Kimberly POV We barely spoke after the ceremony. The silence between us was suffocating, yet it suited me just fine. I wasn’t happy about the whole Mafia thing and was only waiting for Leonardo to slip up, give me an opening to unleash all the venom I’d bottled up.Sitting on my bed, I glanced at the to-do list I’d written that morning. It was really ironic, At the top of the list was calling Ian daily. Next was avoiding Emily. I’d pulled out of her persistent attempts to make us bond, but she just kept coming back.Further down, I’d added something for myself, reading romance novels. I’d intentionally chosen a mafia romance, thinking I might find some peace in it, Instead, it just irritated me. The characters were so infuriatingly smitten with each other, their lives somehow perfect despite the chaos. Unlike me, the female lead wasn’t kidnapped, dragged into a world she didn’t belong to.I slammed the book shut and tossed it onto the bed. My irritation bubbled over, making me restle
Kimberly POV I stared at my to-do list, where self-defense training stood out boldly under number two, right after Call Lan. My chest tightened at the sight of it, as if seeing it there again made the challenge feel even more tasking.I slipped into my camisole and fitted leggings, plugged in my headphones, and jogged to the training room. The rhythm of my steps matched the music in my ears, steadying my nerves. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect today, but anything was better than sitting around and feeling useless. Just like Monica said, I wasn’t the "Donna by Action." Since the bloody ritual, I hadn’t been given a single task.When I pushed open the gym doors, I expected to see Enzo, my usual trainer. Instead, piercing blue eyes locked on mine, freezing me mid-step. Leonardo stood by the weights, shirtless, his skin glistening with sweat. He lowered the dumbbells with ease, the movement fluid and controlled, like everything he did.“I... uh... thought Enzo would be here,” I st
Kimberly POV I couldn't forget Monica's words. It was past evening and I was awaiting Helen's call for dinner. I wasn't hungry. I was frustrated and heading towards the gym."Off all days!" I frowned, trying to force open the door. The gym was locked just like everything in this mansion.I had spent the day reading a new mafia novel. It seems better than the previous ones I’d been reading. In it, the female lead took power into her own hands and made the male lead fall in love with her. But that male lead was cooperative, not the pig-headed man I called my husband.I reached the heavy glass door and tugged at the handle. It didn’t budge. "Off all days!" I frowned, trying to force open the door. The gym was locked just like everything in this mansion."Just forget it." I said to no one in particular, and went to sit on the marble steps outside, hugging my knees to my chest.The evening air was thick, the heavy clouds above were promising rain. I didn’t know how long I stayed there,
Kimberly POV I sighed in frustration as my Blinklist app displayed the dreaded message: "To be responded to in 48 hours." Does this mean I’d spend the next two days in utter boredom? I’d already spent the past month after training devouring romance books, so the thought of a bookless night was unbearable.It was only 9 PM, and restlessness clawed at me. The house was deathly quiet. Helen was on her day off, and Enzo had taken his rare break too. Everyone else had somewhere to be, something to do. Everyone except me.I wandered aimlessly through the hallways, letting the silence press against me. My steps brought me to the door of Leonardo’s room.The temptation to peek inside and see what his private world looked like gnawed at me, but I fought it down. “Ugggh” Moving on, I passed a heavy wooden door I hadn’t noticed before. Its design looked old, like it belonged in a castle, not a modern mansion. I stopped, curiosity tugging at me. This part of the house was unfamiliar. I haven
Kimberly's POV“There’s going to be a two-week training for all new recruits. As Don and Donna, we have to be available,” Leonardo said casually, his voice steady as he bit into his toast.I glanced up from my plate. Why does he always wait until breakfast to drop these little landmines? Does he want me to choke to death?“What will be my job?” I asked, trying to keep my irritation in check.“Nothing much,” he replied with a shrug. “Just that it’s unavoidable for you not to be there.”I sighed. “All I’ll be doing is welcoming people?”He nodded, his focus never wavering from his meal.“What a life,” I muttered under my breath, poking at my eggs. My tone was sharp enough to make him glance at me, but I didn’t care if he heard.---“You’re done for today, ma’am,” Enzo said with a grin, handing me a bottle of water.I smiled back, wiping sweat from my brow. “Not gonna lie, it was enjoyable,” I admitted, my muscles aching from the self-defense session.“Of course, ma’am. It only proves ho
A loud, piercing alarm jolted me awake. My heart pounded as I shot up, blinking rapidly. The sound was sharp, invasive, and entirely unwelcome."What in the world?”“Helen?” I called out instinctively, my voice groggy. There was no reply.I blinked at the dimly lit room, momentarily confused by my environment. The bare walls, the faint scent of wood…. my mind sluggishly started catching up. This wasn’t the mansion. Then it hit me, I was still at the camp.Dragging myself out of bed, I shuffled to the adjoining bathroom. It was surprisingly clean, with neatly tiled walls and a small mirror mounted above the sink. I splashed cold water on my face, letting the chill clear the remnants of sleep from my mind.After freshening up, I changed into a pair of jeans and a jacket, hoping it would be enough to keep out the early morning chill.“Salute”!!The noise outside grew louder, drawing my attention.Curiosity tugged at me, and my legs carried me toward the commotion.The sight on the field
