Adriana's POV
“Do you take Mr Diego to be your lawful wedded husband?” The priest's words sent shivers down my spine. I looked into Diego's eyes and felt his anger and hatred just from our gaze. “Yes,” I hesitantly replied in a whisper when someone shook me. I looked around until I saw Mr Antonio. I sensed a hidden agenda behind this sudden arrangement. I wanted to say something foolish but the smile in my father's eyes stopped me in my tracks. “Why did he have to be bleeding from his nose?” I thought. Seeing his bleeding nose when he turned to look at me when we were at home scared me, and I felt I had to accept the marriage just to keep him happy. “Yes, I do,” I finally said, giving in to the marriage. At that moment, Juan walked into the church, breathing heavily like he had been running. I gave him a look and he understood immediately, stopping in his tracks. It was too late to do anything now. The ride back home was dead silent, and I could hear my heart beating. “Why did Diego not call off the marriage even after reading my message?” I wondered. “What was he planning?” As far as I knew, Diego wanted nothing to do with me or my family. I looked at him, and he seemed completely apathetic. “WHAT?” Diego roared when Luis whispered something to him. He commanded the driver to turn the car around and the driver obeyed without question. I froze. “What is happening?” I wondered, filled with fear of what would happen next. Diego's POV I hadn't seen her since high school. Damn! She is incredibly pretty and gorgeous. The slim and curvaceous body she showcased in her gown was stunning. There was something about her that mesmerized me, and I felt compelled to find out more. After the wedding was over, we got into the car to head home, and Luis followed me as always. I could sense that she was uncomfortable as she entered the car, and I couldn't help but smirk. It was hard to believe she was the same girl who had sent me that message. I smiled to myself, thinking, “I will enjoy dealing with her.” I leaned back in my seat when Luis's phone began ringing. “Diego, they caught the guy who broke into our warehouse but he said he would leak your dirty secrets if we don't release him,” Luis whispered just as I closed my eyes to think. WHAT?” I roared. He dared to threaten me, the audacity that someone would do that to Diego Castillo. I commanded the driver to turn the car around, and he obeyed. I glanced at Adriana and could see that she was scared, but I didn't care. I was too furious to think rationally at that moment. “We're here,” Luis told me, and I looked up to see that we had indeed arrived at my building. I got out of the car and headed towards my target. I turned back and instructed my driver, “Keep an eye on her.” Then I walked up to the blonde who was tied to a chair. He had several scars on his body, and I was surprised by how tough he must be to have endured that kind of pain. “I hate asking questions twice, so I expect you to answer immediately,” I said to the guy. “Who ordered you to break into my warehouse and what was your objective?” My tone was cold, and I found it satisfying. He rolled his eyes and met my gaze. “If I am not back at my place by the end of today, my associate will expose your secret to my master. So I suggest you release me now.” That was all he could say, and I couldn't help but snicker; he dared to look me in the eye and threaten me. I asked him who his master was and he just looked away. He wanted to act tough but I was ready for him. Get me my weapon,” I told Rodrigo, and he complied. I had enough of this fool. He kills one of my men and dares to threaten me! Clearly, he didn't know what I was capable of. Rodrigo handed me my baseball bat. How I loved this precious item. One could hear the sound when I hit someone with it. I signaled for my men to move away. With a loud smack, I struck his face, causing his chair to topple over. With another smack, I struck him harder this time, and blood gushed out of his mouth. I continued striking him, harder than before. He bled all over and one could not recognize him again because of how swollen his face was. Please spare me,” he pleaded for his life after many strikes, but it was too late. He had a chance to do things the easier way, but he chose not to, and I do not accept pleadings once you have failed the first time. I heard a voice shout, “Miss, please get back in the car.” I turned to see Adriana looking at me in shock. She was gasping for breath, her hands shaking, and I paused what I was doing. What is wrong with you?” I yelled at the driver. “It was a simple job, and you couldn't even do that right!” For some reason, I was angry that Adriana had seen me act this way. At the same time, I felt a sense of satisfaction because it would make it easier to make her feel weak and scared of me, which was what I wanted. I instructed Luis to take her back to the car. “Why was she gasping for breath?” I wondered. I