[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
(ANASTASIA'S POINT OF VIEW)A month has passed since I discovered my biological father and lived with him, learning about the type of work he did and the people he associated with.I still wasn't able to call him dad; I wasn't prepared, or the word felt so wrong coming out of my mouth, and he understood just fine. In time, I would become accustomed to it, he said, but I just couldn't picture myself calling him dad. But it didn't matter if I called him Dad or not; he was still my father, and that was what mattered.In a month, I've blended in so well with the Grayson squad, as they called themselves, with Max as their leader. He was nice but a total man-whore which I had come to know since the first day I stepped into the mansion, and he had never tried to hide it, throwing parties five times a week that only included himself and his harems, as he called his girls."Are you prepared for your first mission as a Grayson?" Max winked at me as he entered his private basement, where the res
[ANASTASIA’S POINT OF VIEW]In order to celebrate our victory, we hit the nearest club. I sat on one of the bar stools, watching as the rest of the squads celebrated their victory, but it did not feel like a victory to me anymore, more like a defeat as I remembered the dread in Enzo's eyes, the pain in his expression.I’d always wanted him to show his emotions, and when he finally did, I couldn't seem to bear it. I'd complained that he was too blank, but tonight I wished he had remained blank and not revealed anything to me. Maybe he knew what those emotions would do to me, and that is why he had them all over his face; he knew they would haunt me for a long time.I closed my eyes, and my mind immediately replayed the events of an hour ago. I shivered as I shot him, thinking he was going to pull his own trigger, but he didn't, and he never planned to. But what if my bullet had hit somewhere else, perhaps his chest?Suddenly, my mind conjured up an image of Enzo lying in his pool of bl
(ENZO'S POINT OF VIEW)The more I looked at the pills in my hand, the more I wanted to listen to the voices in my head telling me to throw them out on the balcony I was on.My hands began to tremble a little, the voice in my head grew louder, and the memory flashes became more intense with each minute that went by without me taking the pills.I held onto the balcony railing as my wrist veins began to show, my breathing became slightly labored, and I noticed sweat dripping from my forehead.I took a breath and closed my eyes. When I opened them again, the surroundings had changed, and I had returned to the scene of my mother's death.I saw how the bastard smashed the bottle on her head and how she fell to the ground, a teardrop rolling down the corner of her eyes, mixing with the blood on the floor as she stared directly at me.Her eyes screamed for help, but by the time I reached out, it was too late; she was gone, and I was still unable to save her. I watched as the bastard laughed
(KHIONE'S POINT OF VIEW)Giovanni's eyes screamed with rage as he left his father's side and entered through the balcony entrance.I shook my head, clutching Enzo tighter, but this only fueled his rage as he roughly grabbed my wrist and yanked me to my feet."Let go of me!" I struggled, my gaze returning to Enzo, who was now cowering at the edge like a kicked puppy. My heart ached at the sight. I reached out, but Giovanni drew me to his chest, and I met his angry blue eyes. "You just don't freaking listen, do you?"He did not wait for my response before dragging me out of the balcony, despite my protests, and he did not stop until we were in the four corners of my bedroom.I yanked my hand away from his grasp. "Give me a fucking break!""I told you to stay in your fucking room. You are not allowed to step out whatsoever!" Jw erupted in rage, which was visible in the swelling of his shoulders and chest.I gave him a hard stare. You do not have the right to order me around, Giovanni; I