The kitchen was filled with a quiet, intimate warmth. Annizah adjusted Vincenzo's tie, her fingers lingering a moment longer than necessary. She looked up into his eyes, seeing the deep worry etched into his face. He asked her softly, “Do you ever regret marrying me?” Her heart ached at the vulnerability in his voice. She cupped his face in her hands, her voice firm and full of love. “I’d regret it if I hadn’t even met someone like you,” she said, her eyes searching his. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Vincenzo.” They kissed, a tender moment that spoke of their shared strength and resolve. But as their lips parted, a loud bang echoed through the house, shattering the peaceful silence. Annizah's heart leaped into her throat. Vincenzo instinctively moved in front of her, shielding her and their daughter. The door burst open, and there stood Baltazar, flanked by armed men. The shock was evident in Vincenzo’s eyes as he locked gazes with his right-hand man. “So, it wa
The cold, damp air was biting against Vincenzo’s face as he slowly regained consciousness. His head pounded mercilessly, and his vision was a disorienting blur. Blinking several times, he tried to adjust to the dim light filtering through a high, narrow window. The room was barren, save for the old wooden chair to which he was bound. His wrists and ankles were tightly secured with coarse rope, the fibers digging into his skin with every movement. The remnants of last night’s fierce struggle left his body aching, but the burning anger and frustration were what drove him now. A creaking sound drew his attention. The door to the room swung open, and the echo of footsteps grew louder. The silhouette of a man appeared in the sliver of light, and Vincenzo’s heart skipped a beat when he recognized the figure. Baltazar, his eyes cold and calculating, stood before him. The sight of his half-brother stirred a mixture of rage and resolve within Vincenzo. Baltazar smirked, crossing his arms and
Vincenzo's mind drifted in and out of consciousness. Pain radiated from every part of his body, the bruises and cuts from his previous beatings now multiplied. His head throbbed with a dull, relentless ache, and his muscles screamed in protest with every slight movement. The last thing he remembered before blacking out was the mocking laughter of Baltazar and the sharp sting of fists and boots against his flesh.He stirred as the lights in the room suddenly blazed to life, the harsh brightness piercing through his closed eyelids. Before he could fully open his eyes, a cold torrent of water hit him square in the face. The shock of it snapped him into full awareness. He gasped, sputtering as he tried to shake off the water. His vision cleared to reveal Baltazar standing before him, a cruel smirk playing on his lips."Good morning, brother," Baltazar sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Sleep well?"Vincenzo glared at him, his jaw clenched tight. He refused to give Baltazar the sati
Annizah stirred, her head throbbing as she gradually woke up in a dim, closed room with no windows. Her vision was blurry, and her body ached from the rough handling she had endured. She tried to move, but her muscles protested, sore and bruised. As her eyes adjusted to the gloom, she saw a tray of food placed on the floor beside her. The sight of it made her stomach churn; she had no appetite in her current state. Disoriented, Annizah tried to piece together her fragmented memories. The last clear image in her mind was of her sneaking out of the safe house, armed with determination and a gun, to find Vincenzo. She had been so sure she could save him, could protect her family. But something had gone wrong. She remembered encountering some men, engaging in brutal hand-to-hand combat using the skills Vincenzo had taught her. She had fought valiantly, but there were too many of them. She had taken down several before she was overwhelmed and captured. Her heart ached with the memory of
As Baltazar passed, she saw another figure join him—Ella. They stopped not far from where she hid, their voices carrying over the night air. Annizah strained to hear their conversation, every word a potential clue to her next move. “You idiot,” Ella hissed. “I told you we should kill Annizah and keep Vincenzo alive. He’s the key to everything!” Baltazar's face twisted with anger. "And I told you, we need Annizah alive. She's the leverage we have over Vincenzo. Killing her now is useless." Ella stepped closer, her eyes blazing with fury. "Leverage or not, she's a threat. I won’t let her ruin everything we've worked for. We should kill her and be done with it." Baltazar grabbed Ella’s face, his grip tight and unyielding. "Listen to me, Ella. I never accepted your help. You volunteered. So don't think for a second you can dictate how things are done. If you go against me, you’ll regret it." Ella's eyes widened with a mix of fear and defiance. She pulled away from his grasp, rubbing h
Vincenzo sat in the dim, dank room, his body aching from the brutal treatment he had endured. His wrists were raw and bloody from the ropes that had bound him, and his head pounded with a relentless throb. But despite the physical pain, his mind was sharp, focused. He was worried about Annizah, the thought of her captured and possibly hurt gnawing at him like a relentless beast. He could almost see her in his mind’s eye—her beautiful face twisted in fear, her eyes wide and searching for him. He hated the thought of her in danger, hated even more that he wasn’t by her side to protect her.But Vincenzo knew he had to remain calm, had to keep his wits about him. Panic and anger would do him no good now. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus. He smirked to himself, his blue eyes glistening with a mischievous glint. He had fooled Baltazar, played the part of the scared, desperate captive perfectly. He had made himself look pathetic and broken, knowing that it would make Baltazar l
