FearHate And confusion That was what I felt when I heard the last words that shut my eyesI opened my eyes, and I was taken by so much fear.Then it struck me.Dominic was moving on from me.I clutched at my chest, feeling the ache like a fresh wound, my fingers digging into my skin as if I could grasp the hurt, hold it tight, and stop it from spreading. He was moving on, and I had fainted. My head spun as I tried to remember, but a distant gasp caught my attention. Turning, I saw Lily, her face pale, eyes wide, standing frozen in the doorway from the bathroom.“You’re awake!” she gasped, rushing toward me, her arms wrapping around me tightly. I could feel her relief in the way she held me like I was something precious, But I was too shocked to respond. I pulled back slightly, looking at her, confusion and pain reflecting in my gaze.“What…what are you doing here?” I asked, my voice a whisper, barely steady.Lily bit her lip, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She reached fo
A few days went by, and with Lily's support, I took the time to collect myself. I hadn't seen Ivan; he seemed to sense that I needed space.My days were spent with either Lily or my son, and no one else. Today felt just like any other day.My little boy was learning to crawl, and I cheered him on from the sidelines."You're almost there, Leonardo! Come on, faster!" I teased my baby as he crawled toward me. As soon as he reached me, I scooped him up and hugged him tightly."Ahem." A soft clearing of the throat interrupted the quiet, and I turned to see Ivan standing at the door, looking at me. I tried to maintain a neutral expression as he approached."We need to talk!" he said, and I held my baby close as I looked at him."Yes, I'm all ears," I replied, noticing the deep frown on his face. I could tell whatever he wanted to discuss wouldn't be pleasant, as he didn't seem happy."My son! The name you called him... that's not the name I gave him," he stated. I sighed, trying to keep my
Shocked that was what I felt at these moments.A chill ran down my spine as I could imagine walking down the Alter with him again.I tightened my fist as I caught sight of his broad smile once more; I was fully aware of the games he was playing, and it infuriated me.He was sending a message to Dominic, signaling his desire for a wedding while also trying to communicate something to him.I understood that he wanted Dominic to be aware of the renewal of our bond, especially since rumors had been circulating about our disagreement. The mafia was whispering that I had been coerced into returning to him, and some even claimed that Dominic was my lover.I had overheard this gossip from the maids in the mansion, who chatted away without realizing I was listening. I knew this situation wounded his pride as a man, which is why he aimed to silence the rumors by showcasing our relationship again in front of everyone.“How do you feel about this?” he asked, and I forced a smile, determined not t
Dominic POv It was too simple, far too simple.Valentina quickly agreed to marry me to her daughter, not that I had any grounds to refuse, considering I needed her more than she needed me.I knew Valentina well; she was after something. Aiden was right—whatever she wanted was not in my best interest. But at that moment, I couldn't care less; all I desired was Clarissa, and I would do anything to rescue her and my son from Ivan, no matter the cost.Days went by, and now it was the night before the wedding. I stood in my room, staring at Clarissa's picture. Lily had made a great effort to stay in touch with me, aware of Ivan's suspicions, which I truly appreciated.Suddenly, the door opened, and I heard footsteps.“Aiden… I told you to leave me alone for the ni…” I froze mid-sentence as I felt a small hand on my back. I turned quickly to see the last person I expected in my room: Camila.We were set to marry tomorrow, and I had done everything possible to keep my distance from her. Eve
A wedding to the enemyThat was what this was, that was what I had convinced myself it was.Dominic hadn't forgotten me; he was, in fact, coming to get me. I reminded myself of this as I stood in front of the mirror, gazing at my reflection, a veil draped over my face. My heart raced so fast that I felt overwhelmed with fear, which nearly paralyzed me.“You’re ready now,” Lily whispered, and at that moment, a tear rolled down my cheek. Lily's eyes widened as she reached forward, pulling the veil over my head as if to shield me from the designers bustling around the room.“Pull yourself together,” she snapped suddenly in a low tone, all while maintaining a smile. I knew she was trying to keep it together and wanted me to act like everything was fine.I couldn't afford to be seen crying; it could send the wrong message to the public and infuriate Ivan in the process.“We need to leave now; they are asking for a bride,” one of the ladies announced.Lily took my hands as we stepped out of
Chapter Dominic PovThe day of the wedding arrived, and I was expected to marry her in a traditional manner.I could tell she was angry with me for turning her down, yet she proceeded with the ceremony regardless.That night, a grand feast took place, and my men mingled with the Mexicans. I noticed that while they were enjoying themselves, drinking and playing games, there was a lingering sense of homesickness among them. Many had families they had left behind, some of whom Vincent was threatening.I despised these feelings of helplessness, and I realized I needed to step up my game.After the wedding, I planned to make my move. Vincent might hold the family title with the approval of the mafia elders, but the men remained loyal to me.This loyalty would make it easier to take power from him.“Let’s raise a toast to the newlyweds as they consummate their marriage tonight,” Valentina exclaimed, lifting her glass of wine high.A shiver ran down my spine as I understood the implications
