Riley seemed to pass out for a moment before jerking back up. She leaned closer, her hands making their way to his chest. "Let's go spend some private time."He gently stopped her, making her take another shot of her drink. Leaning forward, he asked, "Do you know Amira?"Riley roared with laughter. "I know that bitch. She always tries to order me around."Aidan played along, nodding. "Really? What's her deal?""She hates Karina's daughter, Sophie," Riley revealed, a wicked smile on her face.Aidan's brows knitted in genuine concern. "Why?"Riley belched, still smiling. "She found out about Sophie and wants to..." She paused, her words slurring.Aidan leaned in eagerly. "She wanted to what?""She wanted to end..." Riley's head dropped to the counter as she passed out, leaving her sentence unfinished.Aidan groaned in frustration, trying to wake her up, but it was no use. He sat back, his mind racing with the implications of what he had just learned. He felt unsettled and frustrated at
Aidan noticed her movement and chuckled. “Well, I got to know about some wanted criminals. One had a striking semblance to your assistant."Amira gulped, trying to maintain her composure. "You're kidding, right? Lola isn't even from this country. What do you even think of me? I do a good background check before employing anyone."Aidan nodded slowly. "Yeah, I know, honey." He held her face, caressing it roughly. "But, you know, Amira, she definitely looks like one who knows bad people or does bad things. Talking from her outward appearance and attitude."Amira tucked her hair behind her ear, trying to keep cool. "Stop presuming nonsense, Aidan. Lola is different. Besides, you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. You know."He smiled and nodded as if acknowledging her words. She smiled back, starting to caress his body. "Did you come to keep me company?" she asked, trying to change the subject, noting his mood seemed to soften.As her fingers trailed his face to his neck, she leaned fo
With a smirk, Lucas slid two thick fingers inside her, reveling in the way her velvet walls clenched around him. "That's it, baby," he crooned, his strokes slow and deliberate. "Take it all."Amira's head fell back, a guttural moan escaping her lips as she surrendered to the sensations. Her bra came undone under Lucas' deft ministrations, and he immediately latched onto one pert nipple, nipping and suckling.The couch creaked under their combined weight as Amira ground herself against his questing fingers, desperate for more. "Don't stop," she panted, her nails raking down his back. “Fuck, don't ever stop."Lucas growled in response, his free hand kneading the soft curves of her ass. He was utterly enthralled by the sight of her, flushed and panting, as he brought her closer and closer to the edge.Amira's eyes widened as she felt Lucas' hardened length tease along the sensitive skin of her inner thighs. A delicious shiver ran down her spine."It's time," Lucas growled, his voice thic
Lucas smiled, pulling her in for a languid kiss. "And I thought you loved Aidan," he countered, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face.Amira shrugged, a rueful expression crossing her face. "It's complicated now," she admitted.Lucas nodded, his expression understanding. "Same with me," he conceded, his fingers tracing idle patterns on her skin. Then he captured her lips again. Their tongues tangled in a heated kiss, passion simmering beneath the surface. Amira finally pulled back, her eyes sparkling with determination. "Let's work together, Lucas Salvatore," she whispered, her voice laced with a hint of steel. "To get what we both want."Lucas' brow furrowed, a hint of caution in his gaze. "I agree," he murmured, "but you don't harm Karina, and I won't harm Aidan. I'm sure you've not thought of hurting Karina."Amira's expression darkened briefly, but she nodded. "I did," she admitted, "but I never acted on it."Relieved, Lucas pulled her close, pressing a soft kiss to her fo
The woman removed her sunglasses, her gaze shifting between the two. "Hello, dear," she said, her eyes lighting up as she turned to Karina. "You know me?"Karina chuckled, a genuine smile spreading across her face. "Of course, you're Alicia Montgomery, the famous singer from Brazil. I've heard your songs all over London when I was there the last five years."Alicia beamed, pulling Karina into a warm hug. "I'm honored, my dear," she cooed, before flicking her gaze back to Lucas, her expression unreadable.Karina, curious, asked, "Uh, do you know each other?"Alicia's smile widened as she turned to Lucas. “Yeah, he's my... dear friend, Lucas," she said, her voice trailing off as she fixed her gaze on him.Lucas cleared his throat, a forced smile on his face. “Hello, Alicia," he said, his hand slipping around Karina's waist.Karina glanced at Lucas, and she forced a smile and nodded. She muttered to him, "You seem more surprised than happy, Lucas."He forced a laugh. "Yeah. It's been a w
Aidan took a dangerous step closer to her. “I'm better than you, Anita. No matter what Karina learns about me and my past, I'm certain she will understand me."She laughed, ridiculing him. "Oh, seriously? Keep being delusional, brother."He shrugged. "You know, I'm always better than you. I will get to have a stable family with Karina soon, unlike you, who got yourself pregnant by a married man who's older than you by over a decade and who never loved you.” He clicked his tongue, feigning pity.“If Lilly finds out about him, she ought to call him Grandpa, but it's going to be Father." He mocked, ripping open old wounds, making Anita gaze at him in fury. “You're now old news. You've lost your once-perfect career, you can never have a happy home, and above all, you can never be a great mother to your daughter. So pathetic.”Seeing his words had punctured her thick heart, he turned to his mother. Juliana tried to calm the situation, but he stopped her. "I guess it was great to stop by. I
