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Chapter 23
Last Updated:
2025-02-07 01:39:18
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Shattered Attraction Chapter 24
The man tugged his baseball cap low over his face, while steadily avoiding the cameras. He looked down the corridor to make sure there was no one around before slipping into the room.The hospital room was quiet except for the steady beeping of the heart monitor. Nonna lay still, her eyes closed with a tube in her mouth. The lights were dim which casted soft shadows across the sterile white walls.He stood by the bed, his hands were stuffed into the pockets of his dark coat. Minutes ticked by as he kept watching her, almost refusing to let go. The woman who had raised him when no one else had cared to.The woman who had wiped his tears when he was a child, she had taught him how to say his prayers and how to survive in a world that had no softness for people like them. And now she was here, trapped in a bed, her frail body covered in tubes and wires. A ventilator forced air into her lungs with an unnatural hiss. Her chest rose and fell, but it wasn’t real breathing. Machines were k
Last Updated : 2025-02-08Shattered Attraction Chapter 25
GabriellaThe cemetery was quiet except for the steady patter of rain, falling heavily on the black umbrellas. Despite the weather, the gathering was large. Rows of men in sharp black suits, their heads bowed, and women with veils pulled low over their faces. But they were only here to strengthen connections.At the center of it all, Dante stood alone, a towering figure of grief. His hands were clasped in front of him, gloved and steady. But his eyes were dark and empty as he dropped a single rose on the coffin. I stared at him as the priest droned on, reciting the words.The pain etched unto his harsh features was plain for all to see as Nonna’s body was lowered into the grave. Matteo stood behind him, crying loudly and I could not help it as my heart tugged with pity for the two brothers. Losing a loved one is never easy.I remember very clearly the nights after my mom had died. I’d cried myself to sleep under the wishing tree she used to take me to when I was little, begging for he
Last Updated : 2025-02-10Shattered Attraction Chapter 26
DanteMy jaw tightened as I looked back at my wife. “Stay here and don’t move,” I said.She opened her mouth to argue, but the look I gave her must have silenced her. “Dante, wait—”“Gabriella.” I started, my tone firm, leaving no room for discussion. “I mean it. Stay here.” I immediately turned towards the exit, meeting Rico at the front door.“Boss!” his tone was sharp and urgent. “It’s your brother” he finished.“What has Matteo done this time?” I groaned in frustration, rubbing my hand down my face.Rico hesitated for a fraction of a second, then said, “He was drunk… almost raped Hannah’s little girl.”A cold wave crashed over me. “Che cazzo?” I stopped in my tracks, my pulse hammering. “Where is he now? And what was that gunshot about?”“Well, Enzo stepped in. Tried to stop him.” Rico exhaled through his nose. “Matteo shot him. He’s in the boathouse.”I let out a stream of expletives as we walked towards the boathouse. The door was slightly ajar, and light filtered through the op
Last Updated : 2025-02-10Shattered Attraction Chapter 27
Gabriella“Get dressed,” Dante said suddenly, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. His voice was deep and steady, but there was something different about him today. Like he was more…expectant?“Huh?” I muttered as I sat up in bed, holding my head which was still groggy from sleep. Rubbing my temples, I blinked against the sudden brightness in the room as Hannah opened the curtains.“Let’s have breakfast together.” He continued. He looked better than he did these past few days. His dark hair, still damp from his shower fell over his forehead in waves as he stared at me.I hesitated, watching him before finally giving in. “Okay,” I said in reply. “I’ll be down in a few minutes”“Good. I’ll be waiting for you” he finished. I jumped in the shower as soon as the door slammed shut and in a few moments, I was walking into the dining room. There was a large mahogany table that could seat at least ten people. I stood at the doorway, unnoticed as I observed the interaction in the room.
