His words burned through me like acid, igniting a fire I could barely contain. My fists clenched, my knuckles turning white, but I held back. Just as I opened my mouth to unleash everything I’d been bottling inside, I felt a presence beside me.Dominic.His hand was on my shoulder, firm but calming. I turned to look at him, my anger still simmering just beneath the surface. His dark eyes locked onto mine, grounding me in a way I hadn’t realized I needed. He leaned in close, his voice low and steady.“He’s not worth it,” he said softly, his words cutting through the haze of fury clouding my mind. “You don’t need to say anything,”He said.I hesitated, my anger wavering. Then he pulled me into a tight embrace. The weight of his arms around me was both comforting and suffocating, a reminder of everything we’d been through—everything he had lost. A tear slipped down my cheek as I looked up at him. The pain in his eyes mirrored my own, and my anger dissolved into sadness. He had lost his
I wasn't sure how long we had been on air, but I woke up to the sound of my baby crying. I found myself wondering how Lily was coping after losing her brother in this senseless war. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door that startled me. "Come in," I called out, expecting it to be the flight attendant, but to my surprise, Dominic walked in. I straightened up and stood to my feet, holding my baby. He approached me and pulled me into a hug. "Sit down; I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself," he said in a low voice. I could see how stressed and down he was, and I felt for him too. Losing a close friend is never easy, and from the moment I met Dominic, I had known about his friend, Aiden. I sat down as my baby fussed in my arms. "When are we going to get to the airport?" I asked him as he settled beside me. "Soon, we'll be there," he mumbled, smiling at me. "Can I hold him?" he asked, and I nodded as I handed Leonardo over to him. Leonardo laughed and smiled, as if he recognized his
I sat there, my legs trembling as my heart raced from the chaos of the past few hours. The mere thought of Vincent had me angry.My eyes were fixed on the floor, the fabric of my wedding dress pooling around me like an illusion of the happiness I had tried to create. I looked up to Dominic,his expression a mix of relief and pain. He reached out to me slowly, reaching out for my hands. His touch was gentle, almost reverent, as if he couldn’t believe I was real. “He’ll pay,” he said, his voice firm, yet laced with emotion. His eyes burned with a fire I hadn’t seen in a long time. “I know how he’ll pay, but for now…” He smiled faintly and squeezed my hands. “For now, let’s rejoice. I’m just so happy to have you back.”he said as he gave me a small smile, which i returned.I blinked, unsure of how to respond. He moved closer, his fingers brushing a stray lock of hair from my face. I could see Leo had closed his eyes asleep already in his arms.The intimate gesture startled me, and I let
The plane touched down smoothly, and I shifted Leo slightly in my arms, careful not to disturb his peaceful sleep. His small, warm body was pressed against mine, his tiny breaths soft against my shoulder. I cradled him closer, shielding him instinctively from the cool breeze that filtered in as the plane door opened. I didn’t want him to wake; he’d barely slept during the flight.The flight attendant, the same one who’d been so kind earlier, held the small bag I’d carried on. She offered a sympathetic smile. “Here you go,” she said softly, handing it to me as we walked down the stairs to the waiting car. “Have a safe trip.”“Thank you,” I murmured, my voice just as quiet. With Leo asleep, every sound felt amplified. A sleek black SUV waited at the base of the stairs, the driver stepping forward to open the door for me. I climbed in carefully, still holding Leo close. Once settled, the car eased away from the tarmac. The hum of the engine was soothing, but my mind was far from cal
Elena hesitated, her hands clasped nervously in front of her. “It’s… the portrait from the wedding, ma’am.” “I *know* what it is!” Camilla snapped. “I want it gone. Take it down. Now!” Elena looked flustered. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but we would need the Don’s permission to—” “Come here maid, " she called Elena, who stepped forward.A loud crack resonated through the foyer as Camilla struck Elena across the face. “I am the wife of the don, the one and only wife; no one else matters here except for me. Can you believe that on my very first day in my marital home, I have to see not just a picture of my husband but also one of him with his ex-wife?” she shouted dramatically. “Don’t you dare treat her like that!” I retorted, my voice shaking with anger. Camilla shifted her glare toward me, her eyes narrowing dangerously. “What did you just say to me?” she spat, stepping closer. “I said don’t you dare hit another person like that,” I replied, my voice now steady. Her gaze flic
Home was a word that brought comfort to everyone. It was a place where everyone felt they belonged, but I found myself questioning where I truly fit in. I knew Dominic wanted me here, but with Camila around, it became challenging. I tried my best to avoid her by staying in my room, but somehow that felt impossible. She had taken on the role of the lady of the house, which I didn’t mind at first, but when she started taking my food, baby supplies, and entertainment, it crossed a line. A week had gone by since my arrival, and things seemed to have returned to normal. I hardly saw Dominic; he was working tirelessly to fix the mess left by the mafia. It appeared that Vincent had caused significant damage, and it was up to Dominic to rectify it. He wasn’t always available, and to make matters worse, he had no assistant. Aiden was the only person he trusted, and he couldn’t bring himself to replace him.Today, I was going to see Lily. Ever since that time in Russia, I had struggled to face
