...ADELINE The room felt stifling once again as Aurora and I froze, staring at the door that had just opened. Standing there, leaning casually against the frame, was Christian, his familiar smirk plastered across his face.“Good job lying, sweethearts,” he drawled, his voice laced with amusement.Aurora’s shoulders sagged in relief, her wide eyes narrowing into an exasperated glare. “I didn’t lie,” she retorted, rolling her eyes dramatically as she crossed her arms.I sighed in relief and closed my eyes to calm my heart knowing it was not Aaron. Christian chuckled, his smirk deepening as he tilted his head. “Sure, you didn’t.” His tone was teasing, the kind that made it hard to tell whether he was being serious or not.Before Aurora could fire back, Christian’s gaze shifted behind him, and My breath caught as another figure walked into the room—Luciano.My heart raced the moment my eyes landed on him. I clenched my fists around the blanket and gulped nervously. His tall, command
...ADELINE Without Any Warning , he pushed me down onto the bed and Slammed his lips on mine , kissing me passionately , so passionately that I forgot the reason for being sad and crying and my whole mind was filled with the kiss we were sharing. I closed my eyes as his kiss got hotter each second. My body trembled feeling something building in me and he , all of a sudden , held the waistband of my pjs before pulling them down. I was weak and did not had the power so I just followed him. I closed my eyes and he pulled away , taking off my pjs and throwing them somewhere on the floor. I hide my face with the back of my hand and he chuckled before pulling my hand away from my flushed face. I gulped and he looked down at my underwear that had a wet spot on my underwear as his smirk grew wider making me look away in embarrassment. All of a sudden , he tapped my hip and I bucked my hips up as he slide down my underwear smoothly. I closed my legs and shut my eyes tightly not to fee
...LUCIANO I clenched my phone tightly, staring at Elena’s name glowing on the screen. Her tone earlier had been sweet yet suffocating as she insisted we meet. She had been wanting to see me and now that I had a reason to meet her too, I knew I should not delay anymore. I knew declining wasn’t an option; Elena never let go of things easily, especially not me. The choice of a dinner meeting, at a restaurant of her choosing, only heightened my unease.She would not have listened unless I said it to her face to face. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes to ease my mind. Stepping into the softly lit restaurant, I felt a pit form in my stomach. I did not know what was gonna be Elena’s reaction. I knew very well, she would not handle it well but I had to get it done before anything happened again. The place was elegant, intimate, with low-hanging chandeliers casting a golden hue over the polished tables. The faint hum of conversation surrounded me as I chose a table near the corne
...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
...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
...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 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 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 I turned to leave, my heart pounding so loudly in my chest that I could barely hear my own footsteps. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to keep walking, to put as much distance between myself and Luciano as possible but my knees refused to listen. But before I could take another step, a strong hand wrapped around my wrist.Before I could even react, Luciano spun me around in one swift, forceful motion, pulling me against his chest. I barely had time to gasp before his arm tightened around my waist, locking me in place, trapping me against him.“Luciano—” I started, my voice sharp with warning. My eyes widened at his action and my heart racing at his touch and stubbornness. He didn’t let me finish.His lips crashed onto mine with a force that stole the air from my lungs.I froze. It was so sudden that I could not process what had happened. My fingers instinctively pressed against his chest, my entire body going rigid. The kiss felt too…… emotional that I could fee
...ADELINEI took a deep breath, the cool night air filling my lungs as I placed a steadying hand on the open car door. The hard part was done now I had to face the hardest one yet I knew I could do it. The mansion loomed behind me, its towering structure casting a long shadow under the dim glow of the estate lights. The mansion I once called my home was nothing in my eyes now but a mere architect that I had to burn down. I could feel Vladimir’s eyes on me, his concern tangible in the air between us.“Where are you going?” he asked, his voice low but firm. His grip on my wrist was firm as If he hated to let go of me once again. I turned to face him, my expression unreadable. I wasn’t sure if it was the exhaustion settling in my bones or the storm of emotions swirling in my chest, but I knew one thing—this was the end of something.“I’m coming,” I said softly, nodding once, as if that alone could reassure him.Vladimir hesitated. His dark eyes searched mine, looking for something
...ADELINE The room was filled with tension as the evening wore on. I sat on one of the plush couches and my posture poised, hands resting calmly on my lap. Vladimir, as ever, remained beside me, his dark presence an impenetrable wall of silence. His cold eyes scanned the room, offering nothing of warmth or invitation. His body language was unmistakable—he didn’t care about the people around him, nor did he make any attempt to hide his indifference. After what he’d been through, it was a sure outcome. Luciano, seated across from me, was unable to mask the simmering irritation in his gaze. He glared at me with intensity, as though trying to read the thoughts hidden behind my composed expression. I knew he had questions to ask and he could not do that in front of his family and it made me laugh. A man who can’t accept me in front of his family can do nothing. How could he be loyal. His eyes narrowed as they briefly flickered over to Vladimir, then back to me. The animosity bet
