Hazel did as Lily instructed, walking slowly to her room, a growing sense of unease gnawing at her. The silence of the house felt stifling, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was being hidden from her. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a car horn outside, signaling Francisco’s return. She hesitated for a moment before stepping out of the room, hoping to get some answers.As she descended the stairs, Hazel saw Max waiting at the bottom. He looked up and said, “Ms. Hazel, come to the library.”Hazel followed Max, her footsteps echoing through the empty halls. When she entered the library, she spotted Francisco flipping through the pages of a book. He looked up with a faint smile as they approached.“Sorry for the delay,” Francisco said, closing the book and setting it aside.“I had to handle some urgent work.”Hazel’s relief was tempered by lingering concern.“Are we staying here?” she asked, trying to sound casual.“Yes, but I thought it would be best to brin
Francisco’s eyes narrowed as he observed Hazel’s fury and desperation.He moved closer, grabbing her arms firmly as she struggled to break free.“Kill?” Francisco’s tone was icy. “How could you say that?”Hazel’s eyes, filled with tears and defiance, refused to meet his. Her mind was racing, trying to reconcile the brutal reality before her with the love she had once tried to convince herself she felt.“I did not kill them, honey,” Francisco said, forcing Hazel to look up at him. His grip was unyielding, and his expression was one of cruel amusement. He seemed to relish her distress.Hazel, however, was not in the mood for his games. She wrenched herself away from his grasp, her voice breaking into a shout. “Ah...!”Francisco’s smile faded as Hazel’s anger reached a boiling point. “Shut the fuck up,” she snapped, her voice hoarse and filled with rage. “Just tell me where they are! What have you done to them?”Her words cut through the dimly lit room with a raw intensity. Francisco’s e
Francisco clutched Hazel tightly as her body went limp, her sudden collapse shocking him more than he let on. Her fragile frame fit perfectly into his arms, her face pale, lips slightly parted as if caught between a breath. His heart raced, but he forced himself to breathe deeply, to stay calm. He lowered his head, his lips brushing against her forehead, a gesture of tenderness that contradicted the dark turmoil within him."Why don’t you understand, Hazel?" His voice was low, almost a whisper, as he held her close. The warmth of her skin against his made his chest tighten."I told you not to betray me, honey."He stared down at her, unconscious and vulnerable, and something inside him wavered. He hadn't anticipated that her deception would cut this deep.His hand trembled slightly as he brushed a strand of hair from her face."But you pretended with me," he continued, his voice breaking ever so slightly. "I didn’t even think it was all your acting, Hazel. It seemed so real."His gaze
"I spent the whole day torturing that bastard. My mind was consumed with rage, with betrayal."Francisco’s hand reached out, brushing against Hazel’s arm, but she didn’t react."And then I thought… what better way to show him than to love you in front of his eyes? To show him how much you enjoy our intimate moments together."Hazel's lips trembled, the reality of what Francisco had done crashing over her. Rafael had seen everything, and the thought made her feel exposed, vulnerable in a way she had never felt before. How could she ever face him again?"But…" Francisco hesitated, his voice faltering for the first time."But, I couldn’t. I didn’t want anyone to see my angel’s beautiful body, to hear your moans. Those are only for me." His words were possessive, a twisted form of affection. "That bastard only saw us kiss. Nothing more."Hazel took a deep breath, her mind reeling. The room felt like it was closing in on her, the weight of Francisco’s actions pressing down on her chest. Sh
Hazel’s eyes darted to a glass window on the side of the room. Through it, she could see the room where Francisco, and she were intimated, the memory of that night flooding back with sickening clarity. She pressed her lips together, trying to keep herself from breaking down. Her voice trembled as she called out, “Rafael…”A low groan escaped Rafael's lips as he lifted his head slowly, the movement pained and sluggish. His face was a mess of bruises, one eye swollen shut and darkened. But it was his hands that drew Hazel’s attention — one of his fingers had been cruelly severed, leaving a gruesome reminder of Francisco’s brutality. Hazel's breath caught in her throat, and she felt her stomach twist as their eyes met. The storm inside her raged, tearing her apart with guilt, fear, and a deep, aching sorrow. She hadn’t imagined it would ever come to this, not to Rafael, not like this. She quickly lowered her gaze, unable to bear the sight of him, unable to stop the tears that were wellin
Hazel felt Francisco’s grip tighten, the tension in the air growing thicker by the second. She knew how dangerous his rage could be. If she didn’t do this right, Rafael’s life would be in even greater danger. Francisco wouldn’t hesitate to kill him.“It’s the truth,” she forced herself to say, her voice cold and distant, even as it tore her apart inside.“No,” Rafael cried, shaking his head as tears streamed down his bruised face. “Don’t think about me, Hazel. I know you love me. You’re doing this to save me, I know it.”Francisco’s mouth opened, ready to spew something cruel, but Hazel quickly cut him off. “Rafael!” she said sharply, drawing both their attention back to her.“I love him, only him,” she continued, her voice steady despite the agony in her chest. “We had some good memories, you and I. But now, Francisco is everything to me. Please… try to understand. I don’t want to go with you guys.”Each word was like a knife in her heart, but she had to make Rafael believe it. It w
