Alessia's Pov My head felt heavy, my heart pounding in a way that had nothing to do with the alcohol. I tried to laugh it off, but the sound came out shaky."And you’re too charming for your own good," I said, my voice softer than I intended.His eyes darkened, and before I could process what was happening, his lips were on mine. It was a slow, deliberate kiss, and for a moment, I didn’t pull away.But then reality crashed back in, sharp and unforgiving. I shoved him away, my breathing ragged."This... this can’t happen," I whispered, my voice trembling.Andrea didn’t look angry or surprised—just calm, as if he’d expected my reaction. "Maybe not," he said softly. "But it already did."I stared at him, my mind spinning, before grabbing my things and leaving without another word.He must have waited for about thirty seconds before falling on my trail, weaving through the happy hour crowd as I had just done, as if guided by my scent. My skin tingled at the nape of my neck, electrified b
Alessia's Pov He nuzzled against me, his lips on my neck, nibbling and kissing his way up to my earlobe, as he worked his fingers against the slick seam . . . and then I forgot to pose, forgot about trying to look good, and lost myself inside my own pleasure. Andrea watched me squeeze me eyes shut as I clamped my thighs against his wrist and snapped my hips up, once, twice, three times before I froze, all the muscles in my thighs and belly and bottom tense and quivering, and he felt me contract against his fingers."Oh, God," I whispered, swiveling my hips in a way he knew would send him right over the edge. "Oh, wait. Do you have a condom?" I whispered.Andrea opened his nightstand drawer and ripped open a condom. I watched, as he slipped it down his already exposed cock.He kissed me and finally, he thrust inside me. I gasped and shut my eyes, and then neither of us spoke. He moved at at rhythmic pace that made me want him to continue till I reached my limits, I had one hand on
Alessia's Pov The ride home was a blur, my mind spinning with regret and self-recrimination. How had I let this happen? How had I let myself get so swept up in Andrea’s charm, his lies?As I stepped into my own apartment, I leaned against the door, exhaling shakily. The weight of my actions pressed down on me, suffocating and inescapable.I had made a mistake. A terrible, irreversible mistake.But what terrified me more than the mistake itself was the nagging thought that lingered at the back of my mind.I didn’t know if I regretted it.When the cab dropped me off at the small apartment, I hesitated at the door, half-expecting Luca to swing it open and demand answers. But when I stepped inside, the space was eerily quiet. He wasn’t there.Relief washed over me at first. I didn’t have to face his piercing questions or that look of quiet disappointment he wore so well. But then another thought crept in, more sinister. What if he’d gone to check on me at the hospital? What if he’d spoke
Luca's Pov I stood barefoot in the dimly lit hallway of my childhood home, a curious but wary child peeking through the cracked door to the study. The muffled sound of voices arguing drew me closer, and I pressed my face against the cool wood, just enough to glimpse the scene inside.My father, a proud and stoic man, stood tall but defeated as he faced a figure I couldn't quite see clearly. Beside him, my mother clutched his arm, her eyes desperate, pleading.“Please,” my father’s voice cracked, something I had never heard before. “You can’t take everything from us. We’ve built this from nothing—this is our life’s work!”“You’ve built nothing but a house of cards,” the man replied coldly. His voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a blade. “Your shares are worthless to me. Useless, just like the both of you.”My small hands curled into fists as anger surged within me. I wanted to burst through the door, to yell at that man for the way he spoke to them. But I was frozen in
Luca's Pov "Ohhh nothing" he said as if trying to be cautious of something.The air at the Claudia mansion was thick with tension. Sitting across from her at the grand mahogany desk, I could feel the weight of her scrutiny. Her sharp eyes, always watching, missed nothing. I was playing Matteo well enough, or so I thought, but every word felt like a trap I had to sidestep carefully.She stirred her tea in deliberate circles, the clinking of the spoon against the porcelain unnervingly loud in the silence. “You’ve been very composed, Matteo,” she said, her tone carrying an edge of suspicion. “But you’ve hardly mentioned Alessia. I would think you’d be more involved, given the nature of this marriage.”I smiled faintly, feigning indifference. “The wedding is progressing smoothly, isn’t it? Alessia and I are on the same page. She trusts me to take care of things.”Claudia tilted her head, the ghost of a smile playing on her lips. “Trust is such a fragile thing, wouldn’t you agree?”
