Nicole’s POVWith the gun still pressed against Molly’s head, I had the upper hand, but mom's orders were clear: do not let Gio know that you did it.The thought of her orders sent a shiver down my spine as I searched for any exits, finding none. I dialed her number on the phone. “Please tell your men to retreat. Gio is at the door.”Molly had a shocked look in her eyes, and I knew she didn’t believe I would do it before, but just as I wanted to do it and face whatever punishment Gio would give me, I heard his voice again.“Nicole, open this door or I will break it down, by the time I count to three.” I realized Molly’s back was against the door, so the push would hurt her.I smirked, about to urge him so the blame of Molly being hurt would rest on him, but she spoke up. “Gianni, please don’t.”My teeth gritted together when I heard Gianni’s voice soften because of her. “Molly, tell me what’s going on.”She gazed at me, and I lowered the gun before whispering in her ear, “This isn’t o
Nicole’s POVMolly appeared frightened and anxious, clearly caught off guard by the situation. "I..." Her words seemed to stick in her throat as Gio reminded her of my past actions."Don't forget how she almost killed you," he said, picking up my gun from the floor and handing it to Molly.I desperately tried to reach the gun before him, but I failed, watching helplessly as my blood spilled onto the floor. All I wanted was to end Molly before I died, to make it all worthwhile for my mom.Gio placed the gun in Molly's hand, guiding her finger to the trigger. I hoped against hope that she wouldn't go through with it, but my fears were confirmed when he ordered, "Shoot her, Molly."Molly's hands trembled, fear evident in her eyes. She hesitated, saying, "No, I can't." A wave of relief washed over me as she tried to pull her finger away, but Gio held it firmly in place."This is my world, Molly. There are others like Nicole out there. If you can't eliminate those who threaten your life, y
Giovanni’s POVThe news prompted me to abruptly halt the meeting as most of the issues had been addressed."Agatha, please send the report to me first thing tomorrow morning," I instructed, and she nodded in agreement. "Yes, sir."As I stood up, I motioned for Molly to follow me before calling Hank on the phone again when we reached my office. "Tell me exactly what's going on."Hank explained, "You know how I always leave one of my spies in the shadows when I drop him off at school? He called to inform me that there were some strange men hovering around, so I told him to send a picture. Turns out, they are your mother's bodyguards."I couldn't help but chuckle at the situation. Mom's plan seemed shallow. If she captured Roger, she would try to force me to swap him with Molly, but she seemed to forget that Roger was her grandchild."Are you sure you can get him out smoothly?" I asked Hank, to which he replied with a laugh, "I went to the school immediately and picked him up. That's whe
Molly’s POVAfter shooting Nicole in the head, I felt guilty but Gianni was able to take it all away.I loved him and this time, I was so possessive of him whenever I saw the female employees looking flirtatiously at him but what I noticed was, Gianni never even looked at them.With him, I felt like the only woman in his world, which made me special. For a moment, I wanted to find out more about Roger’s real mom but I always feared ruining the sweet atmosphere he created for me and I hardly heard them talk to each other.If not for Roger, I would have feared taking another woman’s son but his excitement whenever he referred to me as mom mirrored my excitement.For some reason, I felt the need to thank Wesley and Kiara for taking everything from me because if not, I would have never met Gianni again.However, after knowing what he battled, I couldn’t help but continuously wonder if it would have continued without my insistence of his doing it with me.Now, he wanted me every chance he
Molly’s POV“Will you believe me if I told you that you were the reason I kept wearing a white suit every day?" Gianni's question stopped me in my tracks, just before he reached the door."What are you talking about?" I asked, genuinely surprised as he patiently explained, his gaze not leaving mine."Molly, when I couldn't reach you again after everything settled down, I felt guilty, bitter, and angry with myself. Even worse, I felt like a terrible person whenever I remembered how pure you were and how I couldn't protect you from those bullies because I found out too late."Bitterness tinged his voice. "You were already married, and I couldn't contact you to apologize. That's why wearing white made me feel the purity I always saw in your eyes."I was speechless, tears threatening to spill from the corners of my eyes. His wearing white was not as people said.It was a personal matter between us and I felt guilty for trying so hard to forget him and moving on with Wesley but maybe, that
Giovanni’s PovI knew Don Black might try some tricks, but I never expected something as shallow as this. Thanks to Molly, I had some insight into his identity, so he couldn't fool me completely.Suddenly, Hank's voice came through the earpiece I was using to communicate with him discreetly. Molly was unaware of our communication."Gio, Don Black is at a hotel near the restaurant. I think he might ask for Molly. I'm heading there now."I wanted to inquire about Roger, but then I heard a voice in the background."Uncle Hank, I'm tracking the location."Hearing his voice lifted my spirits, but I realized I still had a gun pointed at the person in front of me and the bodyguards around had guns pointed at me and Molly but that was the least of my worries.My men were right behind the door and would enter at my signal."Don Dawson, you've got it all wrong. I'm here to deliver a message from Don Black."As I looked up, Santiago had vanished, and the woman was still trying to flirt with me, b
