Chapter 008AliceI stepped out of the cab, releasing a deep sigh as I took in the picturesque school scenery. The elegant building stood before me, complemented by a beautiful fountain at its front.The parking lot was already filled with cars, reminding me that I needed to consider getting one. The stress of constantly hailing cabs or ordering rides with my kids was taking its toll, but with numerous bills to pay and sole responsibility for their care, it remained a luxury I couldn't afford. I walked through the quiet corridors leading to the meeting venue. The school has closed so it has made the surroundings eerily silent.I had also left my kids in the care of my sales worker, opting not to bring them along.Pushing open the door, I entered a room filled with parents gathered for the meeting. An air of importance filled the room as if hinting at the presence of a distinguished guest in the meeting. As I made my way through the crowd, exchanging greetings with familiar faces, I
Chapter 009AliceShe sat calmly, a young girl perched on her lap, gazing in my direction. The girl's resemblance to Janice was striking, and I instantly knew she's the child she had with Alec.But what brought Janice here after all these years? I stood silently, watching her back, unsure of what to do next. How did she even find me? Has Granny or Father betrayed my trust by telling her where I live?The little girl touched Janice's face and pointed in my direction. Janice turned, her eyes locking onto mine.A forced smile spread across her face as she rose to her feet. Janice still exudes elegance, from her poised demeanor to her impeccably tailored clothes."Well…Well… well, if it isn't my runaway slut of a daughter," she spat, holding the little girl in her hand and moving closer.I didn't flinch, my expression unchanging as I watched her.If she thought her venomous words would get a rise out of me, she was mistaken."I wouldn't have known you wanted to see me, Mother," I said, th
Chapter 010Mario "Please, sir... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt anyone. I needed the money for my sick grandmother," the young lady begged, her battered face dripping blood into her eyes. I stepped back to survey my handiwork, a satisfied smile spreading across my face. The nurse, who had aided the kidnappers, was nailed to a cross, her left leg and right hand severed."Your desperation doesn't justify harming my son," I said, my voice cold and menacing. "Mario Bianchi's son. You must have been blinded by greed to think you could get away with it."The woman whimpered, her eyes pleading for mercy I didn't have. If only she knew. "I... I didn't know he was your son, sir. We weren't told," she stammered. I sneered at her, looking around the dark, blood-stained basement with the hard stench of copper. The faint light from the small window highlighted the gruesome scene.Normally, I wouldn't dirty my hands, but this time was different. They had laid hands on my kids, Liam and Ava.
Chapter 011AliceAfter tucking Ava in, I stretched, yawning from exhaustion. I switched off their room light, quietly opened and closed the door, and walked down the dimly lit corridor.The scandal from three days ago still lingers in my mind. My mom and Elsa's incident had made headlines, but I'd grown numb to the gossip. But what hurt most was my kids facing ridicule at school. They were called bastards, and me, labeled as involved with another man whose resemblance to them sparked cruel rumors.I'd visited the school multiple times, threatening to report to higher ranked people if the management and parents wouldn't find a way to talk to their kids. Yet, the teasing still persisted. Now that I was desperate for a solution, I considered finding a father figure to end it all. Entering my room, I closed my bedroom door behind me and shivered as a sudden chill ran through me. This wasn't from the AC because I hadn't turned it on.I flicked the light switch, but the room remained da
Chapter 012Alice"Hey! Liam, be careful over there! And Paul, don't use the wheel!" I shouted over the amusement park's loud noise.I had brought my kids here to let them have some fun and take my mind off the encounter with Mario three days ago. The memory still lingered, filling me with both regret and longing. Thankfully, my kids had arrived just in time, preventing things from going further."If not for their timely arrival, things would have gone too far," I thought, shuddering at the thought.I vowed to myself that it wouldn't happen again. But Mario is to blame, I reasoned. He's too dominating and doesn't take no for an answer. Yet, I knew I couldn't let him near my family again."Mom, come play with us!" Ava shouted, snapping me back to reality.I looked up to see her on the slide alongside Liam, but Paul was nowhere to be seen, making my heart sink.I rushed towards Ava and Liam, panic rising within me."Where's Paul?" I asked, scanning the area frantically.Liam pointed tow
Chapter 013Alice"Give me my toy, Dad bought you yours!" Liam exclaimed."This is mine! This is the color of yours!" Ava retorted.Their argument filled the air as we stepped out of the cab, while I waited behind to pay the fare. We had just returned home from a long day out."Ava! Liam! Stop fighting, or I'll seize the toys!" I warned, trying to intervene.But Paul, chiming in, said, "They wouldn't listen, Mom. They always behave like children, while I'm the wisest and most adult-like. Gosh, I'll have gray hair soon from constantly correcting these kids!"His statement left me and the cabman in stitches and we bursted into laugher. I anticipated a night filled with arguments, shouting, and fighting, so I steeled myself for the chaos ahead.Ava quickly shot back, hands on her waist in a comically sassy pose, "You're so silly for saying you're the wisest, Paul! I was there when Mom gave birth to you! I'm the Sage of this family"Her witty response sent me into another fit of laughter
