Before I could even process what was happening, the doors slammed shut with loud clank, locking automatically. The alarm blared through the room, a deafening reminder of the mistake I had just made."No! No! No!" I panicked, rushing to the door, yanking at the handle, pushing, pulling—nothing. It wouldn't budge. My chest tightened as fear clawed its way up my throat."Help!!!" I screamed, banging against the door with all my strength. "I'm locked inside! Can anybody hear me?!"Silence.Then, it hit me.I was alone. Completely alone in this massive house. No one was around to hear my desperate cries.A cold shiver ran down my spine as reality set in—I had broken Alessandro’s number one rule. I had stepped into forbidden territory. And now, I was trapped.How foolish. How stupid I was to think I could get away with it.Now, I had to face the consequences. And knowing Alessandro, they wouldn’t be small.The golden hues of the setting sun filtered through the windows, casting long shadows
Blood trickled down his arm, staining his crisp white shirt with deep crimson, yet he didn’t seem to care. In his other hand, he clutched a half-empty wine bottle, his grip so tight I thought it might shatter at any moment.He took a step closer.Then another.The dim light of my room revealed his disheveled state—his shirt unbuttoned at the top, his tie gone, his usually pristine suit now wrinkled and stained. The strong, bitter stench of alcohol filled the air, making me instinctively step back.His piercing blue eyes, darkened with rage and intoxication, locked onto mine.He was furious.He was drunk.And he was coming straight for me."You bitch!!"Alessandro's voice thundered through the room as he stormed toward me, his grip ripping the blanket off me in one swift motion."Stay away from me, Alessandro!" I screamed, my voice shaking with fear. But he didn’t stop. He didn’t hesitate.His hand shot out, grabbing my face so tightly that pain shot through my jaw. His fingers dug int
I was shattered. Devastated. The weight of what had just happened crushed me, stealing the breath from my lungs. Alessandro had forced himself on me—I could still feel the violation lingering on my skin, in my soul. My body trembled as I curled up in the corner of my room, my sobs breaking the heavy silence. Blood stained the bed, the floor beneath me—a cruel reminder of the pain, the horror, the betrayal. I wept, my cries desperate and raw, my heart aching in ways I never thought possible. How could this have happened? How could he do this to me?I cried myself to sleep, exhaustion finally overtaking my broken body. But the peace was short-lived. A loud noise startled me awake, jolting me back into the cruel reality of last night.As I sat up, the memories rushed in like a flood—Alessandro, his touch, the pain, the betrayal. My chest tightened. I turned my head slowly, my eyes landing on the mirror across the room.The woman staring back at me was unrecognizable. Hollow eyes. Pale
I shouted, my voice breaking with panic.Alessandro didn’t answer.He just kept driving.The car slowed to a stop. I looked around, my stomach tightening with dread. A cemetery.Fear crawled up my spine. My fingers clutched the seatbelt so tightly my knuckles turned white.Was this it? Was Alessandro planning to kill me and bury me in secret?Swallowing the lump in my throat, I forced my voice to stay calm. "Alessandro… what are we doing here?"He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he stepped out, walked around the car, and yanked open my door. Before I could react, his hand gripped my wrist, pulling me out with brutal force."Get down and see for yourself," he said, his voice eerily steady.I stumbled slightly, my heart pounding. The towering gravestones stretched before us, cold and lifeless.Alessandro turned to me with a smirk, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Don’t tell me you’ve never been to a cemetery before?" he asked, his tone almost mocking, as if this was nothing more t
"So, Alessandro, what have you been up to besides your marriage? We actually need to catch up!" Federico said, laughing as he suddenly jumped onto Alessandro’s back like an excited child.Alessandro stumbled slightly before rolling his eyes, a rare but genuine smile forming on his lips. "I should be asking you that question, Federico. You disappeared without a word. No one heard from you for months. I tried reaching out to you. Where have you been?"Federico slid off his brother’s back with a playful grin. "Well, I was on a journey to find my inner self," he said dramatically, placing a hand over his chest. "But now I’m back—for good this time."Alessandro’s smile widened, his usual cold exterior melting for just a moment. "You’re serious?""Yeah, big brother. Full-time Amato mode activated."Alessandro shook his head in amusement, then turned his gaze slightly upward. "Dad, I hope you can hear this. This news just made my day." He let out a small chuckle before looking at Federico. "
It was all a lie.I sat there, watching the scene unfold before me, struggling to process the irony of it all."Wow, Suocero," Alessandro said, a hint of surprise in his voice as he noticed the sleek gadget wrapped around my father’s wrist. "You're also a fan of technology?"My father chuckled weakly. "Well, I wouldn’t call myself a fanatic, but I do appreciate good innovation."Alessandro’s eyes gleamed with interest. "Do you like it, Suocero? Is it comfortable?" His tone shifted, his business instincts taking over as he leaned in slightly. I could tell he was fishing for customer feedback on his latest smartwatch.My father, oblivious to Alessandro’s true intentions, eagerly answered each question, going into detail about how useful the watch had been for monitoring his health.A smirk played on Alessandro’s lips. "I’m actually working on a new model designed specifically for elders, and I’d love for you to be the first to test it out. I hope you don’t mind?"Without hesitation, my
