...ADELINE’S POV The night was quiet, save for the faint hum of distant traffic and the occasional rustling of leaves as the wind swept through the empty parking lot. The cold air nipped at Adeline’s skin as she reached for her car door, eager to leave behind the tension of the evening. But just as her fingers brushed against the handle, a firm hand wrapped around her wrist.Her breath hitched, her body stiffening as she was yanked around with startling force. Her heart lurched in her chest, and before she could even process what was happening, she found herself face to face with Luciano.His dark eyes locked onto hers, unreadable yet brimming with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. His grip on her wrist was strong—unyielding but careful, as if he was holding her in place without actually hurting her.Adeline inhaled sharply, her pulse quickening. “What the hell are you doing?” she demanded, yanking her arm back.Luciano didn’t let go.“We need to talk,” he said,
...AUTHOR’S POV Luciano’s grip was like iron—unyielding, relentless. No matter how much Adeline struggled, twisted, or pushed against his chest, he did not falter. His arms, strong and sure, locked around her as he carried her through the cool night air. The wind whispered against her skin, but the heat of his body, the power in his stride, made her pulse race with frustration. She kicked her legs, tried to shove herself free, but it was useless.“Let me go!” she hissed, wriggling in his hold.Luciano didn’t even flinch. His face was carved from stone, his jaw tight with silent determination. His boots struck the ground with forceful precision, each step taking her farther from whatever chance she had of escape.The house they approached looked small but sturdy, the kind of place meant for solitude—secluded, tucked away from prying eyes. The wooden structure was illuminated by the faint glow of the moon, its large windows reflecting the night’s darkness. It looked like the kin
...AUTHOR’S POV Adeline’s hands trembled as she scrolled through her phone, her breath coming in short, uneven gasps. The proof was there—staring back at her in the form of texts, images, call logs. Every single thing she had suspected, every single betrayal she had dreaded, was confirmed with cruel clarity. Her fingers shook so badly she almost dropped the phone, but she forced herself to hold on, forced herself to keep breathing.Her heart pounded as she turned the screen toward Luciano, her voice barely above a whisper. “See for yourself.”Luciano hesitated for only a second before taking the phone from her hands. His dark eyes scanned the evidence, his brows furrowing as he processed what he was seeing. The air in the room seemed to thicken, growing heavier with each passing second. His chest rose and fell slowly, deliberately, as if trying to contain the storm brewing inside him.Then, his fingers curled tightly around the edges of the phone, his knuckles turning white.
...AUTHOR’S POV Luciano’s lips were relentless, his kisses deep and consuming as he carried Adeline toward the bedroom. He moved slowly, deliberately, savoring every second their mouths were connected, as if afraid she would disappear if he let go. His hands held her securely against him, fingers pressing into her back, feeling the warmth of her body through the thin fabric of her clothes.Adeline’s fingers tangled in his thick, dark hair, pulling him closer, matching his intensity. Her heart pounded in her chest, her breath uneven as she surrendered to the fire between them. She felt weightless in his arms, but at the same time, she felt grounded—completely and utterly present in this moment, in his touch, in his kiss.The bedroom door nudged open as Luciano stepped inside, the soft flickering candlelight casting a golden glow over the space. The room was small, intimate, with a bed covered in dark sheets that looked impossibly inviting. A few candles flickered on the nights
...AUTHOR’S POV Luciano’s lips trailed lower, his breath warm against Adeline’s skin as he took his time exploring her, savoring every reaction, every shiver that ran through her body. His hands, firm yet gentle, slid down her sides, his fingertips grazing her soft skin, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake.Adeline’s breathing hitched as he pressed an open-mouthed kiss to the inside of her thigh, the sensation sending a jolt of pleasure through her. Her fingers curled into the sheets, gripping them tightly as a soft whimper escaped her lips. Luciano’s dark eyes flicked up, watching her with a smirk, clearly enjoying the effect he had on her.“You’re trembling,” he murmured, his voice deep, laced with satisfaction.Adeline swallowed hard, her chest rising and falling rapidly. “Luciano…” she whispered, her voice breathless, filled with anticipation.He hummed against her skin, the vibration making her arch slightly. His hands pressed down on her thighs, holding her in pla
...AUTHOR’S POV The night was still, wrapped in the quiet hum of their steady breaths. The flickering candlelight cast soft shadows on the walls, painting their intertwined bodies in a golden glow. The sheets were tangled, barely covering them, and the air carried the lingering warmth of their passion. Yet, in this moment, it wasn’t hunger or desperation that filled Luciano’s chest—it was something far deeper, something heavier.Adeline laid curled up, her bare back facing him, the duvet draped loosely around her waist, leaving the smooth expanse of her spine exposed to his gaze. She looked fragile like this, peaceful yet untouchably distant, her breath slow and steady, her body barely moving except for the slight rise and fall of her shoulders.Luciano propped himself up on one elbow, his dark eyes drinking in every detail—the way her hair spilled over the pillow, a few strands brushing against her cheek, the curve of her shoulder, the delicate dip of her lower back. His gaze
