Adonis and Cara both whipped their heads towards Dimitri in shock!"What?"Dimitri smiled."Oh. I didn't know you guys would be so happy about it. Should I see if I can extend it to a week?""No!" They echoed together. "Why?" He looked between them both, and Cara signalled Adonis to speak up. She didn't think she was ready to spend three whole days in an unknown place with him. At this point, she wanted no distractions, and I've been doing fine for the past week. Being cooped up in a room with him was a temptation she wasn't sure she could overcome.His eyes darted to Adonis's, then pointed to his grandfather. Adonis stared back with a bored look before giving in."The coronation is next week." He plainly stated, and Dimitri waved him off."Of course. We have a lot of time before then.""I have things to do. Preparations to make.""Preparations that can wait, Figlio (son). Take your wife for a vacation. She's been through a lot these past few days and deserves it." Cara brooded on
"Mr. and Mrs. Bernardi. We'll be landing shortly. Please fasten your seat belts and prepare for touch ground." Cara awoke to the announcement from the pilot, letting out a big yawn.Had they reached already?She looked to her side to see Adonis passing the last of some orders on his phone before he ended the call and adjusted himself."You're up."A simple statement. No emotion whatsoever."Yes. Is there a problem?" She asked."No. I just wanted the men to be ready for anything." "You have men in Italy too?" "I told you, Cara. It's home." He dipped his head to the side, a smug look on his face. "You know what? Why don't I show you around on the first day? We can explore after that." Cara couldn't help the giddiness she felt."You have time for that?""Like I said, we're on our honeymoon. We might as well act like it." His voice went dangerously low, and she didn't miss the implication behind his last words.Before she knew it, they were landing, and excitement bubbled up within her
Cara's POV "Nonno (grandfather)." I heard Adonis's voice as I blinked my eyes open. He was on a call. "Why didn't you tell me? Is this why you sent me home?" It had an accusatory tone and he paused for the other person, who I'm guessing is his grandfather, to speak before replying."No. Their little threat is nothing. You know it's normal during times like this." He paused again, and I shut my eyes quickly when I noticed him turning towards me. He released a deep sigh then a grumble before he spoke again."I just hope you're not hiding anything more from me. Cara's fine. No, we didn't have sex yesterday. Why do you even want to know that?" He paused again, and I wondered when the call was going to end. My face had turned into a blushing mess. Since when did he start having conversations like this with his grandfather? Maybe they were closer than I thought."You're not angry she didn't wear the traditional gown?" Adonis asked, and I could hear surprise in his voice. "Yeah. She's
Cara's POV"Get up; we're leaving now," Adonis ordered as soon as he ended the call. I acted like I wasn't listening; my food suddenly seemed more interesting.He had just taken a few steps when he noticed I wasn't behind him."Didn't you hear me? I said, We're leaving?""To where?""Back to the US." I pouted— like I actually pursed my lips together pouted."But we just got here, and you're yet to show me around like you promised." Adonis groaned in frustration. "There was a break-in at the mansion. We can always come back later. Now let's go." I refused to stand up. Folding my hands to my chest like a spoiled child. "No." "What is wrong with you, Cara? This is serious." "I'm not going." I remained adamant, hoping my childish tantrum would save me an extra minute or two. But Adonis was more quick-witted than I thought. His eyes narrowed into thin slits."Is there something you're not telling me? Did you have something to do with the break-in?""What? How can? Pshh... no. I'm
Adonis slowly opened his eyes, sitting up gently. He stretched his sore body and felt his bones pop in places he never knew was possible. His eyes took in the familiar white walls, his nose picking up the stench of concentrated antiseptic; even without the continuous beeping of the machine by his side, he'd recognize this place anytime.He had been here more times than should be considered healthy.He stretched once again to be sure he felt no underlying pain. If the throbbing ache in his ribs and light headache were all the injuries sustained, then he was in luck. Honestly, he expected more. The door to the hospital room quietly slid open as though the person on the other side was avoiding making unnecessary noises, and Luca stepped in with a jar of water and a cup in hand.His eyes met Adonis's, and he paused in his steps. He was pissed. Adonis could tell that much from the lack of words the moment he stepped in."You're up. Good for you." Luca walked over to his bedside and dep
Cara's POVI don't know how many hours I slept for-but I knew I drifted in and out of consciousness a few times.The first time was after the accident. I wasn't fully awake, but I knew I was being carried by Adonis.I'd recognize his masculine, woody scent anywhere. My vision was blurry, and the pain was stabbing into my bones all over, but I could feel his rapid heartbeat as he breathed heavily. He was injured too. That much I could tell. Then he stopped and gently set me down on the grass before settling beside me. I didn't understand what was going on, but whenever I tried to think about it, my head hurt, so I stopped. Another wave of pain hit me, and just as I was about to lose consciousness again, I felt a soft, warm press on my nape as he pulled me closer.The second time I gained consciousness was only for a short while. My heavy eyes opened for just a minute, and I could see people frantically running around me. I couldn't hear a single thing due to the loud ringing noise in
