...ADELINE I woke up with juxtaposed feelings and a huge smile on my face. I felt tired yet I felt energized. I wanted to sleep more and yet I wanted to climb on top of Luciano and ask for more. I wanted to scream out loud in excitement that last night was the best night of my life but I also wanted to stay in bed and cherish those moments.I wanted to confess to him how much I loved him and all yet I wanted him to be the first to say it to me. I wanted to know what he felt, did he really love me? Luciano was a fucking animal and aggressive when it came to handle anything and everything but he had been such a gentle giant last night, taking care of me and cherishing me whole night. “ Good morning “My eyes moved up to look at his face. His morning voice was such a tease and I had to hold myself back from melting. I shyly looked away feeling myself pulling away from him from letting him see me naked as the only thing that was keeping my body from exposing was the thin duvets. L
...AUTHOR’S POV Luciano sat in his spacious office, his leather chair turned slightly toward the window as he stared out at the city skyline. The room, a blend of luxury and functionality, was filled with the quiet hum of Christian’s voice, going over details of a new business deal.But Luciano wasn’t listening. His mind was miles away—, where he’d spent the night tangled in Adeline’s warmth. Her laughter, her touch, the way she whispered his name—it was all he could think about, drowning out the drone of the world around him.“Luciano,” Christian’s sharp voice broke through his haze, pulling him back to the present.“Hm?” Luciano blinked, turning to face him, but his expression was far too distracted to be convincing.Christian frowned, his piercing blue eyes narrowing as he leaned forward, elbows resting on the edge of the desk. “You’re not even listening, are you?”Luciano sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m listening.”Christian scoffed. “The hell you are. What’s go
...ADELINE I stood in front of the fogged-up mirror, my damp hair cascading over my shoulders as I dried it with a soft towel. I was lost in my thoughts, the serenity of the moment wrapping around me like a comforting embrace. My thoughts only included Luciano in them. The soft patter of water from the bathroom faucet was the only sound in the room until a faint rustle behind me made me freeze. My heart skipped a beat as I saw his reflection in the mirror—Luciano. His presence was unmistakable, and I gasped softly when his strong arms slid around my waist, pulling me against him.“Luciano,” I whispered, my voice a mixture of surprise and warmth. A blush rose to my cheeks as he buried his face in the crook of my neck, his lips pressing gentle kisses against my bare skin. The heat of his touch sent a shiver down my spine, and I couldn’t help but smile. His touches felt soothing, a solution from all the problems. I turned to face him, my eyes meeting his, and for a moment, the
...ADELINE “ hurry up Adeline. Valentino is waiting “I heard Bianca’s voice from outside my bedroom. A deep sigh of nervousness and frustration escaped my lips. Valentino was here to take me on a ‘ lunch date ‘ specifically arranged by my mother but what they did not know was, I had only agreed to go with him to tell him that I was not going to marry him. I quickly adjusted my hair more like trying to calm myself down before grabbing my handbag and walked out of the bedroom. I climbed down the stairs only to see …… Valentino sitting on the couch in the living room with everyone and ……… he was there too. His legs crossed and arms spread on the couch head staring at me with his fierce look. I literally missed a step because of his glare but composed myself. My heart pounded in my chest but I remained calm and put on a smile before greeting. “ good afternoon, everyone “Hearing my voice, Valentino turned to me and I passed him a polite smile to which he returned with a grin bef
...ADELINE All eyes were on us as Asher dragged me out of the restaurant. My thoughts were messed u as to how come Asher knew and why the fuck he was behaving like such a …… jerk. Asher’s grip on my arm was firm, his strides purposeful as he led me out and to his car parked.“Asher, stop!” I hissed, trying to tug my arm free. He did not look like the Asher i knew or the Asher I was friends with. “What are you doing?”He didn’t answer, his jaw clenched tight, his entire body radiating frustration. He turned to me as his body towered mine. “Asher, I said stop!” I repeated, yanking harder until he finally halted and glared at me. His eyes were blazing, the anger behind them almost tangible. What was wrong with him? “What am I doing?” he snapped, his voice sharp. “No, Adeline—what are you doing? Sitting in there with him like everything’s fine, like you’re not engaged, like I don’t exist!”I flinched slightly at his tone but quickly recovered, my own frustration bubbling to the
...AUTHOR’S POVThe phone buzzed, breaking the heavy silence of Luciano’s office. His sharp eyes darted toward the screen before picking up.“Valentino,” he said curtly, leaning back in his leather chair.“Luciano,” Valentino’s voice was tense, bordering on frantic. “Something happened. Adeline… a boy took her.”Luciano sat up immediately, his spine rigid as his heart skipped a beat. “What? What do you mean, took her?”“They left the restaurant together. It wasn’t normal,” Valentino explained quickly. “She didn’t seem comfortable, and it looked like they knew each other. I thought it was odd, so I called you.”Luciano’s hand tightened around the phone. His mind raced as his protective instincts surged. “Did you see his face? Who is he? Where the fuck were your men? Why did you let her go? ”“ I do not know him. I did not want to let her go but she stopped me knowing it will lead to a big mess ” Valentino admitted. “ Something’s not right.”The line went dead as Luciano sla