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He was ten years old, and Matteo had been six.“Matteo!” their father’s voice thundered through the thin walls, shaking the air in the room. It was always like this. Dante groaned, squeezing his eyes shut. All their father does is yell. He had thought as he rolled in on the mat.Dante didn't need to check the time. The sky outside was still dark, which meant their father had been drinking through the night again. That spelled trouble. It was not even day break yet and his father was already drunk as a skunk. The old, worn-out staircase creaked under his father’s weight as he staggered up the stairs.His heart leaped to his throat as he turned to Matteo. His little brother was sprawled out on their shared mat, limbs tangled in the thin, tattered blanket. He slept so deeply it was like waking the dead. Sometimes, Dante thought the only way to get him up would be to throw him into a bucket of ice water. But there was no time for that now.“Matteo, wake up!” Dante whispered urgently, shak
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“What the fuck is this?” their father growled, his voice coming out low and dangerous.Dante shivered in his hiding place, his stomach twisted and he knew they were in trouble the moment their father pushed his chair back. The veins pulsing in his temple were almost visible from where Dante was. His heart was hammering in his chest and he didn’t know what to do.“Who made this trash?!” he shouted, slamming his fists against the old coffee table. The cup rattled but didn’t fall and his eyes looked like they were ready to drop out of their sockets.Matteo flinched, taking a step back. His tiny fingers curled into the hem of his worn-out shirt. “I-I made it, Papà,” he stammered.Dante squared his shoulders, his palms sweating as he came out of where he was hiding behind the door. “I was the one who made it. I told him to let me do it today.” He said, covering up for his brother.Their father let out a slow, humorless chuckle. “You made this?” he repeated, his eyes narrowing. Dante nodded
Last Updated : 2025-02-11Shattered Attraction Chapter 30
GabriellaHe looked out of character. Like he was reliving memories he had no intention of ever reliving. He clenched his jaw as his fingers tapped the edge of the table unconsciously. His eyes which were normally sharp and focused were now glazed, as if they were lost in a place I couldn’t reach.“Dante…” I called, trying my best to bring him back to the present. But he was not budging. My brows furrowed as I tapped him softly on the arm. He moved on reflex, taking hold of my arm. His grip was tight, strong—too strong. But at least his eyes no longer had that glazed, faraway look.“I’m sorry.” He said, blinking very rapidly, as if he had finally realized where he was. He released my arm abruptly as a heavy sigh left his lips, rubbing his face in agitation and then leaning back in his seat. He cleared his throat, trying to mask the momentary loss of control. But before I could say anything, a loud ringing filled the air.It took me a second to realize it was his phone.“Oh, shit!” he
Last Updated : 2025-02-11Shattered Attraction Chapter 31
Gabriella had once had a sister. A younger sister.But from the moment Daniella had come into the world, it had been clear that they would never see eye to eye.Daniella had been the golden child—literally. Her blonde curls caught the sunlight like strands of woven gold, her blue eyes sparkled with effortless charm, and her laughter had the ability to turn heads, to draw people in. She had been beautiful, social, and magnetic.And yet, for all their stark differences in personality, they had been eerily similar in appearance. Their facial features, inherited from their father, had been nearly identical. Had it not been for their contrasting hair color, they could have passed for twins. But personality had been what truly set them apart.Gabriella was the quiet one, the studious one, the girl who lost herself in books and the boundless worlds they offered. Daniella, on the other hand, had been the kind of child who found joy in dolls, dress-up, and parading through life like a princess
Last Updated : 2025-02-12
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Shattered Attraction Chapter 63
The ceiling lights cast a soft glow on the polished marble floor, complementing the long, elegant corridor that stretched ahead. Jasmine and polished wood scented the air — a beguilingly muggy degree of elegance. The soft pat of their steps echoed, and the sharp knuckles of Sofia's heels shattered all their sounds like swords.“You never would have guessed you’d end up here. Sofia's voice reverberated back through the corridor, sharp and keening as a banshee's wail. Her comments carried a clear tone of mockery, and her eyes sparkled with a blatant joy that she always felt no need to conceal. Next to Gabriella, Hannah tensed, her fingers gripping Gabriella’s hand in silent encouragement. She sensed the tension emanating from her friend — the calm, accepting strength Gabriella had consistently displayed — but this moment felt distinct. Fragile. On the verge of collapse. "That's enough, Sofia," Hannah remarked tersely, her tone quiet yet resolute. Sofia simply laughed — a harsh, joyles
Shattered Attraction Chapter 62
Weeks went by before Gabriella's weak body started to heal from the sickness that had seized her with unyielding force after her ordeal. She had previously been a lively presence, but now, she sensed that she was hardly living. The illness had exhausted her, stripping away the essence of who she used to be. There were times—shadowy, intolerable times—when she beseeched God, imploring Him to free her from this agony. She had pleaded for her life to cease, incapable of bearing the suffocating burden of her existence any longer. However, destiny had different intentions, and in spite of her urgent requests, she realized she was holding on to life, one delicate day at a time. When Gabriella was eventually permitted to return to the upper floors of the mansion, she was beyond caring. Her spirit was shattered to such an extent that she no longer felt affected by the murmurs that trailed her, the glances that seared her skin, or the burden of her husband's treachery. Dante, the person she
Shattered Attraction Chapter 61
