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chapter 20
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2025-04-04 13:01:13
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Arrange Marriage [ Craving ] chapter 21
•DOMINIC•"I just got off the phone with Raquel," Liam reported, jolting all my weary senses to instant hyperactivity.I never knew such simple words could charge so much energy into my system, adrenaline pumping wildly into my veins with my heart pounding madly in my chest as though it'd leap out any second.I scrambled to my feet, my fist tightly clenched and hammered onto my office desk. "Is my wife okay? Is she safe? Has she eaten yet?" I blurted so fast that even I couldn't fully comprehend the questions I shot at the baffled man."For fuck's sake," Greta grumbled, slamming the magazine she'd been monotonously reading for hours face down on my desk as she shot up. "Chill the fuck out or I might start thinking you actually have real feelings for her which would be ridiculously out of character of you."I ignored her easily habitually growing remark, my attention anchored on Liam. "Speak," I demanded, lightly banging my fist on the desk."Well, Sir," he hesitated, adjusting the fra
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-05Arrange Marriage [ Craving ] chapter 22
•SOFIA•"I'm sorry."I'd never felt so many sharp blades stab into my chest at once, daggering out my heart and feeding it to ruthless, ravenous predators like Teodoro Bernardi and subjecting me to such crippling torture.Pretending to be asleep when deep down I felt like folding entirely, throwing myself into his arms and bawling like a baby was one thing. Trying to fight the hot giant tears clogged inside my eyes, competing with the solid lump in my throat was another beast I feared I'd be unable to slay.As if the torturous restraint wasn't enough already, the scalding sensation of his lips pressed to my forehead as he kissed me lingered longer than acceptable, reminding me of the fading piece of the intimacy we'd built together.Tears spilt out of my eyes, soaking right into my pillow as his scent disappeared, his footsteps retracting from me.I missed him. I missed him so fucking much it hurt both physically and emotionally. I hated everything about this moment and the people wh
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-05Arrange Marriage [ Craving ] chapter 23
•DOMINIC•A flood of evidential photographs rained on my face from a gruff hand, forcing me to sharply tilt my face to the side. "You've grown so soft it insults my bloodline," Teodoro accused venomously, his angry eyes undoubtedly burning holes through my guilty conscience.I remained calm and composed, shrugging some clinging pieces off my shoulders as I dragged the chair backwards to take a seat.Despite sitting across from my father with his home office desk separating us, I knew I wasn't entirely safe. Lately, his violent tendencies knew no bounds and I wasn't so sure which was more explosive, his aggressive temper or the impatience bubbling inside me to lash out at him for piling things that made me hate not only him but myself as well.Teodoro banged his fist loudly on the desk, openly demanding my undivided attention which I calmly awarded him."At this point," he seethed gruffly, crunching a piece of paper lying on the desk in his hand, "Greta is more a Bernardi than you are
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-05Arrange Marriage [ Craving ] chapter 24
•SOFIA•𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫I hammered my tightly clenched fist so hard into the punching bag that I felt power glide through my core.Three months. Three fucking months of tears, blood and constant torture, yet Teodoro Bernardi wasn't reducing his level of ruthlessness by the slightest inch.If anything, his dominion multiplied by the day, aided by over seventy-five percent of my family assets he'd cruelly taken over, diving half of those among his children and keeping the rest to himself for bragging rights.He'd made sure to plunge us further into bankruptcy in the process no matter how much he tried to phrase his takeover, dragging everyone's lives into the mud.Natalie had to be suffering the greater end of the ordeal ever since she boldly grabbed Teodoro by the balls when he attempted to fuck her to puppetry and submission. She could barely live through a single day without dealing with a misfortune or two and the worst part was I couldn't do anything to help her
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-05Arrange Marriage [ Craving ] chapter 25