...AUTHOR’S POVAdeline exhaled heavily as she stepped inside Luciano’s grand mansion, the weight of her return pressing down on her like a vice. The air was thick with expectation, and even before she had fully crossed the threshold, she knew—they had been waiting and she was prepared to give them. It was as if the walls themselves whispered her name. Luciano’s men had already spread the word, and in a matter of seconds, the entire house was set into motion that she was here. The once-familiar halls no longer felt welcoming. The warmth she had once associated with this place had long since turned cold.She took another step, but the moment she did, the heavy wooden doors swung open behind her, and a rush of hurried footsteps filled the space.Adeline stopped.Aurora was the first to reach her, barreling toward her with tear-filled eyes, wrapping her arms around her in a desperate hug. “Adeline!” she breathed, holding her tightly as if afraid she would disappear again.But Ade
...ADELINE I laid sprawled on the bed, my fingers idly tracing the soft fabric of the sheets as my mind refused to rest. No matter how much I tried to distract myself, no matter how many deep breaths I took, I couldn’t escape him.Luciano.His name alone sent a shiver down my spine, and the mere thought of him had me body betraying me. I had needs and I wanted him. I hated that how much of an effect he had on me. My mind was occupied by him and my body …… craved him and it messed me. I could see him so clearly in my mind—those piercing blue eyes that always seemed to look straight through me, the sharp cut of his jaw, the way his muscles flexed beneath his crisp shirts, his powerful presence that both terrified and consumed me.I had spent so long fighting for his love, so long yearning for even the smallest sliver of his affection. And now, even after everything that had happened, even after all the lies and betrayals, …… I still wanted him.My breath hitched as a slow, burning
...ADELINE I sat curled up on the couch, my arms wrapped around my legs as I buried my face in my knees. The dim glow of the lamp beside me cast long shadows across the room, but I barely noticed. My thoughts were a tangled mess, circling the same painful truth over and over again. The image of Vladimir getting tortured made me want to end my life in guilt for not being there for him but …… the pain i also felt for was …… myself and ……Luciano.For so many years, I had tried. I had fought for his love, endured his coldness, his silence, his indifference. I had stood by his side, hoping—praying—that one day, he would see me, truly seeme. That he would love me the way I had loved him.But after everything I had learned… after the truth had come crashing down around me like an avalanche, burying everything I once believed in, I could no longer see a future with him. I could not see …… myself with him. Not anymore. I lifted my head slightly, exhaling a deep sigh, my heart heavy wit
...AUTHOR’S POV The tension in Luciano’s study was suffocating. The air was thick with his rage, his frustration, his desperation. Two days. Two fucking days since Adeline had disappeared, and he was unraveling by the second.His usually calculated mind—his greatest weapon—felt clouded with a storm of emotions he couldn’t control. He had spent years mastering the art of dominance, of always being three steps ahead. But now? Now he felt like he was walking blindly into the unknown, and it was driving him insane.His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, his pulse a violent drum against his skin. He couldn’t eat. Couldn’t sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was her face—the way she looked at him the last time he saw her.Furious.Determined.And then she was gone.Luciano exhaled sharply, his chest rising and falling with barely restrained fury. He turned his gaze to William, his right-hand man, who stood rigidly near the desk. William had already
...ADELINE Charles led me through the dimly lit hallway, his footsteps unhurried, his presence commanding. I watched him from behind. He was indeed a powerful man. His aura executed horror and dominance, someone you’d never want to come face to face with. I followed, my expression blank, though inside, my mind was racing. Charles was a man of power, but more than that, he was a man of calculation. He didn’t do anything without a reason. I had searched about him but nothing seemed suspicious. He was a powerful and famous man of France. So why was he helping her?As we entered his office, the rich scent of leather and aged whiskey filled the air. The space was grand, yet minimalistic—dark wooden shelves lined with books, a large mahogany desk, and deep brown leather chairs that exuded wealth and control. The only source of light was a dim chandelier hanging above, casting a soft glow across the room.I let out a sigh and eased myself before I took a seat on the couch, crossing my
...AUTHOR’S POV The morning air was filled with the comforting scent of freshly brewed coffee, warm butter, and crisping bacon. Sunlight filtered through the large kitchen windows, casting golden hues across the marble counters. The atmosphere felt light, peaceful—almost as if, for once, everything was normal.Adeline stood at the stove, humming softly as she flipped pancakes onto a plate. A rare, genuine smile curled on her lips. It had been so long since she had felt this—this warmth, this sense of home.It wasn’t much, just breakfast, but it was hers. A moment of simplicity in a life filled with chaos.She wanted to give a happy life to Vladimir and she could go to any extent to keep that smile on his face. As she arranged the plates on the long dining table, she heard approaching footsteps. She turned just in time to see Vladimir entering the kitchen, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, his hair a mess from just waking up.“Adeline,” he called, his voice groggy but laced with af