I was standing in front of the mirror, meticulously preparing a gown for Vincenzo’s mother’s birthday party next week. The delicate fabric felt smooth under my fingers, but the thought of attending the event filled me with a sense of unease. Despite my lingering anger at his mother for inviting Ella, I knew I had to show respect. My adoptive parents would also be there as guests, and the mere thought of seeing them again was already stressing me out. I sighed, lost in my thoughts, when I suddenly felt Vincenzo's strong arms wrap around me from behind. His presence brought an immediate sense of comfort and security. He spoke softly, his voice a soothing balm to my frayed nerves. "Hey, Bella," he murmured, resting his chin on my shoulder. "I know you're upset about Ella being invited. But remember, it's just for business. Nothing more." I leaned back into him, closing my eyes and letting his warmth envelop me. "I know, Enzo. It just... bothers me, that's all." He gently kissed m
Months had passed, and I found myself in my third trimester. The peace that had settled over our lives was unnerving. After everything we'd been through, the calm felt like the eye of a storm. The house was quiet, almost too quiet, and even the daily routines had taken on an eerie normalcy. My stomach was so big now that moving around was a challenge, and even simple tasks left me exhausted. I couldn't help but feel a constant, underlying sense of dread, as if something was waiting to disrupt our fragile tranquility.Every day felt like a countdown to an unknown event. I spent my time trying to distract myself with books, TV shows, and preparing for the baby, but the nagging fear never really went away. It was as if the silence around us was amplifying my anxieties. The peaceful facade was only skin-deep; beneath it, I knew there were unresolved threats, lingering shadows from our past conflicts.I was sitting on the couch, trying to find a comfortable position, when Vincenzo walked i
I was standing in front of the mirror, meticulously preparing a gown for Vincenzo’s mother’s birthday party next week. The delicate fabric felt smooth under my fingers, but the thought of attending the event filled me with a sense of unease. Despite my lingering anger at his mother for inviting Ella, I knew I had to show respect. My adoptive parents would also be there as guests, and the mere thought of seeing them again was already stressing me out. I sighed, lost in my thoughts, when I suddenly felt Vincenzo's strong arms wrap around me from behind. His presence brought an immediate sense of comfort and security. He spoke softly, his voice a soothing balm to my frayed nerves. "Hey, Bella," he murmured, resting his chin on my shoulder. "I know you're upset about Ella being invited. But remember, it's just for business. Nothing more." I leaned back into him, closing my eyes and letting his warmth envelop me. "I know, Enzo. It just... bothers me, that's all." He gently kissed
Vincenzo's POVI saw her talking to Baltazar as I approached them, keeping my expression neutral. On the outside, I appeared indifferent, but inside, a wariness simmered. Baltazar had proven himself months ago by exposing the real traitor, yet my suspicion hadn’t entirely dissipated. Trust in our world was a fragile thing."What's going on here?" I asked, a hint of a smile playing on my lips.Annizah stood up, holding out a plate with a sandwich. "I brought you something. A peace offering."I took the plate, my smile widening. "Thanks, Bella. I appreciate it."Baltazar stood as well, giving her a reassuring pat on the back before turning to me. "I'll leave you two to it. Don't go too hard on her, boss."I chuckled, watching Baltazar leave, but my mind remained alert. Turning my attention back to Annizah, I softened. "You didn't have to do this, you know."She shrugged, looking a bit sheepish. "I wanted to. I'm sorry for earlier. I know you're just trying to protect us."Leaning down,
After the picnic, Vincenzo didn't take us back home. Instead, he drove us to his penthouse in the city. I glanced at him curiously, but his expression was unreadable, so I didn’t ask any questions. His actions always had a purpose, and I trusted him completely.The penthouse was just as luxurious as our home, but it felt different—more intimate, more secluded. As we settled in, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Vincenzo reassured me with a kiss and a soft smile, but there was a tension in his eyes that made me uneasy.Later that night, I woke up and found Vincenzo's side of the bed empty. The sheets were cool, indicating he had been gone for a while. Worry gnawed at me as I slipped out of bed and padded down the hallway.I heard his voice, low and intense, coming from his office. Peering around the corner, I saw him on the phone, his expression stern. My heart skipped a beat. What was he discussing at this hour?Before I could catch any words, he noticed me. He quic
After the picnic, Vincenzo didn't take us back home. Instead, he drove us to his penthouse in the city. I glanced at him curiously, but his expression was unreadable, so I didn’t ask any questions. His actions always had a purpose, and I trusted him completely. The penthouse was just as luxurious as our home, but it felt different—more intimate, more secluded. As we settled in, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Vincenzo reassured me with a kiss and a soft smile, but there was a tension in his eyes that made me uneasy. Later that night, I woke up and found Vincenzo's side of the bed empty. The sheets were cool, indicating he had been gone for a while. Worry gnawed at me as I slipped out of bed and padded down the hallway. I heard his voice, low and intense, coming from his office. Peering around the corner, I saw him on the phone, his expression stern. My heart skipped a beat. What was he discussing at this hour? Before I could catch any words, he noticed me. He
After the picnic, Vincenzo didn't take us back home. Instead, he drove us to his penthouse in the city. I glanced at him curiously, but his expression was unreadable, so I didn’t ask any questions. His actions always had a purpose, and I trusted him completely. The penthouse was just as luxurious as our home, but it felt different—more intimate, more secluded. As we settled in, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Vincenzo reassured me with a kiss and a soft smile, but there was a tension in his eyes that made me uneasy. Later that night, I woke up and found Vincenzo's side of the bed empty. The sheets were cool, indicating he had been gone for a while. Worry gnawed at me as I slipped out of bed and padded down the hallway. I heard his voice, low and intense, coming from his office. Peering around the corner, I saw him on the phone, his expression stern. My heart skipped a beat. What was he discussing at this hour? Before I could catch any words, he noticed me.
Vincenzo's POVI sat at my desk, the glow of multiple computer screens casting harsh shadows in the dimly lit room. Lines of code and encrypted messages flashed before my eyes as I tirelessly tried to track down the origins of this new mafia organization. Months of peaceful existence had been shattered by whispers of a new threat, and every lead seemed to vanish into thin air."Come on," I muttered under my breath, fingers flying over the keyboard. "There has to be something."Despite my best efforts, I was met with dead ends and frustratingly clean digital footprints. Whoever was behind this new organization knew how to cover their tracks well. My frustration boiled over, and with a roar, I swept everything off my desk. Papers, coffee mugs, and electronics crashed to the floor."Damn it!" I shouted, breathing heavily. Just then, the door opened, and Baltazar stepped in, his expression calm yet concerned. "What's going on, Vincenzo?" he asked, his voice steady.I clenched my fists, t