POV: RyuuNitta’s gaze burned into me. I could feel the weight of my brother’s judgment, every rigid inch of his posture screaming disapproval. He stood beside me, arms crossed, head snapping in my direction."So that’s why you didn’t bring her home," he said, his voice devoid of doubt. No questions, just condemnation.My jaw clenched, but I kept my voice steady, cold. "There were a lot of reasons, Nitta. But yeah, that was part of it. You saw what happened when she got too close to our world. I won’t let that happen again."My throat tightened, but I buried it. It was an ugly truth. No matter how much I needed her close, Beatrice wouldn’t return until I’d cleared the path for her. For good.The men began filtering into the mansion, stepping through the double doors like they owned the place. Once, I had known them. Now, they were strangers—shadows of who they used to be. They moved with arrogant grins, unchecked entitlement. And I wasn’t going to tolerate it. Not here. Not on my gro
POV: BeatriceThey jolted apart. Mateo’s wide eyes met mine, shock flickering across his face as Nitta scrambled awkwardly. Mateo’s hair was a mess, his body half-covered by the sheets, and the sight of his bare skin made me want to look anywhere else.Stop staring, Beatrice."Bea!" Nitta blurted, his voice laced with panic as he shot up, moving away from Mateo, who was hastily pulling the covers over himself.Heat surged up my neck, burning my face. They were both completely naked. My feet moved on their own, almost tripping as I set the tray down and turned toward the door, desperate to leave. I barely made it out before the door clicked shut behind me."I shouldn’t have seen that," I whispered to myself, pressing my back against the hallway wall, struggling to steady my breath. My heart pounded so hard I could barely hear past the rush in my ears.From behind the door, Mateo’s muffled voice broke the silence. "She’s going to tell Ryuu."My hand instinctively clutched my chest, tryi
POV BeatriceRyuu’s brow furrowed slightly as he leaned back, giving me space. I reached for the envelope, my hand trembling as I passed it to him.“This came today,” I said, watching as he took it. His grip was firm, his expression hardening by the second. His jaw tensed as he tore open the paper, careless, impatient. The photos spilled into his lap.One by one, he flipped through them, his tension coiling tighter until a low, dangerous growl escaped his throat.“These photos of your mother… where did they come from?”I should have expected the question. Of course he would connect the dots. He wasn’t stupid. I exhaled slowly, avoiding his gaze for a moment.“Same envelope. Same handwriting. Same anonymity.”“Son of a bitch.” The words cut through the air like a blade, and I flinched. He threw the photos onto the floor, the images scattering at my feet.“How long has this been happening?” His voice was sharp, edged with barely restrained fury. I hesitated. “Beatrice. How long have you
POV: RyuuI was awake, lying in bed with one arm tucked behind my head, waiting for Beatrice to return. The room was steeped in silence, except for the restless thoughts circling my mind. I hadn’t heard her leave, but I noticed her absence the moment I woke up. I’m a light sleeper—something life had drilled into me—so any movement from her never went unnoticed. I just didn’t know where she had gone, and honestly, I hoped she hadn’t run from the mansion again.I wouldn’t chase after her this time, not when I knew she was safe at Vincenzo’s. But damn, it would bruise my pride if she left me again. If my wife needed to escape me twice in the dead of night, then the problem was with me, and that was unacceptable. Once had been humiliating enough.Luckily, she didn’t take long. I had barely started to lose myself in thought when I heard the quiet click of the door. Her soft footsteps crept across the floor, confirming her return. Beatrice crossed the room to her side of the bed, and I felt
POV BeatriceI glanced around. I had expected a simple hotel room, maybe with an attached bathroom. How naive of me. Suniza was staying in a sprawling penthouse, complete with a kitchen, a dining area, and a massive living room. A sanctuary for someone who preferred luxury over reality."To what do I owe this… visit?" She directed the question at Fukui, but the venom in it was meant for me. She moved toward the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of water without offering us anything.I inhaled deeply and stepped further inside, making it clear that I wasn’t leaving anytime soon, no matter how many veiled insults she threw my way."I came to talk to you," I said, keeping my voice steady despite the fire burning inside me. "About your affair with my father."The impact of my words was immediate. Suniza’s body stiffened, and her gaze snapped to mine, the glass trembling slightly in her grasp."Ah," she said, her voice laced with mock understanding. "Now I see why my dear daughter has final
