Lorenzo's POVWhenever I start thinking that the past has left me, it comes rushing back, dragging me down to the place I've been struggling to escape from.That old man who tried to hit me but ended up hitting Elara—he was one of them. One of the key figures who caused all this pain. One of the people responsible for turning me into the person I am today. Now, it feels like I’m back to square one.Seeing Elara’s bloodied head and her unconscious body nearly drove me mad. Thankfully, the rest of the crowd managed to restrain him, and my security team arrived just in time.The men on the scene didn’t like him much either, so it wasn’t long before they had him dragged away to one of my private holding cells, where he's going to regret ever hurting the woman I care—Wait, do I care about Elara? Well, maybe I do care about her a little bit—just as a friend. Okay, fine. I want her, and I’m trying to make up for the damage I’ve caused. Once this is all over, I’ll let her go if she refuses t
Elara's POVLorenzo returns a few hours later and we head out of the hospital together. He opens the door for me and I climb into the car, ready to head to his place—well, our place for the next few days. I won't be staying there longer than necessary.“How is Jayden?” he asks, eyes glancing at me for a few seconds before turning being fixed on the road.It’s the first time I’ve seen him drive, and he looks incredibly attractive with his strong muscled hands gripping the steering wheel. The two open buttons on his shirt reveal a glimpse of his toned, milky chest. I wonder how it would feel to run my tongue over—“Elara,” he says, startling me out of my thoughts. I jump slightly, cheeks flushing. Lorenzo chuckles from the driver’s seat. “You okay there? You zoned out and were staring at me like I was a steak and you were starving. Don’t go all ‘SpongeBob hungry’ on me, alright?”I swallow hard, my face burning with embarrassment. I bite my lower lip, trying to calm down, but it’s usele
Elara's POVHow would you feel if your boss, who usually hates you, suddenly pulls you to himself, kisses you for a solid minute, then abruptly pushes you away and walks out? My heart feels like it’s breaking into tiny pieces. I’m torn between trying to understand what just happened and wondering what’s going on in Lorenzo's mind.Now, I’m sitting on the sofa, staring into space, my mind racing with thoughts about where I went wrong. What could have made him act like that? Am I a terrible kisser? Did my breath smell? I brushed my teeth this morning, so that can’t be it. I don’t even know what happened, but I can’t deny how his lips felt against mine, the way they moved, the way his hands pulled my body close as if we were two pieces of a puzzle that fit perfectly. The way I leaned into him, my fingers running through his hair... I didn’t want to let go.But then, he just. detached himself and walked out, like he regretted it more than anything else. Well, if he does, then I should t
Elara's POVI hide behind the thick bushes, my heart thudding wildly in my chest. Not because I just ran for almost five minutes to get here, but because I am intruding on Lorenzo's privacy.Am I doing a bad thing? Yes.But will I stop? Hell no. Not when I'm this close to getting everything I need to know.I strain my ears, trying to catch more of what he’s saying—at least his voice is loud enough for me to hear.“You know, it's been a long, long time without you—a really, really long time since it ended between us—although I've never let you go,” he says in a soft voice, making my eyes widen. Even in times when Lorenzo has spoken softly to me, his voice has never been this calm and sweet.Who could he be talking to? I look, but I see no one, probably because of where I’m standing. Well, I’ll know soon enough when the person answers.“Sophia, ever since what happened between us, I promised that I would always be there for you, that I would never leave you, that I would never let a year
Trigger Warning: This scene contains a slight instance of sexual abuse. Reader discretion is advised. Elara's POV My heart pounds hard in my chest. Oh God, why does this always have to happen to me? My mind races, imagining all the things that could happen now that I’ve been caught in a place that’s clearly off-limits. I start to turn, but the voice shouts, “Do not turn around. Keep facing forward.” I swallow, the action feeling almost painful. But I obey. “So, are you going to tell me what you’re doing here, or do I have to call the police?” I am frozen in my spot, unable to answer. My voice feels stuck in my throat. I don’t want to go to prison, but I also don’t want to be here alone with this person. I feel his gaze on my back, sending chills down my spine and raising goosebumps over my skin. Maybe I should run, but the garden only has one exit right now, and if I try, I’ll just be cornering myself further into the construction site. “Well, well, seems like the cat’s got
