BIANCA'S POVI couldn’t shake the feeling that Alessandro had sparked something inside me. His touch, his gaze, and his words had all left me breathless and wanting more.We chatted with guests, laughing and enjoying ourselves, but my thoughts kept running back to him. I noticed he stole glances at me whenever he could, and I felt a blush creep up my cheeks at the thought.I couldn’t ignore it any longer—I felt a strong attraction towards Alessandro and was excited to see what would happen next.Throughout the evening, Alessandro’s hand slowly returned to my lower back, sending shivers down my spine. His intense gaze made me aware of my emotions and pushed me to confront them."Softly," he murmured, his warm breath brushing against my ear, "Can I accompany you home?"I nodded, feeling my heart race with excitement. What would happen once we were alone?It was now the end of the gala celebrating the success of my latest fashion design venture.As we said goodbye to the guests and heade
ALESSANDRO'S POVThe feeling of unease lingered after I hung up on Sophia. It had been years since our last conversation, and I thought I had made it clear that I wanted no part in reconnecting with her. But she refused to quit.When I looked at Bianca, I saw the worry on her face. I forced a smile, trying to reassure her that everything was fine. But it wasn't. Sophia's call brought back memories I thought I had buried long ago.I approached Bianca, trying to push the thoughts away, but they stayed with me, troubling me. Sophia and I had a complicated history. I thought we were in love once, but she lied and controlled me. She even faked a pregnancy to manipulate me.Anger washed over me as I thought about it. I had been so naive and gullible. But I learned from that experience and vowed never to let anyone get close again.Then I met Bianca, and my resolve faltered. She was different—kind, caring, and soft-spoken."I'm sorry about that, Bianca," I stated."Don't worry, Alessandro. T
ALESSANDRO'S POVThe feeling of unease lingered when Bianca mentioned Matteo, Luca's father. I didn’t like that guy at all. He was selfish and abandoned Bianca. Who hurts someone just because she can't have a child? What century are we in?As Leo got ready to leave, he shot me a serious look. "Alessandro, we need to talk," he murmured.I nodded, knowing what was coming. "About what?""Bianca," he said, locking eyes with me. "I can tell you're developing feelings for her, but be careful. She's been through a lot with Matteo.”I nodded, feeling a surge of anger just at the mention of Matteo's name. I was shocked by how terribly he had treated Bianca just because she couldn’t give him a child. And now he wanted her back. I smirked to myself. What a loser.After Leo left, Bianca looked at me with a curious expression. She asked softly, "What was that about?"I hesitated, unsure how much to share. But Bianca's reassuring look put me at ease. "Leo was just looking out for me," I whispered.
BIANCA'S POVI hurried through the shopping center, my high heels clicking on the tiles. "Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry! I wasn’t paying attention."The woman I bumped into glared at me, her bright green eyes flashing. "Watch where you’re going. You nearly made me fall!"I stepped back, holding up my hands. "Sorry about that. I wasn’t paying attention."Her anger softened a bit, though she still sounded annoyed. "Do you think so? You’re just as reckless and inconsiderate as he is."I frowned, trying to figure out who she was talking about. "Hey, I already apologized. There’s no need to be rude."The woman sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I’m sorry. I’m just having a really rough day. My boyfriend is being a total jerk."I nodded sympathetically. "Mind sharing what he did?'"She rolled her eyes. "He’s being his usual selfish, arrogant self. I don’t know why I’m still with him."I nodded. "Maybe you should break up with him."She smirked. "It’s more complicated than that. We’ve got histo
BIANCA'S POVWhile getting ready to hit the club, I gazed at my closet in frustration."I have nothing to wear," I grumbled, tossing clothes aside.Charlie chuckled. "Let me help you," she offered, stepping into my closet. "Girl, you've got some killer curves. You need to flaunt them."She started digging through my wardrobe, pulling out a few options. "This one, definitely!" she exclaimed, holding up a short, revealing outfit. Very revealing.I raised an eyebrow. "Charlie, I'm not so sure..."But Charlie wasn’t backing down. "Trust me, you’ll look amazing. Now, let's get ready."We spent the next hour dressing, laughing, and chatting as we styled our hair and did our makeup.When we finally headed downstairs, Alessandro and Leo were already waiting. The way Alessandro's eyes darkened as they locked onto me was undeniable.His gaze roamed over my body with a searing intensity, as if he were stripping my clothes off with his eyes, piercing straight into my soul.When he finally looked
BIANCA'S POVI woke up groggily and slowly began to recognize my surroundings. I was in Alessandro’s room, with him holding me.“Bianca, are you feeling alright?” Alessandro asked, his voice tense with concern.I nodded, still trying to clear my head. “What happened?”“Matteo,” Alessandro growled. “He must have had someone knock you out at the club yesterday. But don’t worry, you’re safe with me now. You’re out of danger.”A wave of comfort washed over me at his words, knowing I was with the only person who could truly protect me from Matteo’s obsession.But when I met Alessandro’s gaze, I saw a determined look in his eyes. “What are you planning?” I asked quietly, my voice just a faint murmur.Alessandro’s jaw tightened. “I’m going to deal with Matteo once and for all. He won’t hurt you anymore.”A chill ran down my spine at his words. I knew Alessandro would do anything to keep me safe.I also knew that Matteo was in serious trouble.But I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were bei
