Before I could even process what was happening, the doors slammed shut with a mechanical clank, locking themselves in place like the closing of a vault. The alarm blared, sharp and merciless, echoing off the cold walls like a warning bell from hell itself."No! No! No!" I cried out, rushing to the door, frantically yanking at the handle, pushing, pulling—anything to break free. It wouldn’t budge.My chest tightened as fear surged up my throat like a wave. Panic took hold."Help!" I screamed, banging my fists against the door with every ounce of strength I had. "Is anybody there?! I'm locked inside!"But the house stayed silent, like it was mocking me. Like it was listening, but chose not to answer.And that’s when the truth hit me.I was alone. Utterly, terrifyingly alone in this massive house. No staff. No family. No one coming to save me.Only me.And my mistake.I sank back against the cold wall, the reality of it all crashing down on me like ice water.I had broken Alessandro’s num
Blood trickled down his forearm, stark against the whiteness of his once-crisp shirt. The deep crimson soaked into the fabric, blooming like a wound that wouldn’t stop bleeding. He didn’t flinch. Didn’t even seem to notice.In his other hand, he clutched a half-empty wine bottle, the glass slick in his grip. His knuckles were white, tense, like he might crush it into shards without realizing.He took a step forward.Then another.And with each step, the air in my lungs thinned.The dim light of my room bathed him in shadow. His shirt hung open at the top, stained and wrinkled. The tailored edges of his suit were disheveled, hanging off his shoulders like discarded armor. The sharp, bitter scent of alcohol clung to him, thick and invasive.And then his eyes found me.I froze.Those piercing blue eyes—once indifferent, now filled with rage and something darker—pinned me to the spot like prey caught in the open.He was drunk.He was furious.And he was coming straight for me."You bitch!!
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—and no matter how many times I blinked, I couldn’t erase the images, the pain, or the sound of my own screams echoing in my head.The violation clung to my skin like a second layer—impossible to peel off. I curled up in the corner of the room, every muscle in my body shaking, my sobs tearing through the still air like broken glass. Blood stained the sheets, the floor beneath me—a brutal testament to the horror I had endured.I wept until I couldn’t anymore.Until my body gave in to exhaustion and my mind sought refuge in the numbness of sleep.But peace was a stranger to me now.A loud bang from somewhere in the house snapped me awake, the sharp sound dragging me back to the brutal reality of what had happened just hours ago. I sat up slowly, my limbs aching, my soul heavier than it had ever been.The mirror across the room caught my eye.
"I shouted, my voice cracking with panic.'Alessandro—where the hell are you taking me?!'But he didn’t answer.He just kept driving.The silence in the car was deafening, broken only by the hum of the engine and the sound of my heart pounding in my chest. I kept my eyes on the window, watching familiar roads fade into unfamiliar ones, each turn pulling me further into dread.The car finally slowed to a stop.I blinked at the sight before me—tall iron gates, rusted and cold, opening into a cemetery.My stomach twisted. I clutched the seatbelt with trembling hands, my knuckles turning white.Why here?Why now?My voice came out in a strangled whisper. 'Alessandro… what are we doing here?'Still no answer. He stepped out, walked around, and yanked open my door with too much force. His hand clamped around my wrist.'Get out.''Why?''Because you need to see something,' he said, his voice low and controlled, though a storm brewed just beneath the surface.I stumbled beside him as he dragge
"So, Alessandro, what have you been up to besides your mysterious marriage?" Federico said with a boyish laugh, then—without warning—leapt onto his older brother's back like an excited child.Alessandro stumbled forward, grunting in surprise. “What the hell—get off me!” But there was no malice in his tone. In fact, for the first time in what felt like forever, a genuine smile tugged at the corners of his lips."You vanished without a single word,” he added, straightening up as Federico slid off his back. “I called, messaged… nothing. Where the hell have you been?"Federico shrugged, grinning like a rogue. "Took a little sabbatical. A soul-searching journey, if you must know." He thumped a hand against his chest dramatically. "But I’m back. For good."Alessandro’s smile faltered for a second, disbelief flickering in his eyes. "You mean that?""Yeah, big bro. Full-time Amato mode activated."Alessandro turned back to the grave and let out a small chuckle, his voice low. "Did you hear tha
It was all a lie.I sat there, quiet in the corner of the hospital room, watching the scene unfold like a cruel joke from the universe. There they were—my father and Alessandro—bonding over a smartwatch like old friends. As if nothing had ever happened. As if last night hadn’t happened.“Wow, Suocero,” Alessandro said with a faint note of surprise, his gaze locked on the sleek tech adorning my father’s wrist. “Didn’t take you for a tech enthusiast.”My father chuckled weakly, adjusting his pillow with trembling fingers. “I wouldn’t call myself a fanatic, but I do appreciate a smart piece of design. Especially if it helps me stay alive.”Alessandro’s eyes gleamed. I recognized that look—the calculated interest of a man who always saw opportunity first. “Do you like the interface? Is it comfortable? Functional?”My father nodded earnestly, completely unaware that he was being used as a test subject. “Very. The heart-rate alerts, the medication reminders—it’s been a godsend.”Alessandro s