•SOFIA•"Do you think perhaps he forgot we were supposed to make an entrance together?" I sighed, sagging my partly exposed shoulders lower. "Maybe we should just leave and call it a day."Raquel and I had been waiting for Dominic in the car since our arrival at the venue of Teodoro's grand charity gala. It'd nearly been half an hour and boredom had already begun sinking hard enough to make me regret showing up in the first place.Raquel's signature smile widened a little as she placed her hand on top of mine gently. "Of course not, Sofie," she encouraged optimistically. "He is not that type of man and I just spoke to Liam, by the way. They're running a little late and should be here within ten minutes."I wasn't sure if the assurance made me relaxed or extra nervous. Tonight would be our first official public appearance together since our wedding nearly four months ago. The other time we'd gone out together had been to induct me into the board of the Bernardi conglomerate though I'
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-05Arrange Marriage [ Craving ] chapter 26
•SOFIA•I could feel Teodoro's eyes burn holes into my soul, demanding I looked at him whilst we danced.I kept my eyes focused on his shoulder blade, my mind wandering to the safest way of escaping without alarming neither him nor his guests and giving the impression of a hostage, hell-bent on fleeing."You're quite the attention grabber, aren't you, Sofia?" he spoke, moving across the floor with me in a swift dance, his hand on my back.I didn't give him an answer, afraid of how he'd react to my unfiltered rudeness. If I'd learnt anything over the past couple of weeks I'd been studying him, then it was how easier he was to deal with when obeyed and unchallenged. I could use peace for the night.Teodoro was having neither my silence nor failure to look at him, deepening his voice authoritatively. "My eyes are up here, Sofia," he cautioned, "and your silence is beginning to put me in a very sour mood."I heeded without much thought, mustering enough courage to look up at him. My eyes
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-05Arrange Marriage [ Craving ] chapter 27
I grabbed him by the wrist, searching for his eyes. "Look at me and tell me you'll see me at the office and not tonight," I demanded, tears distantly pricking my eyes.It took Dominic a few seconds of contemplation before he gently freed himself from my grip, cupping my face lightly. "Don't wait up," he whispered, his lips close to my ear before he strode away with Liam.His actions were beginning to sting a little too hard, boiling anger within me.Turning around sharply to find Raquel and leave instantly had me facing Olivia instead before she took my hand and led me away to a private room, probably for drinking with a variety of wine on display.I wasn't thinking of anything but quenching the anger inside me as I grabbed a bottle, opened it and washed down as much wine as I could take.I instantly regretted it as it scorched its way down my throat into my stomach, making things even worse for a rare drinker like me."Easy, Sofia," Olivia cooed, snatching the bottle away from me. "Y
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-05Arrange Marriage [ Craving ] chapter 28
"We'll find them," I assured her optimistically. "They're his children too. He won't hurt them.""No, we won't find them," Olivia lamented with a loud bang of her fist on the desk, "not if Teodoro isn't a free man and his reputation restored so I'll have to cooperate with whatever lies he's cooking up with his PR team and attorneys.""He hasn't been taken for questioning yet," I informed her from the last information I'd received. "I'll have a word with him first and let you know of his plans as well as try to locate Craig and Cara as soon as possible."Olivia grabbed me by my wrist, stopping me from going any further. "I'll do that myself and see the way forward. You have pending personal issues you might need to deal with as soon as possible."I looked at Liam, trying to recall him giving me information of such importance before turning back to Olivia. "Issues bigger than the one at hand?""It's Sofia," her voice softened a little.My blood temperature instantly skyrocketed, adrenal
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-05
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Arrange Marriage [ Craving ] chapter 83 final
•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
Arrange Marriage [ Craving ] chapter 82
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
Arrange Marriage [ Craving ] chapter 81
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
Arrange Marriage [ Craving ] chapter 80
•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
Arrange Marriage [ Craving ] chapter 79
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
Arrange Marriage [ Craving ] chapter 78
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
Arrange Marriage [ Craving ] chapter 77
•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
Arrange Marriage [ Craving ] chapter 76
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
Arrange Marriage [ Craving ] chapter 75
"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