...ADELINE I blinked my eyes, my vision blurry as I took in my surroundings. My head was throbbing and a groan escaped my lips. It hurts. I blinked my eyes to get a clear vision and looked around. It was an unfamiliar room. The thoughts sent shivers down my spine. The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of a single bulb illuminating the wooden walls and modest furniture. It smelled faintly of earth and old wood, and the faint sound of wind whistled outside. I froze as the realization dawned—this wasn’t the city. I was …… kidnapped. My heart pounded like a drum in my chest as I tried to piece together what had happened. Memories came flooding back, vivid and sharp: leaving the restaurant with Asher, the argument in the parking lot, his hand gripping mine, forcing me into his car. The water he gave me to drink and then I passed out- my eyes widened in horror.“Asher…” I whispered to myself, my voice trembling. He is so dead. Why would he even do such thing when I was going with h
...ADELINE I was sitting on the cold wooden floor, my knees pulled tightly to my chest. My chest heaved up and down and I was exhausted, my attempts to escape having failed miserably. My arms trembled as I hugged myself, the frustration and fear weighing heavily on me. I wanted to run away. To get out of here quickly. The silence in the room was maddening, the ticking of an old clock the only sound accompanying my racing thoughts.I did not know if my family or Luciano would be able to find me because even I did not know where I was. It was too dark outside for me to even see anything. Two hours had passed since Asher had left me alone. I had screamed, banged on the walls, tried every possible way to unlock the door, but nothing worked. Now, I sat slumped in defeat. My body drained but my mind still whirring with desperation.I closed my eyes and hugged myself tighter. Suddenly, the door creaked open. My head snapped up, my eyes narrowing as I saw Asher walk in, a tray of food
...ADELINE The room was bathed in a warm, golden glow from the bedside lamp, casting soft shadows across the walls. It was quiet—so quiet that I could hear the soft ticking of the antique clock in the corner and the rhythmic breathing of my brother.Vladimir laid curled up against me, his head resting on my lap, his fingers weakly holding onto mine as if afraid I would slip away. Even in sleep, his grip was uncertain—hesitant, as if he had spent too long without knowing the safety of family.I stared down at him, my heart aching.He looked so small.Despite the hints of maturity that life had forced upon him—the sharp angles of his face, the scars, the pain buried deep within his unconscious form—he was still just a boy.Sixteen years old. A child who had never been given the chance to simply be one.Tears brimmed in my eyes.I wanted to cry. To sob, to scream, to let the weight of everything crash down on me. But I couldn’t.I had spent so long forcing myself to be strong, to be
...ADELINE The moment the sinister words left Charles’ lips, my’s world tilted on its axis.My breath came in shallow gasps, but I refused to show weakness. Vladimir being tortured- My nails dug into my palms as I clenched my fists, my entire body trembling with barely restrained fury.I pulled away from Vladimir without a second thought, my legs moving before my mind could catch up. In the next moment, I was in front of Charles, grabbing his collar with a force that made the room collectively gasp.“Who the hell are you?” I demanded, my voice shaking with rage. “And what were you doing with my brother?”I glared at Charles not knowing what he was playing. Why he was doing this. Behind me, Vladimir stood abruptly, his voice urgent. “Adeline!”But Charles… Charles only looked amused.His lips curled into a smirk as he glanced down at my hands gripping his shirt. His green eyes gleamed with something dangerously entertained, something darkly intrigued.“Fiery little thing, aren’t
...ADELINE The dimly lit room was filled with an unsettling silence, broken only by the faint sound of breathing. The weight of unspoken words hung heavy in the air. I stood frozen, my eyes locked onto the figure sitting on the couch, his head bowed, shoulders slumped in exhaustion.My breathing was heavier than before as everything finally settled in. My heart clenched at the sight of him—Vladimir.He looked so different from the boy I remembered. His once-vibrant energy was now replaced with a heavy stillness, as if the world had drained him of everything but sorrow. His long hair fell over his face, concealing his expression, but I could see his hands clenched tightly into fists on his lap, the tension in his body evident.Swallowing the lump in my throat, I stepped forward, my movements slow, hesitant. My hands slightly trembled but I inhaled sharply and calmed my racing heart. I lowered myself onto my knees in front of him, reaching for his hand, my fingers curling around h