Chapter 014Alice"What the hell is he doing here?" Mario barked, his aura radiating danger as we started advancing towards Davis. I immediately stepped between them, but if I'd thought Mario's aura was ominous before, it was now intensified a hundredfold."Davis, please, can you leave? I'll meet you later," I said, my eyes fixed on Mario, wary of his next move.Davis replied from behind me, "I'm not going anywhere because of this man, Alice. I'm here for you, not him. I wanted to invite you to dinner and that's why I brought you a dress."Mario growled, making me tremble. I could feel the tension as he and Davis glared at each other."Okay, okay, fine. I'll come," I said, trying to turn to collect the dress, but Mario grabbed my shoulders tightly. I winced, and he relaxed his grip slightly at the sound."You're going nowhere, Alice," Mario snapped, his voice firm.I remained trapped between them, sensing the escalating hostility. Davis wasn't even backing down even seeing how intimi
Chapter 015 "What's going on?" I finally managed to ask, my voice shaking as I recovered from the shock. The restaurant staff had now surrounded us, concerned expressions etched on their faces. The staff rushed to my side, inquiring about my well-being and scanning me for injuries. Even my kids wanted to come close but I forced a smile and murmured I was okay. Davis remained silent, his eyes fixed on Mario with a terrified, ashen gaze. "Can someone tell me what the hell is going on right now before I lose my sanity?" My gaze shifted to my children, their innocent faces now clouded with worry. "Liam! Ava! Paul! What are you doing here? How did you three get here?" I pressed, my voice rising. Their heads drooped, fingers twisting anxiously in their hands and I knew it's a telltale sign of nervousness. Mario's hand reached out to adjust Ava's ponytail, not looking at me. He finally looked up, his eyes locking onto mine and the air thickened with tension. Mario's sneer
Chapter 033AliceImmediately after they were out of sight, I stood up and walked to Mario. “What’s going on, Mario? Where is he?” I asked, my voice sharp.Mario didn’t answer. He just looked at me with a strange, heavy expression in his eyes, a look I had never seen before. My stomach twisted. Something was wrong. I could feel it in the air, in the way his shoulders sagged.“Mario, talk to me,” I pressed, my voice rising.He hesitated, his lips parting as if to speak, then closing again. Finally, he said it, his voice breaking:“He’s dead, Alex. He’s dead.”The words hit me like a train. My body froze, my heart stalling as if it couldn’t process what I’d just heard. For a moment, I convinced myself I hadn’t heard him correctly. “Who is dead?” I whispered.Mario didn’t respond.“Who the fuck is dead, Mario?” I shouted, the curse word slipping out before I realized it. Not that I cared at this point.“Alex…” he repeated, his voice soft, his gaze now fully meeting mine.I stumbled bac
Chapter 032Alice“Mario, tell me something. Where the hell is Alex? Who the heck kidnapped that innocent little boy?” I asked, pacing around the room. My chest felt tight, and my thoughts were spinning out of control. Mario just sat there there, watching me intently, but he didn’t say a word. For the first time since I met him, he looked...tired. Not just physically, but emotionally drained. It was as though the weight of the world was pressing down on him, and he could barely hold it up anymore.He had returned only a few minutes ago, his face filled with exhaustion and something else—guilt, perhaps? He hadn’t even spoken to me, and I wasn't liking it.“You haven’t even been home for two days, Mario,” I continued. “You come back now, looking like this, and you can’t even give me an answer? I need to know what’s going on! Alex is missing!” I stopped pacing, looking at him for some kind of reassurance.Still, he said nothing. It’s been three days since Alex was kidnapped, and the
Chapter 031AliceI still found it hard to believe Mrs. Smith was Mario's younger sister, even as I watched my kids clinging to her, Mario, and Adrian sitting on the couch while the rest of the guests were dining. Mrs. Smith herself had explained to me earlier when I went to the kitchen to get her something to eat, and she’d came to join me. It was very hard to believe but I was forced to accept it when I noticed the glaring resemblance among all three of them.I kept asking myself this question ever since she told me about it: Did Mario know about her coming to the hospital when Paul was sick? My gaze shifted to Mario, who was already watching me as he spoke with his siblings. I glared at him, though I tried not to make it too obvious. He had come back late for the kids' party, but that wasn’t what was making me this angry. No, it was because Mario had gifted the kids an island, a freaking island! I didn’t like it. It made it seem as if my kids had been lacking before he came into
