“Why me? Surely, you can find someone more… suitable for this. In fact I don’t have time for this. I thought you had something serious to offer. This was just a waste of time” I snapped as I was about to stand up angrily and disappointed. Armando’s gaze softened, just slightly. “Because you’re loyal to a fault. You know how to play the part of a dutiful partner. And because you hate James enough to want to see him fall. Plus because you need to take revenge on Samantha and James because they fooled you from the onset. James never loved you to begin with, he only came into the picture because Samantha wanted to take your inheritance in a subtle way since your Dad transferred everything to your name before he died, leaving her with nothing”
View More(Armando’s POV)I watched from the shadows as Olivia left Ferro’s estate, her steps faltering, her face pale.She didn’t know I was there. She didn’t know I’d followed her, seen the way Ferro’s eyes gleamed with victory as he leaned in close to her, whispering words meant to ensnare her on his balcony.But I knew.Ferro wasn’t just playing a game—he was closing in. And if I didn’t act now, I’d lose her forever.——The office smelled of smoke and leather, the air thick with the pressure of decisions I didn’t want to make. Matteo stood across from me, his expression grim as he laid the latest report on my desk.“Ferro’s moving fast,” he said, his tone clipped. “He’s consolidating his power, leveraging everything he’s got. He’s coming for you, boss.”“And Olivia,” I said, my voice low.Matteo hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah. Especially her.” I exhaled heavily and gritted my teeth.The thought of Ferro anywhere near her sent a surge of rage through me, but I forced myself to stay calm. Ferr
(Olivia’s POV)Ferro’s estate felt colder when I left.The deal had been struck, but as the gates closed behind me, a knot tightened in my chest. I was in over my head, aligning with a man like Ferro. But James had to fall—there was no other way. That was the one thing I craved and I was willing to give my all for that to happen. As much as I was angry and wanted to hate Armando, I just couldn’t and I hated myself for that.Still, Ferro’s parting words haunted me: “Remember, Olivia, trust is for fools. You’re better than that.”———-The office hadn’t changed, but James had.He sat behind his desk, the smirk I once found charming now a mask for desperation. The lines around his eyes were deeper, his posture less confident. But the arrogance was still there, festering beneath the surface. Just setting my eyes on the maniac made my blood boil.“Well, well,” he drawled, his voice dripping with mockery. “The prodigal wife. To what do I owe this honor?”I stepped forward, the folder clutche
(Dual POV)(Olivia’s POV)I ran.The echoes of their voices—James’s accusations, Armando’s desperate pleas—still clung to me as I stumbled into the night. My chest was tight, my vision blurred, and the ring on my finger felt like a shackle I couldn’t remove fast enough.Everything was a lie.The man I had trusted, the man I had begun to care for, had orchestrated the destruction of my family. Armando had played me, just like James and Ferro had, and now I was left in the ruins of their games.I tore the ring off my finger.It wasn’t a declaration. It was a surrender. And I knew just what to do to make everyone pay.Olivia’s POVI didn’t know how long I wandered the streets before I ended up outside Ferro’s estate.The guards at the gate didn’t stop me this time. They simply stepped aside, their expressions unreadable as I walked through the towering iron gates.Inside, the house was quiet, save for the soft hum of classical music floating through the air. Ferro was waiting for me in t
(Olivia’s POV)The proposal was nothing like I imagined.Armando didn’t kneel. There were no flowers, no grand declarations of love. Just him, standing in the middle of the living room, his dark eyes piercing mine as he held out a velvet box.“This is what needs to happen,” he said simply.I stared at him, the uncertainty of his words pressing down on me. “What do you mean, ‘needs to happen’?”His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might backpedal. But that wasn’t Armando. He never faltered.“It’s the only way to solidify the alliances we’ve been building,” he explained. “A show of unity. Strength.”“So this is about business,” I said bitterly, folding my arms across my chest.“It’s about survival,” he corrected, his tone sharp.I wanted to laugh, to throw the ring box back at him and tell him to shove his survival. But when I looked at him—really looked at him—I saw something I didn’t expect.Fear.Not for himself, but for me.“Olivia,” he said, stepping closer, his voice
(James’ POV)The whiskey burned as it slid down my throat, but it wasn’t enough to dull the weight in my chest.My reflection in the office window stared back at me, the sharp lines of my jaw and the glint of my watch mocking me. Once, I’d been untouchable. Once, the name James Calloway had commanded respect. Now, I was a man clinging to the edges of a world that had spat me out, a world Armando Moretti ruled with iron fists and Olivia Pierce at his side.That bastard.I set the glass down, my fingers drumming against the desk. Every move Armando made was calculated, every step another reminder that I’d been outplayed. But that didn’t mean I was out of the game. Not yet.The knock on the door came precisely on time.“Come in,” I said, adjusting my tie.Ferro entered, his sharp suit and sharper smile giving him the air of a man who thrived on chaos. He took the seat opposite me without waiting for an invitation, his eyes assessing, calculating.“James,” he said smoothly, leaning back i