...AUTHOR’S POV The city lights blurred past the window as Adeline sat in the passenger seat, lost in thought. The quiet hum of the car’s engine mixed with the distant echoes of the nightlife behind them. Her fingers traced idle patterns on her lap as she stared out at the passing streets, her mind clouded with emotions she couldn’t quite untangle.William, ever vigilant, was focused on the road. His grip on the steering wheel was firm, his posture straight, trained to be alert even in moments of silence. He wasn’t just a driver—he was one of Luciano’s best men, trusted with her safety.The ride was smooth, almost peaceful, until—SCREECH!A car came to a sudden halt right in front of them, forcing William to slam the brakes. The tires screeched against the asphalt, jerking both of them forward. Adeline gasped, her pulse spiking as she grabbed onto the dashboard for support.“What the hell?” William muttered, already reaching for his gun. His sharp eyes locked onto the unmoving
...ADELINE The flashing neon lights flickered erratically as the club’s music faded into the background. A moment ago, the pulse of the bass had been deafening, bodies moving in sync with the rhythm, but now, the sudden brightness exposed the faces of the intoxicated crowd, their movements sluggish as they adjusted to the abrupt shift. The once-dim corners, where shadows danced freely, were now illuminated, revealing everything—except the person I was looking for.My breath came fast, chest rising and falling in quick succession as I spun on my heels, scanning the faces around me. Someone had been close—too close. I could still feel the whisper of their presence, the ghost of a touch that had sent a shiver down my spine. The nickname. Yet, there was no one that stood out, no one that looked remotely suspicious.My heart pounded against my ribs, an erratic rhythm that matched the chaos of my mind. What was that? A horrible memory from the past flashed in front of my eyes sending
...ADELINE The loud music continued to blast through the speakers making my head slightly hurt. My chest rose and fell as I took a deep breath, the cool glass of vodka trembling slightly in my hand before I tipped it back. The liquid burned its way down my throat, but I welcomed the sensation. It was a distraction, a reprieve from the whirlwind of emotions Bianca’s words had stirred up earlier. I shook my head, trying to push the thoughts away, and glanced at the dance floor. Aurora, Kiara, and Rose were completely lost in the music, their laughter and wild movements blending into the pulsing beats of the club. They looked carefree—exactly how I wanted to feel. I wanted to be free and do whatever the fuck I wanted but this love had messed me up so bad. My fingers reached for another shot, determined to drown every ache in the bitter drink. I didn’t notice the figure approaching until a firm hand wrapped around my wrist, halting me mid-motion.“Let go,” I groaned, my voice slur
...ADELINE I sat on my bed, my legs crossed as I stared blankly at my phone. My mind was still spinning from the pictures and the threatening call I had received earlier from Elena. The weight of confusion, betrayal, and anger pressed heavily on my chest. I could not believe it. How could Luciano hid this from me? I should be aware of his past and specially now that his past had come in my way. Our way. Our life. I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t hear the door creak open.When I finally noticed, my head snapped up to see my mother, Bianca, stepping into the room. My frown deepened when Bianca quickly closed the door behind her and turned the lock.We never had a good relationship. Never had that mother - daughter thing going on and she rarely came to see me and every time she came, it was all for her benefit or to show others. “What are you doing?” I asked, my voice uncertain as I set my phone aside.Bianca ignored the question, walking toward me with a determined expr
...ADELINE I stormed into my bedroom, my face flushed with anger. I was fuming. The argument downstairs still rang in my ears, every word Luciano had said echoing over and over like a relentless drumbeat. I slammed the door shut behind me, leaning back against it for a moment, trying to catch my breath. My chest rose and fell rapidly, my emotions churning like a storm inside me.“Why does he think he can control my life?” I muttered to myself, running a hand through my hair. My hands were trembling, not just from anger but from the overwhelming sense of suffocation. I felt caged, like a bird with clipped wings.I did not want to live such a life following someone’s orders. I pushed off the door and crossed the room, flopping onto my bed. My fingers gripped the pillow tightly as I stared at the ceiling, trying to calm the rapid beat of my heart. “I don’t want to live by anyone else’s rules,” I whispered. “Not his, not anyone’s.”Just as I exhaled deeply, trying to steady mysel
...AUTHOR’S POV The front door swung open, and Adeline and Aurora stepped inside, their laughter echoing through the quiet house. They carried shopping bags, their arms brushing as they walked, lost in a lighthearted conversation about a couple they had seen at the mall.“I mean, seriously,” Aurora giggled, nudging Adeline. “Who slow-dances in the middle of a food court? It was so over-the-top!”Adeline laughed, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “And the way they kept feeding each other? I thought I was going to die of secondhand embarrassment!”Their shared laughter filled the living room as they entered, but it died in an instant when they noticed the atmosphere. They had gone out on aurora’s request as they were bored and also Adeline wanted some fresh air so aurora insisted. As soon as they entered the living room, the silence startled them. The entire family was gathered there, the air thick with tension. Luciano stood at the center, his posture rigid, his dark eyes blazi