"Be careful, woman!" Gage growls as Nadia collides with his car in her haste to cross the street. He looks at her disdainfully and menacingly. The young woman lowers her gaze and hides her face with her hood to avoid being recognized by him, although it's almost impossible due to her attire, but it's better to be sure. Gage gazes at the woman in front of him, and she seems familiar. He's sure he's seen her somewhere else before, but it's impossible. She looks ragged and dirty. Her hair is disheveled and also dirty. There's no way he could have seen her in these parts. "Excuse me, sir," she mutters, feigning a raspy voice. Gage grunts in response and starts his car, driving away. A few meters down the road, he stops and turns again, but she has already disappeared into the crowd on the main street. "What's going on?" A man in a wide-brimmed hat and peasant's clothing asks discreetly, approaching his window. "You're acting like you've seen a ghost." "That woman..." Gage says but do
At the inn, Egil Arrabal impatiently awaits Gage's arrival. With a bottle of whiskey in hand, he attempts to ease the excruciating pain in his shoulder; his wound continues to bleed despite all the medications prescribed by the doctor. He removes his coat, revealing a large bloodstain, which makes him exhale heavily. Slowly, he takes off his shirt, as well as the bandages covering that area, exposing the gunshot wound that is still raw. The blood he lost from the gunshot weakened him considerably.He takes a few sips of his drink to gather courage. He grabs his dagger, inherited from his great-grandfather, and places the tip in the fire, letting the metal heat until it turns a bright red before holding it over his wound for a few seconds. A piercing scream echoes throughout the room, putting Gage, who has just arrived, on high alert.The intense pain leaves Egil semi-conscious, lying on the floor. He prefers to believe in the old methods rather than the ones they use now. That doctor
The journey to the capital is very turbulent due to the rain, and on several occasions, Gage is forced to stop and check on the condition of his boss, who is lying in the back of the van. Perhaps the doctor was right, and the bullet was indeed poisoned. That would explain Egil's deteriorating health in such a short time. The good news is that at least he's no longer bleeding, which is a significant improvement."Take me to the hacienda," Egil requests during one of these stops. "I'm feeling better now. I don't want to go to the clinic.""But you need specialized care, sir," Gage tries to reason with him. "At the clinic, they'll be able to attend to your wound more appropriately. If you need another antidote, they can administer it there.""Do as I say, Gage!" Despite his condition, Egil looks at him authoritatively. His assistant has no choice but to comply. "I want to go to the hacienda now."Meanwhile, after passing through the densest forest between the borders of Zhufun and Vinoxy
Today is the second day that Adelaide has been in this horrible and dark room, bound hand and foot, with her wrist already wounded due to the friction of the rope and with a cold that she can barely endure.Her entire body is bruised, and her ankle, where that man hit her, is swollen and purple, with a throbbing pain that goes all the way to the bone."Please," she says so softly that the man watching her from a certain distance can't hear her. She's tired, hungry, and thirsty. Her strength waned long ago due to the beatings and forced fasting.Her mind is a senseless mess. Her blurry gaze no longer allows her to clearly understand what is happening around her, her only desire is to free herself from this harsh punishment she is undergoing, even though she is innocent."Today is the second day," murmurs a woman who is next to that repulsive man. "Mr. Egil's secretary ordered that she be in this place for only three days. You need to be tougher on her, or we won't have achieved our goa
"That won't happen. I have faithfully served the Arrabal family since I was thirteen, unlike you, who are just a substitute for your sister, the traitor, the one who ran away with her lover.""I will tell Egil about the scar she has on her lower back; that way, he'll believe me."Fabio opens his eyes, impressed. Adelaide saw it when he was in an intimate moment with the servant. Both thought she had passed out due to hunger, but she hadn't. Now he has no way to refute it in case Mr. Egil decides to check if what she says is true."When he asks to see it, he'll realize I'm right, and he'll condemn you. I'll detail every atrocity you did to me, and I'll also tell him about the woman you were with recently. I won't stay silent; I'll make everyone fall with me."Fabio backs away despite her protests. This woman is a tough nut to crack, and he has no choice but to give in, unless she thinks she has the final word, she's sorely mistaken.He approaches the table and takes the vial of poison
"They sent me here for help, ma'am. I come from the estate, my child, Adelaide Valencia, the third daughter of Mr. Bahram Valencia and the late Mrs. Amaranta, recently married to Mr. Egil, is being secretly tortured. The master, who is currently traveling, is unaware of it. I fear for her life, Mrs. Irene.""Who told you that I could help young Valencia?"Of course, Irene already knew about her nephew's wedding and the flight of the original bride, and that Adelaide had replaced her sister in the engagement. The gossip had reached her ears from the household staff."The nameless prisoner sent me to find you," Irene brings her hand to her mouth when she hears him mentioned. So, he's still alive. "She really needs your help; we are alone in these lands, with no one to advocate for us."Irene remains silent for a while, pacing the room slowly, as if considering all the possibilities. It's been many years since she set foot in that house, and doing so now for Amaranta's daughter is a good
