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EdwinaThe moment Raffaele and I step into the massive dining room, all eyes shift to us. A sudden wave of nerves kicks in, but Raffaele notices instantly, pulling me closer to him."Relax, Tesoro," he whispers in my ear, his hot breath fanning my cheek."Buongiorno," Eleanora greets us warmly, her eyes shining with happiness at the sight of us together."Buongiorno, Mamma," Raffaele rasps, placing a kiss on her cheek as we finally reach the table.He pulls out a chair for me, and I thank him softly before taking a seat. He settles right next to me."How are you feeling today?" Isabella asks from across the table, her voice filled with genuine concern."Much better," I reply with a small smile, and she nods in acknowledgement.That’s when I noticed a new face at the table, one I hadn’t seen last night."So this is her?" A deep voice cuts through the air, and my eyes follow the sound, landing on a much older version of Raffaele seated at the head of the table. Immediately, I know this m
Edwina“My legs are sore,” Isabella whines after three hours of walking, being dragged into every clothing and jewellery store by Luna.I am more than surprised that Isabella has managed to put up with her shopaholic sister in her condition because I can also feel my legs slowly giving out beneath me.“Yeah, she’s right, Luna. We need to at least rest. We wouldn’t want Isabella dropping dead any moment now,” I sigh, hungry and exhausted.“She’s pregnant, not dying. Now come,” Luna scoffs, rolling her eyes before dragging us into the Louis Vuitton store.“I swear this family makes me want to murder people,” Isabella growls lowly, clearly on the brink of rage, and I cannot tell if it’s her pregnancy hormones acting up.I chuckle as we step into the store, everything around us screaming money, but knowing Raffaele, he wouldn’t care less if I bought the entire place. Considering how rich the man is, he probably wouldn’t even notice.Luna leads us toward the lingerie section, and my brow fu
EdwinaSuddenly, the air turns cold, an eerie stillness settling between us. The only sound is Raffaele’s ragged breathing, sharp and uneven, filling the space with unspoken tension. I stand in silence, watching the man I love as his mind twists itself into knots, crafting every worst-case scenario of what I might be hiding from him. His shoulders are taut, his entire body coiled like a spring ready to snap."Baby," I whisper, finally gathering the courage to approach him. His back is turned to me, every muscle in his frame tense, rigid.He doesn’t say a word, doesn’t even acknowledge my presence. Slowly, I wrap my arms around his torso, pressing myself against him. He flinches at first but then gradually relaxes, his body melting into my touch.I press a soft kiss between his shoulder blades, my lips lingering as my hands slide gently up and down his chest, trying to ease the tension locked within him. "Do you trust me?" I murmur against his skin."You know I do," he growls, his voice
EdwinaThe morning air is cool against my skin as I stir awake, instinctively reaching out to the other side of the bed. My fingers meet nothing but cold sheets. Raffaele is gone. Not just recently, but long enough for the warmth of his body to have completely faded. A sigh escapes me as I stare up at the ceiling, my mind already tangled in the weight of the day ahead.How am I supposed to pull this off—leaving with Mariano’s men without anyone in this house realizing?I sit up slowly, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and notice one of Raffaele’s shirts crumpled at the edge of the bed. Without thinking, I grab it and slip it over my head, inhaling the lingering scent of him. It grounds me, even as guilt churns deep in my stomach. I shouldn’t be indulging in this, in him. Not when I know what’s coming.The shrill ring of my phone jolts me from my thoughts. I roll over, snatching it off the nightstand, and barely have time to brace myself before Krys’s voice explodes through the speaker.
EdwinaI stand in front of our bedroom mirror, admiring the way the red gown hugs my body, accentuating my hourglass figure. My hair is straightened, a new look for me since it’s usually curly and bouncing off my shoulders. My fingers toy with the delicate necklace resting on my collarbone just as the bedroom door opens, revealing a dressed-up Raffaele.Our eyes connect through the mirror as he strides toward me, his gaze dark and intense. His strong arms wrap around my waist, pulling me back against his firm chest. I take in his appearance—jet-black suit tailored to perfection, crisp white shirt, no tie. He looks devastatingly handsome, and my heart flutters at the sight.“You look beautiful, Tesoro,” he murmurs, his voice laced with admiration.I blush under his heated gaze. “Thank you.”With a swift motion, he turns me in his arms, causing me to squeal in surprise. The scent of his cologne—woodsy and intoxicating—fills my senses, making my knees weak. I notice how he’s shaved his us
EdwinaWe sit in silence, the air between us thick with unspoken words and simmering tension. My body tightens with frustration at Raffaele’s insinuation—however subtle—that I might not be telling him the truth."Why do I feel like you think I’m lying to you?" I ask, my voice sharp, and defensive. I can’t stop myself. His doubt wounds me in ways I can't explain.His brows furrow, his confusion evident. "I don’t, Tesoro. Where is this even coming from?"I let out a bitter laugh, taking a step away from him, needing distance. "Yes, you do. Ever since I went to the mall with your sisters, you’ve been acting like I’m hiding something from you!" My voice rises, my restraint finally snapping.Raffaele clenches his fists at his sides, his expression darkening. "Are you hiding something from me, Tesoro?" His voice is eerily calm, but there’s something lethal in the way he says it, venom curling around each word.The question cuts deep. It confirms my worst fear—that he truly does not trust me.