She remained still, her body unresponsive to my embrace. I pulled back to look at her face. Her eyes were sunken, her cheeks hollow. “Please, Lily,” I pleaded. “I don’t want to see you like this.” Finally, she blinked, her gaze shifting to meet mine. Her lips parted, and her voice came out in a broken whisper. “He was all I had.”she whispered and I nodded, of course i had known that Aiden was her family. Grief hit me like a tidal wave. Lily’s voice trembled as she continued. “After our parents died, I told him we should leave. The mafia was too dangerous. But he wouldn’t listen. He was too loyal to Dominic—too loyal to leave his side.” Her words were laced with bitterness. “So I left. I rented a little house, small enough for me to manage on my own. This mansion was too big, too empty. And now he’s gone. I’m alone.” Her voice cracked, and she buried her face in her hands. I wrapped my arms around her again, holding her tightly. “Elena!” I called out. Elena appeared in t
Clarissa POV.It was the day of the funeral, set to be held at Lily's home. I had stayed over at her place until this somber day, only returning home briefly to prepare. She was in a state of turmoil, unable to eat or sleep, consumed by thoughts of how she intended to confront Vincent. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, and I turned to see Dominic entering the room. I glanced at him; I was wearing a black dress with my hair pulled up in a bun, while he was clad entirely in black. The stress in his eyes was evident. I walked up to him, and without saying a word, I enveloped him in a hug, and he embraced me tightly.“It’s okay,” I whispered softly.“I missed you,” he replied, and I smiled at him, placing my hands on his cheeks as he held my waist. “I missed you more,” I said, and he leaned in, capturing my lips in a kiss. I returned the kiss, feeling his grip tighten around me, as if he never wanted to let go, and I secretly wished he wouldn’t. “How I wish we could stay here, a
I knew goodbye isn't forever but this time it felt like it.I sat in the same rom i had saw lily alive the last time we met as i looked out the window i didnt even still accept it, she was gone , gone , i was never going to see her again, hold her hands and laugh at her cruel jokes, no one comforted me like she did and i knew , i was going to be lost without her.I was lost in thought, staring out the window,looking at the moon, when the sound of a faint giggle snapped me back to the present. I turned my head and saw my son,Leo, crawling toward me on his chubby hands and knees. My heart swelled as I stretched out my arms toward him, encouraging him to come faster. “Come on, sweetheart!” I cooed, my voice soft yet playful. Leo's giggles filled the room as he made his way to me, determination painted on his little face. When he finally reached me, I scooped him up, cradling him in my arms. “Good boy,” I whispered, kissing his forehead as his laughter bubbled up again. It was hard
Dominic POvI had to ensure the safety of my family; I needed to stand up for them. Clarissa was the only woman I had in my life, and Leo was my sole son.Staying back in my mansion and hiding away would only lead to more complications for me, which is why I resolved it was time to take action against them.I received intel that Ivan was in the area, and I wanted to track him down before he could inflict any harm on me. Then there was Vincent, whom I wished nothing more than to see dead for all the suffering he had caused me.After speaking with Clarissa, I realized I had to protect her from Camilla and her mother. She agreed to move into Lily's mansion that day, even though I knew it was difficult for her, given the memories of her best friend and the losses she had endured over the past few weeks.Ethan was one of my most trusted associates, and I assigned him to watch over her until I returned. It was evident that I might not make it back, and that thought filled me with dread.I w
“She hit me! That woman had the audacity to hit me!” Camilla shouted, and I could see the fury in Dominic’s eyes.“I saw you hit her first; that’s why you’re going home,” he said, nodding at his men who were holding her.“What? She pushed me! Isn’t she going to pay for that? I’m your wife!” she screamed in anger as he turned to look at me.“Take her home,” Dominic ordered in a loud voice, prompting his men to drag her away to the car. She struggled against them,"i am your wife, you cant treat me like these"she screamed as the held her, it was inapproatiate but i knew that no one cared, she was really a pain in the ass, and i didnt care what happens i only wanted her away from me. but they were stronger, and soon I watched them get into the car and drive off quickly.“I’m so sorry. Are you hurt?” he asked as he touched me, and I nodded in response.“I'll be fine,” I replied, glancing back at the grave. My grief seemed to wash over me all at once.It was happening; I could see it befo
I stood there dressed in black, watching as the coffin was lowered into the grave. I tried to cry, but the tears just wouldn’t come as I stood there, witnessing the burial of someone I had known my entire life, someone who felt more like a sister to me. Lily had no immediate family left, just a distant cousin and an aunt with whom she had little connection. So, Dominic and I made the decision to bury her; there was no point in keeping her remains. She was laid to rest beside her brother, Aiden.It felt like only yesterday that we stood in this very spot, holding hands as we watched Aiden being lowered into the ground. Now, I found myself in the same heartbreaking situation, watching the same thing happen to her. I glanced to my right and saw Dominic with a frown etched on his face, and I couldn’t help but wonder how he must be feeling.Although Lily and Dominic weren’t as close as he was to Aiden, he had seen her grow up, and she was the closest person he could call a sister. I could
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