Alessia's Pov The air felt cold and damp against my skin as I opened my eyes, my head pounding in time with the flickering bulb above me. I blinked a few times, trying to clear my vision, and realized I was in some kind of basement. The concrete walls were stained with years of neglect, and the faint smell of mildew made my stomach churn. My wrists burned as I tried to move—ropes cut into my skin, binding me to a rickety wooden chair. My legs were tied too, leaving me completely at the mercy of whoever brought me here.Panic gripped my chest as I struggled to breathe. Where am I? How did I get here? My mind raced as fragments of the last few hours tried to piece themselves together. And then, a voice cut through the silence, sharp and venomous.“Awake at last, I see,” the woman said, stepping into the dim light. I froze, my heart pounding as I took in her appearance. She was elegant but cold, her dark hair pulled back into a severe bun, her lips painted blood red. I knew her face
Luca's Pov The moment I stepped into the apartment, a sense of dread settled over me like a heavy cloak. Something wasn’t right. The door was ajar, the latch splintered as if someone had kicked it in. My stomach churned, and I forced myself to take a deep breath before stepping inside, the sound of my boots echoing on the tiled floor.The place was a mess. The coffee table was flipped over, shards of glass from a broken vase scattered across the floor. Cushions from the couch were tossed haphazardly, their fabric torn in places. A lamp lay on its side, its bulb shattered, the cord dangling like a lifeless limb. My eyes scanned the room, my heart pounding louder with each passing second.Then I saw it—a smear of blood on the edge of the countertop in the kitchen. It wasn’t much, just a small streak, but it was enough to make my blood run cold. My mind raced with questions. What happened here? Where is Alessia?I moved further into the apartment, my eyes darting around for any clue.
Alessia's Pov My wrists ached from the rough rope binding them, and my head throbbed from the slap Elena had delivered earlier. My heart was pounding in my chest, not just with fear but with a desperate need to survive. I couldn’t give up—not like this.Elena’s voice echoed in my mind, dripping with venom as she had threatened me to call off the wedding. I had nodded, pretended to be terrified enough to comply. But deep down, I was plotting. I needed to outwit her, to buy myself time and find a way out of this nightmare.The basement was dimly lit, with a single bulb swaying slightly above me. The air was damp, heavy with the scent of mildew and something metallic—blood, maybe. As I sat tied to the chair, I took slow, deep breaths, trying to calm myself enough to observe my surroundings.There wasn’t much in the room. A rusted metal shelf leaned against one wall, cluttered with tools and cans of paint. A wooden crate sat in the corner, its edges splintered. The window on the far w
Dear Amazing Reader,Thank you from the bottom of my heart for joining me on this incredible journey. Your support, time, and emotions invested in this story mean the world to me. I hope you enjoyed every twist, every moment of tension, and every heartfelt scene.But this is just the beginning... Book 2 is coming soon! Stay tuned for more secrets, more passion, and even greater challenges ahead. If you thought this was intense, just wait until you see what happens next!I’d love to hear your thoughts—leave a review, simply spread the word. Your feedback and support fuel my passion to keep writing.Until next time
Luca's Pov I sat in the dim light of my private study as the phone rang relentlessly on my mahogany desk. The storm of our recent actions still raged inside me—a storm I had long learned to harness but never truly control. I picked up the receiver with steady fingers, my voice low and resolute.“Rico,” I said, “it’s time.”On the other end, Rico’s tone was cautious, laden with concern. “Time? Are you absolutely sure, Luca?”I paused, letting silence hang in the line for a moment as I recalled every calculated step that had led to this point. “Yes, Rico. I’m sure,” I replied, my voice firm. “Tonight, we blow up the Claudia Mansion. It’s the final move.”There was a brief silence before Rico replied, “You really believe this will end it all?” His voice carried a mix of skepticism and worry.I nearly laughed at his question. “Belief is irrelevant when it comes to power, Rico. I built this island, and I have the means to reshape everything. The mansion is the nerve center of the Claudia E
Alessia's Pov The single word knocked the air out of my lungs.For a second, I thought I hadn’t heard him right. But there was no mistaking the cold, unwavering finality in his voice.I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. "You really don’t feel anything, do you?"Luca’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t look away. "Feelings have no place in what I do, Alessia.""Then what was I?" I demanded, stepping closer. "Just a pawn in your game? Just someone to manipulate?""You were a means to an end," he said simply, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You were close to Sophia. That made you useful."The way he said it, so detached, so emotionless, shattered something inside me."Useful?" My voice cracked, but I didn’t care. "That’s all I ever was to you?"Luca’s gaze darkened, but he didn’t respond. And that silence was louder than any words he could have spoken.I swallowed past the lump in my throat, blinking rapidly to fight the sting in my eyes. "I was stupid," I whispere
