Alessandroâs pulse hammered in his ears as he weaved through the grand hall, his heart racing with every passing second. The cryptic call still echoed in his mind, the threat clinging to him like a dark shadow."Damn it, Federico, pick up!" he muttered, pressing the phone against his ear as he tried to reach his brother. Nothing. Straight to voicemail.He clenched his jaw, quickly dialing another number."Come on, AntoniaâĶ pick upâĶ please."Silence.A sinking feeling lodged itself in his chest as he shoved his phone into his pocket and stormed through the corridors, throwing open every door he came across.A private loungeâempty.The garden balconyâno sign of her.The storage roomânothing."Where the hell could she be?" he whispered to himself, his breath ragged.Then, his eyes landed on a door at the end of the hall. The ladiesâ restroom.A flicker of hesitation gripped him, but the urgency overpowered it. He had to check. He had to know she was safe.Quickly glancing around to make
His grip on the paper trembled.A sharp exhale escaped his lips as his mind raced.Who had placed this in his pocket? When?And most importantlyâwhere was Antonia?"Antonia!" he called out again, his voice raw with urgency.Still, no answer.A cold chill ran through him.Something was very, very wrong."Antoniaâ" Alessandro began, but before he could finish, the lights flickered on.He turned, expecting her beside him. But she was gone."Antonia!" he called, his voice sharp with panic, drawing the attention of those around him. His heartbeat pounded in his ears as his eyes darted through the crowd.Then, a voiceâcalm, almost amusedâcut through the tension."I'm here."Alessandroâs head snapped toward the sound. Antonia stood beside Federico, her posture composed, as if his panic hadnât just unraveled in front of a room full of people.Relief surged through him, quickly replaced by frustration. He closed the distance between them in seconds, his hand gripping her wrist as he searched h
she whispered, her eyes wide with shock.Her heart slammed against her ribcage as the weight of those words settled in. Her lips parted, but no words came out.Pregnant.Tears welled up in her eyesâwhether from fear, joy, or pure disbelief, she couldnât tell.Her hands instinctively rested on her stomach, her mind spiraling.Everything was about to change.As Antonia sat in the dimly lit hospital parking lot, her fingers trembled as they brushed over her stomach. A cold shiver ran down her spine as the memories of that night came rushing backâthe night Alessandro had taken away the last piece of control she had left.Her breath hitched, and she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the haunting images, but they came flooding in like an unrelenting tide.His weight pressing down on her.His voice, cold and merciless.Her silent screams.A single tear slipped down her cheek, followed by another, until she could no longer stop them.She let out a shaky breath and opened her eyes, s
The word felt foreign, unreal, like a cruel trick the universe was playing on him.His gaze darted back to Antonia, still asleep, oblivious to the storm she had just unleashed inside him.A baby.Their baby.His hands trembled slightly as he lowered the test back onto the file. A part of him wanted to wake her up, demand answers, demand to know if this was real. Another part of himâone he barely recognizedâfelt something else entirely.A strange, unfamiliar tightness in his chest.For the first time in a long time, Alessandro Amato was afraid.Alessandroâs eyes remained fixed on the paper in his trembling hands. His mind raced, struggling to piece everything together.How did this happen?There had never been mutual feelings between themâno love, no tenderness, just a cold, forced marriage bound by obligations.And then it hit him.His stomach twisted. His breath caught in his throat.That night.The memory came rushing back like a violent tide, drowning him in guilt and regret. The n
"We have to change the decor and designs of this room," Alessandro announced, his sharp gaze scanning the space next to his own bedroom. His tone was firm, decisiveâthis wasnât just any room. It was going to be their childâs room.The sounds of workers moving furniture and discussing plans filled the air, echoing through the halls.Meanwhile, Antonia stirred awake, her brows furrowing at the unfamiliar commotion. She sat up slowly, her body still adjusting to the changes within her. She hadnât expected the morning to be filled with such noise.Confused, she wrapped a shawl around herself and stepped out of her room, only to be met with an unexpected sightâFederico, standing in the middle of the sitting room, grinning like a child who had just received a long-awaited gift."Good morning, Antonia! And good morning to my little niece or nephew!" Federico beamed, closing the distance between them and pulling her into a warm embrace.Antonia blinked in shock, her mind still hazy from sleep
As I walked toward the balcony, my body seeking solace in the crisp air of the morning, a voiceâa familiar voiceâechoed through the room.I stopped mid-step. My breath caught in my throat as a cold shiver ran down my spine. Slowly, I turned around, my eyes landing on the very people I never expectedânever wantedâto see standing in my home.My mother.My stepfather.And her.My stepsister.The room suddenly felt smaller, the walls closing in as my heart pounded against my ribcage. A rush of emotions swirled inside meâanger, fear, confusion. What are they doing here? My mind screamed, but my voice failed me.I could barely move, barely breathe. My fingers curled into fists at my sides, a futile attempt to steady the tremble in them.Then, before I could process the moment, my mother took a step forward, her eyes unreadable, her lips pressed together as if searching for the right words.And then she did something unexpected.She embraced me.The warmth of her arms wrapped around me, but
