GUILIAA few minutes after I got to my room, I heard a knock on the door. Scowling, I got up from bed and walked towards it, throwing the door open as I shot a glare at the person on the other side. “What do you want?” I growled at Sandra. “Didn't I tell you I'm taking the day off? I don't have the time to waste on you.” “I—Mr Mark summoned you to—”“Mark?” I glowered at that. “What does he want?”“Mr Kenzo asked of you, so Mr Mark ordered—"“Kenzo?” I perked up at that. “Where's he?”She frowned at the change in my expression, raising her hand to point toward Kenzo's side of the house. “He's in his room.”“Thanks a lot!” I pushed past her, closing my door as I hastened down the hallway to his room, my heart beating wildly in my chest. I had been super worried about my friend. To have him ask for me was enough to make me forget about Mark and the hateful words he said to me last night. That bastard, who wasn't qualified to be in my thoughts. I ran down the corridor until I got to Ke
MARKThey were obviously fooling around, and right in my face.My teeth grinding against each other in contempt, I inched closer and spoke inches from her face: "Giulia, you better be careful the way you throw that pussy around like a fucking whore.""Mark... let me go." She was already out of breath and trying to inhale forcefully. I let her go and stepped back, folding my arms across my chest like I demanded an explanation from her for almost choking the life out of her. "What the fuck was that for?" she coughed and massaged her neck. I could see faint finger marks around the smooth skin of her neck and collarbone.I never thought it sexual, never before, but the thought of choking her suddenly sounded very appealing. I loved rough sex. Mostly because it gave me the feeling of being in charge, dominating; you know, and didn't give room for much post-nut clarity. But never had I thought of something kinky with any of the ladies.Hell, I hardly kissed any one of them. It was most time
GUILIAI was barely keeping my emotions in check, my gaze on him, not wanting to miss anything. The first time could be called a mistake, overlooked and not thought of, but the second couldn't be treated the way. “Who is she?” I demanded, glaring daggers at him. Sighing, he pinched the bridge of his nose, his expression locking down. “It's… I….” He gulped, puffing out a breath. “Let's just forget her, Giulia. We still have—”“Who is she?” I questioned, taking a step towards him. “Who's June? The woman you love?”It was obvious. There was no way he could have mentioned her name twice if she wasn't someone he loved, someone he held in high esteem. The way his eyes twitched when I said that made me know I was right. “She's not important. At least not—”“Not important? Who do you want to fool, Mark? It doesn't sound like that. Since you don't want to tell me who she is, you can go screw yourself!”“Why are you acting like this, Guilia? Even if June is someone I loved, I don't see why i
MARKThe days rolled by in an annoying blur. I couldn't do much when my household seemed to have lost all traces of warmth and laughter.The maids now conversed in whispers and avoided me and Kenzo's corridor because he needed enough rest and they didn't want to bother him. Everything was happening so fast that I didn't realize I hadn't spoken to Giulia in about two days. As much as I hate to admit it, I didn't go check up on her even when I heard that she was down with the flu—at least, this was what the maid could deduce from Giulia's appearance.I invited a doctor for a thorough body check and diagnosis. And of course, treatments.I was perched on the balcony of my room when he drove in and grabbed his suitcase, gently rejecting the persistent offer of the guards to assist. It was almost noon and I was yet to have breakfast.The sun was high in the sky, but not hot. With a cup of coffee in hand, I basked in the glow of the sun while sipping on my drink which was an energizer for m
GUILIAI gazed out of the window, trying to think of how to convey the news to Mark. I was nervous and excited. It was the best news I had heard all my life, but I was scared of telling Mark. I placed my hand on my belly, recalling the exact words the doctor said to me. After I slammed the door in his face, beating myself off for checking a doctor out, he ended up convincing me to open the door for him. I couldn't tell how he did it, or what charm he used on me, but it worked. He checked on me and asked for the symptoms; when I listed them out, he had a strange look on his face when he asked if I was pregnant. I almost had his head when I heard that, but he insisted I check to be certain. Luckily, he had a pregnancy testing kit. Though I doubted his words, I took them from him, promising to kick his butt should it turn out negative. Fortunately for him, the result was positive. But to be on the safer side, he drew my blood and told me to wait for the results, which might take a cou
MARKFUCK, FUCK, FUCK!!!I knew it was a fucking terrible idea not to lock my office with Giulia in the house. She was always nosy. Always in quest for something hidden.How the fuck did she even get access to my secret chamber?! Shit! I forgot to lock it the previous night. There was usually no need to lock the vault and secret chamber since nobody dared walk into my office without permission.Nobody except Giulia. She was too stubborn to abide by rules and regulations. Fuck!!!I knew something was wrong the moment I saw the door wide open from the end of the corridor. I knew someone was there snooping around. And my guts told me they had found something, hence the reason I barged in like a robber."This isn't what you think," I sighed and palmed my face. There was an irresistible urge to pull my hair from the root until my face became a canvas of fresh blood. Nobody was supposed to see June! Not here! Not in this city. Not in this fucking stage of my life!!"Argh! Fuck you, Giulia!
