Olivia’s heart stopped as she stared at the text on her phone. Her hands shaking, and an icy chill crept through her body. She glanced over at Victor, who was peacefully asleep beside her. Should she wake him? Should she tell him immediately?
Her instincts screamed yes, but a part of her hesitated. The picture of Ava was taken in broad daylight at the gallery…. surrounded by people, security, and her own watchful eyes. How had someone gotten that close without being noticed?
The next morning, Olivia could barely sit still as Victor prepared for a day of meetings. He noticed her unease and touch her face gently, his eyes searching hers.
“You’ve been quiet since last night. Is something bothering you?” he asked softly.
Olivia bit her lip, debating whether to tell him. The memory of the message replays in her mind. She couldn’t keep it from him.
“There’s something you need to see,” she said finall
Victor guided Olivia back inside, his arm protectively wrapped around her waist. His mind was racing. Someone was playing dangerous, and he couldn’t risk letting them win.Once Ava was safely tucked in for the night and Olivia was preoccupied in her art studio, Victor made a discreet call to his head of security.“Whoever sent that message… they’re moving. I need a lockdown on all of our properties,” Victor ordered in a low and commanding voice. “Increase the security detail around Olivia and Ava. I don’t care what it costs.”“Understood, sir,” the voice replied.Victor’s jaw tightens as he hung up. He had built his empire by staying three steps ahead of everyone else, but now, with Olivia and Ava in his life, the risks were higher than ever.Meanwhile, in her studio, Olivia noticed that something was wrong. Victor had been distant. She tried to focus on her painting, the vibrant co
That night, Olivia was awake, her heart beating. The message had shaken her more than she wanted to admit. She trusted Victor, but the idea that someone was trying to drive a wedge between them was disgusting.Meanwhile, Victor sat in his study, his laptop open as he got through surveillance footage and reports. He was determined to find the source of the messages, but so far, the chance was cold.As the hours ticked by, Victor made a decision. Whoever was behind this was trying to create doubt and fear. He won’t let them succeed.The next morning, as Olivia prepared to leave for the gallery, she found an envelope on the front step. Her name was scrawled across it in elegant handwriting.She hesitated, then opened it. Inside was a single photograph.It was of Victor… standing outside a building she didn’t recognize, speaking to a woman she had never seen before.Olivia stared at the photograph in her hands, her heart pound
Victor was in his office when his phone rang. The moment he heard the panicked voice of Olivia’s gallery assistant, his blood ran cold.“Mr. Victor, Olivia didn’t make it to her car. We found her bag and phone on the side path. I think something’s happened!”Victor didn’t wait for details. He bolted from his chair, shouting orders to his security team as he ran towards home. His mind raced with fear and anger.“Not her,” he whispered to himself. “Not Olivia.”Olivia woke up in a dark room, her head pounding. The cold cement floor beneath her was freezing, and her wrists were bound with rough rope. Panic surged through her as she realized the severity of her situation.The sound of a door creaking open made her heart paused. A man stepped into the room… a tall, frightening figure with a cruel smile.“Mrs. Victor,” he drawled, his voice laced with threat. “Wel
Back at the ports, Victor’s car screeched to a halt. The black van Dawson had tracked was parked in a shadowy corner near an abandoned warehouse. The air was thick with the salty scent of the sea.Victor stepped out of the car. He didn’t wait for his men to catch up, striding toward the warehouse with a gun in hand.Inside, the gang leader sat in a makeshift office, smugly watching the CCTV footage of the warehouse area. He smirked when he spotted Victor’s tall frame storming towards the entrance. "Showtime," he murmured to himself, signaling his men to prepare for the ambush.Victor enters the warehouse cautiously, the light from a single bulb casting shadows on the walls. He moved silently; his gun was ready. The silence was threatening, broken only by the distant creak of metal and the sound of waves crashing against the ports.Suddenly, a noise to his left made him freeze. A shadow moved, and before he could react, two men attacked h
The sterilized white walls of the hospital were suffocating. Victor paced back and forth in the waiting room; his suit stained with Olivia’s blood. Every second that passed feels like hours. Nurses and doctors moved around him, their faces calm and indifferent, as if they didn’t understand the life and death battle happening behind those operating room doors.Victor’s fists were clenched so tightly that his nails were digging in his palms. His mind was racing. He couldn’t shake the image of Olivia’s pale face, her blood trickling through his fingers as he carried her to safety.If she didn’t make it… No. He couldn’t even finish the thought."Mr. Victor," Dawson interrupted, his voice hesitant. He stood a few feet away, holding a tablet. "We’ve secured the warehouse and detained the remaining gang members. The police are handling it now."Victor barely glanced at him. "I don’t ca
Victor pulled his car into the driveway of their house, the wheels crunching on the gravel. He came out quickly, circling to Olivia’s side to help her out. She moved slowly, her body still recovering from the trauma she had endured. In his arms, she felt smaller and weaker than usual and that thought only made him hold her tighter.Ava’s delighted giggles echoed from the garden. She had been kept away from the chaos, safe under the care of her nanny. As soon as she spotted her parents, the little girl ran towards them, her chubby arms wide open."Mommy! Daddy!" Ava’s voice was as bright as sunlight, a balm for the scars neither parent dared to speak of yet.Victor crouched, scooping Ava up effortlessly in one arm while supporting Olivia with the other. For a moment, the sight of his wife and daughter together made everything feel right again.Olivia smiled through the ache in her heart. Seeing Ava reminded her why she had fought so hard
Victor’s breathing grew ragged as the sound of sirens fills the air. Aaron lay lifeless on the cold pavement, his eyes staring blankly at the starless sky. Blood pooled around him, glistening threateningly under the harsh glare of the streetlights.Victor staggers, clutching his side where blood stained his shirt. His injuries screamed for attention, but his mind was clouded with a storm of guilt and rage.“Victor!” Olivia’s voice broke as she ran toward him. Tears streamed down her face as she saw the horrific scene…. the blood, the motionless body, and Victor barely standing.She reached him just as his knees buckled, catching his weight against her smaller frame. “We need to get you to a hospital,” she said, her voice trembling as she tried to keep him upright.Victor shook his head weakly. “I’ll… be fine. Check on Ava.”“No, Victor. I’m not leaving you like this,&rd
The glow of Olivia’s phone illuminates her face as Victor drove them home from the gallery. She stared at the message, her heart pounding hardly in her chest."You deserve better than him. Let me show you."She didn’t need a signature to know it was from Leo. The tone, the audacity… it all pointed to him. Her fingers trembles as she quickly locked her phone, unsure of what to do.“Olivia?” Victor’s voice broke her thoughts.She flinched, clutching the phone tightly. “Yes?”Victor glanced at her briefly, his sharp eyes catching the tension on her face even in the dim light. “You’ve been quiet. Did something happen?”“No,” she said quickly. “I’m just tired. It’s been a long night.”Victor didn’t look convinced, but he nodded, focusing on the road ahead. “If something’s bothering you, you can tell me, right?&r
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