After leaving the headquarters, Vincenzo's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. Baltazar’s suggestion to go home and spend time with his family had been laced with insidious intent, but Vincenzo saw through the facade. He knew he couldn’t let his guard down. Instead of heading straight home, he made a detour to his parents' house. The journey there was filled with a tension that knotted his muscles and sharpened his senses.When he arrived, the familiar sight of the house brought a fleeting sense of comfort. But this was no ordinary visit. He was here to set his plan into motion. His parents were seated in the living room, the concern evident on their faces as he entered. He took a deep breath, knowing he had to keep his composure.“I’ve figured out who he is,” Vincenzo began, his voice steady but filled with an undercurrent of rage. His parents looked at him with wide eyes, waiting for him to continue. “My half-brother. Baltazar.” He paused, letting the weight of the revelat
He adjusted the mask and checked the guard’s weapon, ensuring it was loaded. Every movement was deliberate, every action precise. Vincenzo knew he had to be careful. One misstep and everything could fall apart. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what lay ahead.With the guard’s uniform and mask, Vincenzo slipped out of the room, moving with the confidence and purpose of someone who belonged there. The building was a maze of dimly lit hallways and shadowy corners. He navigated it with caution, his senses on high alert. Every sound, every movement was a potential threat.As he walked, his mind was filled with thoughts of Annizah. Was she safe? Had Baltazar captured her as he had threatened? The uncertainty gnawed at him, but he forced himself to stay focused. He couldn’t afford to be distracted, not now.The halls seemed to stretch on forever, each turn leading him deeper into the heart of the building. He passed other guards, nodding curtly, and they paid him no mind. The disgu
Annizah sat in the dimly lit hospital room, her eyes fixed on the steady rise and fall of Fiore’s chest. The soft beeping of the heart monitor was the only sound that filled the silence. It had been a long three weeks since the incident, and though Fiore had recovered physically, the emotional scars were harder to gauge. Annizah’s heart ached just watching her daughter sleep, knowing the toll their world was beginning to take on her.Leaning back in the stiff hospital chair, Annizah exhaled deeply, her mind racing with thoughts she hadn’t fully processed until now. For years, she had been grateful—truly grateful—for the life she’d built. Coming from a modest background and marrying into the powerful Romanov family had been a whirlwind of changes. But Vincenzo… he had been her rock, her protector, and their love had felt unshakable. She had thought, perhaps naively, that with him by her side, everything would be okay.But now, as she sat there, the weight of their reality pressed down
It had been three weeks since the incident, and Fiore was finally starting to recover from the shock. Her bright, lively spirit had returned, though Annizah couldn’t shake the lingering worry. Every few days, Fiore’s heart condition was checked, and she was on a strict regimen of medications and vitamins. The doctors assured them that everything was under control, but the weight of it all still sat heavily on Annizah’s chest.Annizah sat by the window of their mansion, watching Fiore play in the garden with her cousin. The sun was shining brightly, casting a soft golden glow over her daughter’s playful figure, but Annizah’s mind was far from at ease. She had been distant from Isabelle lately, avoiding any deep conversations or meetups. It wasn’t out of anger, but rather a necessity to protect herself and her family. She couldn’t look at Isabelle without thinking about the betrayal of her brother, and each time she felt the heavy stone of guilt in her chest.She had learned to harden h
When Annizah stepped into the dimly lit room at Vincenzo's headquarters, the air was thick with tension. The atmosphere felt heavy, almost suffocating. She wasn’t sure what she expected when Vincenzo told her to come, but it certainly wasn’t this.Vincenzo’s men stood around the room, their faces impassive yet tense. In the center sat a man tied to a chair, his head hanging low. Annizah’s eyes took a moment to adjust to the dim light, and then, with a sudden, sickening clarity, she recognized him.It wasn’t just any man.It was Isabelle’s younger brother.Her heart dropped into her stomach. Her breath hitched as disbelief washed over her like a wave. “Vincenzo…” she whispered, her voice catching in her throat.Vincenzo stood a few feet away, watching her closely, his expression unreadable. “Annizah,” he said, his tone careful but firm, “this is him.”“No…” Annizah shook her head, her mind reeling. She took a step forward, her gaze locked on the bruised and battered man in the chair. “
