Olivia stirred awake, her soft lashes fluttering against her cheeks as the soft morning light gets into the room. Her eyes drifted to Victor, who was sitting by her bed. He was reading a book, his fingers tracing the edges of the pages, but his attention immediately shifted to her as soon as she moved.“Good morning,” he greeted her softly.“Morning,” Olivia replied. Every day, Victor was there; caring for her, watching over her, and yet he was a stranger. A handsome and charming stranger who claimed to be her husband.She studied him. How could someone so sophisticated, so wealthy, possibly be tied to her? The thought bothered at her.Victor gets up from his seat. He placed the book on the side table and stepped closer. “Are you hungry? The nurse said you can start having something more solid today.Olivia nodded. As he gets the plate and spoon, she watched him carefully. His presence was commanding, but there was a gentleness in the way he handled the tray.He sat on the edge of her
As the days passed, Olivia’s strength continued to improve, and with it came more fragments of memories. They were small at first…. a fleeting image of Victor and her struggles echoing in her ears. But one night, as she lay in bed, an intense memory struck her like lightning.She was in a car, the world spinning around her. Eran’s voice called out her name, panic passing in his voice. Then there was the sound of metal crunching, glass breaking, and everything went dark.Olivia shot up in bed with a scream, her heart pounding hardly. She pressed a hand to her chest, struggling to catch her breath.Victor burst into the room moments later, his eyes wide with concern. “Olivia, what’s wrong?”“I… I remembered something,” she said, her voice shaking.He crossed the room in an instant, sitting beside her and taking her face in his hands. “What did you remember?”She looked at him, tears passing in her eyes. “The accident. Eran… he was with me. I… I think he called my name before it happened
The following days Olivia’s confrontation with Victor were marked by an unspoken tension. She avoided him when he entered the room, her mind still stuck in the memories that had surfaced. Despite her uncertainties, she couldn’t deny the care and devotion he showed her, the gentleness opposite to the flashes of anger from her past.Victor, on the other hand, gave her space, though he wanted to stay close to her. Each night, he would sit by her door, ensuring she feels safe, while silently regretting his past actions.One afternoon, Olivia decided to take a walk in the garden. Lost in thought, she didn’t hear his footsteps until he was standing beside her. “Olivia,” Victor said softly.She turned her face, her expression guarded. “Victor.”“I wanted to check on you,” he said, his eyes seeing her face for any sign of distress. “You’ve been quiet since… that night.”“I’ve been thinking,” she admitted. “About everything. About you. About me.”Victor’s heart tightens. “And what have you dec
Olivia was sitting in her room long after Victor’s confession. The truth he had revealed was hard for her, yet it explained so much…..the memories that had surrounded, the fear she once felt. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, her own face feeling unfamiliar.Was forgiveness even possible after everything? And if it was, did she have the strength to give it?The next morning, Victor was waiting in the dining room. He had barely slept; his thoughts were full with Olivia’s reaction. When she enters the room, their eyes met, and he stood, unsure of what to expect.“Good morning,” he said softly, his voice was cautious.Olivia nodded, taking a seat across from him. Finally, she spoke, her tone measured. “I’ve been thinking about what you told me.” “I’m not saying I forgive you…not yet,” she said, her eyes steady. “But… I think I want to try. To see if we can move on.”Relief passed over Victor’s face, and he nodded. “I promise I won’t let you down.”In the following days, Victor
“You’re beautiful,” Victor mumbled against her skin, his voice filled with adoration.Olivia’s response was a soft moan as she pulled him closer, their bodies moving in perfect accord. The intimacy between them was raw, passionate, and unrestrained, marking a turning point in their relationship.As the night deepens, the tension between them dissolved. Victor’s touch became more insistent, his lips finding hers in a kiss that spoke of longing and desire. Olivia responded, her fingers going through his hair as she pulled him closer.Their kisses grew more and more heated, their breaths mingling as Victor’s hands explored her body. He lifted her effortlessly, carrying her in his arms.Victor laid her down gently, his eyes searching hers for permission. Olivia nodded, her heart pounding as she surrendered to him completely.Victor’s kisses got down her neck, his hands roaming her body with a worship that made
“What is it?” she asked, her voice laced with worry.Victor hesitated, his jaw tightening as he debated whether to tell her. Finally, he met her eyes, his eyes filled with a mix of protectiveness and fear.“It’s a message,” he said slowly. “Someone… is threatening us.”Olivia’s breath hitched, her hand instinctively going to her belly as if to shield the life growing within her. “What do they want?”Victor’s grip on the phone tightens, his voice low and dangerous. “They want to take everything from me. But I won’t let them. Not you and not our baby.”As his words hung in the air, a chill settle over the room, the warmth of their earlier moments giving way to an impending sense of danger.The next morning, Olivia awoke to the gentle sound of birds chirping outside the window but her thoughts were far from peaceful. She turned her face to Victor, who was already up, sitting beside her bed, his eyes scanned through his phone with an intense focus.She couldn’t help but admire him, the wa
The sound of the explosion jolted Olivia from her sleep. Her heart raced as she sat up in bed, her eyes darting around the room. Victor was already on his feet, his sharp instincts kicking in as he grabbed the gun he kept hidden in a drawer.“Stay here,” he commanded, his voice low.“Victor, what’s going on?” Olivia whispered, fear in her voice.“I don’t know yet, but I’ll find out. Lock the door behind me and don’t open it for anyone but me. Promise me, Olivia.”She nodded, though her hands shakes as she reached for the blanket. Victor kissed her forehead before he turned and slipped out of the room. She clutched her stomach, her mind racing with worry for both Victor and their unborn child.Victor moved swiftly through the house; his steps silent as a predator’s. His security team had already mobilized, and he met them at the entrance.“What happened?” he asked.
Victor’s eyes burnt with a fury that made Olivia’s breath catch. He crumpled the photograph in his hand, the note’s chilling words echoing in both their minds.“Victor, who could have sent this?” Olivia asked.He placed the photograph on the table and pulled Olivia into his arms. “Someone who thinks they can scare me,” he replied, his voice dark. “But they don’t understand what they’ve just done. No one can threaten my family.”Olivia feels his resolve in the strength of his embrace. She looked up at him, her eyes searching his. “We’ll get through this together, right?”Victor softened slightly; his fingers brushed against her cheek. “Always,” he promised.The following day, Victor called a private security team, the best money could buy. Olivia watched as strangers moved through their home, installing surveillance equipment and guarding entry points. It
Victor’s mood was unpredictable the next morning. He avoided Olivia entirely, retreating to his study and shutting himself away. The silence was suffocating, but Olivia couldn’t bring herself to approach him after what had happened.By the time evening was around, Victor emerged. He found Olivia in the library, her fingers idly tracing the back of books.“Come with me,” he said, his voice leaving no room for argument.Olivia followed him to his study, her heart pounding. She half-expected him to get angry, to punish her for her attempted manipulation.But instead, Victor surprised her.He poured them both a drink and gestured for her to sit. For a long moment, he simply stared into his glass, the weight of unspoken words pressing down on them.Finally, he spoke. “Do you know why I am the way I am, Olivia?”She shook her head, unsure of how to respond.Victor’s jaw clenched. “When I was a boy, I had a sister. Isabella. She was everything I wasn’t kind, compassionate, full of life. She
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 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 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
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
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
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
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 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