Leonardo’s POV"You've been on my nerves ever since you arrived," I muttered under my breath, barely controlling the surge of frustration rising within me."Then return me," she shot back, her voice tinged with a biting sharpness. "Not like I begged to be here in the first place."I gritted my teeth. "If I had a choice, I wouldn't need a damn reminder.""Leonardo," she said quietly, her gaze steady despite the tension thickening the air. "What exactly am I doing wrong? I'm just trying to help.""Yes..." I snapped before I could stop myself. "Your idea of help is exactly what’s getting on my nerves. You're tarnishing my image," I barked. The words left my mouth before I could take them back.“Fuck it” I cursed under my breath.I watched her flinch, taking a step back, her eyes wide with a flicker of pain."Tarnishing your image, you say?" Kimberly's voice was low but firm. "Trying to join in with the welcome party is what’s tarnishing your image. But sleeping in a separate room from min
Kimberly's POV"Just leave!" His voice echoed endlessly in my mind, each word a fresh wound. My vision blurred as I sprinted toward the camp gate, praying to slip past the guards unnoticed.But when I got there, my heart sank. "Oh no."The security had somehow tripled. Guards were stationed everywhere, their presence suffocating. My chest tightened as I stepped closer, daring to stretch my luck.One guard glanced in my direction. I froze, panic gripping me. Quickly, I turned back, hoping he hadn’t noticed my intention.The gates were locked tight. Escape seemed impossible.I bit down hard on my lower lip, holding back the sob building in my throat. Going back to the room was out of the question, I couldn’t face Leonardo’s cold gaze, his biting words replaying cruelly in my mind.The recruits’ hostel was equally unthinkable. Not when all this is happening because of my last visit there that this mess began.No, I couldn’t go back.Aimlessly, I wandered, ignoring the polite greetings of
Kimberly POV “Liars!” I screamed, glaring at the couple before me. My voice echoed in the grand living room, but neither of them flinched.“How do you expect me to believe you’re my real parents just because of what you said?” I replied them in anger, but deep down, I felt a storm of confusion and disbelief.Nancy’s lips parted as if to speak, but I cut her off. “I want proof. Not some silly, made-up story.”A tense silence fell over us, the weight of my accusation hanging in the air. I didn’t know if it was my emotions running wild or something deeper, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this, more than their words, more than their sudden appearance in my life.Without a word, Nancy got up and left the room. I didn’t bother watching her leave; instead, I let my eyes wander around the lavish space. Every corner of the house screamed wealth, from the ruby chandeliers to the antique furniture that looked untouched by time. “Here,” Nancy’s voice startled me. I hadn’
“No! Don’t touch me!” I snapped, jerking away from the strangers who claimed to be my parents. My chest heaved, and my voice cracked, but I held my ground.“Kimberly, please…” the woman said, her voice trembling as tears welled in her eyes. Her hands stretched toward me, trembling slightly, as if unsure I wouldn’t flinch away again.“You… you even know my name?” I hissed, narrowing my eyes. “How is that possible?”The man, tall and broad with streaks of gray in his hair, stepped forward. “Because we're the ones who gave you that name.” he said, his voice heavy with emotion. I froze. The weight of his words hit me like a freight train. My knees threatened to give way, but I squared my shoulders, refusing to let my guard down. “If that’s true, if you’re really my parents, then how did you lose me? How could you leave me for twenty-four years?” My voice rose with each word, my fury bubbling over. “Why now? Why come back now?”The woman, named Nancy, as the man called earlier, opened her
Leonardo pov I slammed my fist on the desk, the sharp pain cutting through my hand. It didn’t matter. Nothing did at this moment. My anger, raw and untamed, burned hotter with every tick of the clock hanging on the wall. Seven days. Seven long days since Kimberly escaped. Seven days of searching without a single trace.Was I more furious that she dared to run or worried that she had nowhere to go? My jaw tightened as I shoved the thought aside.I stormed out of the study, my footsteps echoing through the hallway like thunder."Enzo!" I barked.He appeared from around the corner, bowing slightly. "Yes, Boss. I was just about to report to you.""What did you find?" I demanded, my voice sharp enough to slice through steel.Enzo shifted uncomfortably. "We're still searching, Boss. My team just returned from her father's house. There’s no sign of her there."In one swift motion, I grabbed him by the collar and pulled him close. "I told you not to step foot in this house unless you had he