Chapter 030Alice"I would go to any extent for you, Wifey, even to the very end of the world. Do even the unthinkable" Mario murmured.His words, though seemingly tender, sent a shiver of unease down my body. It wasn’t just the way he said them, it was the intensity in his eyes. He meant every syllable, and that terrified me.I hated to admit it, but he scared me sometimes. Not because I thought he’d hurt me, but because his possessiveness was... consuming. Ever since Mario came into our lives, he’d brought joy and stability to the kids, but with me? He was cold, distant, and now this. For a fleeting moment, I had believed his demeanor had softened these past weeks, but yet again, Mario Bianchi had proven me wrong."Okay, okay, fine. I agree," I said, exhaling shakily. "But... What about Elsa?" My hands rested on his chest."Ha!" He let out a sharp laugh, his grip on me tightening slightly. "Do you actually think you'd be living with Elsa?""Yes.”"Well, no." His smirk widened. "You
Chapter 029AliceI sank onto the kids' bed with a deep sigh. I'd just finished reading the kids their bedtime story, and now the house was quiet, except for the sound of my own ragged breathing. The party had ended hours ago, and I had to admit, I'd had a blast. It had been a long time since I'd let loose and had so much fun. But now, I didn't want to go to my room, knowing he was waiting for me. I knew I couldn't avoid Mario forever. He was a man who always got what he wanted, and I had a feeling that tonight would be no exception. I was exhausted, both physically and emotionally, and all I wanted to do was crawl into the comfort of my bed and forget about the world. But, I couldn't.My phone suddenly shattered the stillness of the night. I hesitated, wondering who could be calling at this ungodly hour. But as I picked up the phone and saw the name flashing on the screen, my heart skipped a beat. It was Mario.My hand stilled, my fingers trembling slightly as I debated whether to
Chapter 028AliceI sat with my phone in hand, reading a story on an app while occasionally glancing at Mario, who the kids cuddled up to as they watched their favorite cartoon show.Mario's gaze would often drift towards me, and I'd meet his eyes, but look away when it gets intense.Just as I was getting lost in the story, Ava's voice cut through the air. "Daddy," she called out, raising her head from Mario's chest. "I want to tell you something." My heart skipped a beat as I stiffened, praying that she wouldn't reveal the secret we'd all agreed to keep.Ava looked at me, and I discreetly placed my fingers on my lips, signaling her to remain silent. I also demonstrated flogging gesture with my finger, trying to remind her of our earlier conversation. Ava simply giggled and looked away.I'd warned the kids earlier about keeping Alex's true identity hidden, and they'd promised to keep it a secret. But now, with Alex's face and the mask still fresh in their minds, I wasn't so sure. I
Chapter 027AliceAs I lounged by the poolside, my legs dipped in the cool water, I watched with a warm smile as my kids and Alex splashed and played, their laughter and shouts filling the air. It was a perfect weekend afternoon, and I was glad to have Alex join us. I couldn't help but wonder, though, why Elsa had allowed Alex to continue visiting us, but I pushed the thought aside, not wanting to ruin the moment.Sitting there, I suddenly remembered that I needed to call my dad about something important. I stood up and headed to the bedroom to grab my phone. Mario wasn't around, and for that, I was relieved. His absence meant I could relax without worrying about his intense gaze on my swimsuit. But, despite my denial, a part of me still craved his presence.I returned to the pool, phone in hand, and began talking to my dad. He told me that Granny was unwell, and I immediately said I wanted to come visit her, even if it meant returning home after five long years. But, knowing my dad's
Chapter 026Mario "I want every last detail about the person behind these threats, and I want it within the hour," I barked at the team of expert hackers assembled before me. "I'm talking names, addresses, phone records and everything. I don't care if you have to dig through the darkest corners of the dark web or bribe your way to the top of the NSA. I want results, and I want them now."My voice echoed off the walls of the computer room, where the world's top cybersecurity experts sat huddled around their screens, their fingers flying across their keyboards. I had spared no expense in bringing this teams, and I expected nothing but the best from them."I don't want to hear any excuses, any explanations, or any empty promises again," I continued, my eyes scanning the room. "I want answers, and I want them within the hour. If I don't get what I'm looking for, there will be consequences. And trust me, you don't want that.”I resumed pacing back and forth, my mind filled by the sinister
Chapter 025AliceThere was few minutes of silence with Jake looking at Aria. Then, he turned back to me.“You're right," Jake began. "I saw and picked Aria up from the streets, just like I was once found. Hers was a story of abandonment, just like mine.""I remember that night vividly," Jake continued. "I was seventeen, and I'd been sleeping in an uncompleted building. I saw her wrapped in a shawl there, left all alone in the world. My initial reaction was fear and anger - who could do such a thing to a helpless child?""But then I held her little fingers in mine and she'd stared at me with those innocent brown eyes," Jake said, his eyes gazing into the distance. "And something shifted inside me. I knew I'd do everything in my power to protect her, to give her the life she deserved. I'd go to the end of the world, move unmovable mountains for the little girl.""I was scared of the authorities, of course," Jake admitted. "But I knew I had to do the right thing. I did everything I coul