Somewhere in New York.The chamber was chilly. Not the sort of chill that could be remedied with a blanket or a heater — it ran deeper than that. It was the sort of cold that seeped into your bones and caused your skin to tingle, regardless of how many layers you had on. The air felt dense, imbued with a silence that weighed on the walls. It had a slight scent of aged perfume mixed with something more intense — perhaps fear. Bianca stood before the mirror, her fingers gliding mindlessly across the swollen area on her cheek. Despite the thick makeup, it still hurt — a dull, pulsating ache that throbbed with each heartbeat. The foundation was heavy and skillfully applied, yet the bruise’s intense purple still risked showing through. She flinched as her fingers glided over the sensitive skin. It wasn't her most serious injury, yet it somehow felt that way. She should have just stayed. The idea struck her once more, piercing and relentless, as it always did. Years had passed since she
Shattered Attraction Chapter 60
The door clicked shut, and the sound made Gabriella freeze. She stood still, listening closely as the lock turned with a harsh, scraping noise. That sound told her one thing — she was trapped. Outside the room, she heard Dante’s voice, calm but firm. There was no kindness in his tone, only authority."No one goes in or out until I say so. Not even for food."His words hit her like a blow. Through the thin wooden door, she heard the quiet movement of the guards standing outside. They didn’t question him. They simply obeyed.She remained in place, listening intently until she caught the sound of Dante’s footsteps ascending the stairs to the more affluent, upper levels of the house. The stillness that ensued felt denser than the atmosphere surrounding her.Only then did she realize she had been holding her breath.Gabriella eventually scanned the space where she had been confined. It was tiny and barren, lacking anything comforting or inviting. The walls were empty, and the sole piece of
Shattered Attraction Chapter 59
Gabriella“This is your new room now.”Dante’s voice cut through the silence like a knife. It was icy, piercing, and utterly conclusive, enveloping my heart with the heaviness of his words like steel shackles. He towered above me, his towering figure creating a shadow so immense it seemed to engulf me entirely. And at that instant, I understood — truly understood — that any remaining hope I possessed was quickly and irretrievably fading like sand slipping through my hands.My body was in pain. My back ached with agony, and the intense, glaring light streaming in through the windows caused my head to pound. However, none of it measured up to the pain in my heartThe ache of knowing that everything was falling apart. The memories of last night hit me all at once, crashing into me like a storm I wasn’t prepared for. The whispers. The accusations. The fear. It was too much, too fast — and then before I could even catch my breath, the door burst open. It slammed against the wall so hard
Shattered Attraction Chapter 58
Matteo."Now get out. And pray you haven’t ruined everything." The door slammed shut behind her, the sound echoing through the room like a gunshot. I stood there for a moment, fists clenched at my sides, as the walls seemed to close in — the weight of my own frustration pressing against me. Sofia. Reckless, impulsive, foolish Sofia. I’d known from the start she’d be a liability, but I needed her. At least for now. But if she kept pushing like this… well, even my patience had its limits. And Sofia was standing right on the edge of them. I began pacing, each step tapping out my irritation on the hardwood floor. Everything had been going according to plan — perfectly, even — until she decided to take matters into her own hands. I should have seen it coming. She was ambitious, but ambition without control was dangerous. And right now, the last thing I needed was danger from my own allies. I sank onto the couch — still warm from where she’d been sitting — and let out a slow breath,
Shattered Attraction Chapter 57
Sofia.I had not expected the girl to deliver such a great job. I couldn’t believe it had worked. I couldn’t believe all it had taken to turn Dante against her was one reckless night of partying. Just one night — and everything shifted. I chuckled quietly, recalling the expression on Gabriella’s face as she understood there was no way to regain Dante’s approval. The ruin, the embarrassment. She had completed it. What now? Dante belonged to me. The idea sparked a wave of excitement within me. The thought of becoming the upcoming mistress of the mansion, along with its riches and influence, thrilled me to the core. I could already picture it — the lavish gatherings, the power, the pure opulence of everything. Before long, everything would be mine. With a pleased grin, I glided down the corridor toward Matteo’s room, my heels tapping gently on the glossy marble. The atmosphere was heavy with excitement. I opened the door without knocking, eager to revel in my triumph. Yet as soon as
Shattered Attraction Chapter 56
Dante.Everything went still the moment she collapsed. The clang of chains hitting the metal pole resonated into stillness, a stark and conclusive tone that lingered in the atmosphere. Even her screams appeared to be overshadowed by the darkness, and for a brief moment, it felt as if the entire universe had stopped.The silence was unbearable. Maybe—just maybe—I shouldn’t have killed the poor bastard. But the thrill was there, undeniable and electric, pumping through my veins the way it had earlier. That sharp rush, that surge of power, was like a drug.But it was the anger that stayed. It simmered in my blood as I uncuffed her wrists, the marks on her skin standing out like bruised flowers. I cradled her like a child, her body limp and fragile against me. And then I stood over her, towering and silent, just watching her sleep. The room was filled with the scent of sweat, fear and blood. He had died for her—Elio—and she didn’t even know it.In the mafia, women don’t betray their husba
Shattered Attraction Chapter 55
Gabriella"No." I whispered, panic clawing up my throat.Dante's grip on my hair got tighter. "Watch."I fought desperately against the bindings, the metal digging into my flesh; however, I was helpless. Enzo swiftly crossed the room, his gun shining in his hand.Elio's chest heaved and sank in quick, uneven gasps. His gaze fixed on me—imploring, urgent.A profound silence extended between us. And then the pop of the gunshot shattered it.Elio's body convulsed, blood pouring across his chest. A cry escaped my mouth as he crashed down, his head turning to the side."Please don't... no, no, no..." I cried, shaking my head.Dante's grip loosened, causing me to tumble onto the table. My vision dimmed as I watched Elio's body lie still, the light of life dwindling from his eyes.I could not catch my breath."You ought to be grateful to me, my dear," Dante whispered, sweeping my hair from my damp, sweaty face. "He was destined to die." He continued. "At least now... he passed away watching
