“So, how’s your love life?” I inquired, watching Jared devour the pancakes I whipped up for breakfast.“Meh,” he mumbled between bites.“Don’t tell me the infamous college playboy lost his charm this soon,” I teased, rolling my eyes.“I’m just not feeling the whole dating scene anymore,” he admitted.“Ah, Mr. Smith wanted to settle down now, huh?” I teased, grinning.“Kinda,” he confessed, running a hand through his hair.“Got someone in mind?” I prodded.“Not really. Still waiting,” he replied, snagging a pancake from my plate.“Hey!” I protested, slapping his hand away.“What? They’re too good to resist. Should’ve made more,” he said with a smirk as I loaded the dishwasher.“Make them yourself,” I retorted, huffing.“So, spill. How was your love life?” he asked, leaning back in his chair. My heart skipped a beat before I composed myself.“You don’t have to share if you don’t want to, Eva. It’s okay,” he assured me gently.“I know,” I nodded, forcing a sad smile as I gazed at my bare
Jared gasped, “That fucking bastard! I’m gonna kill him!”I quickly grabbed his hand, trying to calm his anger. “No, J, it’s all sorted out.”“What do you mean, ‘sorted out’? Did he fucking cheat on you?” he spat out the words.“It’s-it’s not like that” I said, stepping closer to soothe him. “Let’s just leave for now, okay?”“If you say so,” he muttered, nodding. I pulled him out by the hand, and just as we crossed the arcade entrance, Shraf appeared, blocking our path. Lily was left behind, staring at us with a strange expression I couldn’t decipher.“Shraf,” I breathed, my grip on Jared’s arm tightening. My heart was pounding, and I knew they could hear it.“Eva,” Shraf replied, his dark eyes locked onto my hands on Jared’s arm. If looks could kill, we’d be nothing but ashes. But he didn’t say anything else, and neither did we. Jared, not one to back down, squared his shoulders. The silence between us was thick, tension slicing through the air.I cleared my throat awkwardly, trying
My eyes fluttered open, disoriented in the dim light of the room. A presence loomed nearby, sending a shiver down my spine. “Who’s there?” I whispered, my voice trembling with fear.A figure moved closer, and a low, chilling voice whispered in my ear, “It’s me, Mi Vida.”I took in a shaky breath.Shraf.There was no mistaking him.I would never forget the smell of his cologne. The smell of his skin. It was seared into my memory forever.It was the scent of my nightmares, my deepest fears, my worst memories, all rolled into one.But it was also the smell of lust, of sex, of pleasure.“Shraf?” I didn’t recognize the voice that came from my mouth. It was weak. Shaky. Scared. Because I was scared. I didn’t move an inch, my body rigid as I lay in the darkness of my bedroom.A hand landed on my hip, slowly traveling up and down my leg. Up and down, up and down.I tried to swallow, my throat suddenly dry, but nothing would go down.“Who else would it be?” A deep voice whispered in my ear, br
"I can't see you with anyone else." There was no emotion in his tone, he was just stating fact. Pure fact."That's too selfish of you, don't you think?" I breathe out, my heart still beating fast, thanks to udall the rigorous sex with him."I am a selfish man, Mi Vida. I have always been, you should know that by now."A bitter laugh escapes me, "I know it, more than anyone else ever could. But that doesn't mean, I am going to live my life according to your whims and wishes."He stills and then pulls me in a swift motion beneath him, "You are not planning to see him again, are you?"I raise an eyebrow, his audacity fueling up my resentment, "I am planning to more than seeing him, actually." "If you even dare, Eva," he growled, yanking my hair hard enough to elicit a sharp cry from me. "I'll kill that man. I'll torture him in every conceivable way, and then l'll make him watch as I fuck you hard over and over again.""You are a monster! I hate you!" I hissed, trying to keep my distance
The next morning, he was gone. There was no sign of him; if it weren't for the lingering soreness between my legs, I would have thought the entire night had been a dream.His words from last night kept replaying in my mind. What he said was vague, but my suspicion grew stronger. Was Shraf involved with a crime lord or the Mafia? I needed to know.But how could it be true? The billion-dollar empire that is Sinclaire Industries—could it all be a façade? I had worked with Shraf for five years, and none of it ever felt like a front.I quickly picked up my phone and got dressed for the day. Sinclaire Industries, I am coming!As I approached Sinclaire Industries, my mind buzzed with questions. The opulent lobby, with its towering glass walls and sleek marble floors, had always felt intimidating, but today it loomed over me with an air of foreboding. I had to find answers—answers to the countless secrets Shraf had kept hidden.I marched toward the elevator, my resolve hardening with each ste
I froze at his words, my entire body locking up as the truth settled in like a lead weight. Leonardo Vega. I had heard that name before, but it had always felt distant, like something from the underworld you knew existed but never touched. Now, that underworld had a face, and it was the face of my husband.Leonardo Vega was no ordinary criminal. He was infamous. I had heard whispers in the business world, even seen reports in passing. A man who operated in the shadows, untouchable by the law, with ties so deep they ran through the veins of governments, multinational corporations, and the very fabric of society's power structures. But what made him terrifying wasn't just his criminal empire; it was the sheer ruthlessness with which he ran it.Rumors said he controlled entire black-market economies, that he had bribed judges, politicians, and police forces across the world. Trafficking. Money laundering. Assassinations. His reach was international, and his network of associates? Equally
