Kaan’s POV. The Korean Mafia must think I have something that would benefit them more than it would benefit me, and they want that. I leaned back in my chair, steepling my fingers together as I regarded the spokesman. "I'm listening," I paused, “What exactly do they want in exchange for a... seat at their table?”“They only want you to return the territories to them, noth– ““Tsk. Tsk. Tsk,” I clicked my tongue, wiggling my index finger back and forth in disapproval. "You'd think they'd know better than to make such a simplistic proposal," I said sarcastically and continued. "I didn't take those territories just to hand them back for a… seat at their table.” The thought was simply laughable. Even though they gave me such an important position, they could still filter out what they didn't want me to know about their politics, businesses, and whatnot. They could even set me up, or treat me like a spy, so what's the point? I don't need the territories, nor do I need a seat amongst th
Rena's POV. My voice was low, just for her ears. She was stunned after hearing that, and I took a drag of my cigar and blew the smoke at her stunned face. Alessia took a step back, her face pale. The smoke from my cigar wafted around her, and for a moment, she seemed to be surrounded by a mist of uncertainty. Then, her expression changed, and a sly smile spread across her face. "A wedding, you say?" she repeated. "How...quaint. And who's the lucky bride?"“A beautiful woman. You're invited.” A smile subconsciously played on my lips when the thought of that crybaby crossed my mind. I should head home before she wakes up. But the meeting wasn't over, those fighting and cussing each other were being chastised by the ‘peacemakers’. I don't have the patience to listen to this nonsense.“Oh? Seems that's her only quality? I'm sure she's a lucky woman. But I know you'll be bored with her in no time. You have a certain...reputation, Kaan." She raised an eyebrow. "One that I'm not sure your
Rena's POV. It was my wedding today, standing by the floor-to-ceiling mirror, I couldn't believe the damsel staring back at me. My diamond encrusted, white ball gown made me look like a princess from a cartoon. The flawless makeup on my face was a masterpiece, accentuating my features in a way that made my Beauty outshine my dress. My hair was styled in loose, soft and romantic low updo. It looked messy, beautifully messy. I felt breathtakingly stunning - if words could describe me. The woman staring back at me in the mirror was a vision of elegance and sophistication, a true bride-to-be, a million dollar bride. Thinking of the man I would be getting married to, my husband, per se, I felt a surge of excitement and anticipation, knowing that in just a few hours, I would be walking down the aisle and into the arms of that man that had set my heart ablaze. I didn't know how it happened. Was it the first time I saw him at the auction house? The feeling he involved in me then was wha
Rena's POVThinking of it now, the event finally made sense. At the auction, he waited to see who would win the bid. When he made sure it was Kim Jeon, he left. After that, he barged into Kim Jeon’s yacht and killed them all… I had thought he did it to show me a glimpse of his world, but as it turned out, I was only a pawn. Otherwise, why would he kill everyone for a woman he barely knew? He was wealthy, he could have simply won the bid if he truly wanted to save me… my gaze suddenly snapped to Soni. “Why are you telling me this?” I asked. Of course, I knew why. She didn't want me to go ahