JUDYI had everything set in motion. It was going smoothly— if you exclude the mad woman Mark kept in his house. Eric didn't tell me much about her when he sent me on this mission, aside from her medical situation, that is. I guess I would have to build more layers of patience, while acting like I couldn't kill a fly, to amass Mark's sympathy. From the little I knew from watching him, acting weak would be more than enough to get him to succumb to my charms.Grinning at my thoughts, I sat up on the bed and walked over to the mirror by the door. The woman that stared back at me looked different. Dull green eyes stared back at me, letting me know how much I had to give up to act the part. It was all for the money.Exhaling, I touched the plaster on my face, wincing from the throbbing pain. The lousy doctor did me dirty, all to create an illusion.Everything was a gamble. From the time I ran in front of his car, to having him take me to the hospital we had hoped he would rush to, down to
MARKThe house was ghostly silent. Giulia avoided me like a plague. I'd met her with Judy—Initially, I thought she was trying to make peace—after I got back from one of my outings, but when she stormed up the stairs, I knew it was possibly another confrontation. Judy stayed back, welcoming me as she asked how my day was, something I hoped Guilia would have done.I knew I caused everything. Having promised to let Judy stay for just a day, I had to extend her stay to a month, despite Lia's stony glares and defiant gazes. I had to do that, for Judy. Sending her out in her state was inhumane, something I couldn't condone. I just wanted her to stay for a month while I arranged a place for her, something I had already done. By the end of the week, Judy will be out of the house. For good. With her gone, I will have my Lia back. After dinner, Judy came to keep me company. We spoke of nothing in particular. Just jokes and some side talks and funny shit.She was basically the only one giving m
GUILIA“That will be all for today,” Doctor Sheldon said, smiling as he disconnected from the live chat. Puffing out a breath, I plopped down on the bed and placed my hands on the back of my head, propping it up. It was late afternoon. Though no rays were coming from the window, I could feel the hotness because I asked Kenzo to switch the air-conditioning off. Don't ask why I did. I practically disconnected almost everything, just to spite Judy. Groaning, I turned on the bed, mulling over Dr Sheldon's words. Dr Sheldon was a physician I met a week ago on a tour around the university with Kenzo. Though the school year hadn't started, I was eager to visit the university and take a tour before the orientation date, which was in two months. Dr Sheldon was a visiting doctor, who luckily came for a seminar on that day. It was from his teachings that I got to know how good he was, prompting me to approach him. According to him, I could still give birth. From his lectures, which I joined an
MARKGiulia blinked at me. Then she narrowed her eyes and asked, "Did you bang your head against a wall?""Lia, I just want to know who he is!""And so fucking what?!" she shot at me, eyes glaring daggers at me. "Is that why you're screaming in my face?"Screaming? I wasn't screaming! Hell, I never screamed. I paced to the door and back to the foot of the bed. I don't know if she wanted to annoy me on purpose, or if this was some kind of payback for the Judy situation. I didn't give a single fuck what it was. Whatever she planned out was working.I voiced out the question. "Wait, are you trying to annoy me on purpose?""I beg your pardon?!" She leapt at me, wagging her index finger in my face. "Mark Colton Demi, if I send you out of this room, it would take two months before you get back in."I stared at her, my chest heaving softly, hiding the turmoil inside of me. I wasn't against her quest for education, but I'd always known that it was a bad idea. Those randy professors were alway
GUILIA“So? Did it work?” Dr. Sheldon asked with a smile, lifting a perfect brow at me. “Did you get him to do the deeds with you last night?”“Of course.” Smiling, I sat up on the bed, carrying my laptop with me. My phone fell off my desk last night, so I had Kenzo take it over to a repair shop. He wanted to get a new one for me, but I refused the offer. That was the first gift Mark gave me, and I didn't want to replace it. Not yet. “Do you want to hear the details?” I teased, grinning when I saw the flush on his cheeks. You would have thought a person like him would be used to things like this. Most times, I even wondered if he attended any practicals before they awarded him his degree. “I don't need to know more about it.” He waved my words off, knowing I was only teasing him. “Did you follow my instructions?”“To a T.” I made an okay sign, smiling as I thought back to last night. It wasn't the first time I had been intimate with Mark, but it seemed there was something else. Some
MARKI leaned against the doorway, arms crossed as I watched Giulia pace back and forth in the room. Her phone was pressed to her ear, and she was speaking in that quiet, focused tone she always used during the fucking classes. Dr. Sheldon again. I clenched my jaw, feeling the familiar twist of jealousy in my gut.She was doing this to spite me, I could tell. Or she probably wasn't on the phone with him. Possibly wasn't on a call at all. We were just in the middle of a conversation — or argument — when the call came, and she asked for a few minutes to answer it. Watching the small smile on her lips as she spoke to the person on the other end, gave me this intense urge to punch a hole in the motherfucker's face. When she finally hung up, I didn’t waste any time. "Who was that again?" I asked, trying to sound casual but knowing it didn’t come out that way.Giulia smiled at me. Okay, she was really rubbing it in my face. And she was calmer now after snapping at me moments ago. Not a go
GUILIAI didn't expect to meet that scene. When I went after Mark, it was to return his phone, which he had left in my room. I knew he was going over to Judy's room, which was why I ran there, not expecting the scene I met. The door was wide open, so I walked in, only to pause in my steps at the sight. Mark stood, facing Judy, who was just in a towel, one that barely covered her body. The air in the room seemed to thicken, like a heavy fog rolling in, as I stood frozen in the doorway. My heart, once beating steadily, now raced like a wild animal trying to break free. It felt like someone had punched me in the gut and knocked the wind out of me, almost sending me crashing to the floor. As I took in the scene before me, my mind struggled to process what was happening. Judy had her eyes on Mark, with her face etched with vulnerability and adoration. Mark, his expression soft, his eyes filled with a mix of surprise and… something else. Something that looks almost like pity?A wave of na
"Lia," I called her name softly, trying to move closer. The tension between us had been thick since that stranger came into our house. Imagine her touching me inappropriately when Lia was just about to step in! That conniving bitch! I had to find a way to fix this before it escalated. "Baby, please hear me out." Just as I reached for her, a sharp ringing cut through the air, jolting us both.The sound was coming from her pocket. It wasn't the phone I bought for her. I could recognize the ringtone anywhere. This was different. My eyes narrowed as she fumbled to pull it out of her pocket, the shock on her face telling me that she was not used to the shrill ring of this one. Something was wrong. Why was everything just getting weird at the same? Judy had to leave. I needed my life back on track. She didn’t speak right away. Her eyes darted between me and the ground, her expression tightening with each passing second. My chest constricted with unease. Whoever was on the other end of th
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