This chapter is chaotic and filled with rage, but Lilianna has reached her breaking point. She was bound to burst at some point. Don't forget to comment and vote. I'll be waiting for your thoughts on the chapter. 💐 xoxo ✨
Lilianna »»»◈««« Casting one last seething look at my traitorous brothers, I shoved past Marco, fury burning in every step as I marched towards the elevator. But of course, he couldn't leave me alone. I jabbed the elevator button repeatedly, as if sheer force could speed up my escape. My suitcase contained only the essentials; the rest I would retrieve once I found my own place. I had enough money saved from my job, and I texted my manager, asking her if she could secure an apartment for me immediately. Sloane had already offered her place until I got settled. "It's not safe for you to be out there alone, Lilianna. You can't leave. I won't allow it. If you would just calm down and listen, give me a chance to explain—" Marco's voice was soft, almost pleading. But I knew better. Once, I had believed his lies, and look where that had gotten me. I turned to face him, rage boiling over. "I have my manager and my team. Don't pretend to care about my safety and well-being when you never
Marco »»»◈««« I slumped on the couch, a glass of scotch dangling from my fingers as I glared at the ceiling. Emptiness clawed at me, a hollow ache that I hadn't felt in a long time. The scotch burned down my throat, but it did nothing to fill the void. Leaning forward, I reached for the bottle, only to find it empty. I had drained the entire thing, and still, the hollowness gnawed at me. I staggered to the bar, my movements a little unsteady. The polished wood surface mocked me, a cruel reminder of her. The memory of spreading her legs and tasting her right here flooded my mind. I traced my fingers over the cold counter, desperate to feel her presence, but she was gone. Only the ghost of her touch remained. My hand shook as I grabbed the whiskey bottle she had chosen to drink from, staring at it like it held the answers. I wrenched off the cap and took a swig, the liquid burning a path down to my stomach. My head throbbed, and I swallowed two ibuprofen, chasing them with more w
Lilianna »»»◈««« I had spent an entire week thinking about it, day and night, trying to find answers that never came. The constant over-thinking only made me feel worse. Nothing made sense anymore, and the silence in my mind was unbearable. I threw myself into work, hoping to drown out the thoughts that filled my every moment. I stepped out of the car and ran my fingers through my hair, trying to calm the storm of emotions inside me. My secretary followed closely as we walked onto the set, but just as I was about to enter, I saw him. For a moment, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. But there he was, standing there. He wore a designer trench coat that hung perfectly off his broad shoulders, pointy Italian loafers that gleamed under the sunlight, and his signature scowl that made my heart do wild acrobatics. I stopped dead in my tracks, resisting the urge to rub my eyes in disbelief. He hadn't shown up at my place or at work, so seeing him here was a shock that sent my p
Lilianna »»»◈««« “Overall, the ultrasound confirms a viable intrauterine pregnancy at 5 weeks gestation with early signs of embryonic and fetal development. The patient is advised to schedule regular prenatal visits to optimize maternal and fetal health.” I stared at the words on the report for what felt like an eternity, trying to make sense of the turmoil within me. Did I love this baby? I didn’t know. I had never wanted it. The idea of resenting it felt foreign, but I couldn’t ignore the resentment already gnawing at the edges of my mind. Would it ruin my life? Yes, without a doubt. It already had. I could see every single opportunity slipping through my fingers, my dreams and ambitions fading into the background. My life, as I had envisioned it, was being stolen away from me before it had even begun. Just when I was getting started, it was over—so damn soon. The disappointment was a heavy weight on my chest, squeezing the breath out of me. I imagined the future I never wanted.
Lilianna »»»◈««« "Five weeks," I managed to say, my voice trembling. I watched Marco's face, trying to decipher his emotions. He seemed torn between happiness and worry, his eyes flickering with uncertainty every time he looked at me. His inner conflict mirrored my own. "Congratulations," I continued, hugging myself tightly. "This is what you wanted, right?" Marco's eyes locked onto mine. "Is it what you want?" I almost laughed bitterly. "Now you care about what I want?" His expression hardened. "Yes, I do care. When I first got closer to you, Lilianna, I thought you were just a part of the plan. But fuck it, I was wrong. You mean everything to me, everything, more than I could ever put into words." I pressed my lips together and looked away, avoiding his gaze. "I didn't matter to you when you messed with my birth control pills." His expression darkened. "I replaced them two days later, I swear. I couldn't stand the thought of you taking them right in front of me. I even lied
Marco »»»◈««« Prove to me how important I am to you by going against everything you stand for, by defying your code, by going against the entire Cosa Nostra. You will free him, and you will let him live with me for the rest of my life. Only then will I believe you... I downed another glass of bourbon, the burn of the alcohol doing little to quell the storm inside me. My hand raked through my hair in a desperate, frustrated gesture, as if trying to physically tear out the thoughts that plagued me. Without thinking, I hurled the crystal tumbler at the wall in front of me. The shattering glass echoed through the room. My breath came in harsh, ragged gasps, each inhale and exhale amplifying the pain coursing through my veins. Her words looped incessantly in my head, each syllable like a dagger twisting deeper into my chest. The look in her eyes, that blend of anger and sorrow, haunted me relentlessly. I could see her face every time I closed my eyes. Grabbing the bottle of bourbon,
Lilianna »»»◈««« "It's not real, it can't be, it just can't..." I muttered, my foot tapping incessantly against the hardwood floor of Dr. Lin's office. "How real did it feel to you, Lilianna?" Dr. Lin's voice was calm, yet probing. I shook my head vigorously. "Like a very real dream... but still just a dream. It can't be real. I was pregnant, not just in my mind, but the whole nine months. And look at me now, this is my first pregnancy. I'd remember if I gave birth to a child. My body would be different." Dr. Lin scribbled something in her notes before looking up at me with a steady gaze. "You know, women's bodies can recover remarkably well, especially young mothers. If we're following your timeline accurately, you would have been almost twenty years old at the time, right?" A cold dread settled in my chest. "But if it's true, then where is the child? It can't just vanish into thin air." "Lilianna, what you endured in those two or more years in that basement could make anyone f
Marco »»»◈««« We were at Niko's mansion, I had called a meeting, so, It was just us and the kids. Massimo and Aurora ran around the room, their laughter echoing off the walls as they played. Cristiano tried his best to keep up, his tiny legs moving as fast as they could, but he was still so young. Anastasia, on the other hand, was the epitome of shyness, almost a mirror image of Evangeline when I first laid eyes on her. She sat nestled in Niko's lap, her face buried deep in his chest, seeking the comfort and security only a father could provide. Niko's hand moved gently through her hair, a soothing motion that seemed to calm her. Every so often, she'd muster the courage to slip out of his arms, reaching for a slice of apple he held out for her, before quickly retreating into the safety of his arms. The sight of her brought a rare, genuine smile to my face. Watching them, I couldn't help but think. What kind of father would I be? I found myself wondering about the gender of our bab