LEO'S POVI couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong with Charlie’s situation. Bianca’s words kept echoing in my mind, fueling a strong urge to protect her. I couldn’t understand why I felt such a pull; it wasn’t like me to get involved. I usually stayed out of other people’s business, but there was something about Charlie that gnawed at my conscience.The next day, I decided to follow her discreetly. I wanted to see if my instincts were right. I kept a safe distance and watched as she arrived at her apartment, relieved that she didn’t seem to notice me.But then I saw him—Alex. He pulled up in his car, and Charlie got in. I thought he’d just drive off, but he got out, grabbed Charlie by the hair, and dragged her into the apartment.My stomach churned with anger. Without wasting a second, I got out of my car and hurried toward them, my heart pounding. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do, but I knew I had to act.As I got closer, I could hear Charlie’s muffled scre
BIANCA'S POVIt was 7:00 a.m., and we’d given Charlie some space to recover from yesterday, after Leo rescued her from her boyfriend—now her ex.When Alessandro called me to let me know Leo had brought Charlie to his place, I was shocked. I rushed over as soon as I got Luca to sleep so he wouldn’t insist on coming with me.As I sipped my coffee, I noticed the faint bruises on Charlie’s arm. She looked exhausted like she hadn’t slept all night. I felt a deep sadness for her and knew I needed to tread carefully."Are you okay?" I asked, taking another sip of my coffee. She glanced at me with an unreadable expression and nodded. I sighed and set my coffee down. "You know you can talk to me, right?"A heavy silence followed. I watched as she struggled with her emotions."It’s hard," she finally said. "I’m not used to being away from him. It feels so strange."I gave her a reassuring smile. "It’s normal to feel that way. I felt the same way after my ex-husband and I divorced. It was tough
LUMARI’S POVI leaned in slightly toward Samuel, keeping my voice casual. “I’m going to have a word with my sister-in-law,” I murmured, referring to Larisa.I didn’t wait for his response, knowing he’d be fine with whatever I chose to do. I turned toward the four people—Ricardo, his new companion, Larisa, and Alessandro—and made my way over, every step calculated to project confidence.As I approached, Larisa’s eyes immediately locked onto me, a flicker of something unreadable passing through her gaze. She was always so composed, so perfect, the princess of the Dobre family. She had the bloodline, the power. There was no sarcasm here, no sharp words from me. No, tonight, I needed to tread carefully.“Lumari,” she greeted, her smile bright and almost affectionate. “How wonderful to see you. I’m so glad you could join us tonight.”I returned her smile, though it felt a little strained. “Of course, Larisa. How could I miss it? It’s such an important night for the family.”We exchanged pl
LUMARI’S POVThe grand ballroom of the Dobre quarterly gala shimmered with the quiet elegance that only the highest branches of society could orchestrate. Chandeliers hung like jewels in the night, their soft light spilling over the polished floors, the delicate lace of crystal illuminating every corner of the room.The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfumes, finely aged wine, and the muted hum of polite conversation between rich people.I stood at the entrance, making sure my presence was nothing short of commanding. I wasn’t just attending this time; I was the event, the brand new wife of the Dobres that would be showcased.The crowd seemed to part as I moved through it, their eyes drawn to me like moths to a flame. My emerald silk dress clung to my curves, cascading to the floor in an elegant pool behind me. The color was chosen not only for its beauty but for the power it projected. Samuel had made sure to choose it for me himself.A life with Ricardo could have never
THIRD PERSON’S POVThe tension in the room was palpable as Ricardo took his place at the helm of the dining table, his calm yet commanding presence silencing even Giovanni’s sarcastic mutterings. Linda leaned back in her chair, watching with barely contained amusement as the group settled into something resembling order.They were at his villa, only because most of the sensitive plans were in his study and would be dangerous to transport from place to place so casually.Bianca had immediately felt at home, claiming the color scheme made her calm. Ricardo suspected that all was not normal with Bianca. She was looking a bit more round than she did last week, and she was as sporadic as she was moody, but what did he know? He only had sharp eyes; he couldn’t really interpret what it meant.His voice, low and steady, cut through the room. “I have already started dismantling the Dobres’ foundation. Their partners are suffocating under the pressure I’ve applied—financial audits, legal threat
