Victoria Bella Volkov:“Grandpa, you made this? For me?” I held up the soft, hand-knitted sweater he handed over. It was warm, cozy, and smelled faintly of lavender, just like his study.He chuckled, his wrinkled face lighting up with pride. “Of course, Bella. Only the best for my little sunshine.”I slipped it on, feeling the warmth—not just from the fabric but from the love it was made with. “Grandpa… you’re the sweetest!” I exclaimed, wrapping my arms around him in a tight hug.He patted my back, but his voice softened. “This is nothing, Bella. If only…” He trailed off, his words hanging in the air like an unfinished melody.I knew where his thoughts were going. “Grandpa, don’t,” I said, pulling back and looking him in the eye. “Don’t go there. I’m here, and that’s what matters.”His eyes glistened as I kissed his cheek. “You’re right, my dear. I’m just an old man with too many memories.”I smiled, changing the subject. “So, what’s this I hear about you meeting Mr. Roberto?”“Oh, t
Victoria Bella Volkov:I leaned back in my chair, flipping through the pad Ashley had handed me. A small smile tugged at my lips as I admired the numbers.“This is really good,” I said, almost to myself. “Honestly, I didn’t realize I’d made such a big difference.”Ashley leaned on the desk, grinning. “You’re underselling yourself. If you hadn’t set the example, none of this would’ve happened. The board is thrilled, and with the new wine line launching soon? It’s a massive win.”“Mm, I’ll take your word for it,” I said, scribbling a quick note. “By the way, I’m starving. Can you get someone to bring me a cold cappuccino and a burger? I think better on a full stomach.”Before Ashley could answer, a sharp knock interrupted us.“Come in,” I said, glancing at the door.A young man stepped inside, his face pale and his hands fidgeting nervously. “Ma’am, there’s a... problem downstairs.”Ashley straightened, her brows knitting together. “What kind of problem?”He shifted on his feet, avoidin
Victoria Bella Volkov:I stumbled to the bed, collapsing onto it and pulling the blanket over me. I curled into a ball, gripping the fabric tightly as if it could shield me from her voice, her face, the memories that wouldn’t leave me alone.Tears streamed down my face, hot and relentless, but I barely noticed. My chest ached, and my throat burned as I sobbed into the pillow, muffling the sound.I wanted it to stop. I wanted her to stop. But Marianne’s voice only grew louder in my head, her laughter echoing until it was the only thing I could hear.I cried until there was nothing left, until exhaustion pulled me under. But even in sleep, I could feel her smirk.“Help! Please, someone help me!” My voice cracked as I stumbled back, my hands gripping the edge of the bed for support. My chest heaved as I gasped for air, panic clawing at my throat.I swore I saw her—Marianne. She was there, right there, smirking like she always did, mocking me with that cruel expression.“Leave me alone!”
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:“Are you feeling better now?” I asked, watching as Little Mouse slurped her instant noodles. She nodded, sniffling a little.“It's so spicy, but I like it,” she muttered before taking a sip of orange juice. After finishing her food, she quickly took her medication and cleared the table without a word.“Are you sure you want to go to work? After everything that happened yesterday?” I asked again, this time kneeling to help her with her heels.“Yes, Tiger. I have to go. What happened yesterday wasn’t real. It was just... guilt playing tricks on me,” she replied softly, avoiding my eyes as she stood.I wasn’t convinced, but I let it slide. “Alright, then. Just give me a kiss on the cheek and promise me you’ll be okay, hmm?”She smiled, her eyes lighting up with that rare sparkle that made the room feel warmer. It was the kind of smile that made you want to pull her close and never let her go. If I could, I’d pull the stars from the sky just to see that smile again.
