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
Vincenzo's POVThe office was cloaked in a heavy silence, broken only by the soft hum of the computers and the rustling of papers. Baltazar sat across from me, eyes scanning through some documents. I leaned back in my chair, the weight of recent discoveries pressing heavily on my mind."Do you have any siblings, Baltazar?" I asked suddenly, breaking the silence.He looked up, a flicker of something I couldn't quite place crossing his face before he masked it. "Yeah, I do. Why do you ask?""Just curious," I replied, trying to sound casual. "You never really talk about your family."He nodded, a shadow passing over his eyes. "It's not something I like to discuss. Family can be... complicated."Before I could press further, the door swung open, and Katana walked in. She had that mysterious smile on her face that always made me wary. Her presence often heralded significant news or events."Well, look who's hard at work," she said, her tone playful but her eyes sharp."Katana," I greeted,
The doctor's presence brought a measure of calm to the chaos, his experienced hands and soothing voice guiding Annizah through the labor. Vincenzo never left her side, holding her hand tightly, whispering words of encouragement."You're doing great, bella," he said softly, wiping the sweat from her brow. "Just a little more. You're so strong."Annizah's grip on his hand tightened with each contraction, her face contorted with pain and determination. The minutes felt like hours as she pushed through the agony, her eyes locked onto Vincenzo's for strength.Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the sound of a baby's cry filled the room. Annizah's tears of pain turned to tears of joy as the doctor carefully placed their newborn into her arms. "It's a girl," the doctor announced, a smile breaking through his professional demeanor.Annizah looked down at their daughter, her heart swelling with love and relief. "Enzo, look," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "She's perfe
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