Adelaide is unconscious when three servants carry her to her room. Mercedes is notified that she needs to assist with her hygiene, and deep sadness overwhelms her when she sees Adelaide's condition.Her back is all bruised, her wrists have deep, bleeding wounds, and her ankles are swollen and wounded as well, with her left leg being the most damaged.She can't stand the way some of the servants mock Adelaide's misfortune and whisper among themselves, laughing. She asks them to leave her alone with Adelaide, and, with the help of scissors, she begins to cut her dress to avoid moving her too much and causing further harm.Adelaide's face is very pale, and her pupils are dilated. Mercedes immediately calls for Mónica, Mrs. Irene's doctor, suspecting that she might have ingested some kind of poison or hallucinogenic drug.Mónica confirms this upon inspection. While she tends to the young woman's wounds, Mercedes sets out to fetch the necessary medicines for her recovery.During her journe
The night is quite long for Egil and Adelaide. The medication administered by the doctor has reduced Egil's fever, although he remains asleep, while Adelaide spent the night restless and groaning in pain. The medicines used by Mónica for her treatment didn't have the desired effect, and she even vomited a couple of times.By early morning, she finally fell asleep. Mercedes stayed by her side, watching over her all night.In the morning, Mrs. Irene goes to the dining room to have breakfast with Lilith. Egil's secretary is already in conversation with her."Good morning, Mrs. Irene," the elderly man greets her warmly, and Irene simply nods in response to his greeting. "I hope you had a good night. If you need anything changed, please don't hesitate to ask.""Thank you, Vítor, but I don't need anything for now. However, I would like to know if you have any news about my nephew and his return.""Mr. Egil is on an important mission, ma'am. We received reports of a confrontation with the re
Two weeks later, in Rome... "What does this mean, Benedict?! Is this why you wanted to come to Italy? Because of her? To look for her?" Pamela throws the folder on the table as she cries bitterly. She can no longer bear this situation, she is tired of fighting with the ghost of Adelaide and Gaspar. Benedict takes a napkin and wipes the coffee stains on his jacket caused by the folder hitting his cup, without the mood to respond to his wife's complaint. "I can't bear it anymore, you will never forget her. This obsession of yours with her has gone too far, I want to go home." Pamela walks over to the couch where she sits to alleviate the pain in her back. When she found the folder this morning among her husband's things, she couldn't believe what it said. "You can leave whenever you want," he says dryly but in a low tone. "No one forced you to come with me, or to get involved in things that are none of your business." "Does she matter to you more than me and your daughter?" Pamel
Emma looks at her husband with fiery eyes as he carefully salivates that object. Then she positions herself with her back to him, bending down enough to offer him a unique, delicious, and incredibly sexy view of her behind.Her husband's breath triples as his mouth comes into contact with her body. He inhales deeply, shamelessly, savoring the distinct aroma of woman that drives him crazy. Without any further preamble and on the verge of collapse, he assaults her intimate part.Adriano's tongue is having a party tonight. It eagerly explores every nook and cranny, savoring it like the nectar of the gods."Love, like this," Emma moans desperately. "Please, keep going."Adriano continues his work, now more diligently, moving a bit higher and applying more pressure to the right spot to sufficiently lubricate that orifice from which he will later delight himself.Slowly, he directs the plug to where it should be, doing it gently and with just the right coercion so that in a couple of moveme
"My love," Emma calls Adriano's attention, barely peeking through the bathroom door as she walks slowly towards where he is."For all the angels!" Adriano whispers as he takes in every detail of her from head to toe. "Emma, my love...""Do you like it?" she asks, advancing in her high heels that resonate throughout the room, until she's just a step away from him.Adriano swallows hard a couple of times and still can't manage to untie his throat. Damn it! He knew nothing would be normal with her on their honeymoon, but this exceeds all his expectations. Emma is so beautiful she looks like a seductive angel.Immediately and without any preamble, he falls to his knees at her feet, placing his hands on her thighs and fixing his gaze on the smooth and kissable skin of that part of her body."I'm very excited, my husband," she says, running her fingers through Adriano's hair. He closes his eyes for a second and lets out a heavy sigh. "What are you going to do about it?""I will give you all