POV: BeatriceMy heart pounded. Ryuu was never this openly affectionate, and the shift unsettled me in ways I wasn’t prepared for. Even knowing who he was, the danger he carried, I couldn’t ignore the electricity between us.But I also knew this was part of the game. A dangerous one."I…" I cleared my throat, trying to ground myself, to process how quickly everything had been arranged. I lifted my gaze to Ryuu, still dazed. "Thank you. Are we going alone?""Fukui and Nitta are staying. Someone needs to handle things while we’re away," he said firmly. "My father is at one of the houses in Sicily, but I doubt we’ll see him.""I thought he preferred Kobe."Ryuu sighed, his expression momentarily distant. "He likes to move around."It was clear he didn’t want to discuss it further, and honestly, I had no complaints about avoiding my father-in-law. That was one less thing to worry about."Alright… I should pack, then. How long until we leave?""Thirty minutes."Only then did I notice the c
POV BeatriceUnlike the Morunagas' luxury or my father’s excessive wealth, Aunt Loretta had always been practical. She drove her own car, worked tirelessly at the family restaurant, and raised four sons alone, surviving a difficult marriage. She hadn’t always been the one in charge, but now she was the force holding everything together. I had always admired her resilience."You’ve lost weight, Beatrice," she said suddenly, glancing at me through the rearview mirror. The comment hit like a punch to the stomach. I shifted closer to Ryuu, as if I could physically hide from the observation.When I didn’t answer, she turned her focus to him, her disapproval sharp."Is she eating properly? Is she being taken care of?""I’m fine," I cut in before he could respond. "Things have just been… complicated lately."Loretta hummed in response, unconvinced, but let it drop. The steady hum of the engine, the warmth inside the car, and the darkness outside lulled me into exhaustion. I leaned into Ryuu,
POV BeatriceAfter finishing our drinks, Loretta led us to the dining room. The table was set with an unusual level of care. She had even lit candles in the center."Are we celebrating something?" I asked, eyeing the perfectly arranged plates, the polished glasses, and the unopened bottle of champagne in the middle."You’re here in Italy with us. Isn’t that reason enough?" Bion’s voice came from the head of the table, low, deliberate. He had been quiet since we arrived, but I hadn’t missed how intently he had been watching—observing every interaction, every detail. His eyes darted between Ryuu and me, as if trying to gauge our dynamic. Or looking for a weakness.I knew what he was doing. He had made it clear in the Bahamas—by marrying Ryuu, my loyalty was with the Morunagas. I wouldn’t give him ammunition to use against us.Ryuu’s hand shifted slightly, resting on my thigh. The heat of his palm seeped through the fabric of my jeans, and as his thumb traced slow, deliberate circles, I
Beatrice’s POVMy breath hitched again, the weight of this nightmare pressing down on me, suffocating. Every choice felt like a trap, each second slipping away too fast. The room was empty, but death was circling, waiting, a predator in the dark.With trembling fingers, I typed the message: THERE ARE MEN IN THE HOUSE. I DON’T KNOW WHERE RYUU IS. I NEED HELP.The words glowed against the screen, sharp with panic. Pressing **send** felt like throwing an anchor into a storm, like clinging to something solid in a sea of terror. I tossed the phone onto the bed, my body stiff with fear, ears straining against the muffled footsteps outside. Time was slipping through my fingers. I couldn’t speak. One sound, one wrong move, and I was dead.I moved toward the c
Ryuu’s POV I never planned on going back to the bedroom that night. The only thing running through my mind was that Beatrice was safer without me. The past few weeks had dragged me into a pit I couldn’t climb out of. The anonymous threat against her, the pregnancy—everything weighed on me like lead, pressing down harder with every passing day. And today, after the appointment with Dr. Takagi, the reality finally hit me like a punch to the gut. That ultrasound image in my hands… I was going to be a father. The thought terrified me. How the hell was I—someone built from violence, shaped by control—supposed to be anything other than a disaster for this child? My father had failed me at every turn. What made me think I’d be any different? I shouldn’t have poured that first glass of whiskey in the dark silence of my office. But I didn’t stop at one. Or two. Or three. Or four. Now, all that was left was the bitter aftertaste and the emptiness growing with every sip
Beatrice’s POVI didn’t know what to say.The words stuck in my throat as I watched Sophia, her pain hidden behind that forced smile. A part of me felt like a terrible friend for unloading my own burdens on her, completely oblivious to the fact that hers might be far heavier.“I…” She hesitated, fidgeting with her fingers. “I didn’t handle it well afterward. I broke up with Fukui right after… and we never talked about it. I’ve never talked about it with anyone, actually.”Silence settled between us, thick and suffocating.“Are you…” My tongue felt dry as I searched for the right words. “Are you okay?&rd
Beatrice’s POVTwo weeks. That’s how long we’d been back in America.And yet, as I stared out the window of the black car, I still felt like I was in limbo. My reflection in the glass was pale, tense—just another ghost trapped in this endless cycle of uncertainty. Ryuu sat beside me, silent, his presence looming but unreadable.We were on our way to Dr. Takagi’s office.Today was my first ultrasound.The weight of that reality felt suffocating.Ryuu had arranged everything, just like he always did. And, to my surprise, he had kept his promise—staying by my side almost every day while I recovered.