didn't feel like continuing what I was doing. “Take care of it,” I instructed Rodrigo as I dropped the bat. I washed my hands and got into the car. As I glanced at Adriana while getting in, I noticed she was still in shock, but her gasping had reduced. “Isn't she from a Mafia family? Why was she scared to see something like that?” I thought as the car drove us home. We arrived home, and I asked Luis to wake Adriana up, as she had fallen asleep during the ride. He had a shocking expression when he approached her. “She’s unconscious, Diego,” Luis said, looking perplexed. I rushed over to check for myself and noticed that her breathing was shallow and irregular. Luis looked at me as if he didn’t know what to do. “Don’t just stare at me—call the doctor, and fast!” I ordered the driver to carry her into the house and head for the bedroom. The last thing I would want is for this incident to get me in trouble. Not that I care,but I don't want to taint my image of assaulting a lady.Adriana's POVMy mind felt foggy as I tried to open my eyes but everything was blurry.What happened to me?The last thing I remembered was Diego beating up that guy. I gasped as I realized that I must have gone into shock because of the incident. As I looked around, I realized I wasn't in my house; I was in an unfamiliar place and my wedding gown was changed into comfy nightwear.I recalled gasping for breath and I became insecure. I thought that issue had finally passed because I had not experienced it in a long time, but now, it seems to have returned. I didn't know how I would tell Juan about this.Just as I was about to get up from the bed, I heard footsteps approaching my door. I quickly lay back down on the bed, pretending to be asleep. The door opened and I could hear two different sets of footsteps approaching me.“I have no time to waste on her, so just do as I instructed,” a deep and cold voice commanded. I figured it was Diego. “At exactly 8 PM, bring her to the venue and
Diego's POV Indeed, various syndicates were attending the party, including some lesser-known ones. However, I knew I was the best among them; there was no arguing about it.“Where is Adriana?” I asked Luis as he approached me when I arrived.She is in the restroom,” Luis replied.I wasn't comfortable with her being alone at all. “Didn't I tell you to keep an eye on her at all times? I don't trust her at all, especially after what I just discovered.”It wasn't that she was a threat to me but I didn't want her to ruin my plans.“I will go check on her, but first let me tell you why I called you here,” Luis said, as if in a hurry.I agreed to let him continue.“Mr Delgado said that he has an offer that could benefit you greatly.” How did that concern me? As far as I knew, the Delgado syndicate was beneath me and under my control.“Don't you know that I don't take offers from syndicates of no stature? Tell him I'm not interested.” I told Luis.“Your father said you should meet with him,
Adriana's POV“WHAT?” I screamed. I couldn't understand why my father would arrange such a thing without my approval first. “I will never marry him, Dad!”. I said, filled with anger and hoping for him to change his mind.“I know that you despise that family and mafia as a whole, but I am doing this for your own good”, my dad replied. I didn't like his tone; he sounded genuinely concerned about me which was rare coming from him.“I raised you as a single dad, but now that you have grown, I need to be reassured that you are safe and in good hands.“Good hands?”. That word felt wrong to me. They are a mafia family and our worst rivals. How could I ever feel safe in their so-called hands? My tone sounded sarcastic but I didn't care. I didn't want to reason with my dad; it felt futile.“I am doing this to stop bloodshed among us and keep you safe” he continued, trying to convince me. These explanations weakened me the more.“I have arranged the marriage and you will get married to him. It
Diego's POV I fired a shot and memories began flooding in. I can still remember that day vividly. I kept firing shots as the echoes of that fateful day crashed against my mind. I could still see her face, pale and fragile, as she gasped for breath.The memories were sharp. I was a mature man then, ready to take over from where my father left off, yet I could cry like a small child when my mother died.I had failed her. I had been too weak, too scared to save the one person who meant everything to me. The guilt consumed me.As I kept firing, lost in the past, the present faded away. Not a soul tried to save her; some merely stood by, watching, while the others escaped the scene. The damage had already been done and nothing would ever be the same again.That incident turned me into a stern, merciless, and unforgiving person. I came dangerously close to becoming just like my father; the only difference was that I could never harm a woman. I left the dirty work to my loyal men.“Mr Diego
