Iris POV:He was staring at me angrily while smoking, his gaze sharp and unforgiving.God, please save me tonight.He started to walk toward me, his footsteps echoing in the quiet night. He stood directly in front of me, his presence looming large and intimidating.I closed my eyes, bracing myself for a possible slap, but it never came.When I cautiously opened one eye, I saw him just staring at me, emotionless. I hurriedly opened both eyes, my heart pounding in my chest.He bent down slightly and blew the smoke from his cigarette directly in front of my face.The acrid smell filled my nostrils, making me cough uncontrollably as I tapped my chest firmly, trying to clear my throat.A satisfied, almost sinister smile curled on his lips. He looked every bit the evil man he was reputed to be."You're late. Why is that?" he asked, his voice low but filled with menace."Work," I mumbled under my breath.Suddenly, he yanked off my hood and grabbed my jaw with a vice-like grip. The pressure wa
Ace POV:"Do you like it, Acey?" Athena chirped beside me, her voice dripping with an over-enthusiastic sweetness.I stared at my phone, scrolling through it with disinterest. Athena had asked me what I liked to eat, and I'd mentioned fried rice.Now she was pretending she made it herself, though I knew it was actually from the maids.I sighed, annoyed by the charade. "Yeah, sure," I muttered, though my mind was elsewhere.Since that day with Iris, she had been avoiding me at every turn.I was tipsy that day.I had tried to bring her some clothes, but she had declined, claiming she had her own to wear.What a dumb girl she is?Why does she have to be this difficult?"Come on, Acey~ Nowadays you're not giving me attention," Athena whined, her hand resting on my arm in a way that was meant to be endearing but only grated on my nerves."Stop it," I growled through clenched teeth.Today was Sunday and this women is gonna make me rip off her tongue."Boss," Ivan's voice cut through my irrita
Ace POV:I was in my office working, but my mind kept drifting to the girl who had turned my life upside down.It was already 8 in the evening, and I knew everyone would be gathered in the dining hall by now.A knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts. It was Athena, informing me that dinner was ready. I followed her to the dining hall, where everyone was already seated.The room was silent, and I noticed with a frown that Iris was nowhere in sight.I took my seat and started scrolling through my phone, trying to ignore the mounting tension."Where's the new girl?" Leo asked, breaking the silence."She's eating with the maids," Athena replied nonchalantly. I could almost hear the eye-roll in her voice."Why the hell is she eating there?" Aiden chimed in."Well, because she's a maid," Athena said with a matter-of-fact tone."And for just a maid, this man held her so gently and helped her this afternoon," Leo pointed at me, raising an eyebrow.Aiden leaned back with a grin, "He do
Author POV:"Mini... breathe," Ace murmured softly as he set Iris on the bed, but her sobs were uncontrollable. Her cries echoed in the room, each one a piercing sound of her distress.She was shaking violently, her tears streaming down her cheeks. Ace's attempts to soothe her seemed futile at first.He cupped her face in his hands, his touch surprisingly gentle for someone who had just been so harsh.She tried to push him away, her small hands weakly shoving at his chest."Mini, breathe with me," he urged, his voice steady but laced with concern. He held her thrashing body close, his arms wrapped around her with an ironclad hold.Her hands were still pushing against his chest, her efforts to escape futile. She continued to struggle, but after what seemed like an eternity, she finally began to calm down.She slumped against him, her sobs growing quieter as she ended up sitting on his lap, clinging to him as if he were her last lifeline.Ace held her tightly. His grip didn't loosen; if
Author POV:"FUCK! FUCK!" Ace's enraged roar echoed through the mansion as he ran his hands through his disheveled hair.His anger was raw and palpable, a storm of emotions that had erupted uncontrollably.The broken vases and shattered glasses strewn across the floor were a testament to his fury.In Hudson's room, the rest of the guys stood around, seemingly unfazed by the chaos. Their expressions ranged from concern to curiosity, but none dared to intervene.Aiden, meanwhile, was meticulously guarding the injured rabbit."Are you out of your mind?" Liam asked calmly, his voice steady despite the disarray around him.But Ace was fuming with anger, regretting what he said that time.Ace's mind was racing as he reflected on the harsh words he had unleashed.The realization that Iris had heard him added another layer of regret to his already conflicted feelings.He hadn't meant to hurt her, but the damage was done.Without acknowledging Liam, Ace stormed out of the house, his steps heavy
Ace POV:She was dropping a half mug of water on herself, then stopped and opened her eyes immediately.It was a weird behavior.THUD.She flinched at the sound and shot me a startled look as soon as I closed the door behind me.The way she tried to cover herself with bubbles and hide her two little ducks was almost comical.I approached her, crouching beside the tub, and gently tucked the damp hair that had stuck to her flushed face behind her ear.She flinched away at my touch, her eyes wide with apprehension.Now that I could do anything with her, I let out a big sigh."You could use a shower instead of a mug," I murmured, my voice low and soothing as I pulled the wet strands of hair away from her flushed cheeks.She inhaled deeply, her breath quickening as she stammered, "I don't know... how t-to use... it-its not opening."I reached for the shower handle with deliberate, unhurried movements. As I flipped it to the right, the water cascaded down in a gentle stream, creating a sooth
Ivan POV:"So you're telling me these are all for... Iris?" I asked, my voice laced with disbelief as I surveyed the impressive collection of clothing spread out before us.Ace barely glanced at me, his face impassive and devoid of any readable emotion.Without a word, he continued to sift through the dresses, his movements precise and methodical.Earlier, Ace had handed me a list, instructing me to purchase every item on it.The list was extensive, and it included a variety of items: 20 vintage dresses, 5 different types of jeans, 10 shirts, skirts, and tops, 10 undergarment sets, 5 accessories for reasons unknown to me, and several other miscellaneous items typically associated with a woman's wardrobe.I watched in confusion as the maids meticulously displayed each dress to Ace, awaiting his approval.His attention to detail was almost obsessive, as if every stitch and fabric choice mattered immensely to him.He's behaving weird.Ace Salvatore, known for his ruthlessness and cold dem
Ace POV:What the fuck is she doing here?Iris, trembling with fear, instinctively closed her legs and began to push me away. Her eyes were wide with a mix of panic and confusion.I could feel the rapid beat of her heart against my fingers as I gripped her hips gently, trying to offer some semblance of comfort.She stopped moving, her body tensing up as she fisted the sheets tightly, gasping softly.I glanced over and saw Athena staring at us with a look of disgust. Fucking bitch.My anger flared, and without a second thought, I got up, dragged Athena outside of my room, and threw her out, slamming the door in her face.The sheer rage coursing through me was barely containable.I couldn't believe I hadn't heard the door creak open? Fuck me.When I turned back to Iris, she was pressing herself against the headboard in fear. Her form was practically naked, save for a disheveled frock that barely clung to her hips.I released a deep sigh, running a hand through my hair in frustration.I s