Anna quickly turned around, pulling Danica away from the dangerous scene. They ran as fast as they could, her desperate need to escape the forest pushing her forward. The faint light ahead told her they were nearly out—the low clouds overhead slowly beginning to disperse.But even as they moved, her mind swirled with confusion. Killian’s words kept echoing in her thoughts, and she couldn’t make sense of them. How could he be willing to kill to save her life? Tears welled up in her eyes. She had been wrong. She had misjudged him. Killian wasn’t like Primo Alessandro. Just because he was a Lombardi didn’t mean he was an enemy. Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden, blood-curdling scream: "UNCLE, NO!!"Without thinking, Anna stopped running and turned. She knew exactly who the voice belonged to.But before she could even react, a loud gunshot echoed through the air. A searing pain ripped through her shoulder, and she stumbled, feeling the blood begin to trickle down her arm. She ba
As soon as Celeste opened the door, she found her husband standing before her with a woman clinging to his side, her pregnant belly protruding prominently.“Let us in first,” Darson said in an emotionless tone.Celeste, her face a mask of cold detachment, stepped aside to let them enter. She watched with a composed demeanor as Darson helped the pregnant woman settle onto the living room sofa.“Thank you, Daddy,” the woman said softly, a delicate smile playing on her lips.Celeste’s eyes narrowed slightly at the term of endearment. Her expression remained stoic, but her heart clenched painfully. She remained silent, her breaths shallow as she struggled to maintain her composure.“Darson, who is this woman?” she finally inquired, her voice steady but laced with an underlying strain.Married to Darson for five years, Celeste had always devoted herself to him, believing their bond unbreakable. But now, the reality of their strained relationship hit her like a cold wave. Her heart felt hea
"The woman Sir Darson brought to the mansion is beautiful and kind. I really admire her! Madam Celeste, on the other hand, even after five years in the mansion, is still difficult to approach. She always wants to be greeted and respected. But with Madam Chiarra, we became close right away!""Be careful with what you say, Tami. They might think you're taking the mistress's side. Even if Madam Chiarra is kind, we shouldn't support what's wrong.""Hmp! Why not? I feel like Sir Darson is going to leave Madam Celeste sooner than later. He's not happy with her anymore. But if you look at him now, his happiness has returned with Madam Chiarra! I guess that's just how it is. When a woman lacks something, the man will look for another woman to fill that void.""For me, Madam Celeste doesn't lack anything. It's just that she can't give birth to a child for Sir Darson. What kind of wife would deny her husband the chance to have a child, right? Honestly, in this day and age, they can use technolo
"Don’t leave me, Darson!" Celeste cried, her voice trembling with desperation as she clung to her husband.Her heart ached, not from love, but from the fear of losing the last chance to exact the revenge she had been planning all along. She couldn’t let him go, not now, not when she was so close. The thought of being abandoned here, on this dark, empty road, with no one around and no way to carry out her plans, filled her with terror. The moon and stars offered no comfort, only a reminder of the loneliness that awaited her if she failed.“P-Please, my love!” She forced herself to sound pitiful, trying to appeal to whatever lingering affection he might have had. “Believe me, I didn’t push Chiarra! I-I didn’t hurt her! She did it to herself, p-please believe me, Darson!” Her words were a lie, a pitiful mask she wore to buy herself time. Inside, she was seething with hatred, not only for Chiarra but for Darson as well. How dare he turn his back on her after all she had endured, after ev
Celeste looked up at the enormous mansion before her. It was brilliantly lit, with lights and decor gleaming in gold. Even though she came from a wealthy family and was married to a billionaire, their home wasn’t nearly as grand as this. It was as if the entire family’s fortune had been poured into this mansion.She couldn’t believe that the man who was just in critical condition earlier lived here. She couldn’t help but wonder why he was dying in that remote place where Darson had left her. She was also curious about the commotion among the battalion of guards she now saw milling about.“Sorry for the confusion, Miss,” a man said as he approached her, where she stood near the doorway.“Are you Diego?” she asked, her voice filled with curiosity.The man nodded, his expression serious, his sharp eyes assessing her as if trying to gauge her entire being. Celeste blinked and looked away, feeling self-conscious. She knew she looked like a mess. Her face was swollen from crying earlier, th
“Wait a minute, why can’t I leave?” Celeste asked in confusion after being confined in the mansion of the stranger she had saved for a week.“That’s what Diego instructed before he left, so I’m sorry, but we can’t let you out until he returns. If you need anything, you can let us know, and we’ll take care of it.”Despite the guard’s respectful tone at the mansion’s gate, his voice was firm, showing that he wasn’t going to let her leave.“I don’t understand.” Celeste furrowed her brows. “At least give me a decent reason why I can’t go out.”The burly man nodded. “It’s because Boss is still unconscious. Until our investigation into what happened is complete, we can’t release you.”“Sir, I’ve already explained everything that happened. Why am I still involved?”“I’m really sorry. Is there a specific reason you need to leave?”“Yes! I need to go home, please! Someone’s waiting for me there. I have a lot to take care of at home. Don’t you realize that keeping me locked up here is wrong?” H