âI need some air.âWithout another word, Alessandro stormed out of the house, his emotions tangled in a mess of frustration and unresolved pain.Federico exhaled sharply, shaking his head. âHas this house always been this toxic, Aldo?â he muttered, collapsing onto the couch.Aldo sighed, watching Alessandro disappear through the front door. âNot always. But some wounds never healâĶ they just find new ways to bleed.âMeanwhile, outside, Alessandro changed into his racing gearâhis fitted suit, gloves, and specialized shoes. The anger bubbling inside him needed an outlet, and there was only one place he knew could match his stormâthe track.Sliding into his sleek blue racing car, he gripped the wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white. His jaw clenched as his thoughts spiraled.Why canât she just fight back?Why canât she bark at them, bite back, show them sheâs not weak?Antonia let her stepsisterâs cruel words pierce her over and over, never standing her ground. How does she expect to
My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at them, my breath hitching. "What do you mean she ran awayâĶ and I should take her place as the bride?" My voice came out in a whisper, then a little louder, laced with disbelief. My hands trembled as I took a step back, searching their faces for any sign that this was some kind of twisted joke. But all I saw was urgencyâĶ and expectation.I stood frozen, my mind spinning as the weight of the situation crashed over me. "I can't believe my step-sister decided to run away on the day of her weddingâĶ and now I have to take her place." The words felt foreign on my tongue, as if saying them would somehow make them real. My pulse raced, my palms slick with sweat. This wasnât happening. It couldnât be. Yet, the expectant stares around me told me otherwise.Tears burned in my eyes as I shook my head furiously, my voice breaking with desperation. "No, Mommy, I can't! I won't marry that man for Beatrice's sake!" My hands clenched into fists, my chest risin
âI need some air.âWithout another word, Alessandro stormed out of the house, his emotions tangled in a mess of frustration and unresolved pain.Federico exhaled sharply, shaking his head. âHas this house always been this toxic, Aldo?â he muttered, collapsing onto the couch.Aldo sighed, watching Alessandro disappear through the front door. âNot always. But some wounds never healâĶ they just find new ways to bleed.âMeanwhile, outside, Alessandro changed into his racing gearâhis fitted suit, gloves, and specialized shoes. The anger bubbling inside him needed an outlet, and there was only one place he knew could match his stormâthe track.Sliding into his sleek blue racing car, he gripped the wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white. His jaw clenched as his thoughts spiraled.Why canât she just fight back?Why canât she bark at them, bite back, show them sheâs not weak?Antonia let her stepsisterâs cruel words pierce her over and over, never standing her ground. How does she expect to
As I walked toward the balcony, my body seeking solace in the crisp air of the morning, a voiceâa familiar voiceâechoed through the room.I stopped mid-step. My breath caught in my throat as a cold shiver ran down my spine. Slowly, I turned around, my eyes landing on the very people I never expectedânever wantedâto see standing in my home.My mother.My stepfather.And her.My stepsister.The room suddenly felt smaller, the walls closing in as my heart pounded against my ribcage. A rush of emotions swirled inside meâanger, fear, confusion. What are they doing here? My mind screamed, but my voice failed me.I could barely move, barely breathe. My fingers curled into fists at my sides, a futile attempt to steady the tremble in them.Then, before I could process the moment, my mother took a step forward, her eyes unreadable, her lips pressed together as if searching for the right words.And then she did something unexpected.She embraced me.The warmth of her arms wrapped around me, but
"We have to change the decor and designs of this room," Alessandro announced, his sharp gaze scanning the space next to his own bedroom. His tone was firm, decisiveâthis wasnât just any room. It was going to be their childâs room.The sounds of workers moving furniture and discussing plans filled the air, echoing through the halls.Meanwhile, Antonia stirred awake, her brows furrowing at the unfamiliar commotion. She sat up slowly, her body still adjusting to the changes within her. She hadnât expected the morning to be filled with such noise.Confused, she wrapped a shawl around herself and stepped out of her room, only to be met with an unexpected sightâFederico, standing in the middle of the sitting room, grinning like a child who had just received a long-awaited gift."Good morning, Antonia! And good morning to my little niece or nephew!" Federico beamed, closing the distance between them and pulling her into a warm embrace.Antonia blinked in shock, her mind still hazy from sleep