"I want divorce." Just like that. He said it. As calm and composed I've always seen him, no expression, no twitch in the jaw, nothing. My usual neutral, cold husband. My husband, who apparently now wanted a divorce. I laughed, laughed hard. It was something new, we never laughed together. I never laughed in front of him. Hell, we didn't even talk much! We always talked when we needed, about finance, about business. Business, it has been between us. There is no difference between me and his private secretary. Oh there is a difference, he didn't sleep with his secretary, or did he? I don't know anymore. Even now that I am laughing, he showed no sign of amusement or surprise. It's like he's used to my laugh, but he's not. I barely laughed these days, my life did not allow me to. I was not married to a simple man, I wish I was. He was the heir of the Sinclairs, one of the most influential family of our country. He could not be married to a simple girl either. And simple, I was.We were
Night.Sheets.We both tangled in those sheets. Me panting, my body humming in pleasure, in love. My husband thrusting in and out of my body, his tempo frenzy, desperate, like he could not get enough of me, like he wanted me, loved me but he did not.A sharp pain seized my heart even in between the endless pleasure he was giving me. I closed my eyes to stop the threatening tears."Eva!", my husband said my name. Was his tone really vulnerable or I mistook it with my emotions? He was never vulnerable, he could not be."Eva, look at me." An order. If I didn't knew him better, I would think it was an order, but I caught that slight desperateness in his tone, the need.I opened my eyes to meet with his grey ones. Beautiful, his eyes were so beautiful with the storm they contained."Don't close your eyes again." He fastened his pace.So much pleasure!Sweat glistened over his eyebrows, his hold on me tightening to the point of pain. I wish I could kiss his eyebrows, his nose, his eyelids.
I froze at his words, my entire body locking up as the truth settled in like a lead weight. Leonardo Vega. I had heard that name before, but it had always felt distant, like something from the underworld you knew existed but never touched. Now, that underworld had a face, and it was the face of my husband.Leonardo Vega was no ordinary criminal. He was infamous. I had heard whispers in the business world, even seen reports in passing. A man who operated in the shadows, untouchable by the law, with ties so deep they ran through the veins of governments, multinational corporations, and the very fabric of society's power structures. But what made him terrifying wasn't just his criminal empire; it was the sheer ruthlessness with which he ran it.Rumors said he controlled entire black-market economies, that he had bribed judges, politicians, and police forces across the world. Trafficking. Money laundering. Assassinations. His reach was international, and his network of associates? Equally
The next morning, he was gone. There was no sign of him; if it weren't for the lingering soreness between my legs, I would have thought the entire night had been a dream.His words from last night kept replaying in my mind. What he said was vague, but my suspicion grew stronger. Was Shraf involved with a crime lord or the Mafia? I needed to know.But how could it be true? The billion-dollar empire that is Sinclaire Industries—could it all be a façade? I had worked with Shraf for five years, and none of it ever felt like a front.I quickly picked up my phone and got dressed for the day. Sinclaire Industries, I am coming!As I approached Sinclaire Industries, my mind buzzed with questions. The opulent lobby, with its towering glass walls and sleek marble floors, had always felt intimidating, but today it loomed over me with an air of foreboding. I had to find answers—answers to the countless secrets Shraf had kept hidden.I marched toward the elevator, my resolve hardening with each ste
"I can't see you with anyone else." There was no emotion in his tone, he was just stating fact. Pure fact."That's too selfish of you, don't you think?" I breathe out, my heart still beating fast, thanks to udall the rigorous sex with him."I am a selfish man, Mi Vida. I have always been, you should know that by now."A bitter laugh escapes me, "I know it, more than anyone else ever could. But that doesn't mean, I am going to live my life according to your whims and wishes."He stills and then pulls me in a swift motion beneath him, "You are not planning to see him again, are you?"I raise an eyebrow, his audacity fueling up my resentment, "I am planning to more than seeing him, actually." "If you even dare, Eva," he growled, yanking my hair hard enough to elicit a sharp cry from me. "I'll kill that man. I'll torture him in every conceivable way, and then l'll make him watch as I fuck you hard over and over again.""You are a monster! I hate you!" I hissed, trying to keep my distance
