I went into the bathroom to change first, removing all my jewellery and makeup first before slipping into a lace-trim satin cami night dress. It felt too hot for me to wear pyjamas.Dominic was already in bed, lying on his back with his phone in hand, scrolling through something.I quietly slipped into bed on his left, the gap between us rather big. Was he angry with me or he was just being himself and I'd raised my expectations awfully high?Either way, I didn't have to feel disappointed. He didn't owe me anything. I didn't feel sleepy yet so I grabbed a magazine from the nightstand instead. I sat up straight in bed, my back pressed into the comfortable headboard.I quietly flipped through the pages, mesmerised when I realised it was actually for the island we were on and the island was in Dominic's name.I flipped through the pages, already planning the places I'd visit in order and how beautiful they'd look for my aesthetic and sending a couple back home to assure everyone I was d
•DOMINIC•I took a sip of my black coffee, keenly watching Sofia run on the beach from my office window wall.In the few days we'd spent on the island, I'd figured going on the beach to read and soak in the sun was her morning ritual and every morning, she seemed happier and much more carefree.This morning, she wore a baggy white shirt dress with her hair tumbling down her shoulders. The wind tousled her hair and ruffled her shirt the more she moved seemingly on a video call with someone as she held her phone up to her face.I could watch her all day and never get bored. Lately, I'd figured I didn't just want to watch her. I wanted to join her, spent time with her and enjoy her warm presence.The only problem? She instantly made my cock jump by simply breathing the same air as me and I suddenly didn't trust my self-control around her.I was trying to stay a distance away from her, but I knew it was only a matter of time before my need for her would turn into extreme desperation.Loud
•DOMINIC•My hand glazed over the dresses on the clothes rack, searching for the perfect dress for Sofia.It'd barely been ten minutes since we'd arrived at the clothing store and I still hadn't found anything satisfying enough to complement her figure although she'd selected a couple of outfits to try on herself.Sofia focused on outfits far away from where I stood, her eyes roaming everywhere but on me. She'd been that way since our encounter at the beach, shying away from me, avoiding any sort of eye contact and becoming restless with every slight brush of my body against hers.I didn't know what to think about it, but deep down, I felt she was holding back for many reasons and a veil was masking that feisty boldness I'd witnessed on the beach.Something or someone even had fucked up with her confidence so much she couldn't give in to the things I knew weren't one-sided. She wanted it, desired to explore this electric buzz between us.She needed to understand there was nothing wron
•SOFIA•The strong feelings I was beginning to intimately nurture for my husband in my heart were something I could neither understand nor fully admit because they frightened me to some extent.I knew he was a busy man with loads of problems to deal with, both personal and business-related, but somehow, I was beginning to notice every single detail in the past few days of our honeymoon and feel for him.Today had been the worst, seeing the stress swimming in his gorgeous eyes and the tension in his muscles when I held him in my arms.I had a deep yearning to know what was bothering him so much and help him soothe away his stress in any way possible. I wanted my grasp on his muscular frame to melt away his stress and give him a sense of serenity I felt he deeply desired.I wanted to be his safe haven, a place where his darkness could be turned into light and misery into joy. I just had too many wishes and cravings since I'd met him, lately mostly the desire to try out an actual relatio
•SOFIA•I flipped the garlic butter steak in the frying pan to its other side, turning up to heat to brown the crispy crust.The rich aroma aided by the pre-seasoning and concentrated flavour filled my heart with contentment, a warm smile stretching my lips. He'd love every dish I'd wholeheartedly made for us, especially the main course.After spending the day with Dominic at the strawberry farm and a bit beyond on a gondola ride to watch the sunset, I felt like he wasn't completely a stranger to me anymore.I'd picked on multiple habits, likes and dislikes of his and even important dates in his life. Everything made me feel better deserving to be by his side and not act stupid and clueless every time a question about him came up.At some point, it'd felt like a date, the atmosphere romantic in the most subtle way and I'd secretly enjoyed it. I wanted more of this despite what we chose to call it.When we'd arrived back home at dusk, Dominic had gone straight to his office and had be
•DOMINIC•I blinked my bleary eyes open, sleepiness slowly disappearing from my eyes. I could feel the light of dawn seep into our bedroom with a warm gentle glow, the first rays of sun lighting up the room.Naturally, I'd want to get out of bed, stretch my muscles and watch the day fold in by the window, but my muscles cramped in place when I figured I didn't have just myself to consider.A smile flickered across my face like a hologram, warmth blossoming in my chest as I dipped my nose into the fiery strawberry-blonde spools of Sofia's hair pooled on her pillow.I remembered us falling asleep in this manner with me spooning her like a precious nested egg, but our legs hadn't been so intertwined, radiating maximum warmth to us both. It must have happened sometime during the night just like it'd been frequently happening in the past week of our honeymoon.I could feel one of my hands clamped down on her bare stomach inside her tank top like it belonged there, my little finger inches