“Good day, Mr. Alessandro! What a pleasant surprise. What can we do for you today?”A stunning woman stepped forward to greet us at the entrance of the luxurious fashion mall. Dressed in an elegant black gown that hugged her flawless figure, her long waves of ebony hair flowed like silk down her back. Her golden skin seemed to radiate light. She was breathtaking—graceful, confident, the kind of woman who commanded attention without even trying.And Alessandro was certainly giving her all of his.They embraced with practiced ease, exchanging a kiss on each cheek. Something about their closeness made my stomach tighten.“And what do we have here?” she asked, turning her sparkling eyes toward me, her voice like honey.“Hi, I’m Antonia,” I started, trying to match her poise, but Alessandro cut in smoothly.“She’s Antonia,” he said, placing a hand on my lower back, “my escort for today’s award-winning gala.”Escort. The word felt like a slap.The woman’s lips curved into a teasing smile. “S
“Wow…” I whispered, my eyes widening as I stared into the mirror.The reflection looking back wasn’t just a polished version of me—it was a stranger. Elegant. Radiant. Powerful. She didn’t carry fear in her eyes. She didn’t look like someone trying to survive. She looked like someone who belonged.“Don’t you look gorgeous?” the woman beamed beside me, arms crossed in pride as she admired her creation.I could barely speak. My hair flowed like liquid silk, styled into soft waves that framed my face perfectly. My makeup was flawless, enhancing every feature I’d once considered plain. I had never seen myself like this. Never felt this version of me existed at all.“I could fall in love with myself over and over again,” I murmured, my voice distant, like I was floating somewhere outside my own body.She chuckled, already gathering a selection of luxury beauty products. “Don’t worry, sweetheart—I’ll get you everything I used. Take them. They’re all yours.”I blinked in surprise. “Wait, seri
The soft, rhythmic hum of machines had become a lullaby in Antonia’s ears. She hadn’t meant to fall asleep—not even for a second—but exhaustion had finally dragged her under. Curled beside Luca’s incubator, her hand resting just inches from the transparent barrier, her breathing matched his monitor. Shallow. Fragile. Hopeful.The dim light above flickered slightly as the door creaked open.A tall male nurse stepped in—his steps swift but practiced, his eyes scanning the machines. He wore the hospital’s standard navy scrubs, an ID badge clipped to his chest. His face was unfamiliar, but in her half-sleep, Antonia didn’t stir.He moved with precision. Gloved fingers adjusting an IV, checking the monitor readings. Then came the needle—an injection he drew from his pocket without hesitation.He bent over the incubator and pressed the needle into the side port.Luca didn’t stir.The nurse pressed the plunger slowly, watching the clear liquid disappear. A moment passed, then he straightened
The world outside might have kept moving, but in this small corner of the NICU, time had frozen.Three sons. Born too soon.Three tiny souls who carried the weight of her world on their fragile shoulders.Matteo, the first to cry, had come into the world loud and strong—his scream had made her sob in relief. Antonio, his twin by seconds, had gripped the nurse’s glove with impossibly small fingers, as if refusing to be separated from his brother. They now slept peacefully in the recovery room, their matching features softened by newborn sleep, pink lips parted in dreams Antonia would never get to see.But Luca… Luca had arrived in silence.He hadn’t cried. He hadn’t opened his eyes. And he hadn’t breathed on his own.Her heart had splintered in that moment.Now, as she sat inches from the incubator, watching the rise and fall of his narrow chest beneath layers of tubes and wires, Antonia whispered his name like a prayer.“Luca,” she murmured, barely above a breath. “You’re the quiet on
The sterile scent of disinfectant clung to the air in the neonatal intensive care unit. The lights overhead were too white, too clean—like they were trying to scrub the agony from the place, but pain had a way of seeping in anyway. Antonia sat motionless in her wheelchair, her hands curled tightly around the metal rim as if letting go would break her completely.Beyond the transparent casing of the incubator lay her youngest—a baby too small, too fragile. Tubes and monitors encased his tiny body like a second womb, and with each faint beep of the heart monitor, her own heartbeat stumbled to keep pace.Her Eldest twin son's were asleep in the next room, cradled in soft blue and green blankets, unaware of the storm unraveling around them. But Antonia couldn’t move. Not while her last little son still clung to life with every struggling breath.Her eyes, red-rimmed and sleepless, stayed locked on the rhythmic rise and fall of the baby’s chest. A heart condition, they said. Congenital. “W