(Dual POV)Olivia’s POVThe penthouse was eerily quiet when I returned, the weight of Ferro’s words clinging to me like a second skin.“With me, you could be so much more.”The idea gnawed at me, tempting and terrifying in equal measure. Ferro had made himself out to be the devil I knew—the one who told me the truths Armando wouldn’t. But deep down, I knew he wasn’t a savior. He was a predator, circling me because he saw the cracks Armando had left behind.But was he wrong?I didn’t trust Armando anymore—not fully. His secrets, his violent world, the files that laid my life bare—it was all too much. And yet, the thought of betraying him made my stomach turn.I found him in the living room, his figure partially illuminated by the warm glow of a single lamp. He sat on the edge of the couch, his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped tightly together. He looked up as I entered, his dark eyes locking onto mine like a predator sizing up its prey.“You’re late, where did you go to?” he said
(Olivia and Ferro POV)Olivia’s POVSleep was a distant memory.I tossed and turned, Armando’s words replaying in my head on a loop. “This is protection, Olivia. Do you have any idea how many people want you dead?”Every time I closed my eyes, the image of that secret room surfaced—the files, the photos, the lies disguised as truths. He said it was for my protection, but how could I believe that when everything about him felt like a game I didn’t know the rules to? It was more as though everything around me was a lie and to be truthful, I didn’t know what to believe anymore.He hadn’t come to find me after our argument. He’d stayed in his office, the door closed, leaving me alone to drown in my thoughts. Still while thinking about my life, I couldn’t stop to have flashbacks of how Armando fucked me. The memory was alway fresh in my head and each time my nipples get so hard at the thought of him. I really wanted to stop thinking about it but still couldn’t get it off my head. The way h
(Olivia’s POV)The penthouse was quieter than it had ever been.The kind of silence that didn’t feel like peace but like the edge of a storm. Armando hadn’t said a word since we’d left the auction. He hadn’t needed to—the blood on his shirt, the fire in his eyes, and the bodies left in his wake had spoken loudly enough.I was exhausted, my thoughts a tangled mess as I walked aimlessly through the sprawling space. The events of the night replayed in my mind on a loop: Ferro’s taunts, the bids climbing higher and higher, and then the explosion of chaos when Armando made his move.Protector or predator?I didn’t have an answer anymore.I’d seen the lengths Armando would go to for me. I’d felt the raw intensity of his actions, the way he’d cut through Ferro’s men like they were nothing more than obstacles in his way. But the violence—the sheer, unrelenting force of it—had shaken something loose inside me.And then there was the auction itself, the truths Ferro had dangled like bait. My na
(Armando’s POV)The moment Ferro said her name, the world tilted.Olivia’s name on that screen. Her life, her family, her scars—laid bare for the vultures to pick apart.Ferro had crossed a line, and I was done playing his game and I couldn’t stick to my plan anymore.I stepped into the spotlight, tearing off the mask I’d worn to blend into this den of filth. My fury cut through the crowd like a blade, and they scattered as if sensing the storm I was about to unleash.“Enough,” I said, my voice low, sharp, and final.The crowd froze. Even Ferro, who thrived on chaos, faltered for a moment before regaining his smug composure.“Armando,” he said smoothly, spreading his arms like a ringmaster basking in applause. “What a surprise. Have you come to bid, or just to steal the show?”“You’ve gone too far,” I said, my words laced with venom. “Take her off the docket. Now.”Ferro smirked, tilting his head as if he found my anger amusing. “I don’t think you understand how this works. Once a sec
The soft purr of my car engine was the only sound piercing the stillness of the night, each vibration a cruel reminder of how alone I felt. My hands trembled on the steering wheel, the cold leather biting against my sweaty palms. The headlights illuminated the empty street ahead, but my mind was racing through a darkness I couldn’t escape.My birthday. Our fifth wedding anniversary.The night that should have been magical was nothing more than a cruel joke, played at my expense.I had spent weeks envisioning this day. The table at home was still set—fine china, flickering candles, and the bouquet of peonies James once claimed he loved. But the food sat untouched, the candles long extinguished, and the air was heavy with the smell of disappointment.Five hours. That’s how long I had waited for him, each second stretching into an eternity of hope and heartbreak.When midnight struck, hope withered into something bitter, sharp enough to cut through the haze of denial I had been living in...
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.
Comments