"So she'll be fine if she just takes her medication. I advise that she take a lot of rest to allow her bone to heal." The doctor said to Adonis, who was sitting beside Cara on the bed.It was the next day, and they were about to be discharged."Are you sure it's okay for her to leave?" Adonis glanced at Cara; she looked worse than he did. Her left leg was wrapped in a crutch, her head in a bandage, and her arm in a cast. "If you're going to be discharged, then I want to be discharged too." Cara harrumphed.The people in the room had silently been watching them bicker back and forth as Adonis had been trying to convince Cara to stay back for the past thirty minutes, but she wasn't having it. He had work piled up from the few days he wasn't around and had yet to fully investigate the break-in scenario, so he decided to head back home. The moment Cara found out, she also decided to leave.Adonis sighed in frustration. He couldn't believe she was already back to arguing with him so quick
A young, beautiful lady lay stark naked on the bed in a room coated with red and black paint. She was on all fours, each hand and leg chained to a hook at each corner of the bed.Her fair skin had several lines of red and was bruised all over, and her head bobbed violently, influencing the moment of the bed as it slammed against the wall, saliva dripping down her chin.From the back, you could see wetness dripping down her legs, and whenever she tried to pull it together, the chains prevented it.Choking sounds and breathless moans could be heard all over the room as her eyes continually rolled to the back of her head.At the foot of the bed on a sofa sat a naked man, watching the scene in front of him with so much pleasure as he stroked himself."Wider." He instructed, and the lady spread her leg further as far as it could go. A satisfied smirk spread out on his face, and his hand moved faster as he could feel the start of an orgasm.He shuddered in delight, ordering"Faster."And th
Six pairs of eyes stared at the projected image in Miguel's study. "So..." He broke the silence, crossing his legs as he leaned back in his swivel chair. "Where's the boy?"He was surprised to hear that Jacob was also here because of the same orphanage they'd been trying to get information about. Even more when he found out that he grew up there.Everyone had hurriedly finished up their meal in anticipation. If the child truly was in the picture, it would mean they were halfway through their plan.But staring at it now, they all realised they had forgotten something important.How do they recognise him?Jacob sighed, leaning off the corner of the wall he had been attached to since they filed into the study. He moved closer to the projected image, "I don't know.""You don't know?" Miguel repeated, expecting the young man to rephrase his words. What kind of half-baked plan was this?He turned to his son-in-law, "Is this what we were eager to see? An unclear lead? No me digas que sobre
Cara's POV Just as I was catching my breath, another ripping sound echoed through the room and my sports bra fell to the floor, freeing my strained chest from its supposed cage.My breath got caught in my throat, "Wa... wait. You can't keep destroying my underwear, Adonis." I heaved, turning back towards the culprit.He'd taken off his shirt with his trousers, halfway down his legs. The heat intensified as he quickly removed his briefs. The raw desire I saw in his gaze made my stomach twist in knots."Your underwear is the least on my mind, Bel" he murmured, and before I could say anything in reply, gently swept me into his arms.The feel of his bare skin against mine was out of the world. With each step he took, my chest brushed against his, and I felt the jolt of his hard member pressing against my thigh.His pounding heartbeat was like music to my ears.Apart from his clenched jaw and hard-on, it was the only evidence that he wanted me as much as I did him.Placing me at the edge
Cara POVAdonis shut the door carefully behind him as we walked into the room. "What's up?" I wheeled around, cradling my bump "You sounded like you had something urgent to say.""That Jacob guy..." He replied, the same possessive look from earlier, still etched on his face. "You were smiling at him."My face contorted, "Yeah... he's a guest. Is it a bad thing to be hospitable?""Cecelia likes him.""Yes... Where's this going?""We should stand for Luca. I don't like him." He crossed his arms, eyes communicating exactly how he felt."Oh... that ship sailed a long time ago, Adonis. Cecelia loves him. There's nothing I can do about it." I walked up to him, standing on my toes to straighten out the lines on his forehead releasing the tightness of his face. "Staring me down wouldn't change a thing. I told you; you can't use the same tactics you use on other people on me.""How is it... possible to fall in love that easily?" He spat like the words themselves left a bitter taste in his mo
