There are different kind of people in this world, the ones that can look like a model without putting in much effort, secondly the one that requires heavy make-up to look flawless and lastly the one that looks like someone who has been beaten up and then thrown out and hit by a bus so that whatever is done will not be able to compete with the first or second. Staring at the man standing in front of me who I guess falling into the first category made me smile in annoyance because I knew that my current appearance would definitely fall into the third category. D*mn…!! Didn't he just get out of the hospital? I can even see the bandages around his stomach, but why he still looks that stunningly handsome is beyond my imagination… I sighed before taking a seat again in front of my food. “So, what are you doing here?” I asked and continued eating my forgotten Chinese food. He walked to my refrigerator and stood there for a second before grabbing a bottle of water and drinking it then s
My eyes widened when we stopped in front of the place. “Olio e Piu? Don't we have to make a reservation first? It's not a restaurant you can just walk into like that, Brad." Was my comment still in shock. I stared dumbfounded at the expensive restaurant and refused to get out of the car. With my clothes and appearance like this?! God, I could die of embarrassment. The man called Bradley just stared at me silently before letting out a long breath "You don't want to come here?" He asked and I rolled my eyes at his stupid question. Duh... "Find somewhere else that's casual, please." I suggest politely and make him stare at me. He sighed, "Do you know that your appearance already beats all the women who wear heavy make-up and expensive clothes without even trying?" I had to blink a few times after hearing his words. Is he serious?! They are the most beautiful words anyone has ever said to me. Sh*t! Calm down my heart... calm down... "Thank you." I whispered in embarrassment a
"Take care of things here," Bradley said to Marco who nodded his head before he put away his gun and put it back in his trouser pocket as if it was just a wallet instead of a weapon. O God, how can he be that calm! I thought in surprise and gasped in shock as he hoisted me again as if I were a sack of potatoes instead of a human being. "Brad... What are you doing, your wound could actually reopen!" I said in panic but he just growled and ignored my words as he started walking with me on his shoulder towards the back door. Bang... Bang! Again the sound of gunfire was heard, but the man holding me continued to walk casually with me as if what happened there was not a gunfight that could hurt everyone there. The car we were using to get here stopped just as we opened the back door and Brad quickly opened the passenger door and took me inside. However, just as I thought he was about to get in with me into the car, I widened my eyes in shock as he closed the door without getting in w
Taking out the cream that Scarlet had given me at the cafe, I slowly applied the cream to my battered face again after taking a long soak in my bathtub. Letting out a sigh of relief, I grabbed my clothes and put them on before walking out to the delicious bed that was waiting for me. Yes, no matter how tired I am, I will definitely take a bath before going to bed, because I hate the sticky feeling on my skin from sweat or dust. Looking towards my Iphone which I placed on my bedside table, I saw that there were 4 missed call and text notifications. Deciding to take a look, fearing it was from the hospital or something urgent, I furrowed my brows when I realized it was from an unknown number. Huh? Who is this? I thought and opened the text only to be wide-eyed in shock when I read it. The first text: ‘Have you arrived yet, la mia donna?’ Donna... There was only one person who called me that. Bradley... How did he get my phone number?! Ugh. I shouldn't have been surprised. It's
The next day, I didn't see Bradley anywhere. 'Strange' I thought but continued to get on with things and work as usual. Using a thick powder coated with a lot of BB cream, the bruises on my cheeks almost disappeared, well, almost, but by the time I got to the hospital, news of my bravery had apparently spread and I could only smile when everyone asked me about it. Because I was busy at the hospital, I didn't have time to think about the strangeness of having no news of someone. But the next day I didn't hear or see him again. Strange, it's been 2 days since I didn’t hear from him, is he okay? I thought in wonder and picked up my phone thinking is it necessary to contact him? I quickly shook my head and put my phone back down. Maybe he's busy, I thought and decided not to call him. Then on the third day when I came to the hospital, everyone gathered because there were some new workers joining the hospital today, 5 nurses and 2 specialist doctors. I, who was planning to take pu
