Chapter 93: Shadows of the PastOlivia's POVEven though Alicia was gone, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was still wrong.For the first time in months, I was supposed to feel safe. The threats had stopped. The news had moved on. Leonardo and I were free to live our lives.But the anxiety wouldn't leave me.Late at night, when the penthouse was quiet, I would lie awake, staring at the ceiling. Every little noise made my heart race.Alicia had been defeated.So why did I feel like it wasn't over?Leonardo noticed my restlessness.One morning, as we sat at the breakfast table, he reached across and took my hand."You're still thinking about her," he said.I hesitated before nodding. "It just feels... unfinished."He sighed. "She's locked away, Olivia. She can't touch us anymore."I exhaled slowly. "I know. But I can't shake this feeling."Leonardo squeezed my hand. "Then we find out why."That afternoon, Marcus called."You're not going to like this," he said, his tone serio
Chapter 94: Dominic's GameOlivia's POVLeonardo's grip on the letter tightened as he read Dominic's message again."You took my sister. Now, I take something from you."Alicia's downfall had felt like the end. But now, standing in the middle of our penthouse, staring at those cold words, I realized something terrifying.Alicia had been playing a personal game. She wanted revenge, but she acted on emotion, letting her rage cloud her judgment.Dominic wasn't like her.He was calculated.Precise.Cold.And that made him so much worse.Leonardo exhaled sharply, folding the letter. "He's coming."I swallowed hard. "What does he mean by 'take something from you'?"Leonardo's jaw tightened. "He's threatening my business. My reputation."Marcus, who had been listening from the side, scoffed. "No. He's threatening Olivia."A heavy silence fell over the room.Leonardo's entire body went rigid. His hands curled into fists. His breathing slowed.Then, he spoke, his voice deadly calm. "That will
Chapter 95: A Dangerous GameOlivia's POVDominic's voice still echoed in my head long after the call ended."Be careful, Olivia. Because when he falls, you'll fall with him."I had faced threats before-Alicia's twisted obsession, Victor's dangerous alliances-but this was different.Dominic wasn't warning me because he was reckless.He was warning me because he was confident.And that terrified me.I gripped my phone tightly as I stood in Leonardo's office. He was pacing near the window, his jaw tight, his eyes dark with fury."What did he say?" Leonardo asked.I swallowed hard. "He told me to be careful."Leonardo's fists clenched. "He called you directly?"I nodded. "He wanted me to know he's not done."Leonardo exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "He's playing psychological games."Marcus, who had been standing near the desk, smirked. "Then let's play back."Leonardo's eyes met mine. "I won't let him get to you."I forced a small smile. "I know."But deep down, I wasn
Chapter 96: The Letter That Changed EverythingOlivia's POVLeonardo stood frozen, staring at the letter in his hands.His expression was unreadable, but I could feel the tension radiating off him.Something was wrong.Something big.Dominic smirked, watching Leonardo's reaction like he had just won a game he had been playing for years.I swallowed hard, my pulse pounding in my ears. "Leonardo, what does it say?"Leonardo didn't answer. His grip on the letter tightened, his knuckles turning white."Gael," Marcus said, stepping forward. "Talk to us."Leonardo's jaw clenched. Then, without a word, he folded the letter and slipped it into his pocket.He turned to Dominic, his expression cold. "Get out."Dominic chuckled, adjusting his suit jacket. "I'll take that as a sign that you got my message."Leonardo didn't move. "If you're still standing here in ten seconds, I'll make sure you regret it."Dominic smirked. "Relax, Gael. I already have what I want."Leonardo stepped forward, his fi
Chapter 97: A Name I Never KnewThe silence in Leonardo’s office felt heavier than ever. The truth about my past had unraveled so fast that I barely had time to process it. Every moment since reading that letter felt unreal, like I was watching someone else’s life fall apart instead of my own.I wasn’t just Olivia Reed.I was a Hayes.Dominic Hayes—our enemy—was my blood.The thought made me sick.Leonardo stood beside me, his presence grounding me even as my world crumbled. He had barely left my side since we found out, and I could see the tension in his jaw, the way his muscles stayed taut like he was ready for a fight.I had spent so long fighting to escape Alicia’s destruction, only to find out that my own family had been waiting in the shadows to pull me back into chaos.Marcus sat across from us, flipping through more documents, his usual smirk nowhere to be seen. Even he looked unsettled. “There’s more.”Leonardo stiffened. “More?”Marcus exhaled. “Your birth parents—Richard
Chapter 98: The Truth Strikes BackThe jet ride back to New York was quiet. I held the envelope tightly in my lap, my fingers pressing against the sealed edges as if letting go would make the truth disappear.But it wouldn’t.The truth was real.I was Olivia Hayes. The last surviving child of Richard and Evelyn Hayes. The rightful heir to the Hayes empire. And Dominic had tried to erase me.Marcus leaned back in his seat, his arms crossed as he watched me. “You’re thinking too much.”I let out a shaky breath. “Wouldn’t you?”He smirked. “I don’t think. I just react.”I shook my head, glancing out of the window at the city lights below. “This changes everything.”Marcus nodded. “Yeah, and not just for Dominic. This gives you power, Olivia.”I frowned. “I don’t want power.”Marcus chuckled. “That’s exactly why you should have it.”I didn’t answer.Because deep down, I knew he was right.For the first time, I had leverage.And it was time to use it.When we landed, Leonardo was waiting f