Victoria Bella Volkov:Mrs. Washington’s voice shattered the silence. "I know you killed my daughter!" She fell to her knees, her hands shaking as she reached toward me. "What did I do? Where is my daughter, Bella?!" Her scream echoed, a raw, desperate sound.I stared at her, my throat tightening. I wanted to say something, but the words caught. "Mother, I…" The word felt foreign, like I didn’t even know her anymore. She didn’t deserve that title. Not after everything she did.She crawled closer, her face twisted in agony. "I don't know where you've hidden my daughter, but I want her back!" She pleaded, her voice breaking. "Marianne was all I had… please."The anger surged in me, hot and sharp. "My parents were all I had too!" I shouted, my fists clenched. "But you killed them, Mrs. Washington. You took everything from me!"She scoffed, slowly pushing herself up. "They deserved it," she sneered. "Guess you found that out, huh? Poor Sunshine." She laughed bitterly, mocking the nickname
Victoria Bella Volkov:It was one of those late nights, where sadness wrapped itself around me like a heavy blanket. Lana Del Rey’s melancholic voice filled the air, blending with the quiet hum of the estate. A glass of red wine swirled in my hand as I stared at the star-studded sky, letting the cool night breeze whisper against my skin.Vincenzo wasn’t home tonight, leaving the house eerily silent. The maids had retreated to their rooms, and the guards were stationed outside on their usual patrols. Alone, I felt an ache for conversation, but no name came to mind. So, I kept drinking.“You don’t mind if I join you, right?” a voice broke through the silence, startling me. I turned quickly to see Juliet Taylor stepping out onto the balcony.“Juliet? What are you doing here?” I asked, surprised.She smirked and leaned against the railing. “Your rich hubby paid me a pretty penny to keep you company. We’re talking four figures, girl.”I raised an eyebrow, half-amused. “What about your daug
Luciano Brown:"Pull him up higher," I said, watching as my men tied the ropes tighter, stretching the man’s arms so far I thought they might pop out of their sockets. He was hanging between two poles, his feet barely touching the ground.The guy—mid-forties, balding, shaking—used to work for me. He wasn’t anything special, just another guy who knew how to follow orders. Until he didn’t.He ran.Who runs from me?“You thought I wouldn’t find you?” I asked, walking closer. My voice was calm, but every word carried weight. I could hear him breathing hard, trying not to cry. He wasn’t fooling anyone.“I don’t care why you did it,” I said, stopping in front of him. “Maybe you thought you’d start over somewhere else. Get a clean slate. But here’s the thing—you don’t leave me. Not ever.”I signaled one of my guys to bring me my gun. I wasn’t in the mood to drag this out. My gun was already loaded. I raised it slowly and aimed at his face.“I really want to fuck you up,” I said, tilting my h
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:"Detective, you're alive? That's quite unfortunate," I said, leaning casually against the wall, the glass of whiskey cool in my hand. I swirled the liquid lazily, watching his face contort in a mix of rage and pain."You goddamn devil. What did you do to me!?" His voice was hoarse, the accusation laced with desperation.I smiled, savoring the moment, and let the glass slip from my hand, shattering on the floor. "I operated on you," I said, walking toward the bed he was bound to. My footsteps were deliberate, echoing in the room. "Took out the diamond you stole from me... nothing much.""Nothing much?!" He coughed violently, his body trembling as he winced. "You're going to pay for this!"I tilted my head, studying him. The man was already broken, but his spirit clung stubbornly to empty threats. "Yeah... I know," I replied nonchalantly. "But first, let’s play a little game. Five questions. All you need to do is say yes or no.""Fuck you," he spat, his voice weak
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 knew better than to argue.The nurse was moving around, adjusting equipment, but I wasn’t going anywhere. I wasn’t about to leave her side. I stood by her, rubbing her back as she gave another push.The nurse gave me a knowing look as she prepared to leave. “We’ll be right outside,” she said, before heading for the door. But I wasn’t going anywhere.“No, I’ll stay
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:“You! You did this!” the president bellowed, his finger shaking as it pointed at me.I raised my hands, smirking. “Easy now. I didn’t do anything, alright?”“I'm disappointed at the kind of games you've played Mr President. First you tried sabotaging my image, now you plan on killing me?” Nikoali walked in, he took a glass of wine and drank. “Interesting…you wanted to kill my brother? After everything I've done for you!?” I asked, shaking my head. “Indeed, you are a fool. What was running through your head!” Nikolai set the empty glass down with a deliberate clink, his cold eyes never leaving the chaos in the room. "The president’s ambition always outweighed his intelligence. I warned you, didn’t I? But you never listen."I stepped forward, my boots clicking against the marble floor as I faced the dying man on the ground. Blood seeped through his shirt, pooling beneath him, yet his defiance still flickered in his eyes.“You wanted to kill my brother?" I repeat
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:The car pulled over at the grand event hall. I adjusted my suit and stepped out. Nikolai wasn’t answering his calls, and it had been hours.Inside, I searched the room, weaving through the crowd of politicians and officials. Finally, I spotted him on the upper level, speaking to a high-ranking senator.I headed straight for them. Nikolai saw me coming, his expression tightening for a split second before he spoke.“Vince,” he said. “I didn’t think you’d be here this soon.”“Clearly,” I replied.Nikolai excused the senator, and the man left without a word. Once it was just the two of us, I didn’t waste any time. “What the hell are you doing here?”“I’ve been calling you,” I said, my voice sharp. “No answer. I didn’t want to call Dad, Mom, or your wife to tell them your life is in danger.”Nikolai raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean, ‘my life is in danger’? I’m fine, Vince.”“No, you’re not.” I stepped closer. “Mr. President ordered a one-point-and-shoot strategy
