Chapter 1 Kimberley POV:"You can't just fire me, sir. I've done so much for this company!" I shouted, my voice shaking with disbelief.Yes, I’d made a mistake…or so they said, but fire me? Just like that? It didn’t make sense.“Do you even understand what you’ve done?” My boss’s voice dropped, cold and sharp. “Kimberley, you leaked our company’s secret formula to our top competitor.”!“What?!” I gasped. “That’s not true! I would never! ”“You can deny it all you want,” he cut in. “I should’ve called the police. But considering the years we’ve worked together, and your past record, I’m offering you an alternative.” He shoved a file across the desk.My eyes flickered to the paper inside, dreading what it might say. The figure on the page stopped my breath. $4,500. Damages.“I didn’t do this!” I protested. “This is a mistake! someone’s framing me!”“Shut your mouth!” a voice rang out.Magret, my boss’s wife, stormed in. Before I could react, she slapped me so hard that my vision blurre
Kimberley POV:I opened my eyes to find myself in a strange room. Dark but surprisingly well ventilated. It took me time to adjust to the new environment, I finally did but,..Where am I? My pulse quickened. Suddenly, Memories of yesterday rushed in like a flood. “My father!” I wanted to scream, but my voice caught in my throat. Then, I heard it—a deep, commanding voice cutting through the stillness. “Never! Never do more than I send you!”“Who is that?” I held my breath, straining to listen.“He was proving stubborn... getting in my way.” Another voice, shaky yet defiant, wavered as if someone were being choked.Their conversation was muffled, words bouncing around like distorted whispers. Something about “D'Bon”... and “go ahead.” But I couldn’t fathom it. “I never asked you to kill him!” The first voice rumbled with anger. Silence followed, thick and unbearable.A sickening thud echoed, followed by a sharp hiss that made my neck prickle. “Bury him,” the voice commanded coldly.
Leonardo POV: I gently brushed a strand of her deep, red hair away, its softness warm beneath my fingertips. I couldn’t help but wonder how much care it took to keep it that way. My gaze softened as I looked at her—unchanged from six years ago. How could she forget? Forget that she was the one who had pulled me from the brink of death.My gaze darkened as I examined a tear marring her skin. It looked fresh, like a brand from a fire. "Who did this to you?" I asked, my voice low and cold, surprising even myself with the intensity of my concern."Who did this to her Enzo?" I barked at my henchman, a muscle-bound guard I had assigned to keep an eye on her."She was stubborn, Don," he replied, his voice trembling slightly under my scrutiny.The realisation hit me like a bullet—Enzo had laid his hands on her.In a flash, I was at Enzo’s side, pinning him against the wall with a force that echoed through the room. “For the second time today, Enzo, you defied my order!” His action ignited
Kimberley POV: I woke to sharp sunlight streaming through the window, forcing my eyes open. Disoriented, I blinked against the brightness. How had I fallen asleep so deeply? I scolded myself—this is unlike me.A knock came at the door, and before I could respond, it opened. I tensed, bracing myself for the "Don"—the one whose name I didn’t yet know. But the voice that greeted me was female.“Good morning, ma’am,” she said curtly. “I’m Helen. I’ve been assigned as your personal maid.”I looked up, my relief barely contained. At least she was younger, with a face that seemed capable of a smile, unlike the stern, older woman who had attended to me yesterday.“Mr. Fiore requests you come downstairs. He’s expecting you,” she continued. “I’m here to get you ready.”"Mr. Fore?" I muttered, almost too loudly. "What sort of name is that?"She stiffened slightly. "Fiore, ma’am," she corrected quickly, then added, “Please, let me help you prepare.”She looked chatty, eager even, but I swallowed
Kimberley POV:"Place your watch securely. Report any unusual activity to me," I heard Mr. Fiore say on the phone as I descended the steps.His face was serious, brows furrowed with worry. Whatever was being discussed was far from trivial.At the bottom of the stairs, a woman suddenly embraced me in a warm hug, catching me off guard. Her perfume was sweet, comforting. For a moment, I wanted to stay in her arms, to forget everything. When she finally let go, I took in her features—blonde hair, bright almond eyes, her smile so easy it seemed impossible not to return it.“What a gem Leonardo’s bagged for himself!” she said brightly.I forced a smile. “Good evening.”“I’m Emiliana. But please, just call me Emily.” She practically radiated happiness, the kind I hadn’t seen since I got here.“Kimberly,” I replied, my smile straining."I can't wait for the wedding," she added, her excitement palpable. I couldn't help but wonder what made her so blissful about the whole thing."Let's go shopp
Kimberly POV:The dresses arrived, and I had to go downstairs to check them. Leonardo was already there, seated, phone pressed to his ear. The sight of him made my stomach churn, so I turned my face, pretending I hadn’t seen him. He ended his call and leaned back, gesturing toward the pile of white dresses. “Try them on.”I hesitated, the thought of changing in front of him twisting my insides. But before I could object, Helen stepped in, reading my discomfort. “This way,” she said gently, guiding me toward a small dressing room off to the side. Inside, I stared at the mountain of fabric. Trying on wedding dresses—dresses I didn’t want—felt like surrender. But what choice did I have? At least Leonardo hadn’t killed me yesterday. I could call that a win... for now. I pulled on the first dress—a sleeveless gown with a furry jacket that felt more suited for a high-society brunch than a wedding. I stepped out, awkwardly crossing my arms, standing in front of Leonardo in the most un