Chapter 99: The Final TrapLeonardo placed his phone down slowly, his expression unreadable. The call with Dominic had ended, but his words still echoed in my mind.“The next time we speak, it won’t be over the phone.”I swallowed hard. That wasn’t just a threat. It was a promise.Marcus stood near the window, arms crossed. “He’s desperate. And desperate men do stupid things.”Leonardo exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. “He’s not going to attack publicly. That’s not his style.”Daniel leaned against the desk, scrolling through his tablet. “Then what’s his next move?”Leonardo’s jaw clenched. “Something personal. Something we won’t see coming.”I tightened my grip on the armrest of my chair. “Then we have to see it coming.”Leonardo’s eyes met mine. “We will.”Security was tripled overnight.Guards were stationed outside the penthouse, in the underground garage, even at the elevator doors. Every possible entry point was locked down.But I knew Leonardo wasn’t just relying on securit
Chapter 100: The Last MoveLeonardo and I left the private club, stepping into the cool night air. His grip on my waist was firm, his presence grounding me after everything that had just happened. The moment the doors closed behind us, Marcus and Harris appeared from the shadows, moving quickly toward us.“How did it go?” Marcus asked, his gaze flickering between Leonardo and me.Leonardo smirked. “Dominic just lost everything.”Harris frowned. “Then why do I feel like this isn’t over?”I swallowed hard. “Because it’s not.”Leonardo tightened his hold on me. “He’s not walking away from this without trying one last time.”Marcus sighed. “That’s what I was afraid of.”Leonardo turned to Harris. “Double security. No one gets near Olivia.”Harris nodded. “Already done.”I exhaled slowly, my mind racing. Dominic had nothing left. No power, no leverage. But something about the way he walked away bothered me.He wasn’t panicked.He wasn’t angry.He was calm.And that scared me more than an
Chapter 159: Growing TogetherOlivia's POV"Mommy! Can I go play outside?" Lily's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.I turned to find her standing by the back door, already in her sneakers, her backpack slung over her shoulder as though she was ready for an adventure."Did you finish your chores first?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.Lily made a face but nodded. "Yes, Mommy. I made my bed, and I put away my books."I smiled. "Alright, go ahead. But make sure to stay close, okay?"She grinned and ran outside, her blonde hair streaming behind her. Ethan, who had been playing with his toy cars on the floor, looked up at me."Mommy, can I go outside too?"I knelt down to his level, brushing a stray curl from his face. "After breakfast, sweetie."He pouted but nodded, his little lips pulling into a tight line as he held up his toy truck.I went back to the kitchen, turning off the stove and preparing to set the table. Just as I placed the last plate down, I felt a pair of strong arms wrap
Chapter 158: A Life of LoveOlivia’s POVThe afternoon sun filtered through the trees, casting soft golden hues over the yard. I stood by the kitchen sink, watching through the window as Leonardo played outside with our daughter. Their laughter echoed in the crisp air, blending with the rustling of leaves.She sat perched on his shoulders, her tiny hands gripping his hair as he ran in circles, pretending to be a horse.“Faster, Daddy!” she squealed.Leonardo groaned dramatically. “Princess, Daddy is getting old.”She giggled, tapping his head. “No, you’re not! You’re strong like a superhero!”I smiled, my heart swelling.This was our life now. Simple, filled with love.No more running. No more looking over our shoulders. Just us.I wiped my hands on a towel and made my way outside. The air was crisp, the scent of pine and fresh grass wrapping around me.Leonardo spotted me first. A slow grin spread across his lips. “Look who finally decided to join us.”Our daughter gasped. “Mommy,
Chapter 157: A Love That LastsOlivia’s POVThe sound of soft laughter echoed through the cabin as I stepped into the kitchen, rubbing sleep from my eyes. The morning sunlight filtered through the windows, casting a golden glow over the wooden floors. The air smelled of fresh coffee and something sweet—pancakes, maybe.I followed the scent, my heart warming at the sight before me.Leonardo stood at the stove, shirtless, wearing only loose pajama pants. His dark hair was still tousled from sleep, and the muscles in his back flexed as he flipped a pancake with effortless ease. But what made me smile the most was the little girl sitting on the counter beside him, her tiny hands clapping together as she watched her father cook."Again, Daddy!" she giggled.Leonardo grinned and spun the spatula between his fingers before tossing the pancake into the air. It flipped twice before landing perfectly back in the pan."Like that, princess?" he asked.She nodded enthusiastically, her brown cur