Hazel's voice trembled as she asked, "Can we go, Francisco?"Francisco's hand tightened around her waist, his fingers lingering possessively. He looked down at her, his expression unreadable. "You can go," he said, his tone calm but with an underlying threat. "Wait in the car. I’ll join you in two minutes."Hazel felt a wave of dread wash over her, but she forced herself to nod. Her face tightened as she fought to maintain her composure. Before leaving the chamber, she glanced back at Rafael, her heart breaking all over again. Francisco had given her the chance to say a proper goodbye, to hug Rafael one last time, but she knew she couldn’t. If she touched him, even for a moment, she feared she would lose all her resolve.“Goodbye, Rafael,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. Then, without looking back, she turned and quickly left the chamber.As she walked toward the car, Hazel’s pace quickened, her emotions threatening to overwhelm her. The moment she slid into the car, she brok
The pain in her arm was sharp, but Hazel didn’t flinch. It was nothing compared to the emotional pain she’d been enduring, the turmoil of being trapped between the man she feared and the man she loved. Her eyes met Francisco’s, and for a moment, she saw the raw vulnerability hidden behind his rage.But instead of pulling away or responding with fear, Hazel leaned in closer, closing the distance between them until her lips were just inches from his. She could feel his breath against her skin, hot and uneven. With a voice as smooth as silk, she whispered, “Wanna fuck?”Hazel bit her lower lip provocatively, her eyes locked onto Francisco’s as he stood frozen, his expression hardening. She traced her fingers slowly down his neck, her voice a soft, seductive whisper."We can fuck, can’t we? You like to fuck me, right?"Her words hung in the air like a challenge. Francisco’s grip on her shoulders tightened, his fingers digging into her skin, and Hazel let out a low moan, not from pleasure
“Will you be able to handle everything?” Francisco asked, his voice low as he and Max walked through the quiet garden under the night sky.“Do I have any other option?” Max replied, glancing at him.They both fell silent for a moment, only the sound of their footsteps on the gravel breaking the stillness.“So, you’ve really decided to go through with this?” Max asked, sensing something heavy on Francisco’s mind.“Yes,” Francisco replied, exhaling a puff of smoke into the cool air.“I have to do whatever it takes to protect her... and the child.”Max looked at him with concern.“Francisco, I don’t know… is it really worth it? All of this?”Francisco took a deep breath, then threw the cigarette to the ground, crushing it beneath his shoe.“Max,” he said firmly, “for me, she is everything.""And soon, she’ll give me the best gift I could ever have.”Max looked around the still garden, the silence pressing in.“I’ll pray for you,” he muttered, then let out a soft laugh.“Pray? When we’re
James took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and muttered, “Yeah, everything I do irritates you, but when it comes to Francisco—everything he does is just perfect, right?”Lilith narrowed her eyes, her patience clearly thinning.“James, just shut up.”He smirked, not bothering to hide the satisfaction in her irritation. “Fine, I’ll stop. But let’s not forget—you lost him too.”Lilith’s expression darkened. Her jaw clenched, and for a moment, it looked like she might speak, but she chose silence. Her cold stare said enough.Dimitri let out an audible sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Alright, enough. Let’s stay on topic.”Andrew leaned forward, glancing around the table. “We all know this won’t be easy. Francisco may be reckless, but he’s done a lot—things that kept the balance. We need to decide—do we support this internal power shift, or not?”Dimitri raised a brow and turned to Michele, Kai’s son. “Speaking of balance, Michele... I heard about the recent attack on Francisco.”Mic
The next morning, when Hazel woke up, something felt different. She looked around the room, her brows knitting together in confusion. The walls, once cast in shadows and a cold ambiance, now glowed with soft, natural light. The curtains were lighter, fresh flowers adorned the corners, and the overall atmosphere felt warm—inviting.No longer did the room feel like a prison.Hazel propped herself up on one elbow. “What is this…?”Just then, Lily entered with a bright smile and a large bouquet of fresh flowers in her arms. “Good morning, ma’am.”Hazel blinked in surprise. “Good morning… but what’s going on?”“Sir instructed us to redecorate the room,” Lily replied, arranging the flowers in a vase by the window. “He said it should feel brighter for you.”Hazel raised an eyebrow. “Why?”Lily smiled softly. “Because the doctor said it would help improve your mood.”Hazel pressed her lips into a thin line and said nothing. She simply stood and made her way to the washroom. After freshen
Enemies surrounded Francisco from all sides. He had built his empire on blood, and now the ghosts of his past were closing in.On him.On her.On their unborn child.Hazel studied him for a moment longer before shifting her gaze back to the book in her lap.Francisco’s voice cut through the silence."I didn’t mean to shock you."Hazel didn’t look up. Her tone was flat."It’s nothing new for me."Francisco clasped his palms together, his fingers pressing against each other in thought. He wanted to keep talking to her, to break through the walls she had built around herself, but Hazel was determined to end the conversation before it even began.He blinked slowly, exhaling through his nose.As he watched her, something stirred inside him—an overwhelming craving. He wanted to pull her into his arms, to hold her close, to feel the warmth of her body against his.He had heard that pregnant women experienced mood swings, that they craved more affection even as they pushed people away.Was th
“So the deal is more important to you than your child?” Arthur asked, his voice gentle yet firm.Hazel fell silent.Her heart pounded faster, but she forced herself to ignore it.Then, Arthur spoke again.“Will you really be able to live without your child, ma’am?”Hazel’s fingers tightened around the book she was holding. She had only been thinking about her freedom, about escaping the monster who had taken everything from her. But she hadn’t once stopped considering the child.Would she really leave her baby with him?Would the child grow up to be like Francisco—a ruthless mafia king?A deep frown creased Hazel’s forehead.No. She didn’t want to think about that. That wasn’t her concern.She was only supposed to care about herself.That was the plan.That was the deal.That was it.Taking a deep breath, she spoke, her voice steady but cold.“Arthur.”Arthur’s eyes remained on her, waiting.“Do you know your boss is monitoring me?” she asked, tilting her head slightly. “Every second.