Dwyne was taken to a room full of beautiful dresses but as she wandered around looking at them, her eyes locked onto one black dress that reminded her of something.Yes, she used to have a dressing room this big with expensive dresses and jewelry and other things that every girl wanted.However, she had left that life behind so being here brought back memories of it.Letting out a long sigh, she took her eyes off the fancy dresses and picked out just one simple black sleeveless, knee-length dress and paired it with a jeans jacket she found and boots she knew would make the servants who were told to make her look elegant and beautiful go wide-eyed with her choice of dress.But no one dared to make any bad comments and they just helped me put on the clothes of my choice before applying my makeup, which I requested to be light and not overdone.The sound of male laughter made everyone gasp in surprise before they left me alone.Knowing whose voice it was, I just stared at him through the
Click...The next day when I locked the door to my apartment, I gasped in shock at the sight of a man waiting for me beside the door."Marco!!!" I exclaimed in surprise and gave a small smile while continuing to walk, the man returned my smile and walked beside me."Why don't you seem happy to see me?" He asked casually and I just rolled my eyes while pressing the elevator button without answering anything.The things that happened last night are still confusing me.After all the things Brad did and yet....No, I don't want to think about it anymore, I thought irritably as the elevator doors opened and I walked in followed by the handsome Italian man.Okay, what exactly is he doing here?"Marco... What are you doing here?" I asked suspiciously while glancing at him.The Italian-blooded man gave a big smile that made the 2 women who were also in the elevator audibly gasp, making me glance slightly at them who were apparently staring intently at the Italian man. Haha... Women, I though
Today was very tiring, I got the task to accompany 2 major surgeries that I couldn't refuse. 12 hours later I sat in the doctor's room and put my head on the table. I realized that the day had changed and it seemed that I had been in the hospital for 2 days in a row.Growlll...." You're still here?" Asked Daniel who turned out to be in the duty doctor's room.I smiled and nodded my head before resting my head on the table to close my eyes a little "Yeah, the surgery was awesome" I replied quietly and made him snicker."Get some rest before you go home, it's dangerous if you have to drive in that condition" He said before placing a bottle of mineral water in front of me.I just waved my hand and sighed, he was right, I should rest first, but the thought of sleeping with my head on the table like this was very uncomfortable, so I quickly got up from my seat and went to change my work uniform and get ready to go home.Grabbing my bag and jacket, I made plans to go home and as I closed t
The next day, Dwyne couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, a bemused smile tugging at her lips as she saw Marco and Gray standing in the lobby, a sleek black Mercedes waiting behind them. Both men stood confidently, arms crossed, clearly in no rush, as if they’d been waiting all morning.“Seriously? You two are my bodyguards now?” Dwyne exclaimed in disbelief, shaking her head as she walked toward the car. My God…She paused only for a second, glancing at the luxurious vehicle. It was the kind of car she never imagined herself stepping into, much less on a casual trip to the hospital.Marco and Gray exchanged amused looks, shrugging in unison. “You know how much you matter to him," Marco said with a grin, gesturing for her to get inside.Dwyne rolled her eyes at their response. “To him? Or to all of you?” she muttered as she slid into the car. It was a rhetorical question, but she couldn’t shake the feeling. The weight of it all. Us—they’d said. Them all. The realization was unsett
Phillipe Quinn stood by his office window, swirling the glass of whiskey in his hand. The weight of seeing Ellaine after all these years hung heavily on him. He hadn’t expected it, certainly not in the chaotic setting of a public hospital. Ellaine… She looks well…The years of separation, filled with silence and unanswered questions, flooded his thoughts. He wasn’t sure what to make of it, but one thing was clear—Ellaine hadn’t been alone.The memory of the man who accompanied her flashed in his mind. Who is he?There was something about him, something dangerous, even more so than Benjamin Harrington. Ugh.. The thought made Phillipe clench his jaw. Benjamin had been a nightmare for their family, especially for Ellaine, and the idea of someone worse lurking around her filled him with dread.His thoughts were interrupted when Harry, his second brother and colleague, spoke up. “What’s going on, Phillipe? You’ve been staring at me for a full minute. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.