My eyes fluttered open, disoriented in the dim light of the room. A presence loomed nearby, sending a shiver down my spine. “Who’s there?” I whispered, my voice trembling with fear.A figure moved closer, and a low, chilling voice whispered in my ear, “It’s me, Mi Vida.”I took in a shaky breath.Shraf.There was no mistaking him.I would never forget the smell of his cologne. The smell of his skin. It was seared into my memory forever.It was the scent of my nightmares, my deepest fears, my worst memories, all rolled into one.But it was also the smell of lust, of sex, of pleasure.“Shraf?” I didn’t recognize the voice that came from my mouth. It was weak. Shaky. Scared. Because I was scared. I didn’t move an inch, my body rigid as I lay in the darkness of my bedroom.A hand landed on my hip, slowly traveling up and down my leg. Up and down, up and down.I tried to swallow, my throat suddenly dry, but nothing would go down.“Who else would it be?” A deep voice whispered in my ear, br
Jared gasped, “That fucking bastard! I’m gonna kill him!”I quickly grabbed his hand, trying to calm his anger. “No, J, it’s all sorted out.”“What do you mean, ‘sorted out’? Did he fucking cheat on you?” he spat out the words.“It’s-it’s not like that” I said, stepping closer to soothe him. “Let’s just leave for now, okay?”“If you say so,” he muttered, nodding. I pulled him out by the hand, and just as we crossed the arcade entrance, Shraf appeared, blocking our path. Lily was left behind, staring at us with a strange expression I couldn’t decipher.“Shraf,” I breathed, my grip on Jared’s arm tightening. My heart was pounding, and I knew they could hear it.“Eva,” Shraf replied, his dark eyes locked onto my hands on Jared’s arm. If looks could kill, we’d be nothing but ashes. But he didn’t say anything else, and neither did we. Jared, not one to back down, squared his shoulders. The silence between us was thick, tension slicing through the air.I cleared my throat awkwardly, trying
“So, how’s your love life?” I inquired, watching Jared devour the pancakes I whipped up for breakfast.“Meh,” he mumbled between bites.“Don’t tell me the infamous college playboy lost his charm this soon,” I teased, rolling my eyes.“I’m just not feeling the whole dating scene anymore,” he admitted.“Ah, Mr. Smith wanted to settle down now, huh?” I teased, grinning.“Kinda,” he confessed, running a hand through his hair.“Got someone in mind?” I prodded.“Not really. Still waiting,” he replied, snagging a pancake from my plate.“Hey!” I protested, slapping his hand away.“What? They’re too good to resist. Should’ve made more,” he said with a smirk as I loaded the dishwasher.“Make them yourself,” I retorted, huffing.“So, spill. How was your love life?” he asked, leaning back in his chair. My heart skipped a beat before I composed myself.“You don’t have to share if you don’t want to, Eva. It’s okay,” he assured me gently.“I know,” I nodded, forcing a sad smile as I gazed at my bare
Shocked by Shraf’s message, a torrent of anger surged through me, swiftly escalating to pure lividity. Who did he think he was? Did he truly believe he could still exert control over me after everything? Well, he had another thing coming. I refused to let him dictate my life any longer. It was time to live on my own terms. With determination propelling my actions, I seized my phone and dialed a familiar number, my fingers tapping the screen with purpose. “Are you available?” I typed, my heart racing with anticipation as I hit send. A blue tick appeared, signaling that my message had been read. Before long, a reply illuminated the screen. “You alive, fluffball?” The response brought a smile to my face, a wave of nostalgia washing over me. Oh, how I missed him! “Yes, still alive, Jared,” I replied, adding a rolled eyes emoji for good measure. “Too bad, now I have to start annoying u again,” his message followed swiftly. I burst into laughter, the sound reverberating through the empt
The night stretched on, with Shraf’s heavy breathing lulling me into a fitful sleep, my mind raced with thoughts of escape. I replayed every scenario, every possible avenue of freedom, searching for the one that held the least risk. And then, as dawn painted the sky in hues of pink and gold, a plan began to form in my mind.I waited until Shraf’s rhythmic breathing signaled that he was deeply asleep, his hold on me loosening ever so slightly. With cautious movements, I extricated myself from his grasp, my heart pounding in my chest like a drumroll of anticipation.Silently, I slipped out of bed, careful not to disturb him. Every creak of the floorboards beneath my feet sounded like thunder in the oppressive silence of the room. I held my breath, praying that he wouldn’t wake, that this fleeting moment of freedom wouldn’t be snatched away before it even began.With trembling hands, I gathered the few belongings I could carry—some clothes, a handful of cash I had squirreled away, and th
I slipped back into a daze once more. The days blurred together, each one passing in a haze of confusion and numbness. I felt myself sinking deeper into the abyss of my own thoughts. The world around me seemed distant and unreal, like I was trapped in a dream from which I couldn’t wake up.Shraf’s attempts to rouse me from my stupor went unanswered. His kisses, once filled with warmth and passion, now felt distant and meaningless against my cold skin. Even as he fed me spoonfuls of soup or gently caressed my hair, I remained still, my mind a million miles away.Magdalena’s kind words and gestures offered little solace. I could feel her concern, her attempts to break through the walls I had erected around myself, but I couldn’t find the strength to respond. My voice felt trapped within me, buried beneath layers of pain and confusion.I existed in a state of limbo, caught between the past and the present, unable to move forward. As the days stretched on, I longed for an escape from the