Celeste often heard conversations about Primo Semion Lombardi whenever she attended events.He was always the hot topic among her female friends, which she couldn’t quite join in on because she was already tied to Darson.Aside from coming from a very wealthy family, Semion had a charm that could captivate any woman.So, it was well-known that he had different women with him every night, but no one had seen him with a steady partner. He seemed to be a playboy, treating women like mere toys.When she heard this from her friend Loren, who had some experience with Semion, she immediately lost interest. To her, men should show respect to women.She had only interacted with him in passing—simple greetings and casual smiles as etiquette at gatherings—but nothing more. So she was only vaguely familiar with the Lombardi family and had almost forgotten about the man now in front of her.“Hey, look at me.”Celeste’s gaze dropped to her lap as she sat in front of Semion in the dimly lit living r
Semion was stunned when Celeste wanted to go home without asking for anything in exchange for saving his life.It was obvious he was wealthy, as seen just from his mansion. So why didn’t the woman take the opportunity to ask for material things?“Are you sure that’s all you want?” he asked, his tone serious. “You’re asking for less than the bare minimum. My life is worth a mansion, nice cars, and money. Just name your reward.”“I don’t need any of that. I just want to go home and get a ride because I don’t know where I am. I’ve been missing for a week, and someone is looking for me.”What the heck? Semion wondered if the woman was also wealthy to refuse his offers. But if she were wealthy, she should be even more demanding, not less, than someone poor asking for a large sum or territory.“Where exactly do you want to go home?” he asked, scrutinizing her. “To your husband? I thought you’d already been abandoned.”Celeste hesitated briefly before responding. “I still need to go home.”W
Anna quickly turned around, pulling Danica away from the dangerous scene. They ran as fast as they could, her desperate need to escape the forest pushing her forward. The faint light ahead told her they were nearly out—the low clouds overhead slowly beginning to disperse.But even as they moved, her mind swirled with confusion. Killian’s words kept echoing in her thoughts, and she couldn’t make sense of them. How could he be willing to kill to save her life? Tears welled up in her eyes. She had been wrong. She had misjudged him. Killian wasn’t like Primo Alessandro. Just because he was a Lombardi didn’t mean he was an enemy. Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden, blood-curdling scream: "UNCLE, NO!!"Without thinking, Anna stopped running and turned. She knew exactly who the voice belonged to.But before she could even react, a loud gunshot echoed through the air. A searing pain ripped through her shoulder, and she stumbled, feeling the blood begin to trickle down her arm. She ba
"No! No, no, no!!" Danica’s voice broke with desperation as she dropped to her knees in front of her. "No, Anna, I won’t do it! I—I can't!" Her gaze shifted to Primo Alessandro, filled with defiance, as she stood up. "Who the hell are you to do this?! Do you really think I’ll play your disgusting game?!""Danica," Anna called out firmly, standing up beside her. Her voice was steady, but the uncertainty that gripped her heart was clear in her eyes.Primo Alessandro stood up abruptly, his sudden movement sending a chill through the air as he swiftly pulled out a gun, aiming it directly at her. Anna’s eyes widened as she instinctively took a step back."Primo," KIllian’s voice rang out, his grip firm as he seized his uncle’s arm, halting him mid-action."What!" Alessandro snapped, grabbing Killian’s arm in turn, but Killian didn’t even flinch.Their actions drew the attention of everyone in the room. Killian's gaze, full of intensity, was locked on his uncle. He gripped Primo Alessandro’
"Déjà vu." Primo Alessandro's smile was maddening.Anna could hear every beat of her heart, so loud it felt deafening. The wind’s chill brushed over her hands and feet, sending a strange shiver through her body. Her skin prickled, refusing to settle, as she stood frozen, her eyes wide open and fixed on him. Her breath was heavy as she stared into his eyes, and memories of seventeen years ago came rushing back.The pounding in her chest screamed with fury, a fury born from his murder of her parents. The memory of his men beating her mother was still fresh in her mind. The sound of the gunshot that ended her mother’s life echoed in her ears."We've met again," Primo Alessandro said, his smile dripping with the promise of death.Anna couldn’t speak. Her tears had dried up, but the sharpness of her glare remained, piercing through him. If her glare were made of knives, his head would have been severed from his neck by now.He hadn't changed at all in appearance or posture. But the gray in