Charissa PovDominic entered like he owned the place, commanding attention from everyone around him. The atmosphere shifted as he walked in, elegance radiating from his presence. I stood there, watching Vincent's expression morph from amusement to sheer horror. My own shock mirrored his; my heart raced as I caught sight of him. His hair was tied back as usual, and his eyes scanned the room, searching for something until they finally landed on me. He gazed at me with a sense of longing, and for a moment, it felt like we were the only two people in the room, the rest of the hall holding its breath. I yearned to rush into his arms, but I knew that would only stir up trouble, and it might not end well for me.“What are you doing here?” A loud voice broke the moment, and I turned to see Ivan striding toward Dominic, his expression a mix of anger and frustration. The tension in the room was palpable; everyone felt it too.The atmosphere buzzed with chatter, a low hum typical of any grand
Dominic POVSince my encounters with Valentina, she had stopped bothering me. I paid little attention to her daughter, who constantly complained about needing attention while I focused on the Mexican mafia. It turned out there were enough corrupt activities happening that Valentina was unaware of, and it was my responsibility to expose them.Although we didn't communicate, I could see the gratitude in her eyes whenever we passed each other.I was in the middle of a conversation with one of the men when Aiden rushed in, clearly agitated, and I sensed something was off."What's wrong?" I asked, and he gestured for the others to leave us."Ivan is holding another wedding ceremony," he blurted out. I scoffed; it didn't surprise me. I understood his intentions—he was sending a message, one I was determined to respond to."Did we receive an invitation?" I inquired."No, it turns out he forgot," Aiden replied."Good, it looks like we'll have to crash the party," I said. All I wanted was to s
She was correct. I was his vulnerability; everything that transpired with Dominic stemmed from me. How had I failed to recognize it? His love for me nearly shattered him. He was a proud man, unwilling to acknowledge it, yet I had been the one to ruin him.The morning sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting soft rays across the room. I lingered in bed longer than usual, my body feeling heavy and reluctant to rise.Meanwhile, Dominic had spent the night in Camila’s room. I could hear her cries of ecstasy echoing through the walls, and all I could do was weep into my pillow.Leo nestled closely in my arms, his gentle breathing creating a soothing rhythm against my chest. The thought of leaving him alone in his room, fearing he might be taken from me again, was unbearable; I couldn't let him out of my sight.A sudden knock at the door jolted me. I sighed, shifting slightly without disturbing him."Come in," I called softly, pulling Leo closer.The door creaked open, re
I turned abruptly, my body instinctively orienting toward her.I wasn’t sure what I anticipated—surprise, anger, disgust—but what I received was far worse. Camila’s eyes widened, her pupils nearly engulfed by the intensity of what she was witnessing.Then the horror struck. Pure, visceral horror twisted her features as if she had been hit.Her voice sliced through the tension like a whip.“You… How could you do this?” she shouted.I stood frozen, my feet glued to the spot. Her voice echoed, and I could sense the pain lacing her words.Before I could respond, before I could even process what was happening, Dominic moved. In one smooth motion, he stepped in front of me, shielding me with his presence.“There’s no need to react or be dramatic,” he stated firmly. His tone was calm, yet the authority behind it made me flinch.Camila threw her head back and laughed, the sound sharp and piercing, as if ridiculing us both. Her laughter ceased abruptly, and when she turned to Dominic, her expr
There was no safety, no safety at all while Vincent and Ivan were out there.We worked tirelessly to find Vincent, but we weren't even close. Then, after three days, we received an unwelcome visitor.Harper just showed up at the mansion and wanted to talk. I didn't want to engage with her because of how she had treated and humiliated me countless times, but I couldn't turn her away.I walked into the courtyard where she sat, staring into space, and I could barely recognize her. Her hair was cut short, and she looked pale—too pale—and a bit thin.I stood there for more than a minute until her eyes fell on me. Then she smiled. I couldn't tell if it was genuine, but I knew she was trying to be friendly, which didn't sit well with me. I hadn't seen her for months, and honestly, I had never thought of her after all the harm she had caused me and our family.“Eve…” she stood up, calling me by my old name. I looked back at her with a poker face that revealed no emotions. I couldn't speak, no