Aidan returned to his office and, in a fit of frustration, swept some files off his desk with his hands. Papers scattered everywhere as he clenched his fists, feeling like he had lost a rare opportunity again."Dammit," he muttered under his breath, his voice filled with regret. "If only I had listened to my instinct and made Amira leave some minutes earlier before Karina came, she wouldn't have forcefully kissed me."He cursed himself for losing control of the situation earlier. The thought of Karina's hurt expression haunted him. "I was so close," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. "So close to making things right."He paced back and forth, his mind racing. "Why did I let her get to me? Why did I let this happen?"Slumping into his chair, he buried his face in his hands, feeling the weight of his mistakes. "I have to fix this," he resolved, his voice barely audible. "I can't lose her. Not like this."The office was silent except for the sound of his ragged breathing. The
The next minute, Karina put on a careless expression, her face turning cold and indifferent. She sat down and asked, "How are things going at the mansion?" She cleared her throat, trying to change the topic as she glanced at Gina.Gina sighed. "Everything is... not really good with you and Sophie's absence. By the way, Uncle Elijah left the mansion with his family."Karina's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Why?"Gina shrugged. "Aunt Zora asked them to leave."Karina shook her head. "That's not good."Gina waved it off. "Uncle Elijah wanted that. He wanted them to stay away so Aunt Martha might not cause any other trouble."Karina nodded in understanding. "Alright then. Anyway, I plan on returning today with Sophie."Gina's face lit up. "You know, Aunt Zora guessed right. I guess I'll make sure the celebration of your return with Sophie is carried out properly tonight."Karina smiled. "Thank you. I'm sure we can celebrate my upcoming marriage too. Do you think I should invite Lucas over
A Few Months LaterLife had started to return to normal for Karina and Sophie. Sophie, with the help of therapy and the constant support from Aidan and Karina, had begun to heal from the trauma of her kidnapping. They spent their weekends visiting parks, and museums, and sometimes just enjoying quiet family picnics, which helped Sophie find joy again.Karina and Aidan, too, had found a new rhythm in their relationship. They decided to set aside their past differences and work together for Sophie’s happiness and welfare. Aidan's family, especially his mother, Cruzita, had also mended fences with Karina. The shared goal of giving Sophie a stable and loving environment brought them closer.Meanwhile, Lilly had undergone her transplant surgery, thanks to the Everhardt family's efforts in finding a suitable donor. Her recovery was a beacon of hope amidst the chaos.During these months, Anita and Amira faced their trials. Amira’s defense team, led by her best lawyers, had fought tirelessly t
The atmosphere was charged with a mixture of dread and desperate hope, a battle of wills playing out in the room.The men appeared, one of them carrying Sophie on his shoulder as she squirmed and cried. Karina called out desperately, "Sophie! Sophie!"Anita's expression turned concerned as she watched the scene unfold, her eyes flickering between Karina and Sophie. “I’m doing you the honors because I’m a mother too. Use this moment well and say goodbye properly to your daughter.” She signaled to the man, who dropped Sophie down and the other went and untied Karina. The little girl ran to Karina, her face tear-streaked and trembling.“Mommy, I missed you,” Sophie cried, trembling.Karina managed a smile through her tears, cuddling her daughter tightly.“Don’t worry, darling. I’m here. Nothing will happen to you.” She scanned Sophie’s face, then shot an angry look at Anita. “Why does my daughter look like this? What have you been doing to her?!”Anita shrugged nonchalantly. “Just keep
Karina watched with teary, weary eyes as Anita paced impatiently. Lucas stood nearby, his face a mask of frustration. Juliana returned, her face pale as she informed them that Lilly was ready.Lucas sneered at Anita. “Where are your men? They should’ve been here by now.”“They’re coming. They should be—” She was cut off by a knock on the door.Anita took a step forward, but Lucas stopped her with a raised hand. He went to open the door and returned with two burly men in tow.“What the heck kept you guys?” Anita snapped.“Sorry, ma’am. Traffic was a nightmare,” one of the men apologized.Anita hissed. “Fine. Lucas, they’ll go get Sophie now.”Lucas nodded, watching them head upstairs before turning his gaze back to Karina, who was sobbing and staring at him with a mix of sorrow and betrayal.“Lucas, I never thought you could do this to me,” she choked out, her voice trembling with a mix of desperation and heartbreak.He leaned forward, feigning remorse. “I’m sorry, love. You know I ha
Anita asked, tensed, “What are we going to do?”“Tie her up!” Lucas commanded. He dragged a chair and placed Karina on it, securing her tightly with ropes. “Where are your guys who are supposed to take Sophie to the facility?” he grumbled.“They are on their way,” Anita muttered, nervously glancing at Karina.Lilly appeared, her eyes widening in horror as she saw Karina, who was now bleeding from the head. “Mommy, what happened to Aunt Karina?”Lucas flicked his gaze at the girl, snarling, “Ugh, this girl. Take her to her room and get her ready, Mother!”Juliana quivered and walked to Lilly. “Let’s go, my dear,” she said softly, leading Lilly upstairs as Lucas continued tying Karina to the chair.In the Everhardt mansion, Aidan walked into the house. “Where’s Karina?” he asked Gina.“She went to the office about 30 minutes ago,” Gina replied.He nodded and turned to leave but stopped as Georgia walked in with some files in her hands. “Georgia, have you seen Karina?” he quickly asked.
