•Dominic•"The panic on your face tells me you and your questionable companions were up to something I'd strongly disapprove of, Dominic," my father said, slowly pacing towards me with a smirk on his lips I found entirely diabolical.I presumed the questionable companion he referred to was Natalie as he began walking in more of her direction than mine, his attention anchored on her."Now, sweetheart, did you really think you could cheat your way back into New York City and I wouldn't find out about it?"Natalie scrunched up her face, her neck veins jutting out. "One more step towards me and I won't be held responsible for my explosive reaction," she spat venomously at him.He laughed, clearly unfazed by her threat. "You've always despised me the most, Natalie, even more than Sofia, I've figured. Does this immense hatred perhaps have something to do with me being the man your mother chose to so dearly submit to and allow to fulfil her darkest desires your father was never able to atten
•Sofia•When Ava confessed to me that she'd played a crucial role in leaking Teodoro's tape, I instantly panicked and began excessively overthinking.Fortunately, Dominic's words were reassuring and comforting enough to calm me and give me hope that things wouldn't turn out so awry after all.I trusted my husband with both my life and that of the one I cared for the most—Ava.Greta's support of the idea of protecting Ava and her secret at all costs made me feel more at ease although I wasn't so sure I fully supported their blooming friendship and influence over each other.Greta was fierce and she was her father's daughter. She'd survived his wickedness for all her life and Ava was the softest person I know and her feelings could easily get hurt.Would she be able to make it out alive if she continued with these attempts I felt weren't going to stop anytime soon?Maybe I was overthinking and she wasn't as weak as I perceived her to be against a monster like Teodoro.Even I used to thi
I trembled as he fucked me brainless, covered in sweat and shivering like I had a fever. He settled in on my clit in earnest, pressing the pad of his middle finger against it and circling me in the hard, fast way that I liked.Within seconds, I was crying out, pressing my ass against his hips so that he was buried to his balls, my fingers scrabbling at the table and wordless grunts tearing from my throat.He went rougher now, gripping my hips and slamming into me, grunting, chasing a peak we both desired as I gasped my way through the impending sparks of my orgasm.It took me like a tidal wave of darkness, the real frenzy, feeling him pounding and growling as it imploded up through my abdomen and my pussy, and fuck, I was squirting over and over, and there was black crowding at the edges of my vision and I was going to pass out as I pulsed, pass out or just keep coming and coming like it had no end."Dom!" I cried out, feeling his pounds steadily escalate, his flesh clapping loudly ag
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. "You make it sound incestuous and immoral; Mom and I still don't see how your special relationship with Teodoro is helping us in any way.""Who do you think is cloaking your sister from the plague that'll inevitably descend on her when Teo finds out she's the cause of that nasty scandal? Who is holding the beast down while Natalie moves about this city however she pleases when she declared war on a dangerous man? Who fucking holds him back when he talks about taking you in as his mistress?"I wasn't moved by the words I'd grown to get used to hearing from her. The fact that she knew about Ava only stirred me a bit, but if she knew, that meant there would be more people protecting Ava.She wouldn't allow that monster to prey on her baby unless she'd lost her mind."I still can't shake off the feeling you're in this for a personal gain that has nothing to do with your children."She sighed, relaxing into her chair. "It's no secret my marriage to your
He had to be bipolar; otherwise, he wouldn't lose his temper so quickly and fail so miserably to control it despite his frantic efforts."I had a fucking plan, Sofia," he repeated, aggression evident in his voice. "Do you remember the wedding gift I sent you the first night of your honeymoon?"How could I forget that? It'd given me nightmares for days, and even now, I felt terrified just thinking about it."You sent men to violate me in the cruellest way possible. That's not something anyone can easily forget."I believed that was his peak, and that was the point when he terrified me the most. I was tempted to say he'd softened over the weeks, but that'd only be a lie. He'd done too much to be called lenient."I had so much more planned along those lines until I figured I'd made a mistake," he admitted passionately."The mistake of dragging innocent people into a stupid revenge ploy?" I entreated.He shook his head. "My son was never going to fully side with me, and marrying you to hi
"I have to make a move before that happens," I told Olivia determinedly. "I cannot divorce my wife, and he certainly cannot have her for himself.""Your father is a stubborn dictator, Dom, and he's used to getting what he wants. Make sure you stick to your words and keep Sofia. She's good for you, and I certainly would never wish a plague like Teodoro on any woman, especially not someone as sweet and young as Sofia."Olivia had been on the receiving end of my father's abuse since they got married, and even when she was carrying Cara and Craig, he'd been violent with her.She was a strong woman, and I respected her resilience and constant perseverance to protect her children.Greta had been physically abused too for years since our mother passed away, yet she still stood on her feet and defended herself whenever she could.I'd felt guilty about this growing chain of violence since the first time I saw Greta with a bruised eye and Olivia got admitted into the hospital with fractured rib
•Sofia•I took a deep breath before gently knocking on the door to Dominic's office.After a long day of dancing to his father's agonising tunes, he was the only person I wanted to see and spend time with. His mere presence was soothing enough to make me feel at peace.I opened the door and stepped inside, my eyes scanning the room for a glimpse of him.Dominic looked up from his computer, a hint of overwhelming relief on his face, and then a warm smile spread across his features.As I walked towards him, he rose from his chair, his eyes locked on mine. We met halfway, and he opened his arms, embracing me first.I instantly felt a rush of relief and affection as I wrapped my arms around him, holding him tightly.For a moment, we just held each other, the tension and stress of our busy lives melting away.I breathed in the scent of his cologne, feeling a sense of comfort and familiarity. He knew how to embrace me well enough to elicit beautiful emotions out of me. I could never trade t
This was us in our natural territory, and it felt good. I'd never felt this confident.For a change, Dominic was the one driving us to the department store. Within fifteen minutes, we'd arrived, and I figured a section of the clothing store had been rented out for our use until we were done.I didn't get a chance to protest, already drawn by the unique pieces that my stylist had selected in advance for me to choose from.All of them seemed so mesmerising I knew for a fact I'd have had a hard time selecting one had I come over by myself."You'd look breathtaking in this," Dominic said from behind me, gaining my attention.I turned to him with a smile, assessing the dress he'd removed from the clothes rack and held out for me to see.My smile slowly faded, a bit of disappointment settling in my chest.The dress was breathtaking indeed, and I knew it would hug all my curves snugly, but the colour threw me off. It was black, and on a regular day, I would have picked it in a heartbeat, but
•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