CHARLOTTEI heard the car in the distance and sighed in relief as it slowly came into view. Sonia slowed the car to a halt and got out at lightning speed. “Are you alright, Signora? What happened?” she asked, staring at me with concern.I chuckled and slowly rubbed my palms together. “I’m alright, just a little shaken. I’ve had quite the experience, and… I need to lie down,” I answered. I tried to stand up, but my legs started to tremble, and she reached out to help me.She held my hand and slowly led me to the car. I sat down, and she ensured my seatbelt was firmly across my shoulder before turning around to get into her seat. “You look like you escaped from a torture room. Where were you, and what happened?” she asked again. I rested my head against the window, staring blankly into space.“I almost got shot,” I said after a while. She started to say something, but I continued talking. “No, you’re not allowed to ask me where it happened. I’m not telling you; I’m still trying to make
CHARLOTTE“Hello, Signora,” a familiar voice said as the speaker opened the door and walked in. I let out a relieved sigh, then chuckled as Maria’s face and warm aura filled the room. My mouth fell open in shock, and I broke into confused laughter for a few seconds before rubbing my eyes to make sure my mind wasn’t playing tricks on me.For a split second, I thought Sonia had reached out to Thiago about the situation, or, even worse, Rogerio. But seeing Maria filled me with renewed energy. She walked towards the bed with quick strides and enveloped me in a hug. “You should have called me,” she said, tightening her arms around me a little longer before pulling away.“You were so far away, I didn’t want to bother you with all this. I kept telling myself I’d call you soon, and I never got around to it. I’m sorry,” I replied, lowering my gaze.“There’s nothing to be sorry about. I’m here now, and I’m going to take care of you,” she said with a wide grin.I smiled sadly and shook my head.
CHARLOTTE“I find that hard to believe. She’s been watching over you like a hawk the entire time I’ve been here. The nurse or some other guard takes her place when she’s not here,” Maria replied, picking up the sheets. “Sounds like a bodyguard to me,” she added, glancing around the room to ensure nothing else was out of place.I moved towards the chair with slow, steady steps and sat down. I turned to the machine I had been hooked up to while unconscious and stared at it for a moment. The nurse had turned it off before leaving the room, and I was relieved to not have to hear the annoying beeping sound it had made earlier. “She’s just doing her job,” I said after a short silence.“She seems too enthusiastic about it,” Maria commented, gesturing to the sheets in her hands. “It’s great to know someone’s watching your back like that, but I still don’t trust it. Where do I keep these?”“There,” I said, pointing to the wardrobe. “There’s a laundry basket in there. The cleaning staff will pi
CHARLOTTEI spent the next few days recuperating under Maria's and Sonia’s watchful eyes. I tried to leave the house at some point; the grand idea was to take a stroll and enjoy the stillness of the night, but they wouldn’t hear of it. So, I started to detest being cooped up and tried to sneak out of the house when no one was paying enough attention. I had made it past Sonia and the guards stationed at the front door without any hassle until I got to the reception on the last floor and met Maria’s questioning glare.“I’d like to ask where you’re going, but I think we can agree that you’re not well-rested for any escapades,” she said, crossing her arms as I walked out of the elevator.“Maria,” I said and sighed with feigned annoyance. “This is not an escapade; I’m trying to breathe air somewhere that isn’t next to you or Sonia,” I added and walked past her.“Speaking of Captain Hawkeye,” she replied, and I stifled a chuckle. Then I turned around to look at her as I arched my eyebrow. “
CHARLOTTEWalking around the vicinity had proven more productive than I anticipated when I realized I had devised a plan. Sitting under a tree, watching the sunset, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. My first order of business was to start the process of suing the people who had taken over the property, and I knew I had to do some research about law firms in the city. Given the odds surrounding it, I needed to ensure I picked the most suitable one that would guarantee the case’s success.I stood up, wiped the bits of soil and grass that clung to my sweatpants, and started walking back to the penthouse. The distance seemed shorter than when I had stepped out, but I figured it was because of a spring in my step. It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, and things had taken a different turn. I wasn’t sure how to explain my feelings, but it felt nothing like the last few days. I had spent the last hour thinking about everything that had happened and coming to a definite co
CHARLOTTE“You look worried. What’s the problem?” I asked, closing the door behind me. She sighed, placed the phone on the bed, and gestured for me to sit. “You’re acting weird. Did anything happen while I was gone?”“Around here? Yeah, the elevator stopped working for a while, but I think it’s fixed now,” she replied absentmindedly.“Yes, I saw the light come back on, but you know that’s not what I’m referring to. Tell me what’s happening,” I insisted, and she smiled sadly.“I wasn’t going to bother you with it, especially now that you’re still recuperating and you have a lot to handle, but there’s no way I could leave without telling you why,” she began.“I know I said you couldn’t stay here for long, but if you left without telling me, that would be very…” I paused, trying to think of the perfect word. “Hurtful,” I added a few seconds later.“Yes, but you see, the problem at hand is going to make you worry, and you don’t need to get yourself involved with all of that right now,” sh
