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
Christopher’s POV“I don’t fucking want to hear it, Luciano!” I snapped, my voice sharp and cutting through the air. My fists clenched at my sides, and I could feel the tension radiating off him, but I didn’t care. “All I wanted to do was help you, not betray my boss!”Luciano scoffed, stepping closer, his eyes narrowing as if he didn’t believe me. “Help me? By working for the man who made my life hell? Do you even hear yourself?”I turned away, running a hand through my hair, trying to calm the storm raging inside me. “This isn’t about him. This is about you. About you dragging me into your mess.”He laughed bitterly. “Dragging you into my mess? Don’t you dare pretend you’re innocent in all this. You’re still letting the rich play you like a pawn, just like always. What are you, Christopher? Some kind of dog? A lapdog for a bully who deserves everything coming to him?”I whirled back around, my voice rising. “Stop it! You don’t know what you’re talking about. My boss might be a lot o
Victoria Bella Volkov:"Ma'am, it's not good for you to keep taking these pills," the woman said as she handed me the painkillers. "You've been using them for a long time now, and...""And what?" I cut her off. "I'm stressed. Just leave me alone." I paid for the medicine and walked out of the pharmacy.If they were tired of selling me the painkillers, I'd find another place. I just needed to pull myself together.As I was driving, a man spat at my car."Hey! I didn't do anything!" I yelled, rolling down the window."What are you doing, huh? Trying to get us all killed? You a murderer?" he shouted.The word hit me hard, and my chest tightened."I'm not a murderer!" I shouted back, speeding away from the man.When I arrived at the Washington house, I parked in a quiet spot.The house was eerily quiet, maybe because their daughter was dead, my mind whispered. I quickly pushed the thought away."What are you doing here?" she yelled when I walked into the living room.There were no securit
Christopher:"Boss, there's something I need to tell you," I said, settling into the couch."Hmm, I'm listening," Vincenzo replied without looking up, his focus still on his laptop. It was clear I didn’t have his full attention.Before I could continue, Olivia entered. "Good morning, Mr. Volkov!" she chirped. I rolled my eyes, though she didn’t notice."Good morning, Christopher," she added."Miss Olivia," Vincenzo interjected sharply, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. "You’ll address him as Mr. Christopher. Understood?" His tone carried enough venom to make her visibly flinch."My apologies, Mr. Volkov," she stammered. "You sent for me?"He gave a curt nod, pulling up a video on his screen. Turning it toward her, he pointed. "That’s you, isn’t it? The woman on the left."His fingers tapped against the table—a menacing rhythm that everyone in the room knew all too well. It wasn’t a question. It was a warning."N-no, that’s not me," she stuttered, her lie feeble and poorl
Victoria Bella Volkov:“Murderer! Victoria is a murderer!”The chant was deafening outside the company gates. A crowd of nearly a hundred had gathered, their voices laced with venom as they threw rotten eggs at the pristine glass walls of the building. From my office window, I watched as chaos unfolded below. The anger on their faces and the cruelty in their voices made my chest tighten.Ashley walked into my office, closing the door softly behind her, though her face betrayed the weight of the news she was about to share.“Boss…” she hesitated, then continued, “Videos of you pushing Mrs Washington are all over the internet. They’re calling you a murderer.”“They’re demanding answers. Some are even calling for you to step down as the managing Director,” Ashley added, her voice faltering as the noise outside grew louder.Before I could respond, the door to my office burst open. Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Jacob stormed in, their expressions cold and unforgiving.“I knew it!” Aunt Elizabet
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:“Mr. Volkov,” The psychologist doctor began, his tone carefully measured, “your wife is experiencing a severe psychological response to trauma. It’s beyond normal grief or guilt—it’s manifesting as trauma-induced psychosis.”“What the hell does that mean?” I barked, gripping the edge of the desk. “She’s seeing things! Hearing voices! Is this permanent?”The doctor exhaled deeply, choosing his words carefully. “It’s not necessarily permanent, but it’s serious. Her mind is struggling to process what she’s been through. The crying, the hallucinations, the obsessive behavior—it’s her brain’s way of coping with overwhelming guilt and stress. And, Mr. Volkov… there’s something else.”I froze, my breath hitching. “What else?”“She’s pregnant,” the doctor said gently. “Roughly six weeks along.”My world tilted. I leaned back, my hand gripping the chair for balance. “Pregnant?” I echoed, my voice a whisper.“Yes,” he confirmed. “This changes things. Her body is under imm
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