After leaving the airport, Adriano takes everyone to a pizzeria for dinner, where he announces that he and Emma are getting married tomorrow at noon.That night, everyone stays up late planning what they are going to do. Bea takes care of the desserts and food, Emma hires a wedding planner to organize everything needed, while she chooses a dress and clothes for Eleonor and Gaspar. Santos sends invitations to some of the partners and businessmen and calls the judge. Adriano arranges the honeymoon trip. He had wanted to go to Greece for a long time and this is the perfect time to do it. Luckily, he manages to find a hotel and a private flight that will take them there.The movement in the Palumbo mansion begins early in the morning. Nobody is still, and by midday, everything is ready.Adriano adjusts the boutonniere on his jacket lapel in front of the mirror. The smile hasn't left his face since yesterday. He feels that so much happiness can't fit in his chest."È pronto, padre? Il giud
In Rome, five years later..."Is this for real?" Adriano sets his champagne glass aside and approaches Emma, who is leaning on the terrace railing, but looking at him."Of course. I've never been more sure about this," she responds with her usual smile that melts Adriano’s heart with love. He approaches her and takes her face in both hands before planting a soft kiss on her lips. He has patiently waited for this day for all these years. Many times he wanted to give up, to distance himself, to try to forget her, but realizing that he couldn't live without her, he would try again. Today is Adriano's birthday, and Emma organized a lunch for him at a highly renowned hotel in Rome, just the two of them, as Beatriz and Santos are traveling in Morocco, visiting their mother, and will return tonight. In all these years, they have shared unforgettable moments together. Everyone thinks they're a couple, but the truth is they haven't been able to take that step until today when she finally sa
"Isn't it the same thing you plan to do? Aren't you going to claim what you bought?" Pamela asks Benedict in a bitter tone while pointing at herself."Of course I will claim it," he responds dryly. "The difference is that I will be your husband. With me, you will have everything you never dreamed of having. I won't take you by force, but that doesn't guarantee that when you decide to be with me, I won't be hard with you, because that's how I like to fuck. You will be Mrs. Arrabal, the mother of my heirs, my wife."An overwhelming silence envelops them at that moment. Pamela doesn't even know how to respond to that.He extends his hand to her and Pamela takes a few seconds to take it. Benedict puts her on his lap, just like he had hundreds of times with Adelaide. In a way, Pamela reminds him of her, her innocence, her spontaneity, her simplicity.Benedict inhales the scent of her hair before kissing her forehead again. This is something Pamela has never experienced before, she doesn't
Pamela is busy cooking inside the precarious hut she lives in with her aunt since her mother died 20 years ago.Since she arrived yesterday morning, her aunt has not stopped reproaching and calling her every possible name for escaping that night when she wanted to sell her to that disgusting man for a little money.Of course, she is used to her aunt's abuse after so many years living with her, but what she did that night crossed all the limits and she doesn't plan on letting it happen again.She still wears the bandage on her knee, and although the pain is almost nonexistent now, she fears her wounds will get infected.While stewing the meat for lunch, she takes a glass and pours a little water, but when she turns around, a dark and large figure sitting in the only armchair in the small living room startles her, causing the glass to fall from her hands to the floor."Hello, little one," Benedict's hoarse and firm voice shakes her from head to toe.How did he find her? Did he have her
A thick smoke hangs in the horizon, darkening the sky and casting shadows over the Turnnie mansion. It was a devastating surprise attack, they had planned for months to come here so that everything would go perfectly. Chaos reigns as flames devour the house and crops, and the screams of the servants fill the air.In the center of the chaos, Benedict calmly looks at the destruction. This day was supposed to mark the justice he had waited for so long. Adelaide's brother, Calixto, and his father, Bahram Valencia, were finally supposed to receive the punishment they deserved for the attack on the Arrabal clan, which had claimed the lives of many people, including his brother Egil, and for all the times they had plotted to kill her. However, both of them are missing."I'm sorry, sir, but we can't find them anywhere," one of his men informs him. "Everything indicates that they are not in the mansion.""Did you search inside the basements?"Benedict knows that Bahram has been living here wit
"Do you want to try?" Benedict's sudden question makes Pamela blush, imagining he's referring to her very visible attributes now in front of him."He's crazy! Who does he take me for?" She responds immediately, quite offended. "I don't even know him.""I don't see what the problem is; it's just whiskey," Benedict replies, pointing to the glass but at the same time smiling in a way that disturbs Pamela. "What did you think?""Nothing," she responds, realizing she misspoke."Alright, are you leaving or not?" he asks as he searches for something in his drawers. "It's late, and I need to sleep.""So, you don't mind me going alone at this time of night?" she questions as if that's a problem for him."No," Benedict responds as he puts on his boxers. Pamela looks at him indignantly. "But if you want to stay, I can...""Fine," she interrupts him. "I'll stay right here on the couch, still, I won't bother at all."Pamela settles there with every intention of staying to sleep.Benedict, tired of