Chapter 156: EpilogueOlivia’s POVThe mountain air was crisp as I stood on the wooden balcony, gazing at the endless stretch of pine trees below. The sun had just dipped behind the peaks, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. The wind whispered through the branches, carrying with it the clean scent of rain and earth.It was quiet here. Peaceful.Safe.For the first time in months, I could breathe without fear coiling around my throat. The Russo family was gone. Matteo Russo was dead. The house, the network, the legacy—destroyed. Harris had confirmed it with photos and reports. There was no one left to hunt us. No shadows lurking behind cameras. No footsteps echoing in the night.Leonardo stepped onto the balcony beside me, two mugs of coffee in hand. He handed me one, then wrapped his free arm around my waist, pulling me into his warmth."Thinking again?" he asked softly.I leaned against him, feeling his steady heartbeat through his sweater. "Always."He kissed the top
Final Chapter(155)Leonardo’s POVThe sharp sound of footsteps echoed through the stairwell as Olivia and I sprinted toward the exit. Smoke burned my throat, and every muscle in my body screamed for rest, but we couldn’t stop. Not now. Not with Matteo Russo closing in.We reached the ground floor and burst through the emergency exit into the alley. The cold night air hit me like a slap. I scanned the shadows for movement, gun raised. Olivia stood beside me, her eyes wide and wild.The phone in my pocket buzzed again.Another message.“You can’t run forever.”I gritted my teeth and shoved the phone back into my jacket. "He’s playing with us," I muttered.Olivia’s voice shook. "He’s just a kid, Leonardo.""No," I said, scanning the rooftops. "He stopped being a kid the moment Victor put a gun in his hand."She hugged herself, shivering. I placed a hand on her arm, grounding her. "We end this tonight.""How?" she asked.I didn’t have an answer.The phone buzzed again.I hesitated, then
Chapter 154Olivia’s POVThe smell of smoke lingered in the air as I stood beside Leonardo, staring at the burning ruins of the Russo compound. The flames crackled, devouring the walls, the floors—everything Matteo Russo had built to continue his father’s legacy.But the weight in my chest wouldn’t lift. The fire might’ve destroyed the compound, but the memories remained. The sight of Matteo’s small body hitting the floor haunted me. His lifeless eyes. The blood spreading across his shirt.He’d been just a boy. A boy raised to hate, to kill, to continue the twisted family tradition. And Leonardo had been forced to pull the trigger."Olivia," Leonardo said softly, his voice pulling me from my thoughts.I blinked, realizing I’d been clutching my arms so tightly that my nails had dug into my skin. I loosened my grip. "Yeah?""We need to go. The police will be here soon."I gave a shaky nod.Leonardo took my hand, guiding me toward the car parked beyond the tree line. The headlights wer
Chapter 153:Leonardo’s POVThe photograph of the baby lay on the table, the words "Blood runs deep" scrawled across the back in thick red ink. Olivia sat beside me, her eyes locked on the image as though it might come to life. My own thoughts churned like a storm, each one darker than the last.Victor Russo had a son. An heir. A child born into a legacy of violence and manipulation."We didn’t know," Olivia whispered, voice trembling. "We thought we ended the family."I ran a hand down my face, exhaustion pressing against my skull. "Victor always had contingency plans. We underestimated him.""But how?" she asked. "We dug into every aspect of his life. There was nothing about a kid.""Because he wanted it that way." I stood and paced the length of the living room. "Victor was always obsessed with bloodlines. Family. Legacy. Of course, he’d hide a child until he was ready to use him."Olivia rubbed her arms. "He looked so...calm. That boy at the door. Like he wasn’t scared at all.""
Chapter 152: LEONARDO!Leonardo's pov.The timer stopped at 00:59.Olivia dropped the knife and collapsed against me, sobbing. I held her tightly.Harris groaned. "Did...we win?"I glanced at Victor’s body. His eyes stared blankly at the ceiling."Yeah," I said. "We won."Harris’s team arrived within minutes. They removed the bomb and secured the mansion. Harris, bruised but breathing, sat on the porch while medics checked his vitals.Olivia and I stood nearby, watching the sunrise paint the sky in soft oranges and pinks."It’s really over," she whispered.I wrapped my arm around her. "This time, it is."She leaned into me. "No more running?""No more running," I promised.The Russo family was gone.And we were finally free.Olivia’s POVThe morning sunlight crept across the horizon, casting a soft orange glow over the Gael estate. The warmth should have brought comfort, a sense of peace after the nightmare we’d survived. But as I stood on the porch beside Leonardo, the weight of what
Chapter 151:Leonardo’s POVThe headlights sliced through the dark as I sped away from the cemetery, my knuckles white against the steering wheel. Olivia sat beside me, silent, her body rigid with fear. The message on my phone echoed in my mind:“The devil doesn’t die.”Victor Russo was alive. Or someone who looked and sounded exactly like him.I didn’t believe in ghosts. But I knew the Russos were capable of almost anything. Victor had faked his death once already. Why not twice?"Leonardo," Olivia said softly.I glanced at her, her face pale in the dim light. "Yeah?""How...how is this possible?" Her voice cracked. "We saw his body. We saw the coroner’s report."I didn’t have an answer. I’d held Victor’s cold wrist to check for a pulse that day. I’d seen the bullet hole in his forehead. But tonight...I’d seen him standing beneath the trees, breathing, smiling."We’re missing something," I said finally. "Something big."She hugged herself. "What if it really was him?"I gritted my t