"Good day, Mr. Alessandro! What a pleasant surprise. What can we do for you?" A woman, dressed in a black gown, welcomed us into the mall. Her long, beautiful hair cascaded effortlessly, and her body was wonderfully sculpted, with skin glowing like the sun. Her beauty could undoubtedly capture the attention of any man, and Alessandro's gaze, fixed upon her, confirmed it. They embraced, exchanging kisses at the chic entrance."And what do we have here?" she asked, her radiant smile making me instantly fall in love with her at first glance."Hi, I'm Antonia," I began, but before I could finish, Alessandro cut me off."She's Antonia, my escort for today's award-winning Gala," he said with a smile."So, you brought her here for a makeover, right?" the woman asked Alessandro with a knowing smirk."Yes," he replied smoothly. "Because you're the best at what you do, and I trust your judgment."She rolled her eyes playfully. "But come on, Alessandro, when are you going to settle down? Get mar
"Wow..." I whispered, my eyes widening as I stared at the mirror.The reflection looking back at me was a version of myself I had never seen before—polished, radiant, almost unrecognizable."Don't you look gorgeous?" the woman beside me beamed, admiring her own handiwork.I could hardly believe it. My hair shimmered under the light, styled to perfection in a way it had never been before. My makeup was flawless, almost too good to be true. For the first time in a long time, I felt... beautiful."I could fall in love with myself over and over again," I murmured, still mesmerized."Don’t worry, I’ll get you all the products I used to achieve this look," she said, gathering a selection of expensive beauty essentials and handing them to me. "Here, take them. It’s all on the house."I blinked in surprise. "Are you serious?""Of course," she smiled. "You know, Antonia, I like you. You seem so different from all the other girls he’s been bringing here for the past four years.""Four years?!"
Aldo’s voice pulled me back to reality. "Mrs. Amato, can we go now?" His tone was gentle, but I could barely process his words. My throat felt tight, my body numb. Without speaking, I lifted my hand, giving him a small wave—my silent signal to leave.But just as Aldo started the engine, something made me turn.And there she was.Beatrice.She stood there, waving at me. But it wasn’t a friendly wave. It wasn’t the kind of farewell shared between family. No. It was a taunting gesture, a silent message that sent shivers down my spine. "Let the torment begin," her smirk seemed to say.A cold dread settled in my chest. I knew that look. I had seen it countless times before—the promise of pain, of cruelty wrapped in a twisted sense of satisfaction.As the car pulled away, the weight of everything crashed down on me all at once. My vision blurred as hot tears welled up, spilling down my cheeks before I could stop them. I curled into myself, my arms wrapping around my trembling body, my nails
I stumbled forward, but before I could regain my balance, my foot caught on something—no, someone. A sharp force sent me crashing to the cold, hard floor, pain jolting through my hands and knees.Laughter rang in my ears, mocking, cruel. I didn't need to look up to know who it was.“Oh, my bad,” Beatrice’s voice dripped with fake innocence. “I didn’t see you coming.”I clenched my fists against the cold tile, my breathing uneven. My body ached, but it wasn’t just from the fall—it was from everything. Every moment of humiliation, every cruel word, every wound she had carved into my past. And now, here I was again, on the floor, beneath her, just like she always wanted.“Mrs. Amato!”Aldo’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts, and within seconds, he was at my side. His hands reached out, steady, strong, ready to lift me up. But before he could, he turned—his grip latching onto Beatrice’s arm.“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” His voice was sharp, protective, laced with fury
"How long will it take for my leg to heal, doctor?" A familiar voice said as I stepped into the room, only to freeze in place.Sitting in the chair across from the doctor was none other than my stepsister, Beatrice.My throat went dry. "Emm… good day, doctor. I would like to get my hand checked. I think I broke it after an… incident that happened yesterday," I said, my voice slightly shaky as I tried to keep my emotions in check.The doctor barely glanced at me before turning his attention back to Beatrice. "Miss Beatrice, you need to take your medication daily and avoid any hazardous activities that could put stress on your foot. Another fracture could make recovery more difficult," he advised.Beatrice simply nodded. "Okay, thank you. Bye now, doctor." She stood up, walking right past me as if we were nothing but strangers.I swallowed hard, watching her disappear through the door without even sparing me a glance.Shaking off the uncomfortable tension, I turned back to the doctor. "