Wesley’s POVI felt cheated after witnessing everything when Santiago returned to the restaurant manager’s room we had used before.Due to our previous arrangement, I arrived as scheduled, still unable to get over what had happened at the park that day.Fortunately, I left before Don Gio arrived, as he would have held me responsible for Molly’s disappearance. However, seeing them together indicated that he had eventually found her.My company has been experiencing a shortage of staff recently, causing me to almost miss this meeting. Dozens of my staff resigned on the same day, leading me to hire new employees, only to have some of them resign again.I couldn't determine who was enticing them with better offers to make them leave, but I have been working overtime to meet the company's expectations.Similarly, some of my remaining staff members have expressed their desire to resign due to the heavy workload, but I am unable to increase their wages.Despite these challenges, nothing pain
Giovanni’s POVI had paid a hefty sum to have those scandalous photos of Molly deleted, even resorting to hacking into phones to remove them so when Erica claimed to have them, I was skeptical.Don Black was playing games that I found distasteful. After Molly won the competition, he had the audacity to spout nonsense."Don Gio, I didn't finish explaining the rules before the process began," he said nervously, sensing my displeasure."What do you mean?" I scowled, my anger rising."I get to keep the winner and do as I please with her, and you get to keep the loser and do as you please with her.""How dare you?" I seethed, feeling the urge to confront him."Molly is staying with me, and I will find you," I declared firmly, with Hank monitoring the situation through a hidden camera."Don Gio, let her go. She can help us locate Don Black's whereabouts. I'll keep an eye on her," Hank reassured me."Don Gio, you'll never find me unless you send me Molly," Don Black taunted.An idea struck m
Roger’s POVCongratulations to our youngest graduate and Valedictorian, Roger Dawson," the MC announced as the sound of applause filled the air. I walked to the stage to collect my certificate.My schooling was different from most children my age as I received a lot of home tuition and skipped grades due to my exceptionally high IQ and my early interest in creating wealth.When I entered college at the age of twelve, I told my dad that I would graduate by fourteen, and he believed in me. My battle skills were strong, but so was my dedication to education and my career.My dad taught me that the quickest way to make money without physically going to an office was through hacking, but he was unsure if I could balance it with my studies.Driven by my determination to achieve financial success independently, I seized the opportunity at the age of five. By the time I was seven, I had gained a reputation in the cyber market, with my true identity concealed.My code name is 'Terror D2.' I ch
Octavia’s POVMy biggest mistake was rejecting Hank, and although I didn't intentionally send the assassin after Nora, I was saddened to lose Hank to her.Cage mistreated me, but I felt I deserved it. Everything was wrong from the start, but I blindly trusted him and felt relieved when Vanni had him killed.Hank had just gotten engaged, so I believed I still had a chance to win him back by showing him that our past connection was not over.To be close to Hank, I needed to be near Nora. If I stayed with her, I would have the opportunity to see Hank and make my move.Nora was thrilled to be engaged to Hank, and I understood why. Hank wouldn't have looked back if I had intentionally tried to harm her, but now all I wanted was him.Nora made a revealing statement, "I live with Hank, but if he agrees, I don't mind." I knew Hank wouldn't allow me to stay at his place.Perhaps it was the aftermath of the assassin's attack that led Hank to invite Nora to live with him. I needed to be near him
Nora’s POv“Molly, I'm done with Hank. He proposed last night, and we made out, but as soon as Octavia called, he left me," a tear slid down my cheek as I spoke to Molly on the phone.The emotions swirling through me were overwhelming because I had witnessed how Octavia stood by Cage and said hurtful things to Hank, so why would he still care about her?"Nora, you have to trust your man," Molly said calmly. I informed her, "I want to see you.""Okay, I'm home, but Gianni is going out, so I will have a driver pick you up."I didn't refuse the offer since I didn't have any of Hank's car keys. As soon as I reached Molly's mansion, I told her everything the moment I saw her, and she was excited."You are engaged, that's wonderful, but I think it's the reason Gianni left too. He never left me alone after that incident at the hospital," she said. My heart warmed at the fact that Hank was not alone with Octavia.I stayed with Molly and fell asleep until she received news from Gio that they w