Lorenzo's POV "Nicola, make sure Elara gets home safely," I command Nicola, my eyes locked on her trembling figure. I fist my hands at my side to prevent myself from just running to her and letting her know that all is well and that she's safe. But I know she's safe, and I plan to use this event to teach her the consequences of poking her nose in people's business. I had been pouring out my heart to my lover—or now ex-lover, Sophia. Not knowing that the girl who currently holds my heart was intruding on what was supposed to be a private moment. "Fuck, Elara! Why do you always do this? You're messing up my mind with your stubbornness," I shout, running my hand through my hair while the other is perched on the steering wheel. When Nicola had called to tell me that Elara was missing, I had felt my heart leap out of my chest. Missing? How? Wasn't she supposed to be resting at home? But Nicola's confession that they had sneaked into the office made me livid. I should have known when
Lorenzo's POVMy gaze sweeps around my office for what feels like the millionth time. My eyes focus on the phone on my desk, waiting for it to light up with Nicholas's name flashing, or even anyone, just to tell me they have found Elara. But nothing. No luck. It’s been three days—three long days—since the accident, and we haven’t seen Elara.When I arrived at the scene, the police were already there, but nobody saw what had happened. It wasn’t a very private place, nor was it very busy, so it still baffles me how no one saw anything.We've checked hospitals and mortuaries, which was hard for me. But nothing.My phone rings, and I rush to grab it before the sound can even break through the room. Yes, that’s how anxious I am.“Hello, Nicola, tell me good news, please.”“Oh… I’m sorry, Lorenzo, I have no good news for you. I have… even worse news.”My brow furrows. What could be worse? My heart starts thudding loudly in my chest. I hope it isn’t what I’m thinking. “Nicholas,” I say, my v
Elara’s POV The bright sunlight filtering through the curtains hits my eyes as I slowly wake up. I groan as my head throbs with a sharp, pounding headache. After a few moments of struggling, I manage to sit up, squinting my eyes as I take in my surroundings. I’m in an unfamiliar room—vast, elegant, with an expensive and comfy feel to it. The walls are decorated in beautiful shades of blue and red, almost like a princess's room. It's luxurious and clearly designed by someone with taste. Suddenly, I hear the light, hurried patter of feet on the floor. The door flies open, and Alicia, the little girl from the orphanage, rushes in with a look of joy and relief on her face. My eyes widen in surprise. What is she doing here? "Huh? Did I... die?" I mutter, half to myself. “Oh my god, am I...? Did the world end? And was I too busy sleeping to notice? What’s going on? I always knew sleeping too much would get me in trouble." Before I can fully process it, Alicia throws her arms around me,
Lorenzo's POVAn important business meeting is going on.By important, I mean a meeting among the top people in the country.You can already guess who they are.Damien and Antonio Rossi sit at the curved edge of the expensive polished mahogany table, their faces set into hardened glares, exuding an aura of power.Just like the powerful men they are.On the other side of them sits Alexander Viali.I don’t know why the fool had to show up in my office, but his presence here is getting on my nerves.We are at the top floor of my building, in the boardroom designed specifically for meetings of the upper class and important investors.Since my building is taller than all the others around, we have a great view of the blue skyline, the city below, and the rooftops of the slightly lower but still elegant buildings surrounding us.But neither the presence of these men nor the beauty of the view can hold my attention.All I can focus on is Elara, seated across from me, scribbling down notes on
Elara's POVOkay, I admit, Peter has a death wish, and he wants me to be included in his demise. I try to pull away from him, but he hugs me even tighter. Finally, with one shove, Lorenzo gets him off me.Peter staggers backward but maintains his balance, then smiles at me, his crooked teeth on full display.No, don’t get me wrong, Peter is not ugly. He just has crooked teeth. He’s quite cute, which is the stupid reason I am in this predicament.“Baby, who are these men, and why are they acting all protective of you?” he asks. Then, as if figuring out the missing piece of a puzzle, he smirks. “Oh, I understand.”Peter’s smile widens as his gaze flickers between them. “These are your brothers from the family that adopted you. Well, guys, you have nothing to worry about. Elara and I have come too far for me to ever hurt her.”My head snaps to Lorenzo, and I see his eyes darken before his jaw tightens. Dang it, Peter! Just leave already.“Lorenzo,” I plead, trying to hold his arm, but he
Elara's POVThe halls are brightly decorated, large, and filled to the brim with what looks like a thousand people—or maybe more. Each of them is adorned in glittering dresses. Gold chandeliers line the ceiling, and the finest artistic paintings fill the walls.My eyes scan the crowd, looking for any familiar face to help ease my anxiety and stop the trembling in my legs. Soon, two towering figures—one in a crisp white suit and the other in blue—push through the crowd, walking forward to stand before me. I leap into my dad's arms, hugging him like my life depends on it."Happy birthday, princess," he whispers in my ear while ruffling my hair, which was perfectly done by the stylist. I hug him even tighter, never wanting to let this moment go.Someone clears their throat, making us pull away from each other."I understand you guys doing all this father-and-daughter bonding, but where's my own hug?" Uncle Damien opens his arms and narrows his eyes. I smile and lunge into his open arms.
