Sophia "Our first item of the night is the whispering city," the auctioneer announced. I stared at the painting from across the room, the dim lighting in the gallery seemed to heighten the painting's quality."The bid will start at $1,500," the auctioneer said, and bidding began."$2,000.""$2,500."I observed as others raised their paddles to bid. It wasn't that I wasn't interested in the painting, in fact, I was only here for the painting. I saw no reason to join the rest in the bidding game, there was no real challenger for me."$7,000."The room went silent. I guessed everyone was done playing. After waiting for a few more seconds, I raised my paddle just as the announcer was about to declare it sold, "$8... $1,000,000."Everyone turned around in shock."Wow! Did I hear that right? $1,000,000 from the gentleman at the back!" the auctioneer announced happily.I turned to see a man standing at the back, dressed in a black tuxedo. He had long hair tied in a short ponytail and a perm
Sophia pov My instincts told me to say no, to put on my clothes and flee while I had the chance, but my heart said otherwise. I had fallen head over heels for this stranger, and even though I knew about his dangerous job, I just couldn't stop now. "What are you?" I asked in a whisper. He didn't reply, instead, he tilted his head to the side and signaled his men to get out. I watched as they dragged the body out of the room, then turned to look at the stranger, who was back to putting on his clothes. "Leo," he said, and I shot him a puzzled look. "My name is Leo," he stated, turning to look at me. "Oh, I'm Sophia," I replied. "Now, Sophia, back to my previous question. Are you sure you can handle being with me?" he asked again. I stared at him, unsure of what to say. I wondered what he would do if I said no. Would he kill me so that I wouldn't tell anybody about what I saw there. "Yes." I didn't realize when the words escaped my mouth. He smiled again, this time more genu
Sophia "Contract marriage?" I exclaimed, unable to believe my ears. "Yes, the only reason he's getting married to Samantha is so that he can form a partnership with her father," Reggie replied."But Leo is a drug lord. Since when do drug lords even form partnerships?" I asked with a scoff. "They do. It's not common because of the lack of trust in the drug business, but Leo is sure that Sam's father won't hurt him if he's married to Sam."On hearing that, I realized that Leo cared more about his business than he did about me, iif he cared at all."I have to go, Reggie. Thanks for bringing me here," I said and got out of the car to leave. I couldn't handle hearing about how Leo never loved me any longer."Sophia!" Reggie called out. I stopped in my tracks and turned to him. "He still loves you, he's just in a really tight position right now," he said. I almost scoffed at his words. "Sure," I muttered and slammed the door shut.I walked into my new condo. It wasn't big or fancy, but it
Sophia "Burn her!" Samantha instructed with a wicked smile and turned to leave. "Oh, and Sophia…" she paused and turned to look at me, still smiling. "I'll make sure to take good care of Leo for you," she whispered in the most annoying voice and burst out laughing. "Sam, please don't do this! I'm not going to be a problem! I'll leave him!" I cried, hoping she would stop seeing me as a threat, "That's the thing, Sam, even if you leave him, you can never leave his heart. He loved you, and as long as you're alive, he won't let me fully into his heart," she replied and took slow strides to where I was. "He doesn't love me. If he did, he wouldn't divorce me so easily, so please just let me go," I pleaded. She pretended to think about it for a while before saying, "Nope, I am not taking any chances. You have to go. Sorry." She spun around and walked out of the room, leaving me with her two minions. The man picked me up from the chair and took me back outside to the same car he broug
Sophia I watched as the car drove off the cliff without any remorse, after all, he didn't mind watching me burn in that car.I spun around and began to walk out of the forest when I heard a loud explosive sound. I turned to see flames erupting from the cliff and let out a satisfied smile.I returned to my condo and packed a few things that I could get my hands on. I needed to get out of there fast. I packed some clothes, jewelry, money, and most importantly, my passport.I knew that it was only a matter of time before Reggie or Leo heard of my "death" and stopped by to check if I was really gone. If they found out I was still alive, it wouldn't take long for Samantha to find out, too.I put on a pair of faded blue jeans, an oversized hoodie, and a baseball cap. I zipped up my suitcase and dragged it outside. I thought of calling a taxi but decided that using my phone was too risky. Sam could be tracking it.The bus stop was just a stone's throw from where I lived, so I dragged my sui
Sophia’s Pov“W-what is this, what are you both doing here?” My brows furrowed as I glanced between the lady and Quinn, who relaxed in his seat without a care in the world. He was the only person sitting in the First Class area, which said a lot. Just how rich was this man?“I never imagined we’d meet this way, Sophia.” His lips curved into a thin smile as he leaned forward to pick up a glass of wine, slowly tilting it into his mouth.I watched on in discomfort, fiddling with the edge of my clothes as I gulped harshly. This was definitely not how I planned for my day to go. I didn’t expect to meet my ex-husband’s lifelong enemy here, yet here I was, standing in the midst of chaos. Hailey finally spoke up, “I saw her trying to flush her baby out. I intervened as soon as possible.” “Oh? Did something go wrong between you and Leo?” He asked, a smug smirk tugging at his lips. My eyes stung with tears and my throat felt tight all of a sudden, as I gripped the edge of a seat, trying to