DOMINICI'd never panicked so much in my entire life, my heart hammering consistently in my chest like a ticking bomb.I didn't expect he'd go that far, not in this lifetime with his own child. Guess I didn't know him after all and I underestimated his hunger for revenge and dominion.Pulling up in the driveway of the Bernardi main residence seventeen hours after the fateful call felt like my biggest achievement despite the exhaustion and stress gnawing ruthlessly at my shredded sanity.As soon as the vehicle came to a halt, I opened the door in a bid to slip out and hunt for Teodoro. A gentle grasThere were some very bad days coming our way and I wasn't sure I was fully equipped to deal with the ultimatums.I put my hand on Sofia's knee, giving her a gentle squeeze as I leaned back close to her. "Promise me you won't leave this car until I come to get you personally," I literally begged her, desperation choking my voice.Sofia's eyes moistened, disapproval written boldly on her face
•SOFIA•I fidgeted with the straw in my glass, swirling it around the orange juice before taking a small refreshing sip.Tension thick enough to make me regret stubbornly leaving the car and entering the house suffocated me.My eyes couldn't help but glaze over the kitchen where I sat on a stool, following Olivia and the twins I figured were Cara and Craig, following her everywhere like her tail.They were bound to follow their mother around and ask her countless questions given the pathetic condition she was in, her face swollen and red, a few smudges of blood staining her white blouse.Her injuries had Teodoro written all over them despite me having little knowledge about the man. His violent nature scared me although I'd surprised myself with the guts I'd shown to leave the car and probably face him.It'd been chaotic upstairs for minutes, glass shattering and slaps resounding before it'd all gone eerily silent. I'd been counting the minutes until they spilled into an hour and a ha
•Sofia•The room was cold and sterile, the bleak atmosphere giving me chills.I had prepared myself for this moment, or at least I thought I had, but the moment I saw her sitting on the other side of the glass, wearing that orange jumpsuit, her hair tied back in a simple ponytail, my heart ached in a way I hadn't expected.It wasn't just the sight of her in that uniform, stripped of her elegance and pride—it was the realisation that, in some twisted way, Teodoro had won.He had not only taken part of my life, Natalie's independence, and Dominic's peace, but he had also claimed my mother, robbing her of the life she once had.I took a deep breath and forced my feet to move, walking to the chair opposite her.She didn't look sad, or even ashamed. She looked calm, almost resigned, as if this was where she was meant to be all along. That calmness unsettled me."You finally decided to visit," she said as I sat down, her tone casual, as though we were meeting for coffee instead of a convers
She was right.I squeezed her hand before standing. "Rest up, Ava. I'll go find him."Dominic hadn't been the same since that night. The weight of everything that had happened bore down on him, and it was evident in the way his shoulders sagged, the distant look in his eyes, and the way he seemed to retreat into himself more with each passing day.The depression was understandable, even inevitable, given the circumstances.He was caught in the crossfire of public scrutiny, family collapse, and his own unresolved emotions. The media hounded him for statements he didn't have, and at work, there was constant pressure to clean up the mess left in the wake of his father's actions.To make matters worse, people looked to him to explain decisions and actions he hadn't even been privy to, let alone part of.Every time I tried to approach the topic, he would give me a faint, practiced smile and tell me, "I'm fine, Sofia. I've got this under control." But I knew better. His voice lacked convic
I didn't look back, but her words stayed with me as I pushed through the crowd, my heart pounding with a singular, unrelenting purpose.I'm going to end this.The moment I saw Liam weaving through the chaotic crowd toward me, I knew he had something. His face was tight with urgency, his steps quick."We found the location," he said without preamble, his voice low but steady. "The live stream—it's still coming from inside the building. Last floor."I felt a jolt of adrenaline surge through me. "Send me the location," I barked, already turning toward the elevators.Liam quickly complied, his fingers flying over his phone. "Be careful, Sir. He's—""I know," I cut him off, my focus razor-sharp.I didn't wait to hear the rest. The moment the notification buzzed on my phone, I took off. My shoes pounded against the polished floors, drawing startled glances from guests who had no idea what was unfolding.The elevator was taking too long, each second dragging like an eternity. I slammed my fi