Cara's POV"Bell Flower Orphanage?" I repeated, a chill running down my spine. That name...It couldn't be..."Yes... he lost his parents in a car accident and has been at the orphanage ever since he was a child. However, it was consumed by a fire five years ago."An accident... he also didn't know his parents.Could it be? I mentally calculated... it all aligned. My mind raced. What was the connection? "And, the fire?"I asked, trying to keep my voice casual."That was awful," Cecelia said, her voice dropping. "It happened a few years ago. The woman who ran the place, the closest thing he had to family, died in it."Could it really be this simple?"Bell Orphanage was the same orphanage my father and Luca went to check the previous evening. The orphanage that was the last lead to finding Sarah's son."Why do you sound so shaken? Is everything fine?""All is well... you said it's the reason he's here?""Yeah..." she drew out, sounding unsure. "Jacob suspects that the fire wasn't nat
Cara's POV"So tell me," I asked eagerly, as we moved to the lounge. "Who is he? I might’ve seen a subtle exchange between him and Adonis last night, but there was no time to ask.""Okay!" She began, matching my energy. "Where do I start?""Are you for real? From the top!""Chill out..." she laughed. "I already told you how we met, right?""Yeah right. I know up to the point where you snatched up the CEO of Maynard Corporations. Girl, you've got a knack for finding interesting men. First Luca, now him?" I gave her a pointed look. "Adonis is the first sensible man I've ever been with. Before him, I had two. One was in high school, and the other was a spy. Even with a stressful life, I paid all the bills."Cecelia turned beet red. "I didn't snatch up anyone. It just kind of... happened. Remember the day we had our last phone call? When you told me about the baby's sex, which is a big deal, by the way." She squealed. "Adonis scored big time! Three at once.""I know, but that's old news;
Cara's POVSitting at the table in my father's quiet dining room; my only companion was the sound of my fork dancing on the plate as it picked at a barely eaten piece of toast. My mind was preoccupied—replaying the events of the previous night and my recent conversation with my father.The plan I had been so sure a few minutes ago would put an end to it all now seemed bleak. I kept weighing the pros and cons... Until the sound of Cecelia's cheerful voice, a stark oddness to my current emotion broke through my thoughts."Hello... Good morning, every—" She paused, "Where's everyone?" Singing as she skipped into the dining room, looking like a perfect ray of sunshine.My lips pressed together jumping up to highlight my cheekbones in a dry smile that didn't reach my eyes, "It's nice to know someone's in a good mood after dropping a huge bomb yesterday."I stuffed a piece of toast into my mouth."What?" She took a seat beside me. "Don't tell me you don't agree that Jacob's handsome.""Are
Cara's POVFor someone who had been anticipating sleep, I lay on the couch, eyes wide open, a soft pillow providing support for my slight discomfort with my face heavenwards.The wheels in my head had refused to stop turning since Doctor Bruno left. It kept replaying the argument with Adonis, his pain, his past, his... trauma.I was tired. Fed up with the unnecessary drama, fed up with the sob story that my husband's life was, and fed up with fighting. Yet I was helpless.This wasn't me—I wasn't a damsel in distress. Being his partner, I shouldn't feel like I'm always on the outside, looking in.I kept arguing for my voice to be heard, but the truth remained that I was nothing but a liability. One that would always be thought of as a burden when the men were finding solutions to the problems.Adonis's point was justified. Why would he want to carry one along? I haven't proven that I could take care of myself just fine. There had to be another way. I can't just stand by and watch.If
Adonis paled."What..." he swallowed. "What are you insinuating?"Cara tried to stifle her sobs, the words in her head, causing a pang to shoot up through her heart as they fell from her trembling lips, "I think we should...""Don't finish it." He interrupted, his voice deadly."You don't even know what I was going say." She cried."I don't want to hear it." He turned, walking to the closet to get rid of the towel around his waist. "Go to bed.""You can't just push this away, Adonis." If he heard, he didn't reply, nor did he stop."I want a break." Adonis froze. "What... did you..." He shook his head, his breath ceasing. "No... Don't say what you don't mean." She squared her shoulders, "It's a good thing I'm serious about it then... I can't be around you. It… It... isn't healthy for me or the babies. I'd keep worrying and worrying... the stress... it's for the best.""No!" Cara picked up the covers once again, sliding into bed. "First thing tomorrow morning..."I said no, Cara—..
The moment the door slammed shut behind Adonis, Cara was up on her feet pacing about worriedly. She had been trying to act cool like nothing was out of the ordinary, but she knew it was impossible.This was just the beginning.What the hell was Cecelia thinking?Adonis, the ever-nonchalant one, kicked off his pants and proceeded to prepare for bed."Have you sent Luca home?" She asked, and he shrugged."I don't know. I gave him a choice to leave or stay.""You gave him a choice?" She gazed at him. "You should've kicked him out. We both know putting matters in his hands would make it worse.""Relax," Adonis assured her, walking into the bathroom, "I have his promise not to kill him." The sound of the shower dimmed his voice.Cara stopped pacing, her face becoming sullen."Was that an option? It isn't up for debate." She tilted her head in deep thought, deciding to take matters into her own hands. "I'm going to go down and tell him to leave myself." "Forget it, Bel." Her husband called