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 As quickly as Leonardo caught me, he steadied me, his hands firm but detached. His dark gaze pinned me in place, searching my expression with a flicker of something unreadable—confusion, maybe, or indifference.I shifted uneasily under his scrutiny. Before I could think, I blurted out, “I came to... check on you.”His brow lifted, but his tone was flat. “For what?”The words I had rehearsed vanished like smoke. “I, uh... wanted to thank you for yesterday.”Leonardo leaned back slightly, the shadow of boredom crossing his face. “You’re welcome. You can leave now.”Frustration boiled up inside me. His coldness was suffocating. “Why are you so cold? What kind of husband are you?” His eyes sharpened, as if I’d crossed a line. “Husband?” He repeated the word, a loaded question. “That’s just for appearances. Remember?”I flinched, though I tried not to let it show. His words stung, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. “You didn’t have to remind me,” I muttered under my breath
Leonardo POV I couldn’t stop thinking about how her lips felt against mine—soft, warm, perfect. The way she looked at me afterward, her eyes wide with surprise, haunted me. And now I was furious. Furious with her. Furious with myself. “Control, Leonardo. Get a grip.” I slammed my fists into the punching bag, harder with every swing. Each hit sent sharp jolts through my knuckles, but the pain wasn’t enough to drown out the memory of Kimberly. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her. Every time I breathed, I remembered the scent of her perfume—light and citrusy, like trouble waiting to happen. I hit the bag again. And again. But the frustration refused to go away. It simmered just under my skin, bubbling hotter the longer I stayed away from her. Avoiding her wasn’t working. I thought distance would calm me, but even here in Italy, the space between us only made things worse. I wiped the sweat from my brow, gritting my teeth. The memory of our kiss wasn’t going anywhere. And wors
Kimberly POV I woke to a persistent knock on my door. Did I mention I’ve moved out of this room already? Well, now I’m back here again, the only place that feels familiar in this twisted mansion.“Come in,” I said groggily, rubbing my eyes.Enzo entered, casting me a look laced with impatience.“You’ve been sleeping since yesterday, until now?” he asked, his tone dripping with judgement.I sighed, irritation stirring. This guy was really starting to get under my skin.“What—” I began, but he cut me off.“The boss wants to see you. Now,” he said.“The boss? Leonardo’s back? Since when?”“Please come with me,” Enzo replied, pretending he hadn’t heard me. He clearly had no intention of filling me in.I was still in shorts and an oversized T-shirt. Since he hadn’t suggested I change, I took that as permission to stay as I was. If Leonardo didn’t like it, he could blame Enzo, not me.Following his brisk pace, I realised we were heading to a part of the house I’d never seen before. The furt
Kimberly POV I paced the hallway, my mind racing. Was Leonardo serious? Would he actually hurt Lan? I’d been calling him for hours, but he wasn’t picking up. At one point, his phone had been switched off, and my heart leapt into my throat. “Please, Lan, answer me.’Seeing Mario near the entrance, I hurried over. He seemed friendlier than the others, and maybe he’d tell me something I could believe.“Mario,” I called out, my voice laced with nervous energy.He turned and offered a casual smile, as though nothing were wrong. For a second, I was stunned. “Didn’t he just witness a murder? How do they all do it?” “Hey, Kimberly, what’s up?” he asked, seemingly oblivious to my distress.“Kimberly? You okay?” he said again, his brows knitting together.“No, Mario. I need to talk to my brother.” My voice wavered. “Leonardo threatened him earlier, and now I can’t reach Lan.”Mario smiled slightly, but I saw something flicker in his gaze, just for a second. “Leonardo wouldn’t hurt Lan,” he repl
Kimberly POV Enzo soon called to tell me it was time to leave. I was glad I came. It had been a good day already.Luciana clung to my cargo pants as I tried to go. “It’s okay, she’ll come visit another time,” Emily said, trying to coax her daughter. Lucy reluctantly let go, but the tears in her eyes nearly undid me. “Babies—they’re so sweet,” I murmured, bending down to hug her. “You’ll come again, huh?” she whispered, her lip trembling. “Pinky promise,” she said, thrusting her tiny finger toward me. I laughed softly and hooked my pinky around hers. “Pinky promise,” I whispered, meaning it. I already saw family here, even if they weren’t supposed to be mine. Behind me, Enzo cleared his throat. I shot him to look sharp enough to cut glass. I understood their rules—emotions weren’t encouraged. But was he really this heartless? I hissed under my breath and gave Emily a final hug before following him out the door. In the car, I noticed the food flask beside me. Emily had
Kimberly POV I knew I wasn’t supposed to talk to this person, but curiosity got the better of me. At first, I tried to ignore the strange message—some random person offering me help out of nowhere—but something in the words pulled at me. “Help.” The idea of escaping this life, of leaving Leonardo and this sick life behind, was too tempting to resist. So, I opened the message and replied. “Who is this?” I typed. The response came almost instantly, making my heart skip. “Someone who can help you.” Help. The word wrapped around me like a lifeline, and suddenly, I couldn’t let go. Help meant hope. It meant a way out. “How?” I typed quickly, my fingers trembling slightly as I hit send. “I can help you leave that place,” came the reply. My chest tightened, and I sat up straighter on the bed, now wide awake. The weight I carried every day—the helplessness, the suffocation—shifted, just a little. Could this really be the way out? “Help me leave here? How?” There was a pause,
The night before That evening, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling as my mind spun in circles. The air in the room felt too thick, pressing down on my chest like a weight I couldn’t escape. The phone beside me glowed faintly in the dark, a reminder that everything I knew was about to change. Sleep teased the edges of my mind, but it refused to stay. My thoughts raced. What if I had gone too far? What if there was no way back? Just as I felt myself slipping into unconsciousness, the phone buzzed, sharp and intrusive. I grabbed it with shaky fingers. A message from S. "Just a little push. Tomorrow, everything will change."I swallowed hard, my throat dry. I wanted to believe I'm just not doing the wrong thing.The Next Morning The moment my eyes opened, my hand instinctively reached for my phone. Lately, checking my I*******m has become a reflex—since I met s. Today was no different. I scrolled mindlessly until a message from S appeared, waiting for me like a coiled snake."You'
“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
Kimberly’s POV“Kimberly, what the hell is wrong with you?” Emily’s voice rang out behind me, sharp with confusion and concern.Leonardo stood frozen, his brows furrowing as he processed my actions. For once, the mafia Don looked… uncertain.“Kimberly,” he finally said, his voice measured as he took a step toward me.“Don’t you dare come near me!” I screamed, my voice breaking. “Don’t touch me! Isn’t kidnapping me enough? Isn’t destroying my life enough? You gambled me, Leonardo! You. Gambled. Me!”“Kim…”“What’s going on, Kimberly?” Emily cut in, her tone urgent. “What are you saying?”“Exactly what you heard!” I snapped, my voice trembling. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I fought them back, refusing to let them spill.Emily glanced at Leonardo, her confusion turning into a hesitant unease. “Leo? What's going on?”Leonardo didn’t answer her. Instead, his sharp gaze was fixed on me. “Kimberly, calm down and explain…”“Explain?” I laughed bitterly. “Explain? You want me to explain how