•Dominic•The room erupted in murmurs and whispers as Greta's words hung in the air like a thundercloud.All eyes scanned the crowd, searching for him—Teodoro, the man she had just called to the stage. My father. But he was nowhere to be seen.My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of dread and anticipation. This moment had been building for years, an inevitable confrontation that none of us could run from anymore.The murmuring grew louder, filling the silence left by Greta's challenge. I noticed some familiar faces—investors, socialites, and other attendees—shifting uncomfortably, stealing glances at me as though expecting some explanation, but I didn't have one and I never could.All I could do was clench my fists and watch Greta stand there, alone under the glaring spotlight, waiting.After a few minutes of silence, Greta exhaled audibly into the mic. She offered a wry smile, the kind of smile that came from years of enduring pain and disappointment."I suppose it's a little too much
But the murmurs weren't just for Ava. Greta's sleeveless gown, a stunning midnight-blue piece that swept elegantly to the floor, bared the scars etched across her arms and upper back. The jagged lines, a brutal history written in her skin, caught the light as she moved.It was brave. It was beautiful, and it was impossible to ignore.The weight of the crowd's stares hit me like a wave. I didn't hesitate. "Stay with Ava," I murmured to Sofia, before striding through the sea of whispers and glances toward them.Greta noticed me first. Her lips quirked in a soft, knowing smile, but before she could say anything, my hands were on her shoulders. I leaned in close, shielding her as best I could from the sea of prying eyes.The instinct to protect her was immediate, visceral, and unrelenting. My hands moved to remove my jacket, ready to drape it over her, but she stopped me."It's okay," she said softly, placing her hand on mine. Her voice was steady, but her eyes shimmered with unshed tears
The words struck like a slap, and for a fleeting moment, I saw it: the crack in his armour. His eyes widened slightly, and his lips parted as if to speak, but no words came. His hand trembled, hovering near his side, before he clenched it into a fist.His expression twisted—a storm of anger, disbelief, and, beneath it all, something else. Pain. Loss."You're a fool," he spat finally, his voice cold and sharp like a blade. "A naive, pathetic fool. You think you're winning? You think you're better than me? One day, you'll see the truth. Family is power, Dominic. And you've lost that. You've lost everything."His words were meant to cut, to wound, but I saw through them. Beneath the venom, I could see the man who had once been my father, who had once loved us. That man was buried now, consumed by his rage, his grief, his inability to let go of the past.I took a step back, my voice calm but firm. "No, Father. You've lost everything, and you have no one to blame but yourself."His eyes fl
•Dominic•Teodoro stood in the middle of the destruction he'd created, his frame imposing despite his slight sway from too much whiskey.The rage in his eyes was tempered only by the faintest glimmer of despair, the cracks of a man who had lost too much but refused to accept responsibility for any of it."Where are they, Dominic?" he demanded again, his voice slurred but no less venomous. "Where is my family? Where is my wife? My children? You think you can take them from me?"I stood a few feet away, the tension in the room so thick it was hard to breathe. I felt Sofia's lingering gaze from the stairway behind me, her worry anchoring me, but I didn't dare turn around.If she came down, she'd be walking straight into his line of fire, and things would definitely escalate and blow out of proportion. I knew I wouldn't be able to control myself if he tried to harm her in any way."They're not yours anymore," I said, my voice calm but firm, though my stomach churned. "They're not possessi
I stiffened, flipping through evidence of bank transactions. "Any connection to my father?""Not directly," Liam admitted. "But there's evidence of two large payments—one before the incident and one after. Both were transferred from Cayetana Martel's account."I froze, reading the name again. "Natalie's mother?"Liam nodded grimly. "Her contact details are all over his phone records, and surveillance footage shows her meeting him in person with a suspicious bag. An arrest warrant has been issued."It didn't make sense. How could Cayetana do this to her own daughter? I shook my head, trying to process the betrayal."Anything else?" I asked."Yes," Liam added. "You've received a formal invitation to a gala hosted by Olivia. It's three nights from now, and it's marked as compulsory attendance."I nodded slowly. Olivia's plan was still unfolding, and if she was gathering a crowd, it could only mean one thing: the endgame was near."Thanks, Liam," I said, patting his shoulder. "Keep me upd
"Please!" I begged, my voice rising, my breath coming in shallow, panicked gasps. "Just tell me where she is! My sister could be hurt, or alone, or worse, and I—I don't know if I can—"Just then, my mother's voice cut through the haze, sharp and unmistakably furious. "What's going on here?"I whirled around to see her standing in the hallway, her eyes dark with anger. She looked from me to the nurse, her brows knitting together as she took in the scene."Mom," I said, my voice filled with accusation. "How could you do this? How could you take Ava without telling me? You promised!"She stared at me, her mouth falling open in genuine shock. "What are you talking about? I didn't transfer Ava. I thought you would be here with her right now. They wouldn't let me see Natalie either. Was that your doing, Sofia?"The anger I'd felt toward her fizzled, quickly replaced by cold, numbing confusion. I blinked, trying to make sense of her words. "Wait—you didn't—?""No," she said firmly, her face