KIMBERLY POVLeonardo didn’t return for a week, leaving me alone in this room with nothing but my thoughts and memories. I couldn’t sleep—every time I closed my eyes, images of Lan and my father drifted in, like ghosts I couldn’t escape. I stared at the ceiling until it blurred. My tears had run dry days ago, but the ache lingered, heavy and dull. With a sigh, I got up and stretched. Staying confined made no sense. Leonardo forbade me from roaming freely, but what was the point of this so-called tour if I stayed locked inside? Dressed in a pair of bum shorts and a faded T-shirt, I doubted anyone could call me provocative. Slipping through the door, I wandered outside, craving air—freedom. The night was cool, the sky stretched wide and endless above me. For a moment, I let my guard down, tilting my face toward the stars. Then, I heard it. A loud screech tore through the stillness, and my stomach dropped. Leonardo. He’s back. Panic twisted in my chest. There was no way I co
Kimberly POV I woke up to a headache that felt like someone had thrown a party in my brain and left without cleaning up. At first, it was just an annoying throb, but as soon as I tried to move, the pain only intensified.My eyes wobbled in their sockets like they hadn’t quite figured out how to work together. Everything was blurry for a moment, but then memories started to surface—bits and pieces of last night: tired, me hitting my head, the fever... Wait. Who had taken care of me? Leo? Leonardo...?I reached out to the side of the bed, expecting—what exactly? Warmth? A presence? But my hand met only cold sheets. Oh. This was a different room. For a second, that realisation hit me like a wave. Had I started thinking of the “other” room as mine? No. Definitely not. That was just... temporary. Right? And then, like a slap from a nosy memory, I recalled Leonardo touching my breast. I bolted upright, instantly regretting it. "Nope, nope, not thinking about that!" I mutt
Kimberly POV I didn’t cheat,” I said quietly.“Yeah, I know,” he replied curtly, his tone colder than the air between us.My breath hitched. “ You know?" I asked, surprised. Then why are you so mad at me? He scoffed, running a hand through his dark hair, his jaw clenching with barely contained fury. “You made love to someone, Kimberly. You gave them what should have been mine.”His words cut like glass, sharp and jagged, and I met his glare despite the lump forming in my throat. “You think I would do something like that?” My voice rose, cracking with the weight of my emotions. “Then explain!” he barked, his face inches from mine, the heat of his anger palpable.I swallowed hard, my pulse roaring in my ears. The truth felt too raw, too humiliating, but I couldn’t let him think so little of me. “I was ovulating,” I admitted, my cheeks flushing with shame. “I was… frustrated. I needed release, so I did it myself.”Leonardo froze, his piercing eyes locked on mine. The tension between
Kimberly’s POVDinner had barely settled in my stomach when I caught sight of Leonardo walking past the dining room. I didn’t even think; I pushed my chair back and hurried after him."Leonardo!" I called, but he didn’t stop or even glance back.He strode to his bedroom with the same cold indifference I had come to expect. Still, I had hoped foolishly, perhaps that returning from the office or wherever he went might clear his mind and make him more willing to listen. Clearly, I was wrong.I stopped mid-step, defeated. Just as I turned to head back to my room, a familiar voice called out."Kimberly, dear!"I spun around, and there she was…Emily, her face lit up with excitement.“Oh goodness, I rushed down the moment I heard you were back!” she exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug.I clung to her like a lifeline, my emotions unraveling in a way I hadn’t expected. I didn’t even realize tears were streaming down my face until she whispered, "Shh… it’s okay. We’ll talk about it."We retr
Leonardo’s POV"If you like her, just say it," Mario said, looking at me with that knowing gaze of his. "Stop making her go through all this."I frowned. "But it's not part of the plan, Mario."He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Leonardo, you know what you want. Don’t pretend you don’t."Mario sighed heavily, folding his arms. "Plans can change, Leonardo. You created this plan. If affection wasn’t in it, you can damn well add it.""Fine," I muttered, running a hand through my hair, frustration building. "Enough. I and Kimberley will leave camp today. You and Enzo, meet us at the mansion tomorrow."Mario went silent, watching me, but I knew he wasn’t done.I couldn’t stop thinking about his words. What do I want?---I entered the tent to find Kimberly struggling with her luggage."Is that box too small?" I asked the words out before I even thought about it.She let out a laugh. "I’m just terrible at packing. My dad helps me most of the time... well, he did. Then, Helen took o
Kimberly’s POV"I'm sorry," Leonardo whispered, his fingers brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. His touch was soft,catching me off guard. Everything about his touch contradicted everything I’d come to know about him.I stepped back, breaking the kiss. My lips tingle, my body betraying me with a warmth that lingered in my chest arguing against my better judgment.The wind carried a biting chill, and I shivered as it cut through me.“Let’s go, Kimberly,”he urged, his voice low and controlled, “Why?” My voice was barely audible, but I held my ground. “Why should I follow you, Leonardo? Because I have nowhere to go? Because I have no father to protect me? Because I owe a five-hundred-million debt? Or is it because you hold my brother’s life in your hands?”My words came out fast, biting, each one laced with the frustration I’d been bottling up for so long.“Kimberly…”“Or maybe,” I interrupted, my voice sharp with sarcasm, “it’s because I’m now the Donna of the almighty Mafia
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
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
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
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
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