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Desperate Measures
Last Updated : 2025-04-09
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Liya Glensdale would never have thought that her once peaceful life would one day end in a marriage with the feared and dangerous Aldo Marino. Caught in a deal to save her careless brother, Liya is forced into a crime world filled with power struggles, betrayal and shocking secrets. Aldo, a powerful businessman and crime boss known for his ruthlessness sees Liya as merely a tool in a game against his rival, Damian Viktor. But as time evolves, their once-cold relationship grows into more than an alliance that neither of them could see coming. As tension continues to grow and dangers mount, Liya must learn to sail the difficult and dangerous game while acknowledging the growing feelings between her and Aldo. Together, they’ll face their enemies hiding in the dark but their greatest troubles may be the feelings they refuse to acknowledge.
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Desperate Measures CHAPTER 14: His Associates
“Looks like they roughed you up a little,” Aldo said while his expression changed. “It's good to see you too, Marino,” Liam let out as he stepped inside.Liya immediately turned and rushed to him. She was filled with worry as she took in his appearance. His clothes were twisted and his shirt was missing some buttons. His face had a bruise on it and this made Liya both concerned and angry. “Liam. Are you okay? What happened to you?” her voice was filled with anxiety.“I'm fine. It's nothing I can't handle,” he said, brushing off her worry. His eyes fell on Aldo as he asked him. “I thought you had things under control.”“I did until you found yourself in trouble again. I thought you'd listen to your sister and stay away from him but it looks like I thought wrong,” Aldo said while putting his hands in his pockets.“I don't remember taking orders from you, Marino,” Liam challenged.“And I don't remember being paid to get you out of trouble every time Glensdale,” Aldo voiced out with a ra
Last Updated : 2025-04-09Desperate Measures CHAPTER 13: His Plan
The house was very quiet after Aldo left to make his call. Liya couldn't stop pacing the room as she felt so restless and uneasy about the situation. She didn't exactly feel good that she just had to wait while Liam was out there, in danger with the one person she tried to stay clear of. How could he be so stupid to get involved with him again? Didn't he learn from the last time? He had to grow up because she wasn't always going to be there to get him out of his mess.Aldo had asked her to trust him— at least that he could bring her brother back. And if there was anyone she had little faith in, it was him. She finally took a seat on her bed when she got tired from her movements. Many thoughts were running through her mind. She wondered why Damian was after Aldo so badly. Why was he on their necks? There was definitely more to it than the surface game they were playing but she didn't know how deep it was. There was no way to find out.She thought back to how broken Aldo had looked whe
Last Updated : 2025-04-07Desperate Measures CHAPTER 12: LIAM IN TROUBLE
Liya was up early the next morning even though she barely slept after her conversation with Aldo. She still couldn't believe he had told her something so personal and though it wasn't much, it was an improvement in their relationship— she would take whatever she could. It wasn't every time he let his guard down.And then the electricity in the room had changed when he grabbed her hand. Even now she could still feel his light touch on her wrist but she did what she knew best— she left before she could make a fool of herself. She didn't want them to blur lines seeing as what they had was only an arrangement, a marriage in name and paper only. Besides he had told her she wasn't there to stay so she didn't want to get attached. That didn't stop them from having a cordial relationship while they lived together.She was standing by the window, going over her thoughts when her phone rang. When she saw the number on the screen, her heart stopped and she wished he wasn't in trouble. She didn't
Last Updated : 2025-03-13Desperate Measures CHAPTER 11: THE FIRST CRACK
Aldo stood in his study, his gaze lost in the fireplace while the rain beat heavily against the windows and roof. The whiskey in his hand was barely touched as he recalled what he had said to Liya and he felt like kicking himself in the leg. He remembered the hurt on her face and concluded that he was such a jerk. He didn't mean to blurt out what he had said to her but she was tearing down walls that had been erected for a long time with so much ease that she barely noticed and he didn't want that or did he?His thoughts however shifted to what he had been trying to ignore, the reason why he seemed so lost. Despite locking up the past, some ghosts still slipped through the cracks, and the night was one of those nights.The door to his study opened and he knew only one person could enter his study unannounced. Liya. He didn't turn around, ashamed to face her after what he said in the Library.“I knew I'd find you here,” Liya’s voice was soft when she spoke. He'd expected her not to bot
Last Updated : 2025-03-06Desperate Measures CHAPTER 10: MELTING HEARTS
Seated in the back seat of the car and Liya by his side, Aldo couldn't help but notice how her body turned away from him. As she gazed out the window, the streetlights brightened her features giving her a charming glow. They hadn't said a word to each other the entire ride from the gala and he could only wonder what was going through her mind. He couldn't help but feel a bit of pride at the way she handled herself with Tomas even though she was out of her setting.He also recalled her question— just two words that left him overthinking— should I?She was only supposed to be a tool in this game but she was gradually becoming something more. His train of thought was cut as the car stopped in front of the mansion. He got out and went to open the door for Liya but she was already out of the car.“At least let me get the door for you,” he said, moving to stand before her.“That's okay, I can do that,” she said, smiling softly.“Of course you can. But what kind of man would I be if I let m
