The tension between Hazel and Francisco escalates as they arrive at the airport. The driver, sensing the brewing conflict, discreetly left them alone.Hazel, seemingly unaware of the brewing storm, innocently asked, "What happened?”“Won't we go?"Francisco, unimpressed with her dress, took off his coat and handed it to her, instructing, "Put it on."Hazel, wearing a stubborn expression, asked, "Why?"Francisco's stern look accompanied his reply, "Because I don't like it."Her defiance flared as she crossed her arms. "Oh, you don't like it?”“Then why did you choose this dress?""I found it in the closet.”"I'll wear it, and I have the right to do so."Hazel, determined to assert herself, reached for the car door, intending to proceed. However, Francisco swiftly intervened, grabbing her wrist and pulling her close."Only I can see, and you only have the right to show me, no one else," he declared possessively.Hazel, not one to back down, retorted, "Leave my hand! I will do whatever I
The car came to a stop in front of a mall, and Hazel gracefully stepped out. Her bodyguard, the one Francisco hired for her, remained dutifully by her side. Hazel took a moment to look around, the wheels in her mind turning.'I need to run away from here.''I don’t have my passport or anything. Francisco took everything from me.'As they started walking, Hazel abruptly halted in front of a dazzling diamond shop. A spark of mischief gleamed in her eyes as she declared, "I want to buy diamonds.""No problem, ma’am. Boss gave a card for you," her bodyguard replied.Hazel arched her eyebrows, feigning surprise, and asked, "I see."She tilted her head and added, "What is your name?""You can call me Arthur."A slight smile played on Hazel's lips as she said, "Arthur, you should be a model."Hazel's comment caught Arthur off guard, and he blushed slightly. He wasn't accustomed to compliments, especially not from the likes of Hazel.Arthur quickly lowered his gaze, attempting to change the t
"Arthur!"Hazel's voice echoed through the room, her gasps for air punctuating the tense atmosphere.With a swift motion, Arthur ended the call and turned his attention to the staff member.“What are you doing, Mr.? What is this behavior?” the staff member exclaimed, shock and annoyance evident in her tone.Arthur remained unfazed by her words, his focus solely on Hazel, whose face had turned pale with apprehension.In a moment of panic, Hazel feared that Arthur's actions were directed towards punishing the innocent staff member for her involvement.Struggling to articulate her thoughts, Hazel attempted to interject, but Arthur spoke before she could utter a word."I did not expect it from you, Ms.," he stated, disappointment evident in his tone as he directed his gaze towards the bewildered staff member."Would you come with me? I have something to talk to you."The staff member, caught between confusion and apprehension, glanced between Hazel and Arthur before nodding lightly, agree
As Francisco indulged in a much-needed shower, the tranquility of the hotel room was shattered by the arrival of room service bearing dinner. A man entered carrying the meal, followed closely by another with two bottles of champagne in hand.Hazel's patience wore thin as she took a deep breath, her eyes rolling in exasperation at the intrusion. The men placed the food and drinks on the table before her, offering courteous nods as they curtsied in her direction."Have a nice time, Ms.," one of them offered, their voices polite but their presence unwelcome in Hazel's eyes.But their attempt at hospitality took a turn when one of the men spoke up, voicing concern about the flavors of champagne they had brought."But as Sir did not tell us which flavor he likes, so we served two flavors," he explained, his words causing Hazel's eyes to narrow in suspicion.Maintaining a casual demeanor, Hazel replied, "It’s okay. I also don’t know his flavor. When he comes, I will tell him, he will inform
Francisco's intense gaze locked onto Hazel, a silent challenge burning in his eyes. Hazel's heart raced with apprehension as she braced herself for his response to her words."Mongoose and snake can't be together," Hazel reiterated, her voice trembling with defiance. Francisco's reaction was immediate; he tightened his grip on her, his displeasure evident as he forced her to spin and forcefully seated her on his lap.Hazel's body tensed as she felt his cold touch on her shoulder, her skin prickling with discomfort. Her strap slipped from her shoulder, exposing more of her skin to his unwelcome advances. Francisco's hand descended slowly, his fingers entwining with hers in a suffocating grip.A chill ran down Hazel's spine as Francisco's nose rubbed against her neck, his hot breath sending a shiver down her spine."No, Hazel," he murmured, his voice a low growl that filled her with desire."If the snake is stronger than the Mongoose, then the mongoose will be the prey," Francisco's wor
"Sir!"Adam's voice cut through the air, drawing Alex's attention away from his thoughts. Alex turned to face Adam, his expression expectant as he noticed the paper in Adam's hands."What happened, Adam?" Alex inquired, his tone tinged with curiosity and a hint of concern."Sir, it's about the call. It was actually from Texas," Adam explained, his words causing Alex's brow to furrow in confusion."Texas?" Alex repeated, his mind racing with possibilities as he tried to make sense of the new information.Adam nodded in confirmation, his demeanor serious as he relayed the details."The person who was following spotted him last at the airport," Adam continued, his voice laced with urgency.Alex's features hardened as he absorbed the information, a sense of unease settling in the pit of his stomach."But there was a lot of security, and he could not find out where Francisco left," Adam added, his words punctuated by a note of frustration."Also, he could not tell out his identity as we co
Hazel maintained her composure in the days that followed, carefully planning her next move while keeping a watchful eye on Francisco. Like a tigress waiting for her next prey, she bided her time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.Meanwhile, in a stall where Hazel had placed her last call to Alex, a sense of urgency hung heavy in the air as Robert and Adam arrived on the scene. Their presence drew the attention of a sweet-faced girl working in the shop."How can I help you?" the girl asked politely.Robert glanced around the store before focusing his gaze on the girl."Are you Petra?" he inquired, his voice laced with authority.The girl's expression shifted suddenly, a hint of fear flashing in her eyes as she shook her head."No," she replied quickly, her voice trembling slightly.Adam stepped forward, his tone urgent as he addressed the girl."We are the FBI, and it's urgent," he explained."Where is she?" Robert demanded, his voice firm as he sought answers.The girl hesitat
Hazel sat on the balcony, engrossed in a magazine, her thoughts filled with frustration at Francisco's behavior. Flipping through the pages, she stumbled upon a picture of Francisco and Emily together, igniting a surge of irritation within her.‘I can't believe how a man can be like this,’ she muttered to herself, her voice laced with disdain.‘I wish I could expose him in front of everyone.’Lost in her thoughts, she was startled when Francisco's voice broke the silence from behind her. He whispered, "What happened?"Hazel tensed, caught off guard by his sudden presence. She resisted the urge to turn around, keeping her gaze fixed on the magazine."Nothing," she replied curtly, her tone betraying her irritation."Just a magazine," she replied tersely, her frustration evident in her voice.Francisco moved closer, brushing her hair aside to rest his chin on her shoulder."What are you reading?" he inquired softly.Hazel sighed, her frustration building as Francisco continued to test he
“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