Annizah sat by the side of Fiore’s hospital bed, her eyes locked on her daughter’s small frame. Fiore’s chest rose and fell gently, her face peaceful in sleep, but the silence weighed heavily on Annizah’s heart. She had been awake for hours, watching, waiting—worry gnawing at her insides. Fiore had woken up earlier, only to refuse to speak or even acknowledge them. That single moment had sent Annizah spiraling into a quiet panic.The doctor had reassured them that Fiore’s heart was stable, that the episode was under control. But this—this silence, this refusal to engage—was something no medication could fix.A light knock on the door broke her trance. Isabelle stepped into the room with Marco and Randi following behind her. Isabelle’s face softened with sympathy as she approached Annizah, who gave a weak smile in return.“Hey, I hope we’re not disturbing,” Isabelle said, her voice gentle.“No, not at all. She’s just... sleeping,” Annizah whispered, her gaze flicking back to Fiore, sti
The sterile atmosphere of the VVIP room inside their hospital was cold and unnervingly silent. Vincenzo sat rigid in the plush chair next to Fiore's bed, his hand gripping his daughter's small one. Annizah stood by the window, her face pale with exhaustion and worry, glancing out into the night, though her mind was far from the view.The doctor, a middle-aged man with a calm demeanor, entered the room, breaking the suffocating silence. He looked at the couple, sensing the heavy tension in the air."Mr. and Mrs. Romanov," the doctor began, his voice steady, "the good news is that Fiore's condition has stabilized. The episode she experienced earlier was caused by a sudden surge of panic, which led to an unstable heart rhythm. Fortunately, it's not life-threatening, but given her pre-existing condition, it can be alarming. With proper rest and medication, she will recover fully."Vincenzo nodded, his eyes fixed on Fiore, still lying unconscious in the bed. He hadn’t let go of her hand sin
The evening was warm as Vincenzo, Annizah, and Fiore pulled up to Isabelle and Randi’s place for dinner. It had been a peaceful afternoon, but there was still an undercurrent of tension between the families. Vincenzo knew that, though the friendship between their children seemed to be growing, his relationship with Randi remained complicated. Still, tonight, he was determined to keep things light.As they stepped out of the car, Fiore’s eyes lit up. "Mommy, Daddy! I see Marco!" she exclaimed, pointing to the small boy standing at the front door."Go ahead, sweetheart," Annizah said with a smile, watching as Fiore ran toward her friend, her long hair bouncing behind her. She exchanged a quick glance with Vincenzo, who only nodded before the two followed their daughter up the path.Isabelle greeted them at the door, her smile warm and welcoming. "I'm so glad you could come! Randi’s been talking about this dinner for days."Inside, the atmosphere was surprisingly relaxed. Randi was alread
As Vincenzo watched Annizah and Fiore drive off toward the hospital, his face hardened. He had been patient long enough, waiting for the right moment to strike. But after the incidents that had put his daughter at risk and caused his wife endless worry, that patience had run dry. This time, there would be no second chances for those who dared to cross him or his family.He stood at the entrance of their estate for a few moments, the familiar hum of the city just beginning to wake for the day. His mind, however, was focused elsewhere—on the man behind the recent threats, the stalking, the near-abduction of Fiore. They had been toying with him, with his family, but today that game ended.Vincenzo slipped into his car, the leather seats creaking under his weight as he dialed his top lieutenants. His voice was low, steady, and filled with a simmering rage.“Gather everyone. All of our best,” he said, his tone leaving no room for hesitation. “We’re going after him today.”The drive to his p
It was the day after Fiore’s latest hospital visit, and as they arrived home, Annizah immediately felt a wave of relief wash over her. Their daughter was stable, and though the tension from the recent incidents lingered in the back of her mind, it felt good to be home. The familiar smell of their home, the soft light filtering through the windows—it all brought a sense of normalcy she had been craving.As they stepped through the door, Vincenzo stopped her in the hallway. In his hands, he held a bouquet of freshly cut lilies, their petals soft and delicate, almost as if they’d been plucked with care just for her. His eyes met hers, a glimmer of apology and tenderness shining through. He offered her the flowers with a slight bow of his head.“These are for you,” he said softly, his voice carrying a mix of affection and guilt. “I’m sorry for everything that’s happened lately.”Annizah took the bouquet, her lips twitching into a small smile as she inhaled the fragrant scent. “You don’t ne
Annizah sat stiffly in the waiting room, her fingers gripping the armrest of the chair, tapping impatiently against the cold, polished wood. She wore a soft beige sweater paired with black jeans—simple yet elegant, reflecting her usual understated style. Beside her, Vincenzo leaned forward, elbows on his knees, his expression a mixture of worry and frustration. The hospital waiting room felt sterile, filled with an oppressive silence broken only by the hum of fluorescent lights overhead.Fiore had just been taken into a room for further tests, including samplings and undergoing various machines that would assess her heart condition. Though the doctors had assured them earlier that things were looking better, the nerves still twisted in Annizah’s stomach. Her gaze flicked to Vincenzo, and she could see the tension in his jaw, his fingers flexing in and out of tight fists.“How much longer do you think this will go on?” she asked softly, breaking the silence.Vincenzo didn’t answer immed