You know those times when you're excited about a trip? Imagine that, but you're also a little scared because you're going back to a place where things went really wrong. Like, really, really wrong. So, there I was, with my kids, all happy and carefree, heading to the airport. I was trying to pretend everything was okay, but deep down, I was feeling like a scared little kid myself. You know how sometimes you get that tight feeling in your chest when you're nervous? Yeah, that was me. But I had to be strong for my kids, right? They were looking at me with their bright, innocent eyes, so I put on a brave face and said, "Come on, team, let's go home!" We got on the plane, and I took a deep breath. This was it, the moment we'd been waiting for. I was going back to my country, to the place where I'd grown up, where I felt safe and loved. But it was also the place where everything had fallen apart. The place where I'd lost everything. We were soaring through the air, the world shrinking
Caroline Her words were a venomous barb, a reminder of the power she held, the power he had allowed her to wield. I felt a surge of anger, but I held it back, my anger fueled by the fear I saw in my children's eyes."You know what, Jeffrey," I said, my voice low and dangerous. "You have nothing to do with me anymore. And if you think you can just waltz back into my life and pretend nothing happened, you're wrong. I'm not the same woman I was. I've moved on. And I'm not going back." I turned my back on them, my heart pounding like a drum in my chest. I took my children's hands, their small fingers intertwined with mine, a reminder of the love and strength that held us together. "Come on, team," I said, my voice firm. "Let's get home." The taxi pulled up to the familiar brick building, a wave of nostalgia washing over me as I recognized the intricate wrought iron fence and the cheerful potted geraniums lining the entrance. It was home. "We're here, Miss Caroline," the driver announ
3rd povAncelotti sat in his office, looking out the big window. The sun was setting, making the sky look like a beautiful painting with bright oranges and soft pinks. But he wasn’t really seeing the sunset. His mind was busy thinking about Caroline.Just a few years ago, he had seen her working in one of his restaurants. “How did I not notice her before?” he wondered. It felt strange to think that someone so special had been right in front of him all along. He remembered the first time they met at a bar. They talked and laughed for hours, sharing stories and dreams. It felt like they had a real connection.Then, they spent a night together that he couldn’t forget. It was magical, filled with laughter and warmth. But now, everything feels different. His heart sank as he remembered what his manager had told him: “She left Europe.” Why would she leave? Did she not want to see him again?Ancelotti's mind raced with questions. “Is she pregnant?” he thought, feeling panic rising in his st
3rd povAfter the meeting ended, Ancelotti decided he needed to take action about Caroline. He couldn’t just sit around wondering where she was anymore. He picked up his phone and called Emily again.“Emily! Can you help me find out more about Caroline?” he asked urgently.“Of course! What do you want me to do?” she replied quickly.“I need you to dig deeper into any connections we might have with her or anyone who knows her,” Ancelotti said firmly.“Got it! I’ll start right away,” Emily promised before hanging up.Feeling hopeful for the first time that day, Ancelotti leaned back in his chair and thought about what could happen next. What if they found out where Caroline was? What if she wanted to talk to him?Hours passed as Ancelotti worked on other tasks while waiting for Emily’s update. He tried not to let his imagination run wild but couldn’t help dreaming about seeing Caroline again.Finally, just as the sun began to set again outside his office window, Emily walked in with a fo
Jeffrey’s pov“Boss," Miguel, my security detail, said, his voice a little too loud for the hushed atmosphere of my private office. "Everything okay? You've been pacing for an hour, muttering to yourself. You look like you've seen a ghost."I stopped pacing and turned to him, the knot of anxiety in my stomach tightening. "Miguel, it's nothing," I said, trying to sound nonchalant, but I could feel my voice cracking a little. "Just… thinking.""About the deal with the Faraday Group?" Miguel asked, his eyes narrowed with suspicion. "No, no, not about that," I waved my hand dismissively. "It's about something else. Something… personal.""Something personal?" He raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "You, Boss, have a personal life? Now that's a story I gotta hear."I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "It's not like that. It's just... I saw someone today. Someone I haven't seen in years.""Years? We are talking decades here?" Miguel's grin widened. "You’re telling me you h
Jeffrey "Caroline," I muttered, the name of a prayer escaping my lips. It was a prayer for a second chance, a chance I didn't deserve. My plan was crazy, I knew that. It felt like something out of a movie, something you wouldn't believe if someone told you it was real. But I was desperate. And desperation, I learned, can make you do things you never thought possible.The first step was simple, almost embarrassingly simple: I needed to find out where Caroline was living. I didn't have her number anymore. The last time I'd tried calling, the number had been disconnected. She'd vanished like a wisp of smoke, leaving me behind with nothing but a hollow ache and a million regrets. But I was a man of resources. I had my connections. It wasn't hard to track her down, not with the right people on my side. It took a few calls, a few favors, a few dollars exchanged under the table. And soon, I had it. The address. Caroline's new home, the place where she was building her life, the place wh
