, but this meeting... I’m already ten minutes behind. Please, just be careful,” he said, kissing my forehead before I turned to go.I stepped outside, the air crisp as I headed to the supermarket. It wasn’t far from the estate, just a quick errand for some fruit. It wasn’t like we didn’t have fruit at home, but I craved something different.As I walked through the aisles, my phone buzzed in my pocket. A text from Vincenzo.I love you, baby...I smiled, my heart warming, but the calm was short-lived.A sound. A shift in the air, like
Victoria Bella Volkov:I was in the same room with Cassandra, and she was helping me with a soft back massage.“You do this so well…”“Yeah… Nikolai taught me.”“You know, I…” I said, sitting up. “I saw a lot of headlines about you. The D’Angelo daughter.” I said, and she looked at Sharon, requesting she leave the room.“Hmm. I'm sorry I had to ask her to leave. This is a sensitive topic for me. As you know, I was abused by people I thought were family. I lost my first baby…” Tears started to well up in her eyes.“I didn’t even know I was pregnant. It’s crazy because it was my adopted brother’s child, and he…”“Hey, I’m sorry I brought that up,” I said, gently. “Me too. I was abused. My adopted sister, Marianne, stole the trash of a boyfriend, and you know…”“Yeah… Vincenzo told us what happened. I’m sorry… it happened to you!” She said, going to wash her hands.“It’s okay… It’s not your fault. I’m healing.”“And I’m healed,” she added, and we both laughed at that.My phone buzzed, an
Victoria Bella Volkov:“Why would you say that?” I asked, chasing after Vincenzo to the bathroom.“Honey…I can't, okay…”“Please… Please, for me…” I pouted my lips, and he groaned in annoyance.“Little Mouse, I'm doing this for love. Come on… How on earth do you expect me to wear a donkey cosplay?” He pointed at the package I had ordered from Amazon.“Oh yeah… You won’t do it for your pregnant wife!?” I looked away, and he pulled me into a hug.“You seem to forget that if I could get the world for you, I would. I’ll wear it, okay?” He kissed my forehead, and I blushed.Quickly, I left the bathroom and put on my own cosplay.I was cosplaying Beetlejuice. I did a quick makeup job, and when I was done, he was also out of the bathroom.The way he looked at me, I was sure he was tired of me.“Twin… Where have you been??” I bit my lip, crawling toward him slowly.“What in the world of cosplay is this?” He asked as I reached for his towel.“You don’t think I’m pretty?”“You’re pretty… Yeah…
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:Nothing on this planet could have prepared me for the changes in my wife's behavior or her frequent eating habits. Our beautiful journey together has been nothing short of amazing.My mother does everything she can to ensure my wife is well, and with Cassandra's help, we’ve been making slow but steady progress.At the moment, I was in my office, having resumed work today. The place had been quiet, and everything seemed to be running smoothly.“Boss,” Evelyn knocked on the door before stepping inside. “She's here. Should I send her in?”“Yes, definitely,” I replied, and she nodded before leaving.A few minutes later, a middle-aged woman in red walked in. She had a familiar face—I recognized her, though I doubted if she recognized me.“Mr. Vincenzo, how nice to meet you,” she said, taking a seat across from me.“The pleasure is all mine. So, you requested to see me?”“Yes, erm... I sent you a proposal, but I didn’t receive a response. Was it because it wasn’t sati
Victoria Bella VolkovThe past two weeks had been a whirlwind of activity. Vincenzo and I worked tirelessly to ensure the children found better homes. Some were taken in by foster families, while others were reunited with their biological parents. A few had no place to go, but we made sure they were safe.Luciano, however, was still missing. He had vanished without a trace. Vincenzo had gone after him, but it turned out to be a trap, leaving us no closer to finding him.For now, though, people seemed pleased with our efforts. The children’s welfare was a small victory in a sea of chaos. Christopher, on the other hand, hadn’t returned to work yet. His betrayal still lingered like a shadow between us.Once trust is broken, it’s never the same again. Still, Christopher remained close to Vincenzo. Perhaps loyalty, even fractured, is hard to sever entirely.Abigail, Grace, and the other girls were taken to a secure location. Many of them were fortunate to reunite with their families, and w