Kimberly's POV“Thirty minutes are over, ma’am,” Enzo called, peeping through the door.I hastily wiped my tears, hoping he hadn’t heard what I whispered moments ago.Taking a deep breath, I rose to my feet, taking a last glance at Emily.“Goodbye, Emily,” I murmured under my breath before turning to leave.Enzo trailed behind me as we walked to the car. The weight of his presence made my skin crawl, but I kept my composure until we reached the parking lot.I need to use the bathroom. I’m pressed,” I said abruptly, not waiting for his response as I spun around and walked briskly back into the hospital.From the corner of my eye, I saw him follow. I switched lanes, heading away from the quiet VIP section he had brought me through earlier. The bustling regular hallway, filled with patients, visitors, and nurses, provided the perfect cover.“Madam, you’re moving the wrong…”I didn’t let him finish. I ran.“Madam!” Enzo called, his voice stern and alarmed.I didn’t look back. My heart rac
Kimberly POV Leonardo released me from grounding after the recent threat, but I wondered if it had done any good. The freedom felt useless, especially with Monica around. If anything, I wished I’d stayed grounded forever, locked away from the chaos she brought.“Lucy,” I called softly, my voice raw from the weight of unspoken words.Her glare was sharp, cutting through me before she turned and walked toward the dining room where Monica was seated. Monica’s presence seemed to draw her in like a magnet, dangerous, but irresistible.“What now?” Monica asked, her voice dripping with condescension. "You want to turn out just like that did to the mother?"The words hit me like a slap, but I refused to react. If there's anything I want today, it was to avoid Drama. And Today wasn’t the day for drama.I can't even bring myself to cry anymore without having a severe headache.“When is my mom going to wake up?” Lucy asked, her voice small but laced with hope as she looked up at Monica. The que
Kimberly's POVI woke up feeling like I hadn’t slept at all. My body was heavy, my mind clouded, and for a brief moment, I debated staying in bed all day. After all, it's not like I'm allowed to leave the room. Dragging myself to the bathroom, I splashed cold water on my face, hoping it would snap me out of the haze. It didn’t. I stared at my reflection for a moment, frowning at the pale, tired woman looking back at me.“You’re fine,” I whispered to myself. “you will survive this, kim.”With a sigh, I picked the toothpaste to brush my teeth and freshen up.When I returned, I opened my closet, scanning for something simple yet comforting. My fingers settled on a soft cotton gown. Standing before the vanity mirror, I raised the gown, turning from side to side. I checked to see if a bump might have grown from yesterday to now. But it was still as flat as ever.A knock at the door startled me. My heart leapt. "That must be Helen," I murmured, lowering the gown and smoothing its fabric.
Kimberly POV.The five minutes I spent waiting for the pregnancy result were the longest minutes in my entire life."Damnit," I mumbled to myself as I continued madly looking down at the strip."NO!" I screamed in horror as the two pink lines shone brightly without mistake.I quickly used my hands to cover my mouth. "No no..." I shivered.I guess I had screamed too loudly because I heard someone knocking on the door. I splashed water on my face and quickly hid the strip in tissue paper.'There might be a mistake,' I thought hopefully before going back into the room."Helen, are you there?" I called out."It's Enzo, here ma'am," I heard Enzo's thick voice and I sighed in relief."I heard you scream, is everything okay ma'am?" he said again."Um... Yes. I'm fine. Was just startled earlier. Thanks.”My mind was racing. I rushed back to the bathroom, unwrapped the test strip from the tissue paper. My heart sank at the revelation. It didn't change.I left the bathroom, without bothering t
Kimberly POV "Leo, Monica shouldn't be with Lucy!" I screamed the moment he stepped into my room. My voice cracked, but I pushed through the fear that was rising in my chest.Leonardo shut the door behind him with a deliberate slowness, his face cold and unreadable. He hadn't been home all week, not since Emily slipped into a coma. Now that he was here, I wanted to do nothing but talk it all out."And who should she be with?" he asked, his voice sharp as a blade. "You?"I faltered. His tone sliced through my confidence, but I pressed on. "Monica doesn’t mean well, Leo. She doesn’t want us to…"“There is no ‘us,’ Kimberly!” he snapped, cutting me off. His voice was a roar that echoed in the room. "I regret ever letting you think there was."I flinched as his words struck me like a slap. "Leo..." I whispered, but my voice wavered, the tears I fought so hard to suppress threatening to spill.He took a step closer, his towering figure looming over me. His eyes burned with anger, and I in
Kimberly's POV"Don't you dare!" Leonardo’s voice lashed out the moment I approached the hospital entrance.He stood tall, blocking the doorway like an unmovable wall. His eyes burned with fury, and his clenched fists told me he had no intention of letting me pass."At least…just let me see her," I pleaded, my voice breaking under the weight of pain and desperation."Get out of here, Kimberly." His tone was ice-cold, slicing through the small shred of hope I’d held on to."I didn’t know, I didn’t mean for any of this to happen!" I tried again, the lump in my throat making it hard to speak.Leonardo’s jaw tightened, his glare digging into me. "She was so good to you, Kimberly. Is this how you repay her?"I opened my mouth to respond, but another voice cut through the tension."She has a way of hurting the people who care about her, doesn’t she?" Monica stepped out from the shadows, her lips curling into a smug smile. Her words dripped with malice, and her presence alone ignited my rag