Aidan and Karina arrived at the Everhardt mansion, the tension palpable between them. Aidan got out of his car and quickly walked up to her, his tone urgent. "Karina, I think we should inform Inspector Kai."Her eyes widened in surprise. "No. We shouldn't.""What? Why?" Aidan asked, bewildered."Lucas is no fool," Karina explained, her voice steady but tense. "He might have figured that I didn't just come to his family's house looking for him. I'm sure Anita told him already that she saw me at the hospital, and then he figured out that he messed up by lying to me twice."Aidan shook his head in frustration. "So, what are we going to do? Stay calm when Sophie's earring was lying in their house?"She sighed deeply, struggling to keep her composure. "Aidan, we shouldn't react impulsively. Lucas shouldn't think that I'm suspecting him."Aidan eyed her with concern. "Are you scared of him or what?""I'm just considering the odds and possibilities now. What if… my daughter is in that house
Karina answered it, faking her cheerful voice. "Hello, Lucas.""Hi, Karina. Uh, sorry but you can't see Anita or Lilly."Her brows creased. "What? Why?""They left the country. They went to Switzerland.""But you said we could have dinner with them, Lucas.""Yes, I had no idea they left. I just called my mom and she told me about it."She nodded. "So, when did they leave?""Last night, yeah."She nodded. "Okay. It's fine. Let's talk later." She ended the call and groaned. "He lied again."Aidan asked, "What happened?""I saw Anita and Lilly less than an hour ago, and he said they left last night," she concluded.Aidan's expression turned grim. "He's definitely hiding something, Karina.""I feel so too. I need to go over to his family's house.""I'm coming with you.""But you're going to stay outside and hide. Paraventure Lucas shows up, he shouldn't see you."He agreed, and they left. Aidan followed Karina's car as she drove to the Salvatore Mansion.When Karina arrived, she placed so
The air in the room shifted, charged with a new, tense energy.Lucas's face darkened, his jaw clenched tightly."Karina?" he muttered, half to himself, half to Amira. The intimacy between him and Amira shattered instantly, replaced by a complicated mix of fear, guilt, and anger.Amira pulled back slightly, her eyes wide with surprise and worry. “What do we do?" she whispered, her voice trembling.Lucas took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "Stay quiet," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. He disentangled himself from Amira, his expression hardening as he prepared to face whatever was waiting for him on the other side of the door.Lucas started heading to the door and halted. He spun and gestured at Amira to go hide somewhere. She quickly grabbed her clothes and ran off, her footsteps light as she disappeared into another room. He exhaled deeply, trying to steady himself."Lucas, are you there…?" Karina's voice was tinged with impatience."Uh, I'm coming!" he ca
Anita held Lilly’s hand tightly as they walked into an examining room in an extinguished hospital owned by the Algernon family. She had brought Lilly for a discreet proper checkup. She had been meticulous in ensuring this visit would be confidential, preparing for the upcoming transplant surgery. After the doctor had thoroughly examined Lilly, they all returned to his office, a tense silence hanging in the air.The doctor sat behind his desk, looking over Lilly’s charts before raising his eyes to Anita."So, Mrs. Anita, when is Lilly scheduled for the transplant?"Anita forced a smile, her mind racing for a believable answer. "We’re taking her to England for the transplant. A hospital there has found a suitable donor."The doctor frowned, clearly puzzled. "England? Which hospital, if you don't mind me asking? We need to transfer her medical records and ensure they have all the necessary information."Anita’s responses became increasingly evasive. "It's a private facility. They’ve as
Soon, Amira matched Lucas’s vigor, her enthusiasm doubling his pleasure. He growled and moaned, “Good girl, keep going.” She finished, then licked him from his V-line up to his chest, biting his nipples. Lucas groaned, his body tensing with the mix of pleasure and pain.“You’re not scared of me?” he muttered hoarsely.Amira smiled naughtily. “Why would I be? I know you won’t kill me.”He nodded, kissing her forehead. “I won’t. You're just different.” They started kissing passionately, their lips moving in a synchronized dance of lust and dominance. She asked between breaths, “How?”He chuckled, pulling back to look at her. “Everyone considers me a monster.”They locked gazes, Amira’s eyes piercing into his as she smirked. “We’re alike. Raymond used to be someone special to me before. I loved and adored him.” Her tone turned flat and callous. “But I killed him.”Lucas grinned. “I’m not like you, darling. I don’t kill the ones I love. Only those who give me trouble.”She started care