Alessandro burst through the hospital’s sliding doors, breath ragged, heart galloping in his chest.“Antonia Amato,” he told the nurse at the front desk, voice tight. “Where is she? She’s in labor—tell me where she is!”The nurse pointed to the maternity wing. “Room 304. But you’ll have to—”He didn’t wait. He sprinted down the corridor, ignoring the startled calls of staff, his shoes pounding against the white-tiled floor.He found the room.Pushed the door open.And then—He froze.The sound of her scream shattered him.Antonia was drenched in sweat, legs in stirrups, hands gripping the sides of the bed. Her face was contorted in pain, and tears streamed from her bloodshot eyes.“Antonia—” he breathed, stepping in.Her eyes snapped to him.And something broke inside her.“Get out!” she screamed, her voice like a blade. “Get the hell out, Alessandro!”He stood there, stunned. “Antonia, I—”“You don’t get to be here!” she cried. “You weren’t there when I needed you—I begged for you—I
She cried out, doubling over in pain."Roosevelt?” Antonia’s voice rose with alarm. “What’s wrong?”“I don’t know, it just... hurts.”Shee steadied her, fear creeping into her expression. “We need to get you checked out. Come on.”“I can’t leave him. Not now.”“You’re no good to him if something happens to you,” Roosevelt said, trying to keep calm. “Let’s make sure you’re okay first.”Antonia nodded faintly, her lips trembling as tears ran down her cheeks.And as Roosevelt helped her to her feet, one thought consumed her:Please, Alessandro… be okay.A sudden gush of warmth soaked through Antonia's thighs, and her body went rigid.Her eyes widened in shock. “They’re coming…” she gasped, clutching her swollen belly. “I can feel it—oh God—they’re coming out!”A sharp pain sliced through her lower back, and her knees buckled.“Roosevelt!” she screamed, her voice raw and terrified as she grabbed her arm with a grip so tight her knuckles turned white.She was at her side in an instant. “An
Alessandro’s eyes snapped to the window, heart pounding. He pushed the curtain aside, breath catching in his throat.There—across the dimly lit clearing that separated their villa from the thick trees at the edge of the island—stood a man dressed entirely in black. Even in the low light, Alessandro could make out the dark cap pulled low over the stranger’s face. The man wasn’t moving. He was just… watching.And then he smiled.It wasn't a kind smile. It was eerie—slow, deliberate, curling like a secret threat. The man let out a soft, raspy chuckle, almost inaudible through the glass, and turned to disappear into the shadows of the trees.Alessandro’s body reacted before his mind could catch up. He threw open the door and bolted down the stairs, barefoot on cold marble, his pulse thudding like war drums. The front door flew open as he burst into the night air, eyes scanning the surrounding darkness.Nothing. No footprints. No sound. Just the distant hum of the waves.“Alessandro?” came
“Come on, Federico, we need to leave. Now,” Alessandro barked, storming out of his room with Aldo close behind, struggling to keep up. His footsteps thundered through the quiet hall, fury practically radiating from his shoulders. The front door slammed behind them.In the kitchen, Roosevelt glanced over his shoulder while scrubbing the last of the dishes. “I wonder what could have rattled him this much…”Antonia, drying a plate in slow circles, sighed. Her eyes flicked toward the window as if searching the wind for answers. “He’s always like this—this storm of emotions. Just when I think I’ve figured him out, he proves me wrong all over again.”Roosevelt turned off the faucet and leaned on the counter. “If you must know, Antonia... Alessandro loves you. He’s just... not great at showing it. Give him time.”Antonia’s hands froze mid-wipe. Her voice dropped, quiet and bitter. “I’m sorry, Roosevelt. But love is the wrong word for whatever Alessandro feels for me.”She set the plate down,
The sun had barely begun to rise over the island estate, casting a golden blush across the kitchen floor. The smell of roasted tomatoes and fresh basil wafted through the air as Roosevelt stirred something lovingly over the stove, humming her favorite love song under her breath.I sat at the table, wrapped in Alessandro’s oversized cardigan—my new comfort blanket—gently rubbing the curve of my belly. My hand was starting to settle there more naturally now. Protectively. Almost like instinct.“You’re glowing today,” Roosevelt said as she set down a warm cup of tea in front of me.Federico walked in with his usual energy, tossing his jacket onto the back of a chair. Aldo followed behind, a file tucked under his arm, though even he looked more relaxed than usual.“Well, someone’s looking radiant,” Federico teased, reaching over to ruffle my hair gently. “Let me guess—you finally got Alessandro to massage your swollen feet?”“Federico!” I swatted his hand away, laughing.“I mean it,” Roos
The sky outside was bruised with twilight when we returned home, the last strands of golden sun retreating behind the hills. The house smelled like warm bread and rosemary. Roosevelt had outdone herself.But Alessandro didn't let me walk in alone.He carried me up the stairs, past curious staff who respectfully looked away, and into our bedroom—his steps careful, like I might break if the floor creaked too loudly beneath us.Once inside, he gently lowered me onto the bed, adjusting pillows behind my back like he’d done it a thousand times. He hovered, unsure, his hands twitching at his sides like he wanted to do more but didn’t know how.“Do you need water?” he asked, voice unusually soft. “Tea? Something sweet?”I blinked up at him. “I’m okay… just tired.”He gave a slow nod, then moved toward the corner of the room, where an armchair sat forgotten. He didn’t sit at first. Just stood there, staring.At me.At my belly.At everything he didn’t know how to say.Finally, he spoke—so qui