THIRD PERSON POVRicardo’s breath was ragged as he carried her from the wall to the bed. Her legs wrapped tighter around his waist, her hands threading into his hair as their lips clashed again—fiery and insistent.“Was this…” she managed to gasp, her voice a mix of amusement and desire. “The grand tour you had in mind?”Ricardo growled low in his throat, the sound vibrating against her lips as he lowered her onto the bed with a control that belied the hunger in his eyes. He loomed over her, his weight pinning her, his lips moving to her neck.“Keep talking, Linda,” he rasped, his voice dark, rough, and tantalizingly close to a threat. “Let’s see how long you keep that sharp tongue of yours.”Her soft laugh turned into a breathless sigh as his hands roamed her body, his touch firm and possessive. He pulled her closer, his fingers tracing the curve of her waist—like he needed to feel every inch of her.“I’m not scared of you, Moretti,” she whispered, her hands tugging at his shirt, exp
THIRD PERSON POVBianca leaned against the kitchen counter, her fingers nervously tracing the rim of her coffee cup. The late evening light cast a warm glow across the room, but her mind was elsewhere, on the entirely self-inflicted predicament she’d thrown Linda into.“Do you think I made a mistake?” she asked, glancing over at Alessandro, who was sitting at the kitchen table, meticulously slicing a pear for Luca, who was arguing with Lazarro about how ‘rocking’ green bikes were compared to blue. A perfectly lovely day, save for the fact that she had pushed her best friend into going on a fake date, twice.He raised an eyebrow, not looking up from his task. “Depends. What mistake are we talking about today?”Bianca huffed. “You know. Pushing Linda into those dates with Ricardo. She barely agreed to it, and he’s…” She gestured vaguely as if the act of describing Ricardo required divine assistance. “He’s Ricardo. What if I shoved her into a lion’s den? What if he devours her?”Alessand
THIRD PERSON’S POVRicardo was annoyed, but he was used to dealing with situations like these. This was Claire Davenport, the woman who had reportedly sent the members of Livodi after Linda. He had asked Edward, one of his informants, to make sure that she wouldn’t be able to harm Linda or anyone associated with her anymore. How had he not realized that it meant Claire should disappear?“At least I’m not dating a gigolo!” Claire exclaimed, angry and embarrassed. She had purposely gone to seduce Kalam, the mob boss of Livodi, just so she could have the upper hand over Linda for once and end their rivalry with finality. He was ugly and rough, but she would do anything to own the kind of power Livodi had. Kalam had assured her that he would take care of Linda for her, so why was she still alive and going on a date with someone so handsome?“Gigolo? Your informants need to get another job. They’re terrible at the one they currently have,” Linda sneered, turning to face Claire fully. Befor
RICARDO’S POVI could hardly believe I was going on a date when I was supposed to be making sure all the plans were foolproof. Bianca was annoyingly persistent, and her boyfriend was no less insufferable. I had practically been bullied into going on this date. What a thought—me, being bullied.I had given her the free rein to leave for Turin, having placed her on the no-harm list for all the gangs in at least 50 countries. She tended to travel even more than Giovanni, so I had seen it as fitting. She was such an irresponsible celebrity—having no guards at all. Did she think she was a superhero?Still, if I was going to go on a date for the first time, I supposed I had to ignore work for a bit. I knew I would regret this.✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✧✦✧LINDA’S POVThe café Bianca had picked was charming enough with subdued lighting, soft jazz in the background, and the faint aroma of fresh bread wafting through the air. It would’ve been perfect if I wasn’t sitting across from Ricardo, who so
LINDA’S POV“Bianca, the answer is no.” I held the phone a little too tightly, pacing the guest room I was staying in at Ricardo’s place. The carpet muffled my restless footsteps, but it didn’t do much to smother the rising panic I felt. He could be anywhere in the house, after all. I had gone out like a light after he had cut the ropes that tied me the previous night, and I woke up in a cool and cozy house that had brown and cream as the theme. It was rather disorienting to realize he matched his furniture, especially with such warm colors.Bianca had called me about three hours after I woke up. I hadn’t left because I didn’t really know if I was in danger of anything, so I’d let him give me free rein to go himself.“Linda, please!” Bianca’s voice came through the speaker, laced with desperation. “You don’t even have to do much. Just look pretty, say a few words, and let Ricardo handle the rest. It’s one night!”“One night,” I muttered, rolling my eyes. “One night with Ricardo, your
THIRD PERSON POVIt had taken Ricardo half the day to rally his brothers together to begin the process of making a suitable plan. He had known he should have made one before. When they were alone, they were each master at what they did, even though he wasn’t really sure what Giovanni did. When they knew they had someone who could make it for them, they became brats.“This is a serious situation. I will need Alessandro to pretend to agree with Larisa so he will get an invite,” Ricardo began, spreading papers on the table documenting the Dobres' movements. He had been paranoid for years and had spent meticulous time tracking them down. Previously, it had only been to know when he would sacrifice himself. Now, however, it came in handy to free himself and his family from the imminent threat they posed.“How about you? How are you getting an invite?” Giovanni asked with a yawn, his legs splayed wildly over Ricardo’s. For someone who had claimed to not care for him, he had acclimatized to