Beatrice’s POVDespite his obvious irritation, Nitta listened. His lips pressed together in something that almost resembled a smirk, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. As he walked toward the door, he shot me one last look, as if asking if I was okay. I barely managed to return it before he was gone, the door clicking shut behind him.“Are you alright?” Ryuu asked, his tone unreadable.“You keep asking me that,” I muttered, my voice hoarse. The letter slipped from my fingers, drifting to the carpet between us.“Am I not allowed to worry?” His exhale was heavy. “You’re crying.”I wiped my face quickly, feeling stupid. Of
Beatrice’s POV“Things were weird last time we spoke,” I admitted, watching his face carefully.“I was an idiot,” Nitta sighed, his shoulders relaxing. Behind me, I heard Fukui greet Ryuu, but I didn’t turn.“What’s new?” Fukui coughed, and Nitta shot him a glare but didn’t rise to the bait.“Whatever you have with Ryuu isn’t my business. I know I already apologized, but after our last conversation”—he hesitated, something unspoken passing between us—“I was defensive. I wasn’t sure where we stood. I’m sorry for being short with you. And as for you and Ryuu… I was selfish. It was my pride talking.”“You are a child,” Fukui cut in with a laugh.
Beatrice’s POV“My aunt Loretta suspected. She took me to see her doctor.” A chill ran down my spine at the memory. I wet my lips before continuing. “At first, I wasn’t sure. We took tests at home—one was negative, the other positive. I felt like my world was caving in. Espósito walked in right after. I hadn’t planned to tell him, but I was so lost… I needed someone to talk to.”“And that someone couldn’t have been me?” Ryuu’s voice was low, but the quiet impact of his words made my heart stutter.It could have been. But in that moment, it hadn’t felt like an option.“I needed to be sure first,” I admitted. “I wanted the test to be wrong
Beatrice’s POVSilence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating. My fingers moved through Ryuu’s dark hair, the motion almost instinctive, desperate to soothe him even as my own heart pounded erratically. With every stroke, I felt his pain as if it were my own.Without thinking, I cradled his head against my stomach, holding him close in a futile attempt to shield him from the weight of everything crashing down around us. My hands trembled as they tangled in his hair, my stomach twisting at the realization of just how fragile this moment was. He still hadn’t spoken. I wanted to shake him, force him to snap out of whatever storm was raging inside him, but I knew he needed time. Too much had happened, too fast.Tears streaked his face, his bloodstained vest soaking up the moisture as he pressed agains
Beatrice's POV"And you didn’t take him to a hospital?" Her incredulous gaze snapped to me."I’m not going to a hospital," Ryuu muttered, his voice firm."That’s why you’re here," Anton added like it was some great relief."This isn’t as simple as stitching up a knife wound. You need imaging to determine if surgery is required. I can’t assess the damage or tell where the bullet is just by looking. Clearly, it didn’t hit a major artery or vein, given the blood loss, but the bullet is still inside you, and I can’t tell if it needs to come out.""Can it wait?" Ryuu tensed as she started cleaning the wound, the antiseptic stinging against raw flesh. Without the blood covering it, the injury looked worse.