Hank’s POVGio, please allow them to answer the question," I said, my voice trembling. Octavia responded, "I don’t know her identity because the assassin would not reveal it to me."It made sense that Octavia wouldn't intentionally target Nora, but I still needed to confirm my suspicions.Cage grinned. "They came for you, but do you think they would still save you if they knew the girl in question?"My heart sank. No wonder Carter didn't know their identities. That was how the transaction was meant to be.Cage likely provided the contract, and Octavia, wanting to keep her identity hidden, offered a better deal for the same target. Carter, in turn, would not disclose the target's identity because she hid it to protect herself.They orchestrated it this way to avoid being traced, even if Carter failed and got caught."Who is she?" I asked again. Cage smiled. "It's Nora, and this woman confessed that the job was done because the assassin told her he was already with her. He never misses
Hank’s POVI desired Nora so much that when she expressed a desire for intimacy, I took the opportunity to propose to her, and she accepted.My joy was overwhelming, and as we spent the night together, I couldn't help but envision her in a wedding gown. I was eager to solidify our relationship quickly, but I didn't want to appear desperate, so I decided to wait a week or two before discussing marriage.Having Nora in my life made everything worthwhile, even leaving my lucrative job. It allowed us the freedom to spend time together whenever we pleased. I looked forward to supporting her business and seeing it flourish beyond her dreams.However, our peaceful morning was unexpectedly disrupted by Octavia."Hank, Vanni has blacklisted me, and I'm in trouble. Cage and his gang are after me. He deceived me. I'm hiding in my basement because I'm injured. He nearly killed me, Hank," Octavia pleaded as I reassured her, "Stay put, I'm on my way."I could track Octavia using her GPS as long as
Nora’s POVThere was nothing creepier than watching Hank take down Carter. I had thought Carter would put up a fight, but it turns out he's only good at harming fragile women like me.Even after it was all over, I found it hard to accept that I had almost died.What if Hank hadn't received my message and tried to call me? I had resisted when he first asked me to move in with him or find another apartment, but not anymore.Clearly, experiences like this were why Molly had toughened up so much. One can't always rely on a savior, so I need to toughen up if I want to be with a man like Hank.No matter what, there would always be dangers surrounding him. When I reached his house, I showered again out of anxiety, hoping the water would wash away my fears.It helped, but seeing Hank in just shorts, his chest exposed and his damp hair, as if he had just showered, a different kind of anxiety took hold of me.Men often walked around shirtless, and it was clear that Hank was the type to sleep in
Hank’s POVAfter Nora refused to vacate her apartment, I discreetly kept an eye on her ever since I spotted Carter in the elevator.Despite the events at Molly and Gio’s wedding, where I respected Nora’s desire to take things slow, I refrained from inviting her to my place and instead ensured her safety in her own apartment.I had been monitoring Carter and confirmed his departure on the day we went to the Island, causing my surveillance on Nora to lapse.As I neared my house, I almost ignored the message beep from my phone but a strong feeling compelled me to check, suspecting it was Nora.However, the call abruptly ended after two rings, signaling a problem.Instinctively, I made a U-turn, realizing that Carter’s sudden presence and the phone going dead were red flags.I didn’t anticipate Carter causing trouble without a contract, ruling out the possibility of him being hired to target Nora. It dawned on me that his actions might be driven by his feelings for her.Upon reaching Nora
Nora’s POVGio, were they responsible for the threatening note?" Hank inquired. Gio nodded. "Yes, they targeted Molly and Roger. When they couldn't reach her due to the tight security, they exploited her health condition."He smiled bitterly and continued, "During our first antenatal visit after our honeymoon, Molly mentioned seeing this boy, but I dismissed it as a hallucination. They have been monitoring her for a long time without success."Now everything made sense, but why did they use Wade? "What about the boy? Why send him?" I asked, and Gio looked saddened."They manipulated him, poisoning his mind. Before I killed Wesley's father for murdering his wife, he hinted that there were more threats coming. I suspect his other two children," he explained.If this young boy could have murderous intentions towards Roger, then his siblings could be even more dangerous. They needed to be located.Gio gazed at Wade with concern evident in his eyes and voice. "I assure you, we will protect
Nora’s POVAfter the wedding, I finally understood why Molly loved Roger so much. He was disciplined, intelligent, and resilient.Inspired by him, I started training alongside himself and Hank every morning until Molly and Gio returned from their honey mon.Roger's dedication to learning also improved my relationship with Hank.For the first time, I felt like a mother figure, caring for a child who was independent and mature beyond his years.Molly then suggested another concert, and I eagerly agreed, putting my business on hold.The final day of the concert took a somber turn when Molly collapsed, but I stepped in to handle the situation, inadvertently gaining some unwanted attention.Despite the incident, Molly's connection with her fans deepened as they showed their support by gathering outside the hospital. Gio, as I now referred to him, helped manage the situation and dispersed the crowd.Although it felt strange to call him Gio, I knew I would eventually get used to it.Each day