Do you know him, mommy?" The little girl, still in Caroline’s arms, asked, her voice a tiny, wavering whisper. Caroline's gaze shifted back to me, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of sadness in her eyes, a trace of the love that had once been so strong between us. It was a fleeting moment, a whisper of what could have been. I wanted to reach out to her, to pull her close, to tell her how much I loved her, how much I regret hurting her. But I knew I wasn’t ready for that yet. I had to start small, to rebuild some kind of bridge between us. "Yes, honey," Caroline said, her voice soft and reassuring. “I knew him a long time ago. He’s just saying hello.” She smiled at me, a small, polite smile that didn’t reach her eyes. I wanted to say more, to tell her how much I’d been thinking about her, how much I’d missed her, how much I regretted everything. But I couldn’t bring myself to speak. I was afraid. I was afraid of rejection. I was afraid of her anger. I was afraid of the pain I k
Caroline"Hold on," I whispered to myself. "Why am I being nice to him?"I thought about how mad I was at him at the airport. I yelled at him, told him to leave me alone. But now, he's at my house! Why am I even thinking about talking to him calmly?It hit me like a punch in the stomach. I'm scared. Scared of what he wants, scared of what he might do, scared of what I might find out about him. "He came to my house," I said, my voice shaking. How did he find us? Who told him where I live?I felt betrayed. I thought I was finally safe, away from all the secrets and bad things. But now, it's all coming back. I made a fist. I can't be nice anymore. I need to protect myself and my family. I need to stop him.I grabbed my phone. I was so mad, I could see his face in my mind. I knew what I had to do. I had to be strong. This is not a game. This is real. And I'm going to fight back.My heart hammered against my ribs, my breath coming in short, panicked gasps. It was like someone had just th
The air in the hospital waiting room was thick with tension, the kind that clung to your skin like smoke. No one moved. No one breathed.“Where is he?” Maria asked, her voice calm but deadly serious.Derek held her gaze. “Safe. For now. But he’s not ready to be seen—not until we know what we’re dealing with.”Maria’s brow arched. “Meaning?”“He woke up, but not fully,” Derek said. “His memory’s fractured. He remembers the shooting, but not the face behind the gun. He asked for you, Maria… and only you.”Jake’s jaw clenched. Caroline’s heart dropped.“What about us?” Caroline asked. “What does that mean for the rest of us?”“It means,” Derek said, “he doesn’t trust anyone yet.”Damien scoffed, brushing invisible dust off his designer coat. “How convenient. The old king wakes up just in time to watch his kingdom fall apart.”Maria shot him a glare. “You’re still here?”Damien smiled thinly. “For now. But make no mistake—your king is weak. If he was truly the man he used to be, he wouldn
Maria’s heels clicked sharply against the hospital floor as she closed the distance between herself and Damien. Her eyes didn’t flinch—icy, dangerous, and unreadable. She had seen men like him before—power-hungry sharks who smelled blood in the water and came circling. But Maria wasn’t prey. Not anymore.“You think this is the moment to make your move?” she asked coolly. “While Ancelotti lies in that bed, unconscious?”Damien spread his hands, his tone still light. “Timing is everything, darling. The city is hungry for leadership, and leadership isn’t about sentiment. It’s about action. Control. And the ability to take what’s yours without asking.”Jake snorted. “You mean stealing.”Damien tilted his head, amused. “Call it what you like. But when power changes hands, history remembers the bold, not the cautious.”Maria didn’t move. “And what makes you think you’ll be remembered at all?”Damien’s smile faltered—just for a moment—but it returned quickly. “Because while all of you argue
Cut the crap," Maria snapped. "You think I don’t know you had a hand in this?"Ric chuckled, shoving his hands into his pockets. "You give me too much credit. If I wanted Ancelotti dead, he wouldn’t be breathing right now."Maria’s jaw tightened. "Then why are you here?"Ric sighed, stepping closer. "Look, Maria. You’re smart. You know what happens next."She stayed silent, waiting.He smirked. "Ancelotti’s in a coma. His men are lost. His enemies are about to tear each other apart trying to claim his throne. And you… well, you’re in a unique position."Maria’s stomach twisted. She knew what he was getting at."You think I should take over."Ric’s smirk widened. "Not ‘should.’ Will."Maria clenched her fists. "Ancelotti isn’t dead."Ric’s eyes darkened. "But he might as well be. And the longer you wait, the more unstable things become."Maria swallowed hard. She hated how right he was.The underworld didn’t pause for anyone—not even for Ancelotti.If she didn’t step up, someone else w