Alessia's Pov I shook my head, tears threatening to spill. “You never told me that—never told me that you’d become so consumed by it all. Was I just a distraction? A pawn to keep you from feeling the emptiness of power?”For a long, excruciating moment, Luca said nothing. The silence between us was deafening, filled with all the words we both refused to speak. Finally, his voice came out low, almost regretful. “I did what I had to, Alessia. I can’t change that.”“Then why was I even here?” I demanded, stepping closer until our faces were inches apart. “Why did you let me think we meant something to each other? Why did you let me love you?”Luca’s eyes softened briefly before hardening again. “I cared about you, but not in the way you want me to. I am not a man of sentiment. I am a man of power. And if you truly loved me, you’d understand that.”I felt my heart shatter at his words, my voice barely a whisper. “Understand? How can I understand when every day I feel more alone than the
Alessia's Pov Andrea nodded, his jaw set. "I won’t forget this night, Alessia. Not as long as I live. I promise you, whoever’s behind this, we’ll bring them down. We have to."But as the helicopter began to lift off, the sound of its rotors drowning out the chaos below, a sudden realization hit me with crushing force. Even as we soared away from the burning wreckage and the doomed island, the sense of dread lingered like a stain on my soul. I could still feel unseen eyes on me, and every turn of the helicopter made me wonder if this was truly the end—or just the beginning of a new nightmare.I leaned back in the cramped helicopter seat, trying to catch my breath, my mind racing. Andrea and Sophia sat quietly beside me, their expressions solemn. Sophia’s grip on the journal tightened even further, and I could see the determination in her eyes as she stared out at the receding island."I can’t shake the feeling," I murmured, almost to myself, "that someone’s still watching us."And
Alessias point of veiw The air inside the tower was heavy with dread as I tried to catch my breath, still reeling from the earlier chaos. We had barely recovered from the previous skirmishes when, without warning, the heavy doors burst open. My heart lurched as a fresh wave of masked men flooded into the room—more of them than before, their eyes cold and ruthless behind their dark visors. In an instant, the fragile calm we had managed to salvage was shattered.“Run!” someone screamed, but there was no time. I dove for cover behind a row of old wooden crates, the sound of clashing bodies and frantic shouts filling the air. The attack was relentless. I could see Andrea leaping to intercept an assailant rushing toward me, and I heard Sophia’s anguished cry as she was cornered near a battered desk.Instinct took over. I scrambled to my feet, grabbing a piece of broken equipment—a jagged shard of metal from a shattered lamp—and steeled myself for the fight. A masked attacker lunged tow
Luca's Pov Rico leaned back, studying me with a look that mixed disbelief and concern. “You always say you care, but you’re never that sentimental. So, you really just see her as another casualty in our war? Another pawn?” His voice was low, almost challenging.I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of every memory press upon me. “I see her as a person who’s suffering. I didn’t plan for her to be part of this, but she’s here, and I can’t let her get hurt. That doesn’t mean I love her. It means I’m… responsible. And perhaps, a part of me feels guilty for all that’s happened.”Rico’s face softened for a moment, but his tone remained sharp. “Guilt won’t save you, Luca. And neither will pity. We’re dealing with enemies who will stop at nothing. You know that. And if we’re not careful—”I slammed my glass down, the sound echoing. “I am careful. I always have been.” I paused, then added, “I am Luca Romano. I built this empire. I’m not going to let sentimentality get in the way of what mus
Luca's Pov I was trapped in darkness, but through the small gaps, I could still see the deck.And then I saw them.Madam Claudia’s parents stood at the front, their faces unreadable. And behind them—every single person my parents had begged for help.Betrayal.It dripped from every shadow, from every smile, from every set of cold, lifeless eyes."Running away?" Madam Claudia’s father said, amusement lacing his tone. "I expected more from you, Romano. Did you really think we’d let you leave?"My father stood tall, even in the face of death. "You don’t own me," he spat. "Not anymore."A chuckle. "Oh, but we do. You sold your soul to us a long time ago. And no one leaves the Claudia Empire alive."Then they struck.There was no negotiation. No mercy.The first bullet hit my father in the leg. He staggered but didn’t fall.The second tore through his shoulder. Blood painted the deck.My mother screamed, lunging toward him, but hands grabbed her, restraining her as she fought
(Luca’s Pov– Past & Present)"Here," he said coldly. "This is for you to read. You need to learn."I opened the cover. The pages were filled with words I didn’t understand. Business strategies. Calculations. The philosophy of control."But I don’t want to read this," I protested. "I want you to read to me."His gaze hardened. "You don’t have a choice. You need to learn how to build an empire, Luca. A Romano doesn't waste time with childish things."And that was the first time I felt something break inside me.From that day forward, I was forced to grow up faster than any child should. My father pushed me harder, demanding results, expecting nothing less than perfection. I was expected to memorize books on finances, to understand the undercurrents of politics, to learn about manipulation. There was no room for fun. No room for joy. All that mattered was power, control, business.My mother, once so loving, stopped singing me to sleep. Her warm embrace became a distant memory. She