BIANCA'S POV The remainder of the day went by in a haze. I couldn't stop thinking about Alessandro and Sophia's foreboding caution. I felt trapped in some sort of mind cage. My mind raced with countless questions, making it difficult for me to sleep. What if Sophia was right? What if Alessandro wasn’t the man I thought he was? Amid my thoughts, my phone vibrated to alert me of a new message. Alessandro. "Bianca, we need to talk," the text read. I paused, my fingers lingering above the screen. I felt the urge to challenge him, to seek explanations. But a part of me was scared of what I might discover. I finally chose not to reply. I still couldn't. ____________ The following day, I reached the office feeling unsure and with a heavy heart. Darren picked up on my gloomy demeanor and came towards me. "Hey, what's the matter?" he inquired, worry evident on his face. I let out a sigh, feeling uncertain about where to start. "I’m not sure, Darren. I feel like I’m trapped in a ba
BIANCA'S POVI took a deep breath, trying to make sense of everything. The seriousness of my decision was clear and inescapable."Alessandro, may I ask you something?" I finally managed, my voice barely above a whisper."Sure thing, Bianca. What is that?" he asked, not breaking eye contact with me.He then took my hands, and we both entered my living room properly, having been standing at the door.As we sat down on the cushion, I hesitated for a while before asking him what I wanted to ask because it was about Sophia.I wondered if he would get angry if I mentioned her name, but I had no choice other than to ask because I couldn't keep this to myself.I took a deep breath before speaking."I'm curious about Sophia," I admitted. "What's going on between the two of you?" I spoke quickly, nervous about his reaction.He looked at me, surprised. "How did you know about her?" he asked impatiently."That doesn't matter. Just answer me if you want there to be an us," I replied, trapping him
BIANCA'S POVMorning dawned upon the city. It was another day, and I was still shocked by the abrupt end of my conversation with Alessandro when I heard the front door open. I grinned, happy that my son Luca had returned home at last. When Maria, his nanny, came in with him, my heart filled with love at the sight of my little boy’s radiant smile."Mama!" Luca ran towards me with open arms, exclaiming.I wrapped my arms around him tightly, taking in the delightful smell of his hair. "I missed you, my little man!" I mentioned, spinning him in circles.Maria grinned and placed Luca's backpack on the ground. "He had a wonderful time on his school trip to the science museum, but he's been constantly talking about you ever since we got back."Luca squirmed away from my embrace and gazed up at me with a curious expression. "Mama, I saw Alessandro on our way back," he said, his voice brimming with enthusiasm.I felt my heart skip a beat. "Really? What did you say to him?" I asked, attempting
BIANCA'S POV I watched as Alessandro picked up Luca and spun him around in circles. The room filled with Luca's laughter, and I couldn't help but smile at the scene. But beneath my smile, a feeling of jealousy started to surface. Why did Luca bond with Alessandro so easily? Why did it seem like he adored him more than he adored me?As I was lost in thought, Alessandro suddenly looked at me, his eyes connecting with mine. We held each other's gaze for a moment, with only Luca's cheerful giggles filling the room. Alessandro grinned, causing my heart to skip a beat."Hey," he called out while approaching with Luca in his arms. "I trust I'm not disturbing you.”I nodded, feeling slightly confused. "No, absolutely not. We were actually just talking about you." I gave a faint smile.Alessandro's eyebrows lifted. "Is that so? What did you both say?"Luca, still holding onto Alessandro's neck, chimed in. "Mommy said you're a kind person. I like you!”Alessandro laughed, the corners of his ey
BIANCA'S POV I stood before the mirror, adjusting my dress for what seemed like the hundredth time. The gala event report had been sent in by Darren, while Alessandro was the one orchestrating it all. I approached the door, expecting it to be either my driver or perhaps Darren, having heard the car horn outside. However, to my surprise, it was Alessandro. In his black tuxedo, he looked charming with his sparkling eyes. "You look stunning." His eyes wandered over my body and darkened slightly. I blushed, feeling my heart quicken. "Alessandro, why are you here? I thought you'd be at the gala by now.” "And not go with you? Impossible." I arched my eyebrow. Alessandro's intense gaze met mine, locking our eyes together. "Please give me a chance, Bianca. Only a single night. "If you still doubt me by the end of tonight, I'll give you space." I paused, feeling uncertain about my next steps. There was something in Alessandro's words that struck a chord with me. It could have be
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.
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