The word felt foreign, unreal, like a cruel trick the universe was playing on him.His gaze darted back to Antonia, still asleep, oblivious to the storm she had just unleashed inside him.A baby.Their baby.His hands trembled slightly as he lowered the test back onto the file. A part of him wanted to wake her up, demand answers, demand to know if this was real. Another part of himâone he barely recognizedâfelt something else entirely.A strange, unfamiliar tightness in his chest.For the first time in a long time, Alessandro Amato was afraid.Alessandroâs eyes remained fixed on the paper in his trembling hands. His mind raced, struggling to piece everything together.How did this happen?There had never been mutual feelings between themâno love, no tenderness, just a cold, forced marriage bound by obligations.And then it hit him.His stomach twisted. His breath caught in his throat.That night.The memory came rushing back like a violent tide, drowning him in guilt and regret. The n
she whispered, her eyes wide with shock.Her heart slammed against her ribcage as the weight of those words settled in. Her lips parted, but no words came out.Pregnant.Tears welled up in her eyesâwhether from fear, joy, or pure disbelief, she couldnât tell.Her hands instinctively rested on her stomach, her mind spiraling.Everything was about to change.As Antonia sat in the dimly lit hospital parking lot, her fingers trembled as they brushed over her stomach. A cold shiver ran down her spine as the memories of that night came rushing backâthe night Alessandro had taken away the last piece of control she had left.Her breath hitched, and she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the haunting images, but they came flooding in like an unrelenting tide.His weight pressing down on her.His voice, cold and merciless.Her silent screams.A single tear slipped down her cheek, followed by another, until she could no longer stop them.She let out a shaky breath and opened her eyes, s
His grip on the paper trembled.A sharp exhale escaped his lips as his mind raced.Who had placed this in his pocket? When?And most importantlyâwhere was Antonia?"Antonia!" he called out again, his voice raw with urgency.Still, no answer.A cold chill ran through him.Something was very, very wrong."Antoniaâ" Alessandro began, but before he could finish, the lights flickered on.He turned, expecting her beside him. But she was gone."Antonia!" he called, his voice sharp with panic, drawing the attention of those around him. His heartbeat pounded in his ears as his eyes darted through the crowd.Then, a voiceâcalm, almost amusedâcut through the tension."I'm here."Alessandroâs head snapped toward the sound. Antonia stood beside Federico, her posture composed, as if his panic hadnât just unraveled in front of a room full of people.Relief surged through him, quickly replaced by frustration. He closed the distance between them in seconds, his hand gripping her wrist as he searched h
Alessandroâs pulse hammered in his ears as he weaved through the grand hall, his heart racing with every passing second. The cryptic call still echoed in his mind, the threat clinging to him like a dark shadow."Damn it, Federico, pick up!" he muttered, pressing the phone against his ear as he tried to reach his brother. Nothing. Straight to voicemail.He clenched his jaw, quickly dialing another number."Come on, AntoniaâĶ pick upâĶ please."Silence.A sinking feeling lodged itself in his chest as he shoved his phone into his pocket and stormed through the corridors, throwing open every door he came across.A private loungeâempty.The garden balconyâno sign of her.The storage roomânothing."Where the hell could she be?" he whispered to himself, his breath ragged.Then, his eyes landed on a door at the end of the hall. The ladiesâ restroom.A flicker of hesitation gripped him, but the urgency overpowered it. He had to check. He had to know she was safe.Quickly glancing around to make
the man screamed, gripping the dashboard as panic flashed in his eyes.But Antonia didnât hear him.She didnât hear anything.All she could hear was Alessandroâs voiceâhis cold, merciless voiceârepeating in her head like a cruel echo."Kill her. And send the corpse to me."And in that momentâshe had nothing left to lose.His hands trembled as he stared at the glowing screen, the unknown number glaring back at him like a silent threat. His heart pounded in his chest, his breath shallow. Who could this be? A chill crawled up his spine, an unshakable feeling of unease settling in."No one should know... No one except my family and hers. So whoâ"Alessandroâs voice from the phone call echoed in his mind. "Donât tell me... It canât be Beatrice, can it?"His jaw tightened, his grip on the phone turning white-knuckled. The mere thought sent a storm raging through him. Could she have found out? Had she been watching him from the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike?He swallowed
The man took a step forward.Antoniaâs hands shook as she pressed the lock button, her breaths coming out in short, panicked gasps. Click. The doors locked.But thenâclick.The locks disengaged on their own.Her heart pounded in her chest. No, no, noâĶ She scrambled to press the button again. Click. Locked.But just as quicklyâclick. Unlocked.A cold wave of dread crashed over her as she turned her head, only to see the man now standing mere inches away from the driverâs side door. His masked face was void of expression, his dark eyes drilling into her like he could see straight into her fear.Her hands trembled as she frantically tried locking the car again, but before she could react, the door swung open on its own.And in that split secondâhe was inside.A sharp blade pressed against the soft skin of her throat, forcing a strangled gasp from her lips."Drive."The single command slithered from the manâs mouth, his voice deep, devoid of emotion. The knife against her neck told her th