ELOISE
"we are here" I announced once we got to the shopping mall. Luciano halted the car and I gently alighted. "Thank you for the ride" I said, waved at him before walking to the mall. I had to buy a new pair for work tomorrow. However, when I entered the mall, I looked back to see Luciano behind me. "Are you following me now?" I cringed "Don't flatter yourself. I'm just looking to know if there's new stock I would like. You might not know this, but I come here quite often I'm a diamond level customer " "Fine I don't need to know all that details . I already told you, I won't runaway with your money" I smacked my head. I was really getting impatient at his pettiness. "I know... It's just that I'd like to get back my shoes. It's really important to me you know. But it's fine, you've got to bring them to me tomorrow. Okay?" "Yes, surELOISE "we are here" I announced once we got to the shopping mall. Luciano halted the car and I gently alighted. "Thank you for the ride" I said, waved at him before walking to the mall. I had to buy a new pair for work tomorrow. However, when I entered the mall, I looked back to see Luciano behind me. "Are you following me now?" I cringed "Don't flatter yourself. I'm just looking to know if there's new stock I would like. You might not know this, but I come here quite often I'm a diamond level customer " "Fine I don't need to know all that details . I already told you, I won't runaway with your money" I smacked my head. I was really getting impatient at his pettiness. "I know... It's just that I'd like to get back my shoes. It's really important to me you know. But it's fine, you've got to bring them to me tomorrow. Okay?" "Yes, sur
Luciano I took almost an hour before I could get Eloise to spill were her address was. I felt really bad for asking her to drink with me. I would have left her to be. When I got to her father's mansion, I pressed the door bell and the lady I met at her house in Italy came to get the door. It makes more sense to me now. She was the nanny. Eloise was probably the owner of the house. "Oh my goodness!" She exclaimed. "She's going to be fine in the morning. She just had a lot to drink " she nodded in panic like she has never seen her in that condition. Thank God the kids were fast asleep, I wouldn't have imagined the look that would be on their face seeing their mother like that .. Her room was cozy. I lay her on the bed, tucking the divorce perfectly on her body. "Thank you sir. For helping her out. I really appreciate that she has someone in this difficult time. She normally refused help from anyone" I shoved the hangover soup I bought to her h
Luciano I took almost an hour before I could get Eloise to spill were her address was. I felt really bad for asking her to drink with me. I would have left her to be. When I got to her father's mansion, I pressed the door bell and the lady I met at her house in Italy came to get the door. It makes more sense to me now. She was the nanny. Eloise was probably the owner of the house. "Oh my goodness!" She exclaimed. "She's going to be fine in the morning. She just had a lot to drink " she nodded in panic like she has never seen her in that condition. Thank God the kids were fast asleep, I wouldn't have imagined the look that would be on their face seeing their mother like that .. Her room was cozy. I lay her on the bed, tucking the divorce perfectly on her body. "Thank you sir. For helping her out. I really appreciate that she has someone in this difficult time. She normally refused help from anyone" I shoved the hangover soup I bought to her h
ELOISEWhatever happened and how I got home that night was something I couldn't remember. No matter how much I tried. But I woke up to see Laura right beside me. With a towel on my head. I couldn't believe my eyes. Whether I was hallucinating or something.. " Laura?" "Yes, it's your bestie. Why the hell did you drink so much? Luckily I found you. Could you have staggered back to your home or are you not worried about your kids anymore?" I sprang up from bed. I swear I didn't plan to drink but it felt quite comforting when I drank with Luciano. After my night stand, I vowed not to take any alcoholic drink anymore. But Luciano made me do it again after five years and now ... Gosh. However I needed it. After Luciano's drama at the company and my father's employees almost backing off from me, I knew I needed something to ease off my thoughts. "What the hell are you doing here? You are supposed to be in Florida. " "My boss screwed me up so I'm back to my
ELOISEI rolled my eyes in both annoyance and disbelief. "I have nothing to do with Damon again. I shall have nothing to do with him so whether I love him or not isn't gonna change anything" After eating, the children came back to the sitting room with colorful outfits " mommy are we still going to the amusement park?" I blinked repeatedly with a smirk " uhhh ..Yes. I will go freshen up. All of you should sit quietly on the couch. Emphasis on the quietly especially you Giana. If you run around recklessly, I might not take you with me" Giana's face furrowed as she quietly went to sit alone at a couch. Giana was the most stubborn of the triplet. I use to think it would be my boy but surprisingly Nicole has been supportive as if he knew I was doing this alone. He obeys every single word I say and make sure his sister's does the same since probably because he's the oldest. Or feel that he is the man. Kiara was the least troublesome. When she was still little,