Elara's POVIf anyone had told me that I would stand in front of my own grave, I would never have agreed. I would have looked at them as if they were the craziest humans to grace the Earth. But I had indeed stood there, looking at my name, Kiara Rossi. The name Uncle Damien and Dad had called me.That was supposed to be my name, but Mother Esther must have changed it to Elara—either to cover her tracks or protect me. Dad promised that he would have his men take her in for questioning after the party.He had given me space to connect with my mom and sister, but all I felt as I stared was emptiness.Maybe because I never knew they existed, or because I had long given up hope of ever being with them. Still, I spent almost three hours at the graveside, just staring into nothingness, until my dad had called me to inform me that we were to leave.Now, as I stand in front of the mirror, staring at myself in a royal blue floor-length gown that hugged my waist and flared at the bottom, my hair
Elara’s POVTalk about bad timing. Why is Dad here now? And why did Lorenzo have to come into my office this afternoon? I force a smile onto my face, though I know it looks awkward, and walk toward him."Dad, You didn’t tell me you were coming," I say, hugging him."Why? Is a father not allowed to visit his daughter at her place of work?" He emphasizes the word work, his eye lingering on my face, which I know is smudged from my make-out session with Lorenzo.I run a hand through my hair. "It’s not what you think…" Why did you have to say that, Elara? That is so cringe, my subconscious chimes in. It is exactly what it looks like. You’re lucky he didn’t walk in just as you two were…"Mr. Rossi," Lorenzo calls out, and I exhale in relief at his intervention. He extends a hand to shake my dad’s, who blatantly ignores him and turns to me with a broad smile."My baby girl, come. I have something I want to show you. Let’s go now."I narrow my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest. "Dad!"He h
Lorenzo's POVIt has been a month since Elara stormed out of the orphanage and, without even a hint of a smile, told me we should leave. I didn’t want to leave, knowing that someone had hurt her in there, but I respected her decision.In the car, I had probed, trying to find out what the problem was, but she didn’t tell me. She just said it was nothing too important.Frustration washed over me like a plague, and every single day when I found her, for at least five minutes, staring off into the distance, or pulling out her hair, or pacing a room, I would groan and think about what I could do to find out who had hurt her and what they had done.I had also tried to get the mothers at the orphanage to tell me. All I had found out was that Mother Annabelle had been really rude and called her names. But that couldn’t have been what was causing her to be like this, could it?It is a day before her birthday, and I have been restless the whole time, pacing my office because I am still trying t
Elara’s POV“Mr. Russo,” Mother Esther calls out, her face breaking into a wide smile. “It is an honor to see you today, sir. Why didn’t you tell us you were going to come by? We would have prepared something special to welcome you.”Lorenzo smiles back at her. “There is no need for that, Mother. Elara and I won’t be staying long.”“Nonsense, sir. I insist that you join us for dinner at the orphanage,” Mother Annabelle urges.I beam at the thought of meeting the little children, but my heart is torn at the thought of being in the presence of these mothers. I still remember what they said to me last time.Lorenzo turns to face me. “I will do whatever Elara chooses to do.”All their eyes turn to me, and I lower my gaze to the ground. After thinking for a few seconds, I decide it’s best we stay for a while. “We can spend an hour with the children if it’s okay with you, Lorenzo,” I speak out, emphasizing the word children to make the mothers know that I am not staying here for them.Mothe
Elara's POVIn front of me is the entrance to the Eastside community. My childhood home. But it’s almost unrecognizable. Wasn’t I just here a few weeks ago? How is this possible? My stomach turns as I face Lorenzo, my eyes wide with disbelief."W-what? H-how is this possible?""It’s not impossible, Elara. This is what we actually had in mind for the Eastside," Lorenzo explains calmly, staring straight ahead.I keep staring at him, closing my mouth and opening it a couple of times. I’m at a loss for words. The Eastside has been completely renovated. Well, not all of it—there are still a lot of uncompleted buildings—but everything looks different, fancier, and much bigger. Like civilization just took a new turn in the community."But I thought you had plans for something like a mall, industry, maybe some businesses, hotels, or restaurants. Why are you...?"Lorenzo laughs, the sound echoing in the quiet night. "Are you kidding me? Why would we do that? I just wanted to give these people
Elara's POV"Lorenzo, you know you’re being too rude, right?" I huff. "When I said 2 hours 30 minutes, I didn’t mean you should come exactly at that time to get me."He raises an eyebrow. "Of course, I’m a man of my word, Elara. You really think I’d leave you for longer than that? Hell no. You said 2 hours 30 minutes, and I came at 2 hours 30 minutes. Now shh.""But you didn’t even let me say a proper goodbye to Victoria. Is that fair? How would she feel?""Elara," Lorenzo says, his tone firm, "I don’t care how Victoria feels. Okay? Let’s go.""And where exactly are we going?" I ask, crossing my arms."I don’t know," he says with a small smirk. "I told you it’s a surprise, didn’t I? But do prepare—it’s going to be a long, long journey.""Long?" I ask, my eyebrows knitting together. "What do you mean by long?""You’ll find out," he replies, his face unreadable.I frown. "Okay, give me a hint.""You can try to decode it yourself," he answers casually, walking one step ahead of me.I hur