Sophia “Are you listening to yourself?” I blurted, shocked by his proposal.“You heard me right. I said you should marry me.” Quinn repeated himself slowly, and each word made me feel like I was in some sort of a fever dream.“So, I marry you and in return, you protect me? That’s all?” I glanced towards Hailey, seeking some assurance. It seemed like I should’ve just walked away when I had the chance. What had I gotten myself into?“Why is that so hard for you to believe, Sophia?” Hailey interjected, annoyed by how I was speaking probably.“I’m honestly just trying to understand why you’re both helping me.” I shook my head in confusion, pursing my lips.“Do you need to know the minor details?” Quinn said, his demeanor calmer than ever. I bit my tongue to hold myself back.“What else am I in for? I want to know now.” I demanded, standing my ground.“That’s not something we can tell you right now. All I know is that if you follow through with this, you’ll be safe from Leo and Samantha’s
Sophia’s PovMy fingers glided over my soft skin, which felt nothing like it had before. I hadn’t looked in the mirror yet, but Hailey was constantly fawning over how beautiful the work done on me was.“I do feel better now…” I murmured, taking a peep at Hailey who was sitting on the edge of my hospital bed. “Yeah, the doctor said that by the second week, you’d be fine. The bandages are ready to take off too. Are you ready to see your new face?” She beamed.I pursed my lips, unsure if I would like the outcome or not. The deed was already done anyway, it was either I regretted my decision or I loved it. There was no in-between and like I usually told myself over and over there is no choice either.I sat up slowly, “Yeah…I think I am,” I nodded, outstretching my hand, “Could you pass me the mirror?”“Uh, yeah.” Hailey reached for the handheld mirror on the small wooden table beside her, passing it to me. This was the final revelation, huh?I took small, shaky breaths as I slowly unrave
I stood sit, staring at the empty sea where my ship once sailed. Some boken pieces of metal managed to float, the wave drifting them to shore for me to see. Perhaps, like the universe, it was trying to wreck me displaying what I had lost before my eyes.Somehow it all seemed sort of unreal. Like a very bad nightmare. My bleeding arm gnawed at me and my vision blurred a few times from the throbbing headache behind my head but it didn't seem to make me want to believe that this is really what It is. I just watched 200 billion worth of cargo go up in blast and flames.In that moment, I felt the meaning of emptiness. The hollow, dead-like and soul crushing feeling that I had lost so much. My body was weary and slightly trembling but I couldn't bring myself to walk away. The loss hit me too hard to let me move, even when the obvious screeching of a car was evident. The engine stopped, and the driver got out. I did not look back until he spoke.“What an explosive day, don't you think?”A d
I hopped into the Ferrari and Reggie hit the brakes, screeching into the road. Everything was forgotten; my grief, my sobbing and even shaving. That shipment was carrying nearly half my life savings. I lose that and I will have a taste of bankruptcy for the first time. There is nothing a Mafia lord feared more that losing moneyThe port is still an hour ride from us even though Reggie is disobeying every traffic signs. I loaded up the revolver, placing them next to us. If Quinn is really there then there is definitely going to be a blood bath in motion.My phone rang, the Don managing the port is calling. I picked the call, impatienting yelling into the phone.“Where the fuck have you been?!”“Boss, I'm sorry but we are taking in heavy fire right now.” I could here guns offloading in the background and men sprouting curses.“Do you have eyes on Quinn?”“No, boss he isn't here.”“Find him.” I cut the call, ramming my hand on the car door. I took in a deep breath and exhaled. Su
LEO’S POV I sat alone in the silence of the room, nursing my bruised arm. The grandfather clock ticking one second after the other and the breeze swinging the curtains side by side. There is a lingering ache in my chest. I sucked in a breath but I couldn't exhale. Yesterday kept coming back to me each time tried to breathe, to release the pain. I shut my eyes, feeling tears fill my eyes until the glittered when I opened them. The tears threatened to fall but everytime I looked at the picture frame in front of me, I wijced the tears back. I didn't deserve to feel sad. I didn't deserve to cry. I didn't have to right to grieve. The day Sofia died, I didn't go to find her body, I didn't ask of her again. She was the only one who treated me like I was human and I disregarded her like she was filth.What was I thinking. Remembering the past now made me wonder how on earth finding I thought I could find someone to replace her. I didn't deserve happiness. Sitting in the quiet I