...ADELINE I stood in front of the small house which was supposed to be my home. I stood there not caring about the rain pouring on me. I was cold and drenched , soaking in water but nothing could be compared to what I was feeling right now. It had been two years since my father passed away. The man I truly loved and the man I was proud of. I was his princess and he was my everything. The best father I could ever imagine. The cool dad I could ever have. It was already late night and I wanted to spend this away alone. I did not want anyone to interrupt me or come in my memories with my father. I was also aware that my family would be searching for me but I also knew, no one was aware of this place. It was a secret between me and my dad. He gifted me this place on my sixteenth birthday and we would always come here on my every birthday till last year. I took a deep breath and walked towards the front door. Unlocking it with my fingerprint, I stepped inside as the whole house li
...ADELINE I could feel his intense dangerous gaze on me making me tremble in shame and fear. My hand reached out and grabbed the duvets and pulled them covering my body. He stood there with no expression but darkness radiated from his aura. I was so ashamed caught like this that I could not lift my gaze to look at him. My heart was pounding in my chest like a drum. My face was flushed and I tried to cover my body not wanting any inch to be seen. Suddenly, I felt him walking towards me and I closed my eyes ready to get the worst scolding and embarrassment. “ w-why are you-you here? “The words escaped my lips as soon as I felt him next to the bed. I slowly opened my eyes and noticed his fists clenched tightly making me close my eyes once again tightly. I was scared of the reaction and I couldn’t not predict anything either. “ I-I am s-sorry- I just- ““ do you have any idea how worried everyone is? “I opened my eyes and slowly looked up at him and now I could see very clearl
...AUTHOR’S POV The night was still, wrapped in the quiet hum of their steady breaths. The flickering candlelight cast soft shadows on the walls, painting their intertwined bodies in a golden glow. The sheets were tangled, barely covering them, and the air carried the lingering warmth of their passion. Yet, in this moment, it wasn’t hunger or desperation that filled Luciano’s chest—it was something far deeper, something heavier.Adeline laid curled up, her bare back facing him, the duvet draped loosely around her waist, leaving the smooth expanse of her spine exposed to his gaze. She looked fragile like this, peaceful yet untouchably distant, her breath slow and steady, her body barely moving except for the slight rise and fall of her shoulders.Luciano propped himself up on one elbow, his dark eyes drinking in every detail—the way her hair spilled over the pillow, a few strands brushing against her cheek, the curve of her shoulder, the delicate dip of her lower back. His gaze
...AUTHOR’S POV Luciano’s lips trailed lower, his breath warm against Adeline’s skin as he took his time exploring her, savoring every reaction, every shiver that ran through her body. His hands, firm yet gentle, slid down her sides, his fingertips grazing her soft skin, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake.Adeline’s breathing hitched as he pressed an open-mouthed kiss to the inside of her thigh, the sensation sending a jolt of pleasure through her. Her fingers curled into the sheets, gripping them tightly as a soft whimper escaped her lips. Luciano’s dark eyes flicked up, watching her with a smirk, clearly enjoying the effect he had on her.“You’re trembling,” he murmured, his voice deep, laced with satisfaction.Adeline swallowed hard, her chest rising and falling rapidly. “Luciano…” she whispered, her voice breathless, filled with anticipation.He hummed against her skin, the vibration making her arch slightly. His hands pressed down on her thighs, holding her in pla
...AUTHOR’S POV Luciano’s lips were relentless, his kisses deep and consuming as he carried Adeline toward the bedroom. He moved slowly, deliberately, savoring every second their mouths were connected, as if afraid she would disappear if he let go. His hands held her securely against him, fingers pressing into her back, feeling the warmth of her body through the thin fabric of her clothes.Adeline’s fingers tangled in his thick, dark hair, pulling him closer, matching his intensity. Her heart pounded in her chest, her breath uneven as she surrendered to the fire between them. She felt weightless in his arms, but at the same time, she felt grounded—completely and utterly present in this moment, in his touch, in his kiss.The bedroom door nudged open as Luciano stepped inside, the soft flickering candlelight casting a golden glow over the space. The room was small, intimate, with a bed covered in dark sheets that looked impossibly inviting. A few candles flickered on the nights
...AUTHOR’S POV Adeline’s hands trembled as she scrolled through her phone, her breath coming in short, uneven gasps. The proof was there—staring back at her in the form of texts, images, call logs. Every single thing she had suspected, every single betrayal she had dreaded, was confirmed with cruel clarity. Her fingers shook so badly she almost dropped the phone, but she forced herself to hold on, forced herself to keep breathing.Her heart pounded as she turned the screen toward Luciano, her voice barely above a whisper. “See for yourself.”Luciano hesitated for only a second before taking the phone from her hands. His dark eyes scanned the evidence, his brows furrowing as he processed what he was seeing. The air in the room seemed to thicken, growing heavier with each passing second. His chest rose and fell slowly, deliberately, as if trying to contain the storm brewing inside him.Then, his fingers curled tightly around the edges of the phone, his knuckles turning white.