LUCIANO The list of things I'd rather do besides arguing with my father and his wife about why exactly the museum must be sold and why they were interested in acquiring the lands around included but not limited to eating fried maggots or watching a cartoon until my eyes bugs out. I've asked my secretary to check out what was really going on. The sindaci was involved. The ministro aswell other top company holders except GED. I couldn't understand exactly why he wasn't involved. Don't tell me it's because he wasn't involved or had no information. I don't know because my family must have not wanted me to know. Or he declined to give in the greediness because he still loves Eloise. That asshole! "Sir we are here" James said as he stopped in front of the amusement park. I decided to conduct an incognito study of user behavior, as the company is developing an AI that personalizes guest experiences. We are observing how people interact with park technology to refine their algo
ELOISE Having the same birth mark doesn't necessarily mean that Luciano was the father of my kids . I mean I've never met him except when the kids were five already. That birth mark could be tattooed. I just don't want to think about it when I got home. And even after few days at home I couldn't still successful shove the thought out of my head. He said the same. That birthmark doesn't really mean he was the father. it's still puzzling to me what a grown ass man is doing in an amusement park. I got to the museum to see all my employees assembled Infront of a boiling tempered man. Luciano was really scolding grown men and women? I hurriedly rushed to the scene and furrowed my brows in anger. "What the hell do you think you are doing?" I questioned with a clenched fist.. "What does it look like Eloise? I should center my blame on you right now . How the hell are you running this place? I'm sorry if I'm crossing the line but excuse me? You don't make
ELOISE"Am I late?" I said two hours later of deliberately making Damon wait " No. It's ... fine. I arrived early, I was nearby remember?" Luciano then arrived. I almost thought he won't show up" Damon rolled his eyes " You came with him?"; He muttered in annoyance. " I honestly hope you don't mind?. He insisted to follow me around" I laughed gently Luciano smiled at me and pecked my cheeks . Now that I think about it, this was far way childish than I thought. He looked up at the waitress across and signalled, ," you can bring the food now to him" "I'm sorry, I ordered on my own . I hope that's alright, besides, I already know your favorite" The waiter dropped two servings of abundant seafood, with grilled fish, fried calamari, and spaghetti alle vongoleIt was actually once at the top list of my favorites. Damon's intentions were quiet clear this was the exact meal I always order at every of our anniversary. " You can fix something for
LUCIANO"I don't know why she's here but it's definitely unlike her. She never visited you before" James said trembling on his feet. "Well let her in ofcourse" Eloise was probably trying to get to know more about herself. She was always busy running her museum and I am always the one visiting to help out and strategize but today she came and I am glad she found time to visit. "I wasn't expecting you El" I said with a smile ushering her to seat at the cushion while I abandoned my work to join her. However instead of reciprocated smile, I got a slap on my cheek instead and I could only scoff. "Did you know about this?" She asked and hands her tabs over to me. " If you were going to lie to me, to deceive me just because of money, you could have atleast had a rethink. I almost died but all you and your family care about is purchasing every piece of land around the museum "I got really annoyed but I won't blame her. She was at her most vulnerable state that she could easily be decei
ELOISELuciano wouldn't have sex with me and it still bothers me. Does he chest on me or something? I'm sure I know men enough to realize that they never keep their stuff under their pants. I didn't want to lose my husband to the hands of a random slut . Even though I insisted that we stay in the same room, he sleeps on the couch and leaves the king sized bed for him But tonight I won't let him. I'm a human too and I'm sure he is! I was about to break the king silence before luckily he spoke up. "It's unlike you to insist on sharing the same room with me. I guess the accident really messed with your head" Luciano said with a chuckle as he lay on the couch close to the television. " No. I just feel a married couple should share a bed. I don't know how shitty my personality have been while we are married but I do appreciate that you saved me from my ex-husband. That asshole would have manipulated his way into my life again" I said . I already heard from the news about all that hap
LUCIANO.“Had Eloise been drinking on the night that she lost control of the car?” Lazio asked. I and Alex sat in an Irish pub a few blocks from my office.. Alex was on his second scotch and water. “Nope. For some reasons she had sworn not to take alcohol anymore " “What about Florence?” he asked, wondering about the woman who no one seemed to know. Eloise's employee. “No one knows what she’d been doing but there was a little alcohol in her bloodstream. Not much.” From the booth where we sat, my gaze followed a couple of guys who were throwing darts near the back of the bar."Eloise and she were close?” “As close as Eloise gets I suppose, but from work I think she's the one that relates more with Eloise” Alex swirled his drink. Ice cubes danced in the weak light. “El, didn’t have a lot of friends.”That surprised Lazio “She sure as hell got a lot of cards and flowers in the hospital”“It’s expected. We’re pretty high-profile around here.” I yanked at the knot of my tie .C
