The light buzz of the streetlamp outside Olivia’s bedroom window was the only sound accompanying in the quiet night. She was sitting at her desk, the soft glow of her laptop illuminating her face as she stared at her unfinished college application essay. Her fingers hovers over the keyboard, the words refusing to come. Life had been complicated lately, too complicated for an eighteen-year-old.“Olivia, are you coming down for dinner?” her mother’s voice called from the hallway.“In a bit!” Olivia replied, not looking away from her screen.Her mother’s footsteps retreated, leaving her alone with the quiet sound of the laptop. The house feels emptier than ever since her father’s sudden disappearance two weeks ago. No explanation, no note… just gone. Her mother kept reassuring her that he’d return, but Olivia wasn’t sure. Her father wasn’t the type to leave without saying something.As she leaned back in her chair, the faint creak of the front gate caught her attention. She turned toward
The car sent by Victor Castellano arrived at Olivia’s house precisely at 7 AM the next morning, its black exterior glowing beautifully in the sunlight. She stood on the doorway; her bag clutched tightly in her hands. Her mother hovered behind her; concern etched on her face.“You don’t have to do this,” her mother whispered, placing a shaking hand on Olivia’s shoulder.“I do,” Olivia replied, her voice steadier. “It’s the only way to protect us.”The driver, a man in a suit, stepped out and opened the car door for her. Olivia glanced back at her mother one last time, trying to ignore the aching feeling in her chest.“I’ll be okay,” she said, more to herself than her mother.She gets into the car, the door shutting with a heavy thud that seems to seal her fate.The ride to Victor’s house was silent. The driver didn’t say a word, his eyes were fixed on the road ahead. Olivia stared out of the window, her heart dropping as the city skyline gave way to countryside. After what felt like ho
The corridor was weirdly silent as Olivia crept back to her room, her heart hammering in her chest. Victor’s words replayed in her mind: “If she finds out the truth about her father, it’ll ruin everything.”What truth?Olivia knew she couldn’t confront him right away. Victor Castellano wasn’t the kind of man you could ask questions with and expect honest answers. No, she’d have to play this carefully.When she reached her room, she locked the door behind her and laid onto the bed, her heart racing.She needed to think. If Victor was hiding something about her father, it meant there was more to this story than she’d been led to believe. And if she wanted to get out of here, she’d have to figure out what it was.But how?Her eyes landed on her phone, still sitting on the nightstand. She picked it up, scrolling through her contacts. Most of her friends wouldn’t understand, what could they do against a man like Victor? But there was one person who might.Taking a deep breath, she dialed t
Olivia stares at Victor Castellano, her heart heavy with the force of her suppressed anger and fear. His dark eyes dig into her, unwavering and cold. The ultimatum he had delivered at the end of their tense confrontation still echoes in her mind: Work for me to pay off your father’s debts, or you’ll face the consequences.Victor leaned back in his chair; his confidence unshaken. The room fell silent except for the light ticking of the clock on the wall. Olivia’s hands clenched into fists, nails digging into her palms."Why are you dragging me into this? I don’t even know what my father did!" Olivia finally asked.Victor gave a smirk, his amusement at her defiance barely hidden. “Your father’s actions made this your problem. His debts, his betrayals, they’ve landed basically on your shoulders.”“I’m not my father!” she shot back. “Whatever he did, you can’t just&he
Victor stood in the room. Olivia sat stiffly in a chair by the fireplace, her hands gripping the arms. The coldness in the air was suffocating. She didn’t know what Victor wanted, but the look in his eyes made her heart leapt.“You’ve been pushing boundaries, Olivia,” Victor said, his voice low.“I’m not a prisoner,” Olivia shot back.Victor gave humorless smile. “You’re more than a prisoner. You’re… mine.”The word sent a sense of dread within her. His eyes were dark and intense, and she couldn’t tell if it was anger, obsession, or something else.“You don’t own me, Victor,” she said firmly, though her voice shakes slightly.Victor get closer, his presence suffocating. “In my world, Olivia, possession isn’t about ownership. It’s about protection. Control.”“That’s not love,” she snapped.Vi
The night before had ended in silence, Victor’s words hanging in her mind like a thunder. She didn’t know what to expect today, but she wanted to stand her ground no matter what came her way.For the rest of the day, Victor imposed strict rules on Olivia. She wasn’t allowed to leave her room, her meals were brought to her, and even the staff avoided her as if following some unspoken command.Victor didn’t see her himself, but she felt his presence everywhere; in the guards outside her door, in the silence that seemed to echo through the halls. It was suffocating.By the evening, Olivia had had enough. When her dinner was delivered, she shoved the tray aside and stormed out of her room, ignoring the guards’ protests. She found Victor sitting in his room, a glass of wine in his hand.“What kind of punishment is this?” she asked, her voice trembling with anger.Victor looked at her. “You want to disobey me. There are consequences for that.”“This isn’t punishment, it’s control,” she snap
