Chapter 001 Alice "Daddy, please beg Mummy for me. I promise it wasn't intentional. I don't even know him. Granny, please. I'll do anything but plead with Mum, please." I begged, tears streaming down my face, my nose watery, as I clutched Granny's dress and Dad's at the same time, my eyes fixed on Mum, who sat elegantly at the head table. In my family, the relationships were different from other households. Unlike others, my mom was the ruler and the most cruel mother you'd ever see while my father and granny were the loving and kind ones. "Janice, please, you should reconsider; she's–" my dad began, but Mom cut him off rudely. "Oh, please, Jason. She's useless and a mistake, just like you. If she weren't useless, how would a twenty-year-old college fresher open her legs for a stranger to fuck her and then get pregnant?" Mom sneered, applying her makeup. "You even knew about it!" "Janice st–" She cut dad off. "No! Let me talk! She's brought stains on my name and
Chapter 002 Alice Three months later. I served the customer his order and returned to the counter, leaning against it with my hands cradling my visibly bulging belly, exhausted. As I felt my baby kick inside me, my chest fluttered. Four months had passed since my mother threw me out, and also the same months months since I started living with Alicia. Although Alicia's behavior was sometimes unbearable, I tolerated it, awaiting the day I could rent my own apartment. Working as a waiter at this exotic restaurant was stressful, especially in my condition. But I was grateful for my father's and granny's continuous support. They regularly checked on me. I let out a deep sigh, wiping the sweat from my face as I watched my colleagues work. "Why the hell are you standing there, pregnant fool?" Elsa, my harsh and wicked boss, yelled, storming out of her office. "When everyone else is busy working!" I hastily left the table I was leaning on and grabbed a tray, trying to shake off my
Chapter 003 Alice Years later. "Mom, come and see Ava! She won't let me play with my toy!" Liam's tiny voice rang out from the living room as I made breakfast in the kitchen. My little triplets were so mischievous, but having them was the best and sweetest decision I've ever made in my life. They come with their lights to brighten my dark world. I couldn't believe it had been four years since I left my homeland to settle in Chicago. I now own a boutique in one of the busiest areas of town. "Ava, give your brother his toy, or no chocolate for you!" I said teasingly, flipping the pancakes. "If you won't get me chocolate, Mom, blue-eyed uncle will!" I heard Ava's tiny voice reply. The plate in my hand nearly crashed to the floor at her answer. This same blue-eyed man had been the center of their conversations for months. Everything revolved around him. I'd tried to meet him, to ask why he was giving my kids gifts without my consent, but they wouldn't agree. "Ava!" I called, wipi
Chapter 004AliceI paced anxiously around the hospital reception, tears streaming down my face. Occasionally, I'd stop to check on Ava and Liam, who slept peacefully on a nearby chair, and adjust the blankets covering them. They dozed off shortly after we arrived, but not before enthusiastically calling out to the mysterious man, "Mr. Blue Eyes!"I made a mental note to ask them more about it when they woke up.Hours had passed since Paul was rushed into the ward, but there was no update from the doctors or nurses. I had told my Father and Granny not to come, insisting they shouldn't stress themselves when they heard the news.My attention drifted to the huge man from earlier, still seated in the waiting area, observing me with an unreadable expression. Despite his intimidating presence, he had kindly driven us to the hospital. I wondered why he still haven't left though."God, please," I whispered my voice filled with desperation. "If you heal him now, I promise to never sin again.
Chapter 005AliceI gently cradled Ava's tiny hand in one of mine, while holding Paul's frail one in the other. As I wiped my runny nose and swollen eyes with my free hand, I gazed at my two babies surrounded by beeping machines.Paul had finally calmed down after waking up hours ago, frantically asking about Liam and why Ava was in the hospital bed. I had soothed him back to sleep, but my own worries lingered.The doctor's words still repeated in my mind. He said Ava had been poisoned. I had almost collapsed upon hearing the news, if not for the comforting presence of the imposing blue-eyed man.Thankfully, Ava was now recovering, and the poison hadn't caused lasting harm. I felt grateful.Speaking about imposing man, my gaze drifted to the window, where the blue-eyed man stood, his domineering form silhouetted against the light. He was on his phone, barking orders with an air of authority.Over the past two days, since Liam's kidnapping, he had been instrumental in the search effort
Chapter 006Alice"Liam! Ava! Paul! Open this door right now!" I screamed, pounding on the door in frustration for what felt like an eternity.Thirty minutes has now passed since I've been banging on it and my hands were now aching.As I stood there, I struggled to avoid eye contact with the imposing figure lounging on the bed, his chiseled chest bare and his gaze fixed intently on me. It was as if he was ready to pounce.My kids, thankfully, were on the now healthy after a week-long hospital stay. Although we weren't home yet, the doctors assured us that Paul and Ava would be discharged soon, provided they continued to rest. But since their recovery began, those piercing blue eyes - Liam's, Ava's, and Paul's had been driving me crazy alongside the older Mr blue eyes himself. I still recall the anger that burned within me a week ago when we returned from the station and I confronted him about everything. But instead of an apology, he responded with a smirk, as if I was entertaining h
Chapter 007Alice "Liam! Ava! Paul! Time to go, or you'll be late for school!" I called out. "If you don't come now, I won't attend your parent-teacher association meeting this afternoon!""Okay, mom!" they shouted in unison.I rushed out of the kitchen with their lunch boxes and grabbed my bag, expecting to see them waiting outside. But they were nowhere to be found.I dropped the bag and boxes onto the chair, letting out a frustrated sigh. Hurrying upstairs to their room, I found Ava engrossed in a game on the tablet Mario had gifted her.She was still in the uniform I'd carefully dressed her in that morning but now roughed up. I snatched the tablet from her hands."Mom, I was about to kill the beast!" Ava protested, folding her arms and pouting.I ignored her tantrum. "Where are your brothers?" I asked, not waiting for her reply before following the trail of water to the bathroom."Liam! Paul! Mom's coming!" Ava shouted after me.I burst into the bathroom, and the chaotic scene be
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 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