Diego's POV Indeed, various syndicates were attending the party, including some lesser-known ones. However, I knew I was the best among them; there was no arguing about it.“Where is Adriana?” I asked Luis as he approached me when I arrived.She is in the restroom,” Luis replied.I wasn't comfortable with her being alone at all. “Didn't I tell you to keep an eye on her at all times? I don't trust her at all, especially after what I just discovered.”It wasn't that she was a threat to me but I didn't want her to ruin my plans.“I will go check on her, but first let me tell you why I called you here,” Luis said, as if in a hurry.I agreed to let him continue.“Mr Delgado said that he has an offer that could benefit you greatly.” How did that concern me? As far as I knew, the Delgado syndicate was beneath me and under my control.“Don't you know that I don't take offers from syndicates of no stature? Tell him I'm not interested.” I told Luis.“Your father said you should meet with him,
Adriana's POVMy mind felt foggy as I tried to open my eyes but everything was blurry.What happened to me?The last thing I remembered was Diego beating up that guy. I gasped as I realized that I must have gone into shock because of the incident. As I looked around, I realized I wasn't in my house; I was in an unfamiliar place and my wedding gown was changed into comfy nightwear.I recalled gasping for breath and I became insecure. I thought that issue had finally passed because I had not experienced it in a long time, but now, it seems to have returned. I didn't know how I would tell Juan about this.Just as I was about to get up from the bed, I heard footsteps approaching my door. I quickly lay back down on the bed, pretending to be asleep. The door opened and I could hear two different sets of footsteps approaching me.“I have no time to waste on her, so just do as I instructed,” a deep and cold voice commanded. I figured it was Diego. “At exactly 8 PM, bring her to the venue and
Adriana's POV “Do you take Mr Diego to be your lawful wedded husband?” The priest's words sent shivers down my spine. I looked into Diego's eyes and felt his anger and hatred just from our gaze.“Yes,” I hesitantly replied in a whisper when someone shook me. I looked around until I saw Mr Antonio. I sensed a hidden agenda behind this sudden arrangement.I wanted to say something foolish but the smile in my father's eyes stopped me in my tracks. “Why did he have to be bleeding from his nose?” I thought. Seeing his bleeding nose when he turned to look at me when we were at home scared me, and I felt I had to accept the marriage just to keep him happy.“Yes, I do,” I finally said, giving in to the marriage. At that moment, Juan walked into the church, breathing heavily like he had been running. I gave him a look and he understood immediately, stopping in his tracks.It was too late to do anything now.The ride back home was dead silent, and I could hear my heart beating. “Why did Diego
Diego's POV I fired a shot and memories began flooding in. I can still remember that day vividly. I kept firing shots as the echoes of that fateful day crashed against my mind. I could still see her face, pale and fragile, as she gasped for breath.The memories were sharp. I was a mature man then, ready to take over from where my father left off, yet I could cry like a small child when my mother died.I had failed her. I had been too weak, too scared to save the one person who meant everything to me. The guilt consumed me.As I kept firing, lost in the past, the present faded away. Not a soul tried to save her; some merely stood by, watching, while the others escaped the scene. The damage had already been done and nothing would ever be the same again.That incident turned me into a stern, merciless, and unforgiving person. I came dangerously close to becoming just like my father; the only difference was that I could never harm a woman. I left the dirty work to my loyal men.“Mr Diego
Adriana's POV“WHAT?” I screamed. I couldn't understand why my father would arrange such a thing without my approval first. “I will never marry him, Dad!”. I said, filled with anger and hoping for him to change his mind.“I know that you despise that family and mafia as a whole, but I am doing this for your own good”, my dad replied. I didn't like his tone; he sounded genuinely concerned about me which was rare coming from him.“I raised you as a single dad, but now that you have grown, I need to be reassured that you are safe and in good hands.“Good hands?”. That word felt wrong to me. They are a mafia family and our worst rivals. How could I ever feel safe in their so-called hands? My tone sounded sarcastic but I didn't care. I didn't want to reason with my dad; it felt futile.“I am doing this to stop bloodshed among us and keep you safe” he continued, trying to convince me. These explanations weakened me the more.“I have arranged the marriage and you will get married to him. It