...AUTHOR’S POV Luciano’s grip was like iron—unyielding, relentless. No matter how much Adeline struggled, twisted, or pushed against his chest, he did not falter. His arms, strong and sure, locked around her as he carried her through the cool night air. The wind whispered against her skin, but the heat of his body, the power in his stride, made her pulse race with frustration. She kicked her legs, tried to shove herself free, but it was useless.“Let me go!” she hissed, wriggling in his hold.Luciano didn’t even flinch. His face was carved from stone, his jaw tight with silent determination. His boots struck the ground with forceful precision, each step taking her farther from whatever chance she had of escape.The house they approached looked small but sturdy, the kind of place meant for solitude—secluded, tucked away from prying eyes. The wooden structure was illuminated by the faint glow of the moon, its large windows reflecting the night’s darkness. It looked like the kin
...ADELINE’S POV The night was quiet, save for the faint hum of distant traffic and the occasional rustling of leaves as the wind swept through the empty parking lot. The cold air nipped at Adeline’s skin as she reached for her car door, eager to leave behind the tension of the evening. But just as her fingers brushed against the handle, a firm hand wrapped around her wrist.Her breath hitched, her body stiffening as she was yanked around with startling force. Her heart lurched in her chest, and before she could even process what was happening, she found herself face to face with Luciano.His dark eyes locked onto hers, unreadable yet brimming with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. His grip on her wrist was strong—unyielding but careful, as if he was holding her in place without actually hurting her.Adeline inhaled sharply, her pulse quickening. “What the hell are you doing?” she demanded, yanking her arm back.Luciano didn’t let go.“We need to talk,” he said,
...AUTHOR’S POV The grand hall shimmered under the golden glow of the chandeliers, their light casting elongated shadows across the marble floors. A soft murmur of conversation and the occasional clink of glasses filled the space, yet beneath the grandeur and the carefully orchestrated celebration, a silent war was unfolding.Charles extended his hand toward Adeline with a grace that spoke of confidence, of certainty. His fingers, long and steady, stretched out toward her, a silent invitation. Adeline hesitated only for a fraction of a second before placing her delicate hand in his. The warmth of his palm met hers, firm and unwavering. The moment their fingers interlocked, a wave of tension rippled through the room—not from the guests, who continued clapping and cheering—but from the two figures who watched them with barely contained fury.Luciano stood just beyond them, his gaze a storm brewing on the horizon. His dark eyes locked onto Charles with an intensity that could cut
...AUTHOR’S POV The grand hall was draped in golden chandeliers, the dim lighting casting a soft glow over the elegantly dressed guests. A hum of conversation filled the air, but it slowly began to die down as Sloane Lanstov stepped toward the center, microphone in hand. Her heels clicked against the marble floor with purpose, yet her grip tightened subtly around her brother Vladimir’s arm. He stood beside her, his expression composed, but she could feel the tension in him—the slight hesitation beneath his otherwise fearless exterior.Sloane inhaled deeply, scanning the faces before her. Bianca—her mother, the witch who had tainted their family name. Leonardo—the man her mother had betrayed them with. Isabella, Francesco, Christian, Aurora, Rose, Braxton, Aaron, Kiara, Angelina—the woman Adeline had pitied, clueless to the fact that her own husband had been sleeping with Bianca. Alessandra Morelli—the matriarch of the Morelli family, the mother of Luciano and Leonardo, sat wi
...AUTHOR’S POV Adeline’s breathing was uneven, her heart pounding in her chest as reality sank in. The warmth of Luciano’s lips still lingered on hers, the taste of him still fresh, but instead of comfort, it brought a suffocating weight pressing down on her. She stepped back, blinking rapidly, trying to ground herself, but her vision blurred as unshed tears welled in her eyes.Luciano noticed the shift immediately. His hands, still hovering near her waist, twitched as if aching to hold her again, but something in her expression stopped him. His brows furrowed, his dark eyes scanning her face with growing concern.“Adeline?” His voice was softer now, laced with confusion. “What’s wrong?”She let out a shaky breath, shaking her head as if trying to rid herself of the emotions clawing at her chest. Her fingers curled into fists at her sides, her body stiff with restraint.Luciano took a step closer. “Talk to me,” he urged, his voice dipping lower. “Please.”A bitter laugh escap