The note haunted Olivia throughout the day. Someone knew about her conversations with Marco. Was it Victor? One of the other guards? The mansion’s each corner feels like hiding unseen eyes.When she finally saw Victor again, he was seated in the dining room. But as soon as their eyes met, she felt the weight of his stare, as though he already knew everything.“Join me,” he said, gesturing to the chair across from him.Reluctantly, Olivia sat down.Victor poured himself a glass of wine, his movements thoughtful. “I hear you’ve been making friends,” he said casually, though his voice carried an edge.Olivia’s heart skipped a beat. “Is that a problem?”“That depends,” Victor said, leaning back in his chair. “Are you planning to use those friendships against me?”A Warning DeliveredOlivia met his eyes, refusing to back down. “Maybe I’m just trying to survive in a situation I didn’t choose.”Victor’s expression hardens. “Survival is a delicate game. You need to know when to push and when
The following morning, Olivia’s was ready to confront Victor.When she enters the dining room, Victor was already there, sipping his coffee and reading a file. He glanced up as she approached.“Good morning,” he said, his voice normal.Olivia took a seat across from him. “We need to talk.”Victor raised an eyebrow but didn’t respond immediately. He put the file aside, giving her his full attention.“What’s on your mind?” he asked, his voice calm but laced with curiosity.“I want to know you,” Olivia said.For a moment, Victor said nothing. Then he leaned back in his chair, his eyes dark and thoughtful.“You want know me?” he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.“I think I can try,” Olivia replied.Victor studied her for a long moment before finally speaking. “You’ve probably heard stories about me. People love to talk about the monster Victor Castellano. But what they don’t understand is that monsters are made, not born.”His words sent a fear in her. She wanted to ask further, bu
The morning sun cast a soft glow over the mansion, but Olivia’s mind was anything but calm. She sat in the library, a quiet corner of Victor’s expansive home that she had come to cherish. A heavy book rested in her lap, but the words on the pages fades as her thoughts drifted to the events of the night before.Victor’s touch lingered like a phantom on her skin. She had spent the night in his arms, his possessive grip refusing to let her go even in sleep. And while her body still felt the echoes of his dominance, her mind was at war. Was his obsession love, or something darker?As she tried to shake off the memory, her eyes fell on a file left on the nearby desk. It was unlike Victor to leave anything out in the open, he guarded his secrets fiercely. Curiosity tugged at her, and despite the risk, she reached for the folder.Inside were documents, maps, and photographs. At first glance, they seemed to be intelligence reports on Victor’s enemies. But as she flipped through the pages, her
The tension in the mansion was deep, like the calm before a storm. Olivia had barely slept since the incident at the southern gate. Whispers among the staff spoke of an organized attack, though Victor had kept the details from her.The next morning, she found him in his study, surrounded by maps, documents, and his most trusted advisors. His expression was as cold and calculating as ever, but the dark circles under his eyes betrayed his exhaustion.“Victor,” she said, stepping into the room.His head snapped up, his sharp eyes softening slightly when he saw her. “You shouldn’t be here,” he said, though there was no bite in his voice.Ignoring his warning, Olivia approached the table. “I want to help.”The room fell silent as Victor’s men exchanged uneasy glances. One of them, a tall man with a scar on his left eye, cleared his throat. “Sir, with all due respect, this is no place for…”“She stays,” Victor interrupted, his voice leaving no room for argument.The man nodded and stepped b
The following morning, the sunlight came through Olivia’s windows, its warmth was opposite to the cold tension of the night before. Her mind replays the events in the archives, the look of fear and willpower on Victor’s face as he swore to protect her. It left her tensed, torn between gratitude for his protection and frustration at the cage he kept her in.The knock at her door startled her. Before she could answer, the door swung open, and Victor stepped inside. He was perfectly dressed, as always, but there was a softness in his eyes she wasn’t used to seeing.“I’ve arranged for you to have access to the gardens,” he said without introduction.Olivia blinked, unsure if she’d heard him correctly. “The gardens?”He nodded. “You’ve been closed up inside for too long. You deserve a bit of fresh air.”She stared at him, her mind racing. Was this a joke? Some kind of test? But his expression betrayed nothing but sincerity.“Thank you,” she said cautiously.Victor steps closer, his fingers