RaffaeleThe moment the question leaves my lips, I see the way Edwina’s body stiffens, her eyes flashing with a flicker of panic before she quickly mouths her expression. I try not to read too much into it, reminding myself that I’ve already made her feel like I don’t trust her—when in reality, the opposite is true. I trust her with my life. The last thing I want is to create more distance between us, to push her away even further.“Come here,” I tell her softly, my gaze locked onto hers. She hesitates for a moment before taking a step forward, but it’s not close enough. “Closer, Tesoro,” I murmur, my voice dipping an octave lower, filled with quiet demand.She obeys, stepping into my space, and I waste no time pulling her into my lap, her legs straddling me. The moment her sweet lilac scent fills my senses, I feel a tension within me loosen. Burying my face into the curve of her neck, I tighten my hold on her, the steady rhythm of her heartbeat soothing the fire within me.“You smell
EdwinaImmediately I head out of Raffaele's office, I make my way across the house, holding my new phone box in my hand. I shake my head in amusement, chuckling at how Raffaele loves to spend money on me without hesitation. My laughter is short-lived when I realize Vincenzo is standing right across from me, arms crossed, an amused smirk playing on his lips."Should I be worried that you are laughing by yourself?" he asks, his tone laced with curiosity and amusement."Maybe," I reply, a smirk tugging at my lips.Vincenzo chuckles, shaking his head as he steps around me, heading towards wherever he is going."Where are you going?" I ask, curiosity getting the best of me."Just headed out to sort some business," he says, his voice casual, but his pace quickens as if he doesn’t want to linger on the topic. Before I can press further, he disappears down the hall.Sighing, I turn on my heel and go to Raffaele’s room. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I stare at the sleek box in my hands, but m
💔📖 Author’s Note 📖💔And just like that… We’ve REACHED THE END 😭🔥 I can’t believe it’s over! This book has been a wild rollercoaster 🎢—love, heartbreak, betrayal, revenge, and so many twists and turns! I have poured my heart and soul into every chapter, and seeing you all laugh, cry, scream, and fall in love with these characters has been magical ✨💖.But let’s get one thing straight... Raffaele’s story is FAR from over. 😏💀 If you thought this book was intense, trust me, the next one is going to be even darker, deadlier, and more dangerous. Revenge is coming, and Raffaele Marcello? He is NOT the kind of man to let his enemies get away with stealing everything from him. Prepare yourselves. 🥀🔥💎 Before we talk about the next book, I just want to say… THANK YOU. 💎To every one of you who picked up this book, read just one chapter (and then couldn’t stop 😉), stayed up way too late 📖⏳, fell in love 💘, cried your eyes out 😭, threw your phone across the room 📱💥, and left me
RaffaeleSomething is bothering my Tesoro. I know her well enough to understand that she’s too stubborn to talk about it until she’s ready, but I can’t shake the feeling that she’s hiding something. Ever since we landed in Italy, she’s been acting strangely, and the thought that she doesn’t want me to find out why gnaws at me.I’ve been trained to read emotions, to see through deception. And Edwina—my Edwina—has been lying to me for weeks. She may think she’s hiding it well, but I see right through her. I’ve tried to stay calm, to act as though it doesn’t bother me, but deep inside, I’m furious. I love her, but lying is where I draw the line.Closing the door to our bedroom, I make my way to my office, determined to drown myself in work. I call for Gio, needing to clear my mind and, more importantly, to get some answers.A sharp knock sounds at the door, interrupting my focus as I sift through an overwhelming number of emails. Running a frustrated hand through my hair, I grunt, “Come i
EdwinaTonight is the night. I will have my driver on standby, waiting to take you to the airport. And make sure to keep Raffaele away from this, or someone will die tonight, Bellissima. Make sure to do as you are told to avoid someone's blood being on your hands.xx Yours truly.The moment my eyes scan the message on my screen, my blood runs cold. Tonight is the night I will leave Raffaele—to protect him, to protect his men.I inhale sharply, trying to regulate my breathing, willing my pounding heart to steady itself. I can't afford to panic, not now, not with Raffaele just a few steps away in the shower, oblivious to the storm brewing right outside our door."Hey, are you okay?" Raffaele’s deep voice pulls me out of my frantic thoughts, and I lift my gaze to see him standing before me, already dressed, his fingers skillfully buttoning his dress shirt.I force a smile, locking my phone and tossing it onto the bed, as though discarding my fear along with it. "Yeah," I lie, my voice tig
EdwinaI remain frozen on the spot, my eyes locking onto Raffaele’s darkened gaze as he winces, clutching his shirt, which is rapidly soaking with blood.“Cosa è successo?” Eleanora’s voice slices through the tension, her face contorting into a deep frown as she hurries towards her son. Raffaele leans heavily against the counter, Giovanni to his left, Rodriguez to his right, all three men radiating unease. ( What happened?)“I’m fine, madre,” Raffaele grunts, though his voice is tight with pain. Eleanora places a gentle kiss on his forehead, but his sharp green eyes never leave mine. ( Mother)“Thank God you are here. The man is as stubborn as they come, princessa, and only you will be able to help him clean up since he refuses to let anyone else near him,” Alessandro’s voice sounds beside me, pulling my gaze away from Raffaele.I nod, unable to speak, my throat tightening with an emotion I can’t quite place. Slowly, hesitantly, I step forward, my movements cautious as I take Raffaele’