The lab coat was a couple of sizes too big, but it didn’t matter. It was all the camouflage I needed. One of the burn ward nurses hadn’t shown up for duty tonight—her car had been disabled, her cell phone stolen—and the other two were run ragged as the hospital searched for staff to fill the void.By the time they managed that, I’d be finished.The lights were too bright for my liking, but there wasn’t much I could do about that. I shoved a pair of tortoise-rimmed glasses onto my nose. Slipping into my role of intern easily, I walked with confidence. The name tag on my lapel and picture were of Carlos Santiago. I figured no one would notice that the image on the card didn’t match my face as I strode with the authority of someone who knew what they were doing. That I belonged.What a joke.I’d never belonged anywhere. Had always been on the outside looking in. Well now I wasn’t only looking, I was fucking pounding on the window.Near the burn ward, I lingered in an alcove, then waited
ELOISE I remember this place. The Bentley sped up a narrow, winding street to the summit of Mount Sutro, and my heart leaped as I caught my first glimpse of the house mounted at the most prestigious point on the ridge. Yes, yes, yes! I’d been here before—I was sure of it. Since leaving the hospital, I’d been in a foul mood, but some of that was dissipating as fragments of memory—tickles of my past—flashed behind my eyes. There was a ring… I glanced down at my left hand, frowning. Not the diamonds glittering there, but a simpler band I recalled. And there were other things, too—walking along a beach, riding horses… Yes, yes, yes. Bits and pieces, but still, they were mine. Less than thirty minutes ago, when I’d been wheeled out of the hospital, trepidation had settled deep inside me. Even as Alex helped me into the buttery leather interior of the Bentley, I couldn’t shake the unease curling in my gut. The chauffeur, a massive blond man with a fragmented smile and cold blue eyes,
Eloise’s POvTwo days later, I was finally getting ready to be released. Dr. Robertson had run every test imaginable, seemed satisfied with the results, and now I was just waiting for the paperwork and a ride. The door to my hospital room creaked open, and a man poked his head inside. “Mrs. Cahill?” he asked. “I’m Detective Paterno. San Francisco Police Department.” My heart plummeted. He stepped inside, dressed in dark slacks with a jacket tossed over a casual shirt. He would be full of questions. Questions I had no answers for. My head was clearer now, but the glimpses I had into my past were like the flame of a lighter running out of fuel—images would spark and sputter, flicker and die, leaving me with nothing. He flashed his badge, and my stomach twisted. “Sorry to bother you here at the hospital,” Paterno apologized. He had a hound-dog face, deep brown eyes, and a solemn, concerned expression. He seemed like a nice enough guy, but I wasn’t buying it. I remembered my dau
DAMONPanic clawed at my throat, suffocating me. I paced the length of the warehouse, my fingers digging into my scalp as I tried to silence the chaos in my head. The room smelled of gunpowder and damp concrete, the flickering overhead lights casting shadows that seemed to grow with my paranoia. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Luciano wasn’t supposed to get this far. He was supposed to be dead. I had spent five years making sure Eloise never remembered what happened that night, five years ensuring the truth stayed buried. And now, in the span of a single day, everything was unraveling. I raked my hands through my hair, my breaths coming in sharp, uneven gasps. He was coming for them. For the kids. For her. No. No, no, no. This couldn’t be happening. The plan had been airtight. Eloise was weak, confused, her body betraying her with exhaustion. She wasn’t supposed to have the strength to question things. She wasn’t supposed to have the will to fight back. I had s
ELOISE The silence in the house was unbearable. I sat on the edge of the bed, my arms wrapped around myself, trying to drown out the thoughts swirling in my mind. The moment Luciano had stormed out, taking his men with him, I had felt it—a cold, suffocating fear wrapping around my chest, squeezing until it was impossible to breathe. He had promised me he would bring them back. That he wouldn’t let anything happen to them. But how could I believe that? I had already lost too much. THOSE KIDS WERE THE ONLY ONES THAT ARE NOT LYING TO ME..I had lost my dignity, my freedom, my peace.According to Damon, I had lost five years of my life raising my children alone, believing that I had no one to turn to. And now, in the span of a single night, everything I had fought so hard to protect was crumbling beneath me. I tried to convince myself that Luciano would succeed, that he was strong, that he had always been ruthless when it came to getting what he wanted. But this wasn’t abou
Luciano’s POVThe air inside the SUV was thick with tension as we sped toward the abandoned estate. The rhythmic hum of the tires against the road did nothing to quiet the storm raging inside me. My fingers curled tightly around the leather of my seat, my jaw clenched so hard it ached. Every passing second felt like a blade scraping against my skin. My children were out there, scared, alone, and in the hands of a man who had long overstayed his welcome in this world. Damon thought he could take them from me. That I would kneel. That I would break. He was about to learn how wrong he was. Alex sat beside me, double-checking his weapons. His usual cocky smirk was gone, replaced by a sharp, lethal focus. “Scouts say there are at least six men on guard,” he muttered, not looking up. “But they’re sloppy. They’re not expecting an ambush.” I nodded, my mind already running through the attack plan. “We go in fast, silent. No unnecessary casualties.” I exhaled slowly. “But if anyone t