Last Updated : 2025-02-28Desperate Measures CHAPTER 9: THE GALA
Aldo straightened his suit and cufflinks while standing in front of the mirror. The black tux was correctly designed to fit his broad frame. Exiting his room, he went to his home bar to have a drink while he waited for Liya. Women usually took their precious time while getting ready and he was sure she wasn't any different. He had also just dumped the news of the gala on her just the other night, not giving her enough time to prepare her mind. Thinking of the other night, his mind went back to the conversation they had about the locked room and he could only pray she didn't go snooping around and digging into areas of his life he had long buried.The clicking of heels coming down the stairs called his attention as he turned to see Liya descending the stairs. Her presence commanded his attention and awakened something in him that he didn't want to acknowledge. She was stunning in her dark red dress that filled out in the right places, not too much but enough cleavage and the smooth ski
Last Updated : 2025-02-23Desperate Measures CHAPTER 8: HIS SISTER
Aldo was up before sunrise since he couldn't sleep– he spent his night tossing and turning and wondering how his security was constantly breached. He enjoyed the silence in his mansion, especially in the early hours of the morning. But as he sat in his study, he could hear Liya moving in the hallway and wondered what she was up to. He thought she would not be able to leave her room today and was ready to have her meal sent to her but he was wrong. Last night was scary for her– he had rushed to her room in the middle of the night when he heard her scream from a bad dream. He didn't want to leave her again but at the same time he didn't want her to make this out to be something it was not, so he reluctantly returned to his room even though all he wanted was to get in bed with her and hold her in his arms. The pull to her was intense.He got up and went to the door to catch a glimpse of her. He leaned against the doorframe as he watched her study the antique furniture and old paintings
Last Updated : 2025-02-15Desperate Measures CHAPTER 7: SHADOW IN THE GARDEN
The strong grip over her mouth made Liya tremble in fear–she couldn't scream nor could she call for help. “Don’t try to scream,” her attacker said as he removed his hand that was pressed over her mouth. Before Liya could turn around, she felt something sharp and cold like a knife press into her side, and she stiffened, fear gripping her. “Walk,” the man steered her towards the staircase which led down to the garden. Her mind busied itself with thoughts of an escape. She searched around for a way out. She looked at the door, contemplating if she could make a run for it and get help. Like he read her mind, he pressed the knife harder into her sides. “Don’t even dream about it. One wrong move from you and you'll be ending up tonight in a body bag and not on a bed with your husband,” he warned her. Liya gulped, her throat suddenly dry from fear as she nodded, allowing him to guide her.They moved through the garden in silence, the constant rustling of leaves and crickets the only th
Last Updated : 2025-02-14Desperate Measures CHAPTER 6: A WEDDING WITHOUT VOWS
The day finally arrived—the day she married Aldo Marino. When she visualized her wedding, she would always think of happiness, a soon-to-be husband that she loved, and an intimate ceremony with her loved ones. This wasn't what she had dreamed of. She stared at herself in the mirror, dressed in a beautiful satin dress that clung perfectly to her curves, the soft lace brushing softly over her skin, the beauty contrasting her heavy heart.“Ready to go?” Melinda’s voice cut through her thoughts.Liya turned to face Melinda who stood at the doorway with a neutral expression. The woman had been her shadow since the attack and while Liya was thankful for the support, her presence only pointed out that she was continuously in danger.“I'm not sure I could say that but I can't back out either,” Liya said in a resolved voice. Melinda looked at her with soft eyes only for a moment. “It’s not about being ready, it’s about doing what you can to survive.”With that, Liya nodded and followed Melind
Last Updated : 2025-02-12
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The bargain
Liya Glensdale stared blankly at her untouched coffee while the rain washed against the windows of the little diner she sat in. She constantly picked at her nails with nerves unsettled as the minutes flew by on the wall clock, drawing the inevitable meeting with the man who could decide her brother's fate, closer. When the bell above the diner rang, Liya’s eyes popped up as she watched a man enter and shake the rain off his trench coat, his presence immediately changing the atmosphere of the entire room. Her heart began racing as she watched Damian Viktor approach her table. He was by far taller than she had thought, with a scrawny face and a smile that made him look more sinister and cruel than kind. Even with his sharp suit that emphasized he was well-off, his appearance screamed that he was a dangerous man, the kind you don't get involved with. He sat down across from her, skin spread like he owned the place. “Liya Glensdale,” he said with a flat yet rough voice. “I’ve been anti...
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