EdwinaImmediately I head out of Raffaele's office, I make my way across the house, holding my new phone box in my hand. I shake my head in amusement, chuckling at how Raffaele loves to spend money on me without hesitation. My laughter is short-lived when I realize Vincenzo is standing right across from me, arms crossed, an amused smirk playing on his lips."Should I be worried that you are laughing by yourself?" he asks, his tone laced with curiosity and amusement."Maybe," I reply, a smirk tugging at my lips.Vincenzo chuckles, shaking his head as he steps around me, heading towards wherever he is going."Where are you going?" I ask, curiosity getting the best of me."Just headed out to sort some business," he says, his voice casual, but his pace quickens as if he doesn’t want to linger on the topic. Before I can press further, he disappears down the hall.Sighing, I turn on my heel and go to Raffaele’s room. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I stare at the sleek box in my hands, but m
RaffaeleThe moment the question leaves my lips, I see the way Edwina’s body stiffens, her eyes flashing with a flicker of panic before she quickly mouths her expression. I try not to read too much into it, reminding myself that I’ve already made her feel like I don’t trust her—when in reality, the opposite is true. I trust her with my life. The last thing I want is to create more distance between us, to push her away even further.“Come here,” I tell her softly, my gaze locked onto hers. She hesitates for a moment before taking a step forward, but it’s not close enough. “Closer, Tesoro,” I murmur, my voice dipping an octave lower, filled with quiet demand.She obeys, stepping into my space, and I waste no time pulling her into my lap, her legs straddling me. The moment her sweet lilac scent fills my senses, I feel a tension within me loosen. Burying my face into the curve of her neck, I tighten my hold on her, the steady rhythm of her heartbeat soothing the fire within me.“You smell
EdwinaWe sit in silence, the air between us thick with unspoken words and simmering tension. My body tightens with frustration at Raffaele’s insinuation—however subtle—that I might not be telling him the truth."Why do I feel like you think I’m lying to you?" I ask, my voice sharp, and defensive. I can’t stop myself. His doubt wounds me in ways I can't explain.His brows furrow, his confusion evident. "I don’t, Tesoro. Where is this even coming from?"I let out a bitter laugh, taking a step away from him, needing distance. "Yes, you do. Ever since I went to the mall with your sisters, you’ve been acting like I’m hiding something from you!" My voice rises, my restraint finally snapping.Raffaele clenches his fists at his sides, his expression darkening. "Are you hiding something from me, Tesoro?" His voice is eerily calm, but there’s something lethal in the way he says it, venom curling around each word.The question cuts deep. It confirms my worst fear—that he truly does not trust me.
EdwinaI stand in front of our bedroom mirror, admiring the way the red gown hugs my body, accentuating my hourglass figure. My hair is straightened, a new look for me since it’s usually curly and bouncing off my shoulders. My fingers toy with the delicate necklace resting on my collarbone just as the bedroom door opens, revealing a dressed-up Raffaele.Our eyes connect through the mirror as he strides toward me, his gaze dark and intense. His strong arms wrap around my waist, pulling me back against his firm chest. I take in his appearance—jet-black suit tailored to perfection, crisp white shirt, no tie. He looks devastatingly handsome, and my heart flutters at the sight.“You look beautiful, Tesoro,” he murmurs, his voice laced with admiration.I blush under his heated gaze. “Thank you.”With a swift motion, he turns me in his arms, causing me to squeal in surprise. The scent of his cologne—woodsy and intoxicating—fills my senses, making my knees weak. I notice how he’s shaved his us
EdwinaThe morning air is cool against my skin as I stir awake, instinctively reaching out to the other side of the bed. My fingers meet nothing but cold sheets. Raffaele is gone. Not just recently, but long enough for the warmth of his body to have completely faded. A sigh escapes me as I stare up at the ceiling, my mind already tangled in the weight of the day ahead.How am I supposed to pull this off—leaving with Mariano’s men without anyone in this house realizing?I sit up slowly, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and notice one of Raffaele’s shirts crumpled at the edge of the bed. Without thinking, I grab it and slip it over my head, inhaling the lingering scent of him. It grounds me, even as guilt churns deep in my stomach. I shouldn’t be indulging in this, in him. Not when I know what’s coming.The shrill ring of my phone jolts me from my thoughts. I roll over, snatching it off the nightstand, and barely have time to brace myself before Krys’s voice explodes through the speaker.