Olivia sat on her bed, her knees drawn up to her chest, staring out the massive window of Victor’s mansion. The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in colors of orange and red, but its beauty did little to ease the storm inside her.Victor’s words from the night echoes in her heart: You’re everything.She had seen the fear in his eyes, the desperation in his voice when he’d begged her to stay out of his affairs. He wasn’t just trying to control her; he was terrified of losing her.It was a revelation that both softened and confused her. Victor’s actions… his overprotectiveness, his jealousy, even his violence wasn’t just about power or control. They were born from a place of deep, all-consuming love.But was it love?Olivia hugged her knees tighter. Love was supposed to be tender and freeing, not suffocating and cruel. And yet, there were moments like when he held her in his arms or whispered her name that made her heart ache.The door creaked open, pulling her from her tho
Olivia’s heart tightens as she watched Victor pace back and forth in his study, his phone pressed against his ear. His voice, sharp and commanding, carried through the room as he barked orders to his men.The mansion was still winding from Emilia’s bold attack. Broken glass littered the hallways. Olivia knew she was walking on a fine line, but she couldn’t stand by while chaos consumed them.When Victor ended the call, she cleared her throat. “Victor, we need…..”He shot her a warning glance. “Not now, Olivia.”“No, we’re talking now,” she said, standing her ground.Victor’s jaw tightens, but he said nothing, his silence granting her permission to continue.“I think I can help,” she said, her voice softening. “If Emilia wants revenge, then maybe we can offer her something that will make her back off. A truce, or...”Victor’s sharp laugh cut her off. “You think you can reason with someone like Emilia? She doesn’t want a truce, Olivia. She only wants blood.”“But have you even tried?” s
The air in the estate was cold. News of the ambush had spread quickly among Victor’s men, and the once-solid fortress now felt fragile. Olivia sat in her room, her thoughts racing. Victor hadn’t returned since the gunshot, and the guard who escorted her inside had offered no answers.She paced back and forth, her mind flickering between anger and worry. The kiss they had shared earlier haunted her…. how close they had been, how real it felt. And yet, it only made his sudden absence more unbearable.A sharp knock at the door snapped her from her thoughts. Before she could respond, the door swung open, and Victor stepped inside. He looked different, wild, his shirt stained with blood, though it didn’t appear to be his.“Victor!” she exclaimed, rushing towards him. “What happened? Are you okay?”He held up a hand, stopping her in her tracks. His expression was dark, his usual controlled posture was at the edges. “I’m fine,” he said curtly. “But things are about to get worse.”Olivia’s he
Victor’s estate was quieter than usual, yet the silence seemed on edge. The threat from the rival gang hung over everything, but inside the mansion, there was a different kind of battle steeped between Victor and Olivia…. one of control, trust, and a promising connection.Victor had always been cautious, keeping Olivia under a metaphorical lock and key. However, something in her recent decision to cooperate had softens him. Though she still bristled against his authority, her willingness to acknowledge the danger surrounding them marked a light shift in their dynamic.That morning, Victor summoned Olivia to his office. When she entered, she noticed how different he looked. His usually harsh expression had softened, and there was an unusual calm in him.“You wanted to see me?” Olivia asked, keeping her voice even.Victor gestured for her to sit, his dark eyes scanning her face. “I’ve been thinking,” he began. “Perhaps it’s time to loosen some of the restrictions.”Her eyebrows shot up
Victor’s presence had become even more suffocating in the past few days. It wasn’t just his eyes watching her from everywhere, but the constant tension, the weight of the knowledge that danger was always lurking just out of sight. Olivia could feel it, an undercurrent of danger that surrounded both of them, stronger than ever.She had never seen him like this, his eyes dark with unspoken worry, his jaw tight, his movements more guarded. The cold and calculated Victor she had known seemed to be slipping away, replaced by someone who, was increasingly desperate to protect her.It was frightening.Tonight, as she walked through the hallways of the mansion, she couldn’t ignore the way the guards’ eyes lingers on her… sharp. Something had changed.A knock at the door startled her from her thoughts.“Come in,” she called, still uneasy about the entire situation.Victor entered in without hesitation. His sharp eyes saw the room, as if ensuring everything was in its place.“Olivia,” he said,
The hours dragged on in the study after Victor’s departure, and Olivia could feel the silence pressing in around her. She paced the room, unable to settle her thoughts. She had always been good at handling her emotions, but now, with each passing minute, her feelings for Victor were slipping out of control.Her mind kept replaying the look in his eyes, the unexpected tenderness of his touch and the way his words had pushed the feeling between them. It was all wrong. She knew it was wrong. She had to push him away before it was too late.She wasn’t naive enough to believe she could find happiness in this twisted world they were caught in. She had come too far to let herself be distracted by desire, by emotions that would only drag her deeper into danger.Her heart twisted at the thought.Why do I care so much?Victor was a threat to both, her body and her heart.Olivia stopped pacing and walked towards the window, staring out at the city below.A knock at the door startled her from her