CHARLOTTEWe left the penthouse at dawn the next day. The night before, I had spoken with Sonia about Maria’s departure, and she immediately sprang into action when she heard we’d need the plane. I could tell she had questions, but held back. I knew what she wanted to ask, but I stayed silent until we exited the penthouse. As we got into the car, I noticed some guards entering the SUVs parked behind ours.“Do they really need to come with us? It’s just a trip to the airport,” I said as we settled in and Sonia gently closed the door. She opened the passenger door and got in beside the driver.“Well, using the plane came with a condition—security trailing behind us,” she replied, reaching for her seatbelt. Maria and I watched as she struggled with it for a moment before it clicked into place.“Wait, does...” I started to ask, but the sound of the driver’s door opening interrupted me. We all turned as he got in and started the ignition.A few seconds later, we were driving through the ga
Charlotte“Reginald & Berkley,” I muttered as the car pulled in front of the building, the firm’s name emblazoned on a large signpost. Sonia peered out of the window for a moment before turning to face me.“Are you sure you don’t want me to tag along? I don’t want...” she started, but I cut her off with a shake of my head.“I’ll be alright,” I said, though my voice lacked conviction.Sonia raised an eyebrow. “That doesn’t sound convincing enough,” she noted, glancing again at the firm’s imposing façade.“I don’t think anything I say would convince you,” I replied with a slight smile, and she chuckled.“You’re right. After everything we’ve been through in the last few hours, there’s nothing you could say to make me take my eyes off you,” she responded, pouting slightly.“Well, I need some time alone with the lawyer. You can’t follow me into their office,” I insisted.“You’re right,” she conceded, reaching into her pocket for her phone. After a quick glance at the screen, she took note
Dear Readers,We’ve reached the end of this story, and I can’t begin to express how grateful I am for each and every one of you. From the first chapter to the last, your support, comments, encouragement, and even your wild theories have made this journey unforgettable. Writing this book was an adventure, but sharing it with you was the real magic.Your patience, love, and engagement mean the world to me. Whether you’ve been here from the very start or just joined along the way, thank you for believing in these characters and their journey.But while one story ends… another is just beginning.🔥 Introducing my new book: S.I.X: The Mafia’s Kryptonite 🔥A story of power. Romance. Loyalty. Blood. In the world of the Mafia, trust is a luxury, and betrayal comes at a deadly cost.🔫 He was the legend. The nightmare. The one name whispered in fear—S.I.X.For ten years, SIX ruled the underworld as a ruthless enforcer for the La Fratellanza Mafia. But now, he’s desperate to leave. There’s jus
EPILOGUEFive years had passed since Charlotte and Rogerio decided to give their relationship a second chance. They had committed to the process, putting in the work, and it had blossomed into something beautiful.Their marriage had grown stronger, filled with mutual respect, understanding, and a shared vision for the future.Together, they built a family, welcoming two children, a boy and a girl, into their lives. They vowed to raise them with love, patience, and the wisdom gained from their own past mistakes, ensuring they grew up to be better people than they had ever been.Determined to create lasting memories, they prioritized family time, going on trips, attending couple’s therapy, working on their businesses as a team, and making sure they were present in each other’s lives.Over time, both of them had changed in ways neither had expected, shaped by experience, love, and the desire to be better versions of themselves.Rogerio had learned to treat people with more empathy, to be
CHARLOTTEElena’s trial had concluded, and she had been sentenced to life imprisonment in a maximum-security prison. I wasn’t sure if the verdict truly satisfied me, but knowing she would be locked away for a very long time, unable to pose a threat to me or anyone else, filled me with reassurance.I decided to visit Thiago, who had returned to Milan to support his friend during the trial. I sent him a text asking if we could have dinner together; there were things I needed to discuss with him and I wanted his honest opinion. He readily agreed, and the next day, I boarded a plane to Milan.The entire flight, I couldn’t shake the gnawing feeling that this would be the last time I set foot in this city for a very long time.As soon as I arrived, I went straight to the estate to speak with the staff. I was still undecided about selling the villa, but if they were willing to stay and take care of the place in my absence, I would consider keeping it. When I spoke to the chef about this, he