Charissa povI followed him into his office, my heart pounding in my chest as I watched his broad shoulders tense. He didn’t say a word as he entered, leaving the door open just long enough for me to step through before he shut it firmly behind me. The sound of the latch clicking into place echoed in the silence, making me flinch.For a second, I stood frozen, unsure of what was about to happen. I thought he was going to yell at me. Maybe he would tell me how reckless I had been, how my actions had put us in even more danger. His silence only made it worse; the weight of it pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe.But then, before I could say a word, he turned and pulled me into his arms. His embrace caught me off guard. I stiffened, my body unsure how to respond, but his arms tightened around me, holding me close, and gradually, I melted into him. I could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my back, and it was strangely soothing. “Dominic,” I whispered, my voic
I felt a little oppressed, to be sincere but that didn't stop me, three people had died last night and one of them was more than a sister to me ,and i wanted to see their death avenge by the man that killed then , nad the least thing i wanted was camilla adding him get away.Vincent was a nightmare and monster and he has caused me a lot of pain and sorrow, and more than anything I wanted him to pay for what he had done.I clenched my fists at my sides, my jaw tight. “I don’t have proof,” I admitted. “But I know she did it. She left last night, Vincent disappeared, and now she’s back like nothing happened? It doesn’t add up.”i said looking right into valentina eyes even though she was glaring daggers at me, i didn't care.Valentina’s lips curled into a sneer. “And who are you to make such accusations, hmm? You’re no one,Clarissa. Just the ex-wife of the Don. You hold no rank here, no authority. You should count yourself lucky that Dominic even lets you stay under his roof.”she snapped
Charissa POVIt didn’t make sense. One minute he was there, and the next, it was as though he’d evaporated into the air. All night we had searched everywhere, but there were no traces of him. I stood in the corner of Dominic’s office, disoriented, clutching the edge of the desk for support. The room spun with the weight of realization: Vincent had escaped. And worse, he was free. After all the pain and suffering he had caused it hurt knowing he was finlaly free.The pain of it twisted my chest. The bastard was out there, walking away from everything he’d done, while we were left scrambling like fools in his wake. Dominic didn’t take it well either,he never did when things spun out of his control. All night long, he’d been shouting orders, barking at his men to search every inch of the property. But it was useless. The house was upended,closets emptied, floors torn apart, drawers overturned—and still, there was no sign of him.I sat there in silence as one of Dominic’s men stepped
Third Pov“What do you want?”she asked him and he grin, finally geting the reaction he had wanted.“I need you to help me now, dominic cant find me, if you hide me, i cnat walked out cheerfully out of the gates, but you can aid me”he said.Her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t deny it. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Vincent. What makes you think I’d risk my position to help you?” she asked him.Vincent leaned against the wall, his confidence unwavering. “Because I can help *you*. You want Dominic’s attention, don’t you? Want him to stop pining after Carissa and focus on you for once?” he said, uing his favioute tricks which neveeed failed him.That was how he had always got what he wanted, by using peoples want and needs to get them to aid him,or fall for his games.Camila’s expression faltered, just for a moment. But it was enough. Vincent knew he’d hit a nerve. “And how exactly do you plan to do that?” she asked, stepping closer to him. Her tone was skeptical, but curiosity flickere
Vincent moved with calculated precision the moment the gun went off in his hand. His body slipped into the darkness, quick and silent, as the sound of footsteps thundered down the hall. He pressed himself against the cold stonewall of the cells corridor, eyes sharp, watching as Dominic and his men sprinted past him, guns drawn and rage palpable in the air. The chaos his gunshot had caused was his opening, and he wasn’t about to waste it. Yet he knew this place like the back of his hand. He’d grown up within these walls, surrounded by secrets, blood, and betrayal. He understood the mansion’s defenses better than anyone. The guards, the locks, the escape routes,Dominic had fortified it over the years, making it nearly impenetrable. Escaping unnoticed would be impossible. But Vincent didn’t plan to slip out the gate unnoticed. He smirked to himself, the gun still warm in his grip. If he couldn’t run, he’d make himself a problem Dominic couldn’t ignore. He moved through the shadows
I pulled up in front of Dominic’s gate, my hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. My heart was hammering in my chest as I glanced at the dashboard clock. How long has it been? An hour? Two? I couldn’t think straight. All I knew was she’d left home and I knew so well she was coming here. A million worst-case scenarios raced through my mind. I prayed I wasn’t too late. The gate creaked open as soon as the guards saw it was me. Without hesitation, I drove in fast, tires screeching slightly as I swerved into the garage. Throwing the car into park, I jumped out and barked at one of the men standing nearby. “Wake the boss! We have a breach!” My voice was sharper than I intended, but I didn’t care. The man nodded and turned to leave, but before he could take a step, the sound of gunfire shattered the tense silence. My stomach dropped. Two gunshots. My body froze for a split second, but then instinct kicked in, and I bolted toward the entrance to the u