The loud commotion pulled her out of a restless sleep. Anna's eyes snapped open, her head pounding and her vision blurry. It took her a moment to realize she had fallen asleep on the cold, hard floor of her room the previous night.Her sluggish thoughts were quickly jolted into clarity by an ear-splitting explosion that shook the entire mansion. The tremor was so violent it felt as though the earth itself had shifted beneath her.What’s happening?She bolted upright, twisting the doorknob and stepping out into the hallway. Her ears rang with the deafening sound of gunfire, and her breath hitched as she peered down the staircase. Smoke engulfed the mansion like a suffocating shroud.Her eyes widened in horror. Men clad in all-black tactical gear swarmed the premises—uncannily similar to the Lombardi’s men. She froze on the spot, watching as the Costas guards exchanged relentless gunfire with the intruders.“A-are those…?” She covered her mouth, a trembling hand betraying her growing p
Decades ago, when she was only six years old, Anna vividly remembered the night her life changed forever.It was late evening when she arrived home from school, walking alone because she had assumed someone would pick her up. Innocent and unaware, she returned to find their house in chaos.Scattered belongings littered the floor, shards of broken glass crunched under her small shoes, and droplets of blood painted a chilling path across the ground. Still clad in her uniform, her bag slung over her shoulder, she froze in the doorway, her voice trembling as she called out.“Mama?”“Mama? Mama!” Her cries echoed as she searched the house, growing more desperate with each unanswered call. The sound of a baby’s wailing drew her to one of the rooms. There, she found her infant sister, Danica, locked inside a wardrobe.“Danica!” she gasped, her shock momentarily paralyzing her. Without hesitation, she scooped her into her arms. The baby babbled incoherently, managing only, “A... A!”—her attem
"Can you please just stop?!"After an hour of non-stop crying from the baby, Chiarra couldn't handle the frustration anymore. She clutched the infant in her arms even tighter, which only made the baby wail louder."Enough! Enough! Stop it!" Overwhelmed by the incessant noise, she nearly dug her fingers into the small, swaddled body of her child. Her eyes filled with tears, no longer sure what to do to make the crying stop.The exhaustion from sleepless nights spent caring for her baby, combined with the constant arguments with Darson, left her drained and on edge every day. Because of this, all her pent-up anger and frustration were taken out on the maids in the mansion—and on her own child."I told you to stop already! I can’t take this anymore! Please, just give me a break!" Chiarra pleaded tearfully, her voice shaking with both rage and desperation as she yelled at the baby."M-Madam… I'll take care of Chrystal for you. Please, just get some rest—""If I could, I already would have
Celeste woke up the next morning feeling like she had just competed in a championship sport the night before—her body was sore and battered.She rubbed her eyes, stretching and turning her gaze to the man beside her, who was holding her tightly.Sunlight was streaming onto his handsome face. It was no longer the early morning peek but rather noon.She lifted her weak arm to smooth out Semion's thick, disheveled hair. Her eyes traced his prominent brows and long eyelashes. She ran her fingertip down his high nose and over his thin lips.Then she realized Semion was awake, as he couldn’t suppress the corners of his mouth lifting into a smile. His cheeks also rose, trying to fight returning to their usual state.Unable to help herself, she smiled and closed her eyes. “S-Se…” She stopped, her voice hoarse, likely from all the shouting and cheering from the previous night’s joy. “Are… um, have you been awake for a while?”“No.” His eyes remained closed.She tried to remove Semion’s heavy a
Celeste leaned back against the wall as she sat on the low cabinet. The items that were neatly stacked there earlier were now scattered across the floor.Her heartbeat was as rapid as her breaths as she watched Semion’s head between her parted legs.This was the second time he had lowered himself like that in front of her. She was used to seeing Semion with his head held high, as if he never bowed to anyone. But now, the scene before her was the complete opposite.There was something in her feelings she couldn’t explain, despite the darkness enveloping the room and the single dim light providing scant illumination.He was torridly kissing her intimate parts, just like how he had kissed her lips earlier. Hungry and thirsty for her essence.“Ahhh… Ummm, ahhh!” The heat was overwhelming. She was leaking slick fluids that mingled with Semion’s lips and tongue. The addicting sound only ignited every muscle in her body.She gasped for air as Semion spread her long legs further apart. The on
“S-Semion…”Celeste gasped as Semion’s soft lips descended on her neck. Biting her lower lip, she dug her nails into the luxurious fabric of his black coat.“Mmhhmmp!” She couldn't help but moan at the sensations coursing through her.The room was dark, perhaps because as soon as they entered, Semion had seized her with a kiss, like a thirsty stranger.Her plan to shower and change into comfortable clothes was quickly forgotten due to what Semion was doing to her body.His large hand slid up her dress, moving toward her underwear. Semion’s fingers pressed down on her lower body with a mixture of intensity and possessiveness. Celeste felt it acutely when he suddenly bit her neck!“Ahh!” She cried out in pain, her throat dry as she gasped for breath.“My wife,” Semion’s warm breath invaded her ear, making her shiver and raising the hair on her arms. “I want to mark you as mine…” He kissed the spot he had bitten. “Just for me…” He licked the mark. “All mine.” His teeth brushed against he