Vincenzo Dante Volkov:His voice was low, calm, unhurried—like a man who had all the time in the world.I stared at him for a moment before taking the headphones from his hand. “Thanks,” I muttered, my voice equally steady.We stood there, watching each other, two strangers who’d just crossed paths in the middle of the night. Something about him unsettled me—no fear, no hesitation. He was too calm, too composed, and that put me on edge.“Didn’t expect anyone out here,” I said finally, breaking the silence.“Same here,” he replied, slipping his hands into his pockets. His lips curved slightly, like he knew something I didn’t. “Nice place you’ve got.”My jaw tightened. “It’s mine.”“I know it's yours, Mr. Vincenzo,” he said smoothly, his voice even, unsettling. “I rented a house here for a year. I was impressed with the architecture—the designs are remarkable. Truly a reflection of a brilliant mind.”“You rented a house here?” My brow arched sharply as I stared at him, disbelief creepin
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:"Good morning, Boss," Evelyn greeted as Venom led her into my office.I glanced up, narrowing my eyes. "So, you didn’t think to mention that one of my properties was rented out in this estate?"Evelyn blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Oh, no, Boss, I did. I had you sign the papers, and I assumed you’d given consent—it's the CEO of Blackthorn Industries who rented the apartment.""CEO of Blackthorn Industries?" I raised an eyebrow, the realization dawning. "The same guy who sent me that invitation?"She nodded, her gaze steady. "Yes, that's him."“Is anything the matter, boss? What's wrong?”I exhaled sharply, irritation bubbling up. "The urge to fire you is getting stronger by the minute. You’re really pushing my limits today."Her eyes widened as I picked up my pen. "Get to work, Evelyn.""Here? Or at the company?" she asked, adjusting her glasses."Seriously?""I'm sorry," she mumbled, quickly heading to her desk."Send me the profile details of this man, al
Victoria Bella Volkov:I stood next to my grandpa, Charles Arlington, as the shareholders waited. I wasn’t officially part of the company yet, but today, Grandpa was introducing me as something more.Grandpa smiled and spoke with his usual confidence. “Ladies and gentlemen, meet my granddaughter, Victoria Bella Volkov. She’s been away for some time, but I’m proud to announce she will be stepping into the role of Managing Director.”The room was quiet, and all eyes were on us as he made the announcement.“Managing Director?” A skeptical voice cut through the silence. “But Elizabeth has been running the company for years. You’re telling us you’re replacing her with someone we don’t know?”I stood tall, feeling their doubt. They didn’t know me, and I didn’t know them. Their skepticism was understandable, but it still stung.Grandpa spoke up, cutting through the murmurs. “I know this might be unexpected, but Victoria is my only granddaughter. I have every faith she’ll lead this company we
Victoria Bella Volkov:“Was it that stressful?” Vincenzo asked, massaging my legs. I had actually dropped by the house.“Yes, it is. I'm so stressed, and my feet hurt…” I winced softly.“I’m sorry, pumpkin… I’ve got something to show you…” He leaned towards me for a kiss, but I moved my face away, only to see that he was mad.“Are you avoiding me?” he questioned, dragging my feet to the ground. I screamed loudly, accompanied by a laugh.“Hey, that’s unfair! I want to sleep. I have meetings tomorrow with the heads of departments. Honestly, I’m going crazy…”“Is that why you denied me a kiss? Because you’re going crazy?” he asked."Why don’t you entertain me, hmm?” I sighed, dragging my feet toward the kitchen. “I’m sad—so sad—and I don’t even know why. I’m just tired, stressed, and overwhelmed. Thinking about the Washington family and all the work… it’s too much.”Tiger followed close behind, his hands gently massaging my shoulders. It didn’t help.“Still not feeling better?”“No…”“Co
Victoria Bella Volkov:“What?” I turned to look at him.“That red gown,” he said, stepping forward to pull it off the hanger. “And these.” He handed me a pair of black heels from the shoe rack, along with a matching black bag.I raised an eyebrow. “You’re surprisingly good at this.”“You married a man of many talents,” he said, smirking as he watched me slip into the dress.Once I was dressed, he stepped closer, brushing his fingers lightly over my bare shoulder. “You’re stunning.”“I know,” I said with a playful smile. “You married a gorgeous woman.”“Damn right I did.” His voice dropped as he leaned in, kissing the side of my neck. “I’m a lucky man.”His hand slipped lower, delivering a quick, playful slap to my ass. “And don’t you forget it.”I laughed, swatting him lightly. “Alright, alright, enough of that. I have to go.”After a lingering kiss, I grabbed my bag and headed downstairs. Vincenzo had already arranged for Venom to drive me to the company, so I slid into the sleek bla
Victoria Bella Volkov;I was still figuring out the category. Should we focus on luxury, practicality, or a mix of both? These decisions felt endless, but they had to be made.I sighed and leaned back in my chair. The list of employees who weren’t meeting expectations sat on my desk. I planned to let some of them go. There was no room for people who couldn’t keep up.The interns, on the other hand, had done well. Most of their reports were detailed and on time. Maybe it was time to promote one of them to show others what I valued.My phone buzzed. I reached for it, expecting a notification or email. Instead, I saw a message:"Hey Victoria, I have something about your parents I want to show you. But you must come alone."I stared at the screen, frowning. My parents? What could anyone possibly know about them now?The first thing that came to mind was: Who is this?I typed quickly, keeping it short."Who are you?"I hit send and waited. The seconds stretched longer than usual, my mind r
Victoria Bella Volkov:I was freaking out, my hands trembling as I crouched beside Marianne’s body. She wasn’t breathing, her face was covered in blood. My mind raced as I stood there, staring at the mess I had made. “Dammit,” I muttered under my breath, clenching my fists. My car had hit her so hard, she hadn’t stood a chance. I backed up, glancing around nervously. The road was deserted, the warehouse looming in the distance. There were no witnesses—at least, not yet. I couldn’t let anyone find out about this. My hands were shaking as I climbed back into the driver’s seat. I started the engine and reversed the car slightly, just enough so her body slumped to the ground with a sickening thud. “Ahh…” I groaned, stepping out of the car again. I crouched beside her, staring at her limp form. My heart pounded in my chest as I whispered, “What do I do? Think, Bella…think.” I started pacing, biting my lip until it hurt. Memories of us as kids suddenly flooded my mind. I remembere
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:“You want some tea?” I asked, looking at her, but she just shook her head.“Bella, you've not had anything since yesterday… Come on…” I coaxed, trying to be patient. She’d been in a haze, her mind clearly elsewhere, and I hated seeing her like this.“I can't. I can't eat, neither would I even take a drink,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, the words laced with frustration. “I still see her smirk. It feels like he’s watching me... I fell into a trap!” LittleMouse’s hands trembled slightly as she spoke, and I pulled her into my arms without thinking.I knew exactly how this felt—the way she was blaming herself. The way she couldn’t let go of the fear, the confusion. It wasn't her fault. She had been manipulated, played by someone I should've taken care of the moment I knew they existed. That idiot had crossed a line, even after I sent him a clear message to stay away from her.“You can stay home today. You don't have to go anywhere...” I said softly
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