Francisco and Hazel arrived at the mansion after the dangerous chaos. The ride had been silent, but the weight of what had happened lingered between them like an unspoken storm.Hazel’s face was gloomy, her expression distant. She wasn’t naive—she knew this was only the beginning.There would be more.More blood. More danger.More reasons to fear for the life growing inside her.Her hand instinctively rested on her belly.At first, she didn’t care much about the child. The idea of carrying Francisco’s baby had been unbearable. But now, an unfamiliar feeling twisted inside her—something more than just obligation. A strange, indefinable bond.Francisco, watching her closely, noticed the way her fingers pressed lightly against her stomach. He didn’t say anything, but he understood.She was shaken.She hadn’t expected an attack so soon.He clenched his jaw. From now on, he had to be more careful.Whatever he had been before—ruthless, reckless, untouchable—it didn’t matter anymore. Now, he
Francisco glanced at his bodyguard, his tone sharp and commanding.“Take her from here. I’ll handle this.”The bodyguard hesitated, his grip tightening on his weapon.“Boss, it’s too risky. How can I leave you alone?”Francisco’s gaze snapped at him, cold and unwavering.“Do you need me to shoot you right now?”That was enough.The bodyguard stiffened, lowering his head in obedience.“Understood.”He turned toward Hazel.“Ma’am.”But Hazel wasn’t moving.Her eyes were locked on Francisco as he fired at the advancing enemies, drawing their attention toward himself.Each shot echoed with deadly precision, but Hazel saw it clearly—he was outnumbered, and he was bleeding.Still, he didn’t hesitate.Didn’t falter.The bodyguard reached for her arm, his grip firm, almost forceful.“We need to move.”Hazel barely registered his words. She was staring at Francisco, unwilling to leave.As they shifted to retreat, a sudden bullet shattered the glass near them with a sharp crack.Hazel ducked in
Max’s phone rang as he worked through a stack of files. Without thinking, he glanced at the screen.Diana.He hesitated, a flicker of agitation crossing his face. For a moment, he considered ignoring it.But he couldn’t.With a sigh, he answered."Yes?"There was silence at the other end. Then, after a brief pause, Diana’s voice came through, quieter than usual."Francisco came here.""I know," Max replied flatly, his tone robotic.Diana took a deep breath, trying to steady herself."Max… I’m not feeling good about this. Francisco… he’s messing everything up. I don’t know what to do."Max slowly set the file down, his jaw tightening. He knew exactly what she meant.But he also knew there was no turning Francisco back now.A faint, bitter smile tugged at the corner of his lips.Sarcastic.Resigned.Francisco loved Hazel so much. So much that, if anyone stood in his way, Francisco wouldn’t hesitate to ruin everything.And the dangerous part? People wanted that kind of devotion."Diana,"
"Hazel."Francisco gently guided her to sit beside him, closer than before. He didn’t wait for her response."Our baby will play like them, right?" His voice was soft, almost hopeful.Hazel remained silent.Then, suddenly, she felt a touch on her belly.She froze.Francisco's large palm traced over her stomach, slow and deliberate. Her heartbeat quickened."I wonder how much he or she has developed inside you," he murmured. His words echoed in her mind, stirring something deep within her.When Hazel first learned she was pregnant, her immediate thought was to end it. She didn’t want to carry the child of a man who had turned her life into a nightmare. A mafia king—a ruthless, heartless man.And yet… she couldn’t.Francisco was right. Their child would play one day.She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, and slowly raised her eyes.The moment she did, she met his gaze.Francisco was leaning in closer, watching her intently.A wave of discomfort washed over her. She didn’t wan