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:"I love how you play these games, Charles. Coming into my house and trying to kill my wife? Really?" I walked toward the man tied to the chair, his face disfigured from repeated punches and his fingers chopped off. He was gagged, of course—I didn’t want to hear his excuses for trying to harm my wife."What was it? The money? How did you even get into my house with all that security, huh?" I watched as he tried to move—was he thinking of running? I couldn’t be sure, but I loved the way fear radiated from his face.He muffled a sound as I gave him a shallow cut across his cheek."Is that a cry?" I muttered, leaning closer, locking eyes with the man tied to the chair. "Alright, just nod. That’s all I need from you. Who sent you?"He thrashed, muffling something behind the gag."Oh, right. The gag." I yanked it off, watching as he gasped, blood trickling from his split lip. "Now, talk. Was it the Senator? Yes? No?"His breath hitched, his words tumbling out in a rus
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:The silence between Little Mouse and me was deafening, weighted with all the things I’d done wrong. Every marriage has its storms, but this—this was a hurricane of my own making. She is my goddess, my entire world, and I’d be a fool to let my thoughtless actions tear apart what we have.I needed to apologize—not just with words but with my soul.I walked to her room and knocked gently. The sound barely broke the air, but I knew she heard it. She turned away, her back now to the door, and my heart sank further.She was angry, hurt. I could feel it radiating from her, and I had no one to blame but myself.I stepped inside, my breath heavy with guilt. As I approached the bed, I spoke, my voice raw and trembling with emotion.“Baby,” I began softly, “I’m sorry. I endangered you and our babies, but most of all, I broke your heart.”The words caught in my throat, but I pushed on, sinking to my knees beside her. “Please, forgive me. I can’t go on like this. It’s tearin
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:Some things never change. I was in my office, going through files and preparing for the next patient. The door opened, and a woman stepped in, followed by a man who looked like he didn’t want to be here.“Good afternoon,” I said, motioning for them to sit. “I’m Dr. Vincenzo. How can I help today?”“My name is Gloria,” the woman said, her voice shaky. “This is my husband, Daniel. We, uh, just came in for some tests.”I nodded, looking at their files. “Alright, I see the test results are in. Let’s go over them.”She sat up a little straighter, her hands folded tightly in her lap. “Is something wrong?”I took a deep breath, keeping my tone calm. “Gloria, one of the tests shows you have an infection—it's a sexually transmitted infection.”Her face went blank for a second, like she didn’t quite understand what I said. “What? No… that can’t be right.”The man, Daniel, shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Gloria looked at him, her voice growing a little more anxious. “Da
Victoria Bella Volkov:"Hello, Miss Volkov," Clara mumbled, setting something on the table. She gave a curt nod to Vincenzo before leaving without another word."Well, that was... brisk," Vincenzo said, raising an eyebrow as he opened the container. "Did you bring me food because you wanted an excuse to check on me?"I smirked. "In your dreams! I just thought you might appreciate a meal." I wandered around his office, glancing at a few things. "It smells just like you—warm and inviting." I stopped and turned to him. "Anyway, I'm heading home now. I love you.""Oh, baby, I love you too," he said, pulling me in for a soft kiss.I left the hospital with a smile. Let me tell you, at least two nurses couldn’t stop staring at me.I was sure they thought Vincenzo was single. How dare he look so handsome? A flicker of annoyance bubbled up inside me, though I guess I was just being paranoid.Once in the car, I sighed, wishing he could stop working altogether. I wanted him to myself—only to mys
Victoria Bella Volkov:"I think this little boy wants to come out so fast!" I muttered, rubbing my baby bump. I was in just my underwear, lying on Tiger's lap."Yeah, I can't wait to kiss them," Vincenzo replied, scrolling through his phone. He wasn’t paying much attention to me."Hey, are you looking at or texting a girl? Why are you acting so busy?" I said, pinching his leg."I am busy, and I'm not texting any girls. Why would I text a girl when you're here?" he asked, kissing my head. "Alright... I'm just trying to get some vital information from the President's daughter, Clara.""I knew it!" I half-yelled, sitting up. "I knew that girl was going to be a hard time for me and you...""Easy, easy, cupcakes." He put down his phone. "I'm just trying to set things right. I have nothing to do with that blonde girl.""You sure...?""I’m as sure as my name!"Vincenzo left a few minutes later to take his night bath, while I stayed on the balcony, watching the stars. That seems to be my favo
Vincenzo Dante VolkovThe room was dimly lit, the air thick with smoke and the unshakable scent of betrayal. Power-hungry men sat around the table, their shadows stretching across the walls like predators circling prey."Are you accusing me of ordering the destruction of your properties and goods?" the President asked, his voice steady but his gaze sharp. I exhaled slowly, meeting his eyes with an unreadable expression."If you claim to have left the world of power, shouldn’t the loss of illegal weapons mean nothing to you?" he added, leaning back in his chair, his tone laced with challenge."Ah," I murmured, tilting my head slightly. "I see where this is going. But tread carefully… Don’t forget, I’m the reason—""You’re not the reason, Mr. Volkov," he snapped, cutting me off. "The reason I’m the President isn’t because of you or the power your family handed me. No, it’s because I chose this. I had the zeal, the drive, to become who I am!"I let a small, cold smile creep across my fac