And our eyes met."You have to be kidding me, right?" Miss Francisco scoffed as she scanned me from head to toe, her eyes dripping with disdain. Then, turning to Alessandro, she sneered, "You know, Aless, I can't believe that of all the women in the world, you chose to settle for this lowlife." She continued spewing insults, her words laced with venom."Hey! Watch your mouth!" Alessandro's voice thundered through the room. His gaze darkened as he took a threatening step toward her. "Don't you dare—not in your entire life—call my wife a lowlife. If we're being sincere, you are the lowlife here, Francisco. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have gotten this far in your career. You used me—for your own selfish reasons. You’re nothing but a gold digger." He let out a bitter laugh, his fury burning through every word."And now, you come crawling back the moment you hear about my father's death? You thought you could take more from me, didn't you?" His fists clenched at his sides. "I should
I'll get the door!I stormed off before Alessandro could make another move, my heart pounding in my chest. I needed an escape, even if just for a moment. But as soon as I swung the door open—"Shit! Shit! Shit!"Panic shot through me like electricity. Standing right there, completely unexpected, was Francisco. My breath hitched. My mind raced.No, no, no—think, Antonia! What do I do?!I started pacing in frantic little circles, like a puppy chasing its own tail, completely lost in the sudden chaos."Antonia, open the door already!"Alessandro’s voice cut through my spiral, snapping me back to reality. I turned to see him striding toward me, irritation written all over his face.His eyes flickered toward the CCTV screen, where Francisco’s image was displayed. The second he saw her, Alessandro’s jaw tightened. His entire demeanor shifted."No, no, no! So I can't have peace and quiet now that she's back?" He muttered under his breath, rubbing his temple in frustration."What are we going
I could feel the weight of every gaze in the room shifting, the tension crackling in the air as Alessandro closed the distance between us."Just close your eyes," Alessandro whispered, his gaze locked onto mine.Before I could even process what was happening, he pulled me in, pressing his lips against mine in a deep, intense kiss. My heart pounded wildly, each beat so strong it felt like it might burst out of my chest. Flashing lights zeroed in on us, the paparazzi catching every moment.Murmurs and gasps rippled through the crowd."Did he just do what I think he’s doing?""Not Francisco? This is pure torture for her.""I’m definitely posting this on my page—my followers will love this!"The voices swirled around us, growing louder by the second. I wanted to stop this, to make it end before things spiraled even further. I gave Alessandro a subtle signal, hoping he’d get the hint.But he didn’t.Instead, he tightened his grip, pulling me even closer. His arms wrapped securely around my
"Alessandro!!!"A voice cut through the noise, sharp and demanding.And just like that, I felt the air shift.The dazzling lights flickered as a voice called out from the background, cutting through the noise."Alessandro, it's been a while."A woman emerged, her gown shimmering under the lights, accentuating every curve of her body. Her long, silky black hair cascaded down her back, and her face—flawless, almost as if touched by a surgeon’s precision—lit up with a smile. Without warning, she wrapped Alessandro in an embrace, leaving him visibly stunned.The paparazzi wasted no time.Paparazzi 1: "Wow, Miss Francisco, you look stunning as always! When did you get back from the States? And don’t tell me you're one of the anonymous guests?"She chuckled, flashing a radiant smile. "Yes, I am. And I came to surprise Alessandro. So, Alessandro—surprise!"Another reporter chimed in.Paparazzi 3: "Alessandro, you must be pleased to have her here. You two were one of our favorite couples back
"Bye now, Miss Antonia," the woman said with a knowing smile. "I wish you good luck, Alessandro. And I hope to see both of you here next time."With that, we left the mall and stepped into Alessandro’s sleek black-gray Tesla. The soft hum of the engine barely masked the whirlwind of thoughts running through my mind."You didn’t tell me we were going to an award-winning gala!" I blurted out, my excitement evident.Alessandro, however, remained indifferent. "Don’t flatter yourself, Antonia. You’re just my escort and nothing more. So don’t get too excited."The coldness in his tone was enough to bring me back to reality."Remember," he continued, his voice firm and unyielding, "if anyone asks how you got to know me, you repeat exactly what you said at the mall. Am I clear?"I sighed, nodding. "Yes, I understand.""Oh, and one more thing," he added casually, as if it were an afterthought. "The three hundred thousand dollars has already been sent to you."I barely had time to process his w
"Wow..." I whispered, my eyes widening as I stared at the mirror.The reflection looking back at me was a version of myself I had never seen before—polished, radiant, almost unrecognizable."Don't you look gorgeous?" the woman beside me beamed, admiring her own handiwork.I could hardly believe it. My hair shimmered under the light, styled to perfection in a way it had never been before. My makeup was flawless, almost too good to be true. For the first time in a long time, I felt... beautiful."I could fall in love with myself over and over again," I murmured, still mesmerized."Don’t worry, I’ll get you all the products I used to achieve this look," she said, gathering a selection of expensive beauty essentials and handing them to me. "Here, take them. It’s all on the house."I blinked in surprise. "Are you serious?""Of course," she smiled. "You know, Antonia, I like you. You seem so different from all the other girls he’s been bringing here for the past four years.""Four years?!"