GUILIAI didn't expect to hear those words from him. I thought he would beg me, plead for me to let go, that she meant nothing to him. Funny enough, I was ready to forgive him, to sweep everything under the rug and not speak of her. I would have told him the great news and watched as his face broke out in a warm smile.It was a pity he had to spoil everything. Well, what was I expecting? That he would fall for me overnight? It was all in my head. I know I vowed not to act on my emotions for him days ago, but broke it. This time, I was certain about it. It was time to let go, time to spread my wings because staying here would not only kill me mentally, but emotionally. Storming out of his office, my legs took me towards Kenzo's room. I couldn't tell why I thought of him at that moment, but I did. I opened his door and stepped in, closing it as I stood by it, staring at him. “Guilia? Are you okay?” Kenzo demanded, rising from the bed. He closed the distance between us in five long s
MARKThe stillness was the first thing I noticed. The house was now like a morgue.Not in a bad way though, I was just used to some kind of warmth that came when Giulia arrived and now seemed to have followed her out. She left... just like that?I underestimated her. I mean, it was clear just how crazy she was. I never thought she'd wake up one morning, drug my men and disappear. It was so cold. The building, the kitchen, the stairs... Everywhere was just... cold.It wasn't the heater, I was sure of that. This was a different kind of cold. It burned deep into my flesh, ate my heart like a carnivorous beast and left me gnawing at the chains of distress around my neck. There was very little to do.I was slowly beginning to feel the same way I always felt before Giulia stepped into my life. Shit! I was fucked. Where was the determination to avoid any attachment when I dragged my emotionally distressed arse to Madrid after the June episode? When did I form that bond with Giulia?Lord, no.
THREE YEARS LATER Looking back at how far I'd come, I still marvelled at how a single decision changed my life forever. Had I not left Seattle when I did, I wouldn't have met Mark. Meeting him was the turnaround I needed. He became the angel I didn't know I wanted. Or more so, the demon I thought would hurt me. “Mum!” Chelsey yelled out as she ran towards me, her red curls flying around as she rushed over to my side. “Darling?” Squatting, I opened my arms for her to embrace me. “What's wrong?” “Uncle Kenzo is out to get me!” she wailed, hugging me tight. “He's a bad guy, mummy!” “Oh, darling.” Hugging her, I waited for Kenzo to show up, and he did. The big guy walked over to us, grinning as he looked at her. “Who would have thought the daughter of a Mafia Lord and his lady would be a scaredy-cat?” Lifting his brows, he plopped down on the chair, letting out a sigh as he watched us. I was outside, on the balcony upstairs, watching the men practice below us before the
MARKThe late afternoon sun filtered through the canopy of trees, casting dappled light across the shaded area where I sat. A light breeze carried the scent of the lake, mingling with the faint aroma of the chilled drinks arranged on the small table beside me. I leaned back in my chair, one arm draped lazily over the armrest, and my eyes fixed on the field ahead.Giulia stood a few paces away, her bright red hair tied back in a messy ponytail, glinting like fire in the sunlight. She was holding a sleek black handgun and her posture was slightly bent. Roberto, standing beside her, gave calm, precise instructions, pointing toward the marked targets set up at varying distances, and gently arranging her posture to receive the backfire. She looked incredible. She always did. Her slight belly protruded through her simple white shirt. It was a sight I could never get enough of. Giulia—my Lia—pregnant, glowing, and learning how to shoot. It was a surreal combination that filled my heart wit
MARK“What are you doing?”I bit my bottom lip and said into the phone, “Nothing, just thinking about you. What’s up, baby?”There was this suppressed excitement in her tone when she said, “I have something to tell you.”“What is it?”“When I see you. I don’t want to tell you on the phone.”I laughed. “You know, I also have something to tell you.” Giulia chuckled on the other end. “Don’t tease me, Mark. What is it?”“When we meet,” I said, imitating her tone.“Okay. You are coming over for dinner tonight?”“Yeah, but not in your house. I’ll text Roberto the address.” There was silence on the other end. I could picture her knitting her brows as she asked, “Have you discussed that with him already?”“No, but I will. Go prepare, baby.”She was confused, I could tell, but she still said, “Okay, baby. See you later.” *~*~*~*~*~*My heart was pounding as I called Kenzo again, checking my suit in the full-length mirror before me. “You sure it’s all set up?” I asked. Beneath the cool tone,
GIULIADr. Sheldon listened intently, his expression unreadable. “I see,” he said finally. “Let's run some tests, okay? I can't give a diagnosis without proper analyses.”“Sounds good to me.”Dr. Sheldon led me to an examination room, where a nurse took my vitals and drew blood samples. I tried to distract myself by scrolling through my phone, but my mind kept going in circles, thinking about the test and what might be wrong with me. I couldn't think of anything, though. Dr. Sheldon returned with a warm smile, carrying a clipboard. I sat up the moment I saw him, gulping as I watched him sit opposite me. “Guilia, your vitals look good. But I want to discuss the blood test results.”"Okay?" I sat up straighter, gulping as my stomach tightened. “Everything looks normal,” he began, “except for one thing.” I leaned forward, my palms growing sweaty. The suspense was killing me. I just wanted him to get it over with, but I knew urging him wouldn't do me any good. “Your hormone levels
