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
PROLOGUEI found myself gazing at the crowd, bewildered by the unfamiliar surroundings. How did I land in a place like this? Each person was adorned in exquisite dresses and sharp suits, radiating an innate elegance. It seemed as if grace and sophistication were second nature to everyone present.I wore a light blue backless dress, with my hair up in a tight bun and just a bit of makeup. It made me feel like a completely different person. My parents were busy chatting with some important people, not paying attention to me at all. I couldn't shake the feeling of being out of place in the fancy crowd."I see you've got a beautiful lady right here," an old man remarked, a smile playing on his face as his gaze rested on me. Uncomfortable, I couldn't help but avert my eyes. The way he looked at me sent shivers down my spine, yet my parents remained oblivious, seemingly turning a blind eye to the situation."Ah, yes, of course. This is our daughter, Annizah," my dad chimed in, placing a han
I don’t know what happened next. It happened so quick before I could even process it. The last thing I knew, I was inside his limousine, and we’re actually driving back to his place.To say I was scared is probably an understatement. After my parents talked to him, my mother ensured that an agreement about our wedding was made, pushing me to go with him instead of returning home.I casted a glance at him. He was leaning on the backrest with his eyes closed. His throat and Adam’s apple were exposed. His slicked hair has somehow lost its neatness and was now disheveled. He looked at peace, as if he wasn’t just about to ruin my life. However, despite that unfortunate fact, I couldn’t deny how attractive he was. He didn’t look like one of those guys I’ve ever seen. He was taller, more masculine, and goddamn hot.But then again, looks can be sometimes deceiving.Vicenzo isn’t someone I can trust my life upon. Although I am destined to marry him, that didn’t give me the full assurance that
I was escorted by a maid towards the room I’ll be staying at in this mansion. I was still shaking from shock and fear from what happened. I was terrified to say the least, and I couldn’t even bring myself to bat an eye as I was conscious about my surrounding. I feel like at my given moment, someone’s gonna jump and attack me.“Here, have some milk, miss,” a middle-aged woman said as she handed me a cup of warm milk. I accepted it with reluctance. She gave me a soft, kind smile. “My name is Arcel, and I’ve been working here for quite some time now. Master has never brought a woman home before, so we were all so thrilled to finally be meeting you, miss Annizah,” she said.I couldn’t help but to flinch. Not only did place felt scary, but the people were also oddly kind to be working in a place like this. I glanced at Arcel. She looked to be around her late twenties, with enough knowledge and experience to not be oblivious about what’s happening. And for that reason, I felt more scared th
My breath came in labored, heavy gasps as I watched him lift his shirt. His muscles flexed with each movement, drawing my attention. His body was rugged and disproportionately large, muscles in all the right places. Heat flushed through me uncontrollably, igniting my entire being.Vicenzo held my face, his gaze piercing, as if I were nothing more than prey in his eyes. "Listen to me, bellezza," he whispered. "I own you, baby. And I won't let you go. Not now, not ever."Through gritted teeth, I asked, "W-Why are you doing this?""Because you belong to me.""Don’t be absurd! Nobody owns me!" I yelled, frustration and anger bubbling up, but he only tightened his grip on my face, causing me to wince in pain."I do," he hissed, his glare intense, but it quickly softened into a smile. "You are mine, and I'll always ensure it stays that way. Do you understand?"Shivers ran down my spine as I observed the emotions flickering across his face. There was no denying it; Vicenzo was disturbed."Ju
It had been a few days—I couldn't even recall how many had passed; everything had happened so swiftly, like a whirlwind. Now, I found myself once again staring at the walls of the room I was confined to.To say I was frustrated would be an understatement. My mind was a mess, and my emotions were all over the place. Who wouldn’t be frustrated? My parents had essentially sold me off to marry a mobster without even consulting me. Vincenzo Romanov was a lunatic, and yes, he was filthy rich, but my parents... really?Though they weren't my biological parents, I had considered them my own. I had agreed to this whole setup under the impression that I would be helping them broaden their connections and influence. I had no idea I would be marrying into the mafia.Now, my life was completely upended before I even realized it.Especially after what happened between Vincenzo and I.Suddenly, flashes of what had happened a couple of nights ago flooded my mind.“…I-I… I want you.”He looked at me d
Two days had passed since we last saw each other, and I was relieved, to say the least, not to have to see his face. To be honest, I was still afraid. His words had sent a chill down my spine, serving as a stark reminder of the power he held over me. Despite my defiance, I knew better than to underestimate him.With a sigh, I acknowledged his warning, though internally, my determination only strengthened. I was determined to find a way to break free from his control, no matter the cost. Though I didn’t yet know how, I was resolved to escape from him.A knock at the door caught my attention, and I frowned as Arcel's face peeked in."What? I already ate my breakfast," I said defensively."I apologize for interrupting your alone time, miss, but Master has called for you to have lunch together in the garden," Arcel explained.I stiffened at the mere mention of him. What could be his reason for inviting me to lunch after not talking to me for two days? I really despised him.Despite my rel
I stared at him, wide-eyed, my mind was still grappling with the absurd words that came out of his mouth. My heart was pounding in my chest like a drum as I sweat with cold, my lips were trembling while my fingers were fidgeting on my lap. “It’s as simple as that. It’s not that hard, you see,” he said casually, as if killing a person, your very own father at that, isn’t a big of a deal. He is absolutely, without a doubt, a psychopath. My mind reeled at his audacious demand, the words echoing in my head like a thunderous clap. "Just, what the… fuck?" I blurted out, unable to conceal my shock and disbelief. Vicenzo leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips as he watched my reaction with amusement. "Easy, isn't it?" he replied, his tone chillingly calm. "Consider it your initiation into the family." I struggled to process his words, my mind racing with disbelief and horror. This wasn't what I had signed up for, and the realization that I was now entangled in a world of vi