The deafening gunshot shattered the night air.Jane’s heart lurched as she pulled Caroline toward the back door. Every instinct screamed at her to move faster. She couldn’t let Ancelotti or his men catch them.Another gunshot rang out, followed by the sound of tires screeching on the pavement."Get down!" Jane hissed, forcing Caroline behind the kitchen counter just as bullets tore through the front door. Glass shattered. Wood splintered. The entire house shook under the assault."Jake!" Caroline gasped, panic flashing in her eyes.Jane's mind raced. If Jake had fired first, that meant—"Shit," Jane muttered, crawling toward the back window. She peeked through the curtain and saw Jake crouched behind his car, gun raised, returning fire.Ancelotti stood in the open, unbothered. His men flanked him, their weapons trained on Jake.Caroline's breath hitched. "Jane, we have to stop this."Jane grabbed her wrist. "No. We need to get out of here before—"The front door exploded inward.A tal
Jane sat across from Jake in a quiet, dimly lit café, her fingers idly stirring her untouched cup of coffee. The tension between them was thick, a silent battle of thoughts playing in their minds.Jake had been hesitant about speaking up for weeks now, but after everything that had happened—the near-fatal shooting, Caroline’s erratic behavior, and Maria’s suspicious alliance—he couldn’t keep quiet any longer.“Jane, I need to tell you something.” Jake’s voice was low, cautious.Jane lifted her gaze, her expression wary. “What is it?”Jake leaned forward, lowering his voice further. “I feel like Ancelotti is the reason why your sister is so disturbed. You need to let her get rid of him.”Jane’s brows furrowed, her grip tightening around her spoon. “Get rid of who? Jake, Ancelotti is the father of my sister’s triplets.”Jake froze. His breath caught in his throat. “Really?”“Yes,” Jane whispered, glancing around nervously. “Keep quiet. That’s a secret.”Jake’s mind reeled. That changed
Days passed in a blur of preparation and careful maneuvering. Maria played her part perfectly, slipping into Ancelotti’s world as if she had always belonged there.She knew how to charm, how to manipulate, and how to make people believe what she wanted them to believe. Every word she spoke to Ancelotti was carefully chosen, every look calculated.She made him feel safe, secure, as though she was a confidant he could trust above all others.But in the back of her mind, she never lost sight of the bigger picture. She wasn’t just here to be another pawn in Ancelotti’s empire. She was here to take it.She had already begun to plant the seeds of doubt. It was subtle at first—a whispered word here, a carefully timed gesture there.She played on his insecurities, feeding him just enough to make him question his own people. His confidence, so carefully built over years, was starting to crack.And then, one night, as Maria sat across from Ancelotti at a lavish dinner, she knew the moment had a
Maria listened intently, her mind already working through the strategy in her head. She could see how it might work—Ancelotti was a family man, and like most people, he would do anything to protect his loved ones. But there were complications.The family wasn’t the only thing that made Ancelotti dangerous. His empire was built on loyalty and fear, two things that couldn’t be easily manipulated.“And what if Ancelotti doesn’t care enough about his family?” Maria asked, her tone casual, but her eyes searching for a flaw in Henderson’s plan.Henderson’s lips twitched with a small, calculating smile. “Oh, he will. There’s no doubt in my mind. And even if he doesn’t, we’ll make him. We’ll create a crisis, something he can’t ignore.His empire is delicate, Maria. His people are loyal—but loyalty only lasts as long as it’s convenient.”Maria considered that. She had known men like Ancelotti before—men who prided themselves on their control, their power, their ability to build empires. But em
Henderson chuckled softly, the sound of it echoing in the quiet room like a predator's growl. "You’re not just the key, Maria. You’re the master key. You’ve got connections, brains, and an instinct for power. You're the only one who can pull it off."Maria felt a small thrill at his words. There was no denying the fact that she had always been good at getting what she wanted.But there was something about this—the weight of the decision—that was different. Ancelotti wasn’t just a man to eliminate; he was a rival, a force to be reckoned with."And what exactly are you proposing?" she asked, her voice steady, though her mind raced with possibilities.Henderson’s eyes gleamed, and he leaned in closer, as if sharing a secret. "Ancelotti has a weakness. It’s not the obvious ones, the ones that people would think of. No, his real vulnerability lies in his people. His loyalty, or rather, his misplaced sense of loyalty."Maria’s interest piqued. "Explain.""Ancelotti has always protected his
The night air was thick with the scent of expensive cigars and aged whiskey.The chandelier above cast a golden glow over the long mahogany dining table, its polished surface reflecting the flickering candlelight.The setting was intimate, elegant—exactly how Mr. Henderson liked things.Maria sat across from him, legs crossed, her silk dress clinging to her figure as she swirled the red wine in her glass. A slow smirk played on her lips. The rich, velvety taste coated her tongue as she took a sip, savoring the moment.She was no fool—this dinner wasn’t just about gratitude. It was a chess move.And in chess, every piece had a role.She watched as Henderson leaned back in his chair, his piercing blue eyes studying her like a man who had already won.His salt-and-pepper hair was slicked back, his suit tailored to perfection, his watch gleaming under the dim lights. He was the kind of man who carried himself like royalty—because in his world, he was king.But Maria?Maria had no intentio