GUILIAIt had been a month since I got back together with Mark. Roberto flew me back to Spain, so I could be able to date Mark. I wasn't allowed to return to his house, though. Roberto made me stay in the mansion he has in Madrid. I could only see Mark thrice a week. And to think he gave me a damned curfew. Yeah. To him, I was still the little girl he lost after my mum's death. He's yet to recognize me as the young adult I was. To him, the teen after the nine in my age spoke volumes — I celebrated my birthday two weeks ago. This time, it was the right date, not the one my foster parents decided on.“Where are you going?” Roberto asked, giving me an appraisal. He seemed to like my outfit because he didn't comment on it. I smiled, adjusting the straps of my sundress. The bright yellow fabric hugged my curves in all the right places, and the floral patterns added a playful touch. I had my hair up in a loose bun, with a few stray strands framing my face. “I'm —” “I hope you are not go
MARKHolding Giulia close, I buried my face in her hair, inhaling the familiar scent that grounded me. Fuck, I missed this. It felt like I’d been drifting for so long, waiting for this exact moment to feel whole again. Just holding her, feeling the gentle rhythm of her breath, was enough to make the world outside our embrace fade away. As I sighed, she slowly pulled back, her beautiful eyes searching mine, sending silent messages only the two of us could understand. Her gaze softened, and I felt an ache that I recognized as much in her expression as in myself.A single tear slipped down her cheek. My guts twisted. Her lip trembled slightly. “I missed you,” she whispered. Despite how beautiful she looked with the silent stream on her face, I couldn't bear to see her this way. I reached up and brushed the tears away, lingering my touch on her cheek to enjoy the warmth a little longer. Without saying a word, I leaned in and pressed my lips softly to hers, savouring the taste of her l
GUILIAEverything happened in a blur after that. From the time Roberto told me I was his daughter, to his conversation with Mark before he took me with him. Within a month, I had changed from a girl who had nothing to a princess of a damned villa. It was surreal. Like a dream, I would probably wake from if I pinched myself hard. But I dared not do that. The dream was one I didn't want to wake from. A month into living in the villa, and getting dotted on, I started picking up titbits of memories I'd forgotten. More intense was the one that hit me last, one that caused tears to stream down my eyes.I had lost a baby. Not only that, but it would be difficult to conceive again, if not impossible. Though Dr Sheldon promised it would happen.Roberto tried to console me, but I refused to be consoled. Oddly enough, the thoughts of so many things at my disposal didn't ease the heaviness in my heart. Wealth couldn't fill the hole, couldn't mend the broken heart. I cried myself to sleep last n
MARK"What the fuck is going on?" I murmured to myself, my brows creasing at the parked cars out front. My gates were flung open, men in black lining the sidewalk and driveway. I clocked my gun and fixed it into the waistband of my jeans. I fucking told Kenzo not to let anyone in!I literally took only twenty minutes—okay, it was about thirty or so—to get some things from the store and clear my head. Giulia had incessantly whined for biscuits and candies like a child, so I decided to do what was best for us all: get a basketful of those things she wanted badly. I'd present them to her like a gift."Hey, what the hell is happening here?" I asked the men outside the gate, but they said nothing. Gripping my gun through my shirt, I walked into the compound.The scene was chaos: bloodstains on the ground, men ducking for cover, and bodies lying still. I saw Kenzo near the gate, pinned down behind a wall. But what really set me off was the sight of Giulia in the presence of a strange man, s
GUILIAMark left immediately after Kenzo showed up, promising that he would be back with my parents the next day. I didn't trust those words because he didn't seem like he was telling the truth. I could tell from his gaze that there was something he was keeping from me. Oddly enough, I didn't feel scared about it. Though I kept on yelling for him to get my foster parents back, I wasn't that eager to meet them again. I just wanted to keep him on his toes, so he wouldn't think I was ready to embrace a life I couldn't remember. After meeting my foster parents, I realized something. Mark wasn't lying when he said I wasn't sixteen like I thought I was. Not only that, but Kenzo brought my phone back last night, and I had gone through the pictures.Though I couldn't recall any of them, I knew they couldn't have worked on such convincing pictures, not even with the help of an AI. With those thoughts in mind, I went to bed after having dinner — I had to sneak into the kitchen to do that afte