My heart stopped when I heard those words. Every bit it the way he said it, was enchanting. Tonight he came to me with a fine black shirt and faded blue jeans. We looked like teens hiding out in a garden because we didn't want anyone to know, we were….“Sofia.” His voice broke into my reverie.“Yes.”“I… know you are. I know you…. You are probably upset about…”“Quinn, please, not now. Don't change the topic here.”He was quiet, pursing his lips like he always did when he is embarrassed. That was something that almost never happened. He sucked in a breath and exhaled.“I am sorry. I am really sorry. I held back even ehen I knew you didn't want me to. I made you feel like you mattered only because of what you could do for me.”He squeezed my hand.“I am sorry I didn't tell you what I should. I made you keep quiet and hold back so much. To constantly ask yourself what exactly we are.”I looked down at our hands. “You don't have to apologize. This is my fault too.”“No, it's n
The rest of the day went like flashes. I must have blacked out but Quinn’s last words lingered in my sub-consciousness. It felt like a dream. Like I fantasied it and even when I opened my eyes on the hospital bed and I saw him, heads down, sleeping soundly, i still found it all hard to believe.Perhaps it was fathom fear that left my heart still racing or it was the fact that I couldn't believe he said that.To be honest, I had forgotten. I had completely forgotten we got married a while after we met. There was just this unspoken rule that no one should refer to it because it wasn't real.I turned my head to stare at him, lost in a reverie where I actually imagined what it would be like if we lived like an ordinary couple and Dereck was our son.I guess it was because of how carried away I was, that I didn't hear the nurse come in.“Mam. You are awake.”I looked her way, Quinn’s eyes opened immediately. As expected, he didn't exactly dose off.“How are you feeling?” She asked,
“Anyone. Anyone. An….”“50 billion dollars.” The crowd gasped looking around immediately. Searching for who spoke. I looked back, at the man in the dark. I knew it was him. A frown creeped up my lips. As Gina, there were some habits I had as Sofia which I never gave up, one of them was Losing an auction.“Going. going. Go…”“200 billion dollars.” I yelled it, standing up with my plaque held up. A smug look on my face. Let's see him outbid that. “This item is… is…. is…. SOLD!!” He hit the hammer on the table and I clenched my fist in victory. I hung my head up, allowing the pride to inflate my ego. Standing in the middle of the room, felt somewhat exotic and nostalgic. The memories of that auction was rushing back and I felt as though it was repeating itself. The thought made me smile at how my mind could wander sometimes.There was no way it could repeat itself. It was night that day but more importantly, Leo was in the room and I walked over to him because his little stunt had ch
GINA'S POV I stood in front of the mirror, not staring at myself but at the emptiness that had become my life. Revenge made me feel hollow with each passing day. If Quinn had not been as easy going as he was, I wonder what would be my faith. I had to admit, I liked being in his arms, there was an assurance that it gave me which I couldn't find anywhere else. Last night, I spent it reminding Quinn that all I wanted was to sleep. He played deaf far too many times, trying to get my PJs off. But eventually, he succumbed. I sucked in a breath and exhaled, shutting my eyes. Today is just odd. Since I woke up, I had been feeling uneasy. Like there is something I wasn't telling myself.I grabbed my towel I head into the bathroom, filling the tub and taking a minute to soak. I guess perhaps I'm feeling this way because I knew deep down that last night I actually wanted Quinn not to listen to me. I just couldn't understand why when it came to Quinn, I just couldn't accept how I fe
LEO’S POV I just stood there, my fingers slightly clenching the bridge of my nose. Exhaustion was evident in the silken look on my face but frown on my lips deep, dark and menacing like the glare in my eyes as I stared at the drunk Reggie drooling on my Multi-million dollar couch.I bet even God knew it was the past we shared they was keeping me from shooting him or perhaps it was just that I didn't want to wipe blood off that couch.I took a moment to exhale, letting the air flow out with the hot air. I scratched my hair in slight frustration and the looked towards the door where the butler was hiding.“Get that thing off my couch.”“Yes Sir.” He shuddered in, running like a frightened child, to wake Reggie. I left them disappearing upstairs. If I stayed a little longer, I will probably shoot them bothThe first thing I did, the instant I pushed the bedroom door open, is to fling myself on the bed, shutting my eyes immediately after.I tried to envision Gina's face when she
GINA'S POV Quinn parked the car miles away from the government house. If we needed to be normal, a Ferrari would definitely destroy that impression. We flashed our IDs at the checkpoint and stated our destination. We were led right to the office on the second floor. An air-conditioned white tiled off with the American flag placed in the most expensive flag-holder I had ever seen. We sat close on the brown cushion. Quinn scrolled through his phone and I admired the picture of the United States president, unaware that Quinn had abandoned his phone and was looking at me until I turned. He smiled.“He is too old for you.”I frowned, raising my middle finger at him. This is the third time today he made an annoying joke. What's with him anyways. He has never been this… calm.He chuckled at what I did. “If you want to look at anything, look this way.” “At what?” He leaned forward, so fast. I couldn't even react before his face was right next to mine. His board chest almost touch