ROGERIOI had been visiting Maria’s grave every week since my memory returned. Mostly out of guilt. I felt responsible for what had happened to her in more ways than one. If I had listened, if I had stopped Elena before she spiraled, none of this would have happened.Maria would still be alive, and perhaps, Charlotte would still be here too. But it was too late for “maybes” and “could-haves.”I hadn’t returned to the office yet. There was nothing there that my grandfather and mother couldn’t handle, and I needed to be alone. This place, the cemetery, seemed like the perfect escape.It had become a ritual. Each day, I knelt by Maria’s tombstone, remembering our time at the estate. She had been the mother figure mine never was, and losing her had affected me more than I could have imagined. I hated myself for it. As I sat there, lost in grief, I heard a branch snap behind me.I turned, expecting Thiago or one of the guards checking in on me. But when I saw who it was, every nerve in my
CHAPTER 148 CHARLOTTEThings in L.A. had been going smoothly, but my heart was still in Milan. The case remained unresolved, making a return seem like a foolish idea, yet each passing day filled me with the temptation to board a flight and see things for myself.The air here carried a tension of its own as the reveal Thiago and I had planned drew closer. I wanted to delay it further, but there was no point, it was better to get it over with once and for all.School was the only thing holding together any shred of sanity I had left, and I didn’t take it for granted.I allowed myself to grieve Maria and heal at my own pace, though the days dragged on, making it feel like there was no coming back from such a loss.While I tried to focus on the silver linings, I still felt alone, even with Thiago’s unwavering support. I hated how lost I felt deep down. Two weeks later, I decided to damn the consequences and visit Milan. What was the worst that could happen?If things went terribly wrong,
ROGERIOWe had returned to Milan, and the police dropped by the house to question me about the accident, the trip, and a million other things, but Thiago wouldn’t let them past the gates after the first interview.In his words, I needed time to recuperate, and this was true. I had gone from feeling much better to being disoriented.I couldn’t tell if it was the barrage of questions or the flashing lights from the press trying to get pictures of me when I came out of the apartment, but I certainly needed a break from everything. Things were moving too fast, and to top it off, I was having occasional headaches.My memory was still hazy, but I would occasionally remember things, only for some parts to remain out of reach, leaving me struggling to recall.It was a continuous struggle between trying to stay in the present and drifting into fragments of the past, but I tried to maintain some composure and hoped that things went as planned.My mom and grandfather occasionally came to visit,
CHARLOTTEAfter carefully processing the information I had uncovered, I decided to return to Milan to warn Rogerio about Elena. I chose not to inform Thiago, knowing he would try to stop me.Besides, he had told me it was my prerogative to do what I felt was right, and I fully intended to do just that.Upon arriving in Milan, I went straight to the detective I had previously hired. Though he had mixed feelings about my return, he remained in charge of Maria’s case, which made things easier.I laid out everything I had learned about Elena’s involvement in the attacks and her plans for Rogerio. When I refused to disclose my source, he assured me that they would treat it as an anonymous tip to protect my safety while they investigated further.I asked if I could speak to Rogerio directly, only to learn that he had already left the city, with his last known destination being Mykonos. The realization hit me, he had been following me.That only reinforced my suspicions. If Elena knew he was
ELENARealizing that I had made such a grave mistake kept me on edge. I hadn’t heard anything implicating from the media or Rogerio, but I was still nervous.I had stayed away from the public eye and ensured that my return to the city hadn’t made any headlines. It was enough that the topic had shifted from my disastrous wedding to the attack on the Thuthai estate and Maria’s death.The news hadn’t mentioned anything about Charlotte, and I started to wonder if Rogerio had brought her up just to rattle my nerves.“Well, if that was his plan, then he succeeded,” I muttered to myself, wondering if I had gone too far in ordering the men to attack his vehicle.I hadn’t wanted anything serious to happen to him, just enough to make him come back home and give up his search for his ex-wife. But the silence from his end over the past few days was starting to bother me.I didn’t want to show up at his mother’s estate uninvited; she must be irritated with all the chaos surrounding her family, and
ROGERIOThe sun’s rays beat against my face and I put out an arm to block it, then looked around. The last thing I remember was getting off the plane and the car somersaulting several times in the air.I didn’t know where I was or what exactly had brought me here. I got up from the ground and tried to brush the sand off my clothes when I realized that I was injured in a few places, but it was nothing serious.The car, however, lay turned on its back, tires rolling in the air, which smelled of petrol and something else. I looked at the car and realized that there were people trapped inside. I wasn’t sure how I had gotten out, but I had to help them out too.I tried to move and realized that I had sprained my ankle. I didn’t realize how terrible it was earlier because my body was still recovering from the shock.As I tried to move my limbs, my body let me know that it had gone through much more than I could reckon. I couldn’t move as quickly as I wanted to, and I wondered if I would be