“My world is a less scary place with you in it, baby. I will kiss you a thousand times every day if that’s what it takes to keep you in love with me for the rest of our days.” [VLADIMIR] "Do you take Vladimir Perazzo as your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish until death do you part?” I would be lying if I said those words spoken by the priest don’t fill me with dread. Because they do. Something inside me is awfully worried for no specific reason. Perhaps it’s the fear of being tricked by fate again. Perhaps I’m afraid that the past would repeat itself in a much more monstrous and hurtful way. It’s just there. Ticking like a bomb. Making me break into some serious amount of sweat. But I hold it in. Not because there’s no other choice now that dozens of people are watching us, but because the woman standing in front of me is looking at me with so much love and w
“For God’s sake! Leave me alone!” screamed Zarina as she was involuntarily dragged out of her room.Tears rolled down her swollen, red eyes as she struggled against the unknown. The fierce hour of midnight saw her being pulled out of ‘Sapphire Aurora’, a lavish and luxurious hotel in Venice, by a tall male captor with broad shoulders and a husky build.Her free hand struggled to free the other, which was firmly grasped in a firm grasp, unwilling to let go.The hotel wasn’t exceptionally crowded that night, but there were a few vacationers checking in and out. The workers remained still and looked around with empty looks, but no one had the courage to raise a finger to help the unfortunate girl. The survival instinct clamped their lips and shut off their conscience, as if everything happening in front of them wasn’t there.“Please! Let go of me.” her voice quivered, body trembling with fear. “Somebody, Please!…Please!!… HELP ME!” she cried out for help, looking around at the people, si
The digital clock on the nightstand read 7:28 a.m. It was a beautiful morning, and the sun shone through the window. The shimmering, warm rays crept into the room and bathed Zarina’s bare skin as she slept. Her messed-up hair flowed in every direction, doing nothing to protect her from the shaft of sunshine attempting to wake her up.Her bed was softer than the ones in the motels, and the fragrance in the air made her feel more at ease than she had expected. The only way she could get rid of the bothersome beams glaring in her eyes was to roll to the other side.Just a minute had gone by before her body tightened and she began to shudder, her eyes squeezed firmly shut. If it was possible, her eyelashes would have left imprints on her sensitive skin. Her lips dried up, and a sob struggled to escape. She was sound asleep but growing restless by the second. She rolled one more time and ended up facing up at the ceiling.“Please!…..Let …me go….Please!…Don’t…do this.” she stuttered.“NO!”
Vladimir stormed out of the room, leaving a stunned Zarina behind. His smirk evaporated as soon as Zarina moved from his sight. He was suddenly all business and no play. His demeanor was void of emotion, just as he preferred and probably was.He was making his way to his room, shirt half-open, exhibiting a streak of his tanned skin, and blazer low on his shoulder when his phone rang.Despite the fact that he was awake, his eyes were tired as hell, and he was looking forward to a lengthy and relaxing bath. The call could, however, have been urgent. This type of organization required his undivided attention. He slipped his hand into the pocket of his trousers and took out his phone, not wanting to waste any more time.“What?” he gritted out, ignoring the caller ID. He just wanted to get it over with, fully intending to make the caller’s life miserable if it didn’t turn out to be urgent.When the caller responded, his brow furrowed, and he came to a halt.“When?” he asked as calmly as he
[ZARINA]Why is it always me?The question haunts me, no matter how many times I ask it. The answer is just as horrific, if not more so. My life has been a never-ending nightmare, from the very moment I was born. Even when I escaped the oppressive orphanage where I grew up and ventured into the tantalizing world of freedom, I was once again locked in a room.It seems like people like me are doomed to never achieve what we desire most. Words like “freedom,” “joy,” “compassion,” and “love” feel like they’re meant for someone else. Instead, we’re fated to endure pain and suffering, as if it’s our birthright.Every time I close my eyes, the image of what happened last night comes flooding back. Guilt consumes me, tears flow freely without restraint.If only I had surrendered to my fate, maybe a life could have been saved. Was he someone’s husband, father, or brother? Now he’s gone, erased from existence, and it’s all because of me. I feel like I’m drowning in a sea of regret, with no way
[ZARINA] As Xavier takes me into what seems to be another room, my heart begins to race with anticipation and apprehension. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but this is beyond anything I could have imagined. Is this really happening? Am I dreaming? Or have I been kidnapped by some rich and powerful person? The room is a world apart from the dingy place I was in earlier. It’s the most gorgeous room I’ve ever seen in my twenty-five years of existence. It’s luxuriously furnished and well-crafted. As if someone has spent all of their time trying to impress a princess of some sort. An antique class of golden flowers stretches over the boundaries of the pearly white walls, creating its own staggering masterpiece. Like a snowy landscape surrounded by gold-plated trees. Who could possibly afford such a lavish space? And why have they brought me here? What do they want from me? These questions flood my mind, drowning out the beauty of the room. I can’t help but feel like I don’t belong here, l
[XAVIER]Asshóle.I feel like a fucking asshole. How could I have been so naive and foolish to expect her to act normally after I abducted her? She’s a hostage for god’s sake! The thought of what she must be going through under my captivity makes me want to punch a wall. I loathe myself for putting her through this ordeal.Every second, the weight of my guilt crushes me as I remember that I am the one responsible for her abduction. It was my decision to take her. I should have known better. But now, I have to live with the consequences of my actions.I can’t get her out of my head, especially the moment I saw her at the airport. She was like a breath of fresh air, a stunning sight that took my breath away. But now, I have caged her in this miserable existence, and I can’t bear the thought of what I have done to her.A small backpack was draped over her shoulders, delicate fingers gripping it tightly. She appeared lost and timid, and from what I could tell, even a bit frightened. It wa
[LIZZY] “That’s fucking ridiculous!” I exclaimed, my eyes widening to the size of a soccer field. “Watch your language, Lizzy,” Rose rebuked me sharply, her bright eyes fixing me in place. I flinched a little. “I’m sorry, it’s just not fair, Ms. Rose,” I corrected myself, trying to maintain a calm tone despite my cheeks burning with a smile. Rose dropped a bombshell on me by announcing that I’ll be a personal maid for someone. Seriously, what the heck is that? When they hired me last week, she said that my responsibilities would be limited to cleaning and serving. But now I have to take care of someone too? What kind of nonsense is this? Alright, maybe it’s not technically babysitting, but who gives a damn? I loved my job with all its unique benefits, and I appreciated that. So please forgive me if I sound a bit grumpy today. “The master’s wish is our command, Lizzie,” she said with a hint of sarcasm. Yeah, right! “Are you okay with that?” she asked, oblivious to my frustratio