My eyes widened when we arrived at The Astoria, a luxury apartment complex in Coral Gables, just a stone's throw away from Palm Beach. Is he serious?!The sleek glass facade gleamed under the afternoon sun, and palm trees lined the pristine entrance, making the place look more like a five-star resort than a residence. I couldn’t help but take in the grandeur as Gray stopped in the lobby. When I turned to Bradley, he was already staring at me, that guilt-ridden smile plastered on his face. He knew exactly what I was thinking."You put me in The Astoria?" I frowned, my voice filled with shock and a hint of disbelief. Of course, Bradley would go overboard after everything that had happened. I should’ve known this would be his way of keeping me safe.He raised his eyebrows, his playful grin barely masking the seriousness underneath. "It's the safest place," he replied. "Unless you want to stay in one of my mansions?" His eyes lit up in excitement, as though the idea of me moving into h
As Benjamin Harrington walked back towards his Bentley, his eyes remained locked on Bradley, who stood beside Dwyne with a protective stance.The disbelief on Benjamin’s face was palpable as he tried to process the unexpected scenario unfolding before him.Bradley’s presence was commanding; his posture was assertive, a stark contrast to the apprehensive demeanor of Benjamin.Dwyne, clutching Bradley’s arm with a grip that spoke volumes of her reliance and trust, was visibly shaken.Benjamin couldn’t help but wonder about this man who had become so integral to Dwyne’s life. The juxtaposition of their reactions—Dwyne clinging to Bradley as if her life depended on it and Bradley’s unwavering vigilance—made Benjamin’s curiosity deepen.The tension in the air was thick. Dwyne’s heart raced with a frenetic rhythm, not from fear of Benjamin, but from concern for what Bradley might d
As Dwyne and Bradley's car glided through the familiar streets of Palm Beach, a mix of nostalgia and melancholy washed over her.The palm trees lining the avenue swayed gently in the warm breeze, casting dappled shadows on the road. This was the place where she had spent her formative years, a place now filled with memories both bittersweet and poignant.Their first stop was the old Ballet building, a grand structure with arched windows and elegant columns. Dwyne’s gaze softened as she looked up at the building, the place where she had spent countless hours perfecting her craft.She remembered the thrill of her first recital, the hard-earned applause, and the grueling practice sessions. But it was also where her dreams had been interrupted by a cruel twist of fate. A sharp pain surged
The private jet glided smoothly through the skies, carrying Dwyne and Bradley back to America after their whirlwind trip.The lush green landscapes of Italy had gradually given way to the sprawling vistas of the American Midwest, and now the jet was nearing its destination.As the plane journeyed on, the weight of their conversations and the revelations shared between them lingered in the air.Bradley had opened up to Dwyne about his life, his role in the Mafia, and the burdens and responsibilities that came with it. It had been a deep, often intense sharing of his world, one that had laid bare the vulnerabilities and challenges he faced.Now, as they flew back home, Dwyne felt it was her turn to reveal her own story—a story she had kept guarded for a l
The next morning, the soft light of dawn crept through the curtains of their villa on the Amalfi Coast. The gentle sound of waves lapping against the shore created a serene backdrop as Bradley gently woke Dwyne with passionate kisses on her lips while stroking her naked body under the blanket. She stirred, her eyes fluttering open to meet his warm gaze.“Good morning, Amore mio” Bradley said, his voice tinged with excitement and warmth. “I have something special planned for us today.”Dwyne stretched and smiled, her curiosity piqued. “What’s going on?”Bradley’s eyes sparkled with both pride and nervousness. “We’re going to have breakfast with my family”“What?” Dwyne’s heart raced with a mix of excitement and apprehension. “I.. I’m honored and a little nervous.”Bradley gave her a reassuring smile. “There’s no need to be nervous. My uncle and his wife are wonderful people. They’ll appreciate you as much as I do.”The morning was crisp and clear, and after a quick breakfast at their
“What? We’re not coming home yet?!” Dwyne exclaimed in disbelief, her eyes widening as she processed the news. “You’ve planned another trip? Where to this time?” Her voice was a mix of astonishment and excitement, as she tried to grasp the full extent of Bradley’s elaborate plans.Next, they flew to France, where Paris awaited with its timeless charm.“I can’t believe it—France?!” Dwyne exclaimed in wonder, her voice filled with awe as she peered out of the plane window. The sight of the Eiffel Tower, standing tall and elegant against the Parisian skyline, took her breath away.Her eyes wide with disbelief and excitement. The iconic landmark seemed to shimmer in the distance, a perfect prelude to the magical experiences Bradley had promised.
Dwyne cast a skeptical glance at Bradley as they approached the bustling airport, her eyebrows raised in curiosity. “So, Bradley, you really think we’re going to manage without any luggage? I didn’t bring anything.”Bradley’s face broke into a reassuring smile. “Absolutely. I’ve got everything covered. You don’t need to worry about a thing—just enjoy the adventure.”Okay then, she thought with a shake head.Dwyne shook her head in disbelief but trusted Bradley’s confidence. His track record of surprises and meticulous planning had always been spot on, so she decided to go along with it.Their first destination was Switzerland, where the snowy landscapes greeted them with a magical winter wonderland. They landed in Zurich, and a sleek black car whisked them away to a luxurious alpine chalet nestled in the heart of the Alps. The chalet, with its panoramic views of the snow-covered peaks and cozy interior, was nothing short of spectacular.Inside the spacious, elegantly appointed changi