[ANASTASIA'S POINT OF VIEW]Botulinum toxin; one of the most lethal poisons known to man. Supposed to take effect between 12 and 24 hours. As much as I wanted a poison that killed instantly, this would do the trick.It wasn't like they were going to eat the food anyway.In my hand was a tiny bottle of Botulinum toxin, and in front of me was the meal prepared for the Mezzesalmas family on the dining table. A drop of this noxious bane would end their lives.I tsked as I stared at the food. Such a waste, but it had to be done.I waited to hear footsteps and someone approaching in my direction. For the first time, I wanted those guards on every corner, but they were nowhere to be found this time, and I did not need them anyway. I only needed one person to witness the scene. As if hearing my prayers, I was finally greeted by the footsteps of more than one person making their way towards the dining area. Perfect.I quickly turned back the food and shook my head at the terrible waste of it
(ANASTASIA'S POINT OF VIEW)"You should be nominated for an Oscar."I finally acknowledged Rue's presence in the room. I reached up, wiped my tears away, and turned to face her. She looked at me with glee and a grin I wanted to slap off her face."Boss would be overjoyed at your outstanding performance. For a brief moment, you had me fooled." She smirked as she approached the cell, studying me. "Oh, it appears that Enzo was not the only one who caught feelings. It must hurt, doesn't it?" She mockingly laughed out loud. "Now that your part of the script has ended, mine has begun." She winked, turned, and walked out of the room, and as soon as the door was shut and I was back in the suppressive darkness, tears streamed down my cheeks, and I burst into uncontrollable sobs, nearly stumbling as I balanced myself against the wall.I'm sorry, Enzo. I'm sorry.The words echoed over and over again. My throat tightened, my heart raced, and I found it difficult to breathe once more. I slid down
(ENZO'S POINT OF VIEW)The mansion had a subterranean basement, and in one of those basements, there were fools who believed they could get away if they played cleverly. However, no one ever played smart and got away with it, especially not after stealing something that belonged to the Mezzesalmas. It was a death wish that was ready to be granted.A cage stood in front of me, and inside were five ex-managers of clubs, gambling houses, and casinos, chained and handcuffed, bleeding and sobbing.I watched them, my sleeves folded to my elbows that were resting on my knees, and my body leaned forward. I observed the way their blood and sweat congealed, as well as the fear in their eyes as they all stared at me with pleading eyes.The fear in their eyes was insufficient.The blood, sweat, and tears dripping on the floor, forming tiny and large puddles, were not enough. The whimpers and cries—none of it was enough. I wanted more.I stood up sharply, grabbing a blade from the tool table in t
[KHIONE’S POINT OF VIEW]I stared at the bold red line on the dipstick, and it stared back even more fiercely.Pregnant!The word echoed, and I did not realize it when I stumbled against the bathroom wall, shock coursing through me like a hot stream of lava. The sweat prickled my brow, and the drum of my heart was too loud for my ears. I felt my hand sweat, and it shook around the pregnancy dipstick.No! This couldn't be happening to me!I could not possibly be pregnant. I returned the dipstick to my face, and the red line stared back, as if mocking and laughing at my face.Fuck! I was definitely pregnant! How could I have been so stupid?I let out a frustrated laugh and racked my fingers through my hair. Of course, the first time in three years that I decided to give myself to him, I ended up fucked, pregnant, and alone! There was no way Giovanni was going to accept this; he would say the child wasn't his since he had already labeled me a whore.I slid down to the floor and let out
[KHIONE’S POINT OF VIEW]My conversation with Giovanni went well, but who said it couldn't get worse, and that saying became true in just a couple of days.Meirnda stood before me, her arms crossed across her chest, her probing eyes darting between me and my bed, which was strewn with my clothes and an open suitcase. My stomach became her line of sight after that. “You can't possibly be carrying my son’s child, are you?” She spoke in a disgusted tone. I stepped back while bracing my stomach. How did she find out I was pregnant?She scoffed and rolled her eyes at my stunned expression. "Don't be surprised; nothing about my sons can be hidden, and the same goes for what happens in this mansion. You are mistaken if you believe you can hide things from me. And right now, that thing in your stomach is going to be aborted. That thing will not be accepted in my home.”My stare became a glare. "My child is not a thing, and whether your family accepts my child or not is of no concern to me. I
(KHIONE'S POINT OF VIEW) I remained there in the same position for as long as I could, until I was unable to distinguish between time and emotion. I was so numb that I was unable to feel the pain in my own heart anymore, so even when I heard the loud opening and closing sounds of the door and Rue's laughter filled the room, I remained motionless. Once her laughter died, she tsked. "Aren't you a miserable thing? Pregnant and discarded." When I finally moved, every joint in my body ached. My numbness instantly subsided. I looked at her. "I see that you are taking pleasure in this. You initiated all of this, after all. She laughed, finally dropping the façade she had been maintaining. “Do not misunderstand me, Khione. I never intended to sabotage your relationship with Giovanni; I have never given a damn about your shit, so it never began with me. I only played the part on my cards, and everything else fell into place smoothly." A slight frown owned my features, and I was getting of
[ANASTASIA’S POINT OF VIEW]I stood in front of the house I grew up in—the place that was supposed to be a safe zone has never given me a sense of comfort. In contrast to the gloomy exterior, the interior lacked warmth.Realizing that no matter how long I stood there watching, the door would not open, I reached out and knocked. And it opened almost instantly, revealing Mom.She fixed her gaze on me with surprise in her eyes. “Oh, Anastasia, you are here earlier than expected.” I peered into her caramel eyes, which were arctic; they had always been that way, and I had grown so accustomed to seeing them that way that I was no longer looking for something they lacked. "I played my part. My work in the Mezzesalma’s household is done.”Just like that, a harrowing smile surfaced on her lips, and she nodded her head in approval before stepping out of the way and letting me into the house and into the living room.Dad had a magazine spread on his lap and was perched on the couch with one leg
(ANASTASIA'S POINT OF VIEW)"Anastasia!?" The vexation in his eyes had faded, and he now wore a shocked expression. "What-how-" he couldn't seem to find the right words. "How come you're here?""The Martins sent me. They said I would find the answers I seek here. Are you going to be the one to give me the answers?"Growing up in a home devoid of emotions and warmth taught me how to hide my emotions quite well. I was almost acting against my true nature in the Mezzesalmas household, or perhaps the Mezzesalmas brought out a side of me that I did not know existed, especially Enzo, but this was who I was. Cold and emotionless, almost like the people who raised me.While they strive to become less human by the day, I strive to become more human. There was nothing wrong with having feelings, but they saw everything wrong with it.He exchanged a glance with Max before sighing in response to my words. "I believe the Martins told you nothing. "Please allow me to introduce myself; my name is Gr
I want to use this medium to thank all of you for reading this book. I know there are a lot of books out there that are better than mine yet you chose to take your time and finish this makes my heart flutter with warmth. Thank you for starting and finishing this journey with me, you have no idea how you've made me so happy. It makes me content and complete. So thank you. And please, don't forget to vote, comment, and review your thoughts to this poor author, it would mean the whole world to me. And please, do check out my other works when you have time, I hope you will like them too. I love you all and bless you. Hope you'll have a wonderful day! Bye!
(KHIONE'S POINT OF VIEW)I locked my gaze on the pregnancy kit, which returned my gaze with two bold red lines.I was pregnant.I sighed and dropped my hands to my lap, making no attempt to rise from the toilet seat."Khione, Khione, Khione. "How can you let yourself get pregnant again?"The guilt of losing my first pregnancy was still swollen on my chest, and it had no intention of leaving anytime soon. and now, another baby was on its way."Khione, are you okay in there?"Giovanni's voice came from the other side of the bathroom door. When I finally stood up with the pregnancy test, my legs wobbled. I felt drained when I shouldn't be.I stepped out of the bathroom and into my bedroom, where Giovanni waited with a worried expression."Are you okay?" He inquired before his gaze was drawn to the pregnancy kit in my hand. His pupils dilated as they met mine. "You're preg-""I am afraid of having another child, Giovanni." I interrupted him before he could continue. "Wha
(ENZO'S POINT OF VIEW)I tried to stop myself from pacing, but I couldn't, not when Anastasia's loud screams were coming from behind the door in front of me. She was calling for me; giving birth to our child, but I couldn't go in; I wasn't allowed to, and she had to bear all that pain alone.I despised the feeling of being useless and helpless.I was about to become a father. The thought both excited and terrified me. I knew nothing about being a Father.It had always been drugs, guns, and trying not to go insane. I never imagined bringing a child into my chaotic world, but this child was on its way. Would I make a good father?Damnit!"Did you know that the longest English word contains 189,819 letters?"I turned my head, glaring at Kai, who was leaning against the wall. He shrugged. "I was trying to cheer you up, but that'd be a badass word, isn't it? Fortunately, I dropped out of school." He chuckled."Be quiet." I snapped."You worry too much. It is not flattering on you. It tarn
(ANASTASIA'S POINT OF VIEW)"We are here, Ma."The sound of the driver's voice made me turn my head and look out the window.We were in front of a dilapidated apartment building in a busy and active neighborhood. I cocked my head to the side as I observed kids running around and laughing heartily. There were a few men carrying objects and three tattooed men smoking outside the corner.I noticed two neighborhood stores right next to the building. I averted my eyes as I fixed them on the tall, old building. Would I really find my parents here?Max had better not mislead me. I told the driver to "wait here" before getting out of the car without thinking, and fastened the buttons on my coat to cover my growing stomach.Yes, I was four months pregnant, and despite my concerns, Enzo had been exhilarated about having a child.I felt like everyone was looking at me the moment I stepped out of the car, but I chose to ignore them as I heaved a sigh and entered the building.I
(KHIONE'S POINT OF VIEW)A few days passed, and I'd avoided Giovanni like he was some plague and struck Charlie's side like glue; he even wanted me gone, but Giovanni seemed to have taken it as a hint that I'd chosen Charlie over him and decided to leave on his own.I remembered the tears in his eyes as he told me to be happy, and I wished I'd stopped him when he walked out of my home, but I was a coward. Even Charlie scolded me for it, but I was scared.I was afraid of giving in again. What if everything went wrong again? What if something happened to separate us again? I couldn't help but feel insecure. I sighed for the nth time that day, glancing at the door again and again, hoping Giovanni would appear with the smile that melted my heart and the smirk that created a pool of wetness between my legs, but I knew it was wishful thinking. I knew that no matter how many times I looked at the door, he would never appear; after all, it had been two weeks since he had given up and walked
(KHIONE'S POINT OF VIEW)When I walked out of the school and into the parking lot, I was surprised to see Charlie and Giovanni talking with their backs to me.I paused, my mind telling me to turn and walk away before they noticed my presence, but another part of me told me to get closer, especially when I heard them say my name.I did not move any closer when their words became clear, and fortunately, they had not noticed me yet."Don’t you think you have been a nuisance lately? If I were Khione, I would have gotten rid of you." Charlie spoke.Giovanni scoffed. "Since you're not Khione, that's not your call, and I'm going to be around for as long as she wants me to be.""But she is not interested in you. Isn’t that self-evident? She is already in love with me, and your presence only adds to her pain from the past she wishes to forget. I believe Khione is being overly nice and is unable to say no when she clearly wants to." Charlie stuffed his hands into his pants pocket.I averted my
(ANASTASIA'S POINT OF VIEW)I stared as the smirk on Godfather Gattani's face deliberately subsided and gushing from his mouth was blood gradually, he lowered to his knees before falling to the ground with his blood coupling around him.I jerked up my head, meeting the malignant eyes of Enzo as he clenched his gun so tightly I could see the veins on his wrist and forehead."Enzo," I called softly, snapping him out of it.He let the gun plunge from his hand and rushed over to me, cupping my face and for the first time, I was able to graze terror in his eyes and expression. "I wasn't fast enough, I'm so sorry, doll." His voice lurched.At that moment, I shirked I was punctured on the shoulder as the pain somehow seemed to cease. I cracked a full smile. "I'm fine, It's not that deep.""Fuck." He exhaled, seating his forehead on mine and I took the opportunity to inhale his alleviating scent. It was intoxicating. "My own death does not frighten me but yours? That's my greatest and deepest
[ANASTASIA’S POINT OF VIEW]The most effective way to control a man is to make him believe that he was using you.Rue kidnapped me, knocked me out, and now I was tied to a pillar. She got me because I let her. She grinned at me as she stood in front of me, and I gave her the same vaporous look in return.“I can't wait to peel off your skin.” She winked at me, and I rolled my eyes. Her gaze fell to her watch. "Godfather Gattani will arrive in a few minutes; as soon as I receive the go-ahead, I will begin with that face of yours."I tsked, tilting my head and scanning her from head to toe before looking her in the eyes. "How does it feel to be a pawn, knowing you will eventually lose everything? I heard he asked you to get rid of Miranda; what makes you think you will not be next on his list when this is all over?" She reached out and grabbed my hair firmly, bringing her face closer to mine, her eyes red with rage. "You know nothing, so why don't you shut up before I kill you sooner th
(KHIONE'S POINT OF VIEW)I thought Giovanni had gotten the hint and was gone for good, but I was dead wrong, and I wish I had been prepared when the idiot showed up at my place of work.Being invited to the principal's office, I thought I'd done something wrong, only to find Giovanni there. I paused, and my eyes turned into a glare."What are you doing here?" I exploded. Giovanni flashed me a grin. "Judging by your expression, I believe you know this man." The principal wore an unimpressed expression. "He insisted on not leaving till he saw you, and that has been like an hour ago; please get him out.""Yes, sir." I turned to Giovanni, grabbed his wrist, and yanked him to his feet. "Let's go."We left the office, and I didn't stop dragging him by the wrist till I found an empty classroom and shoved him in, shutting the door behind me before turning to him with a sharper glare. "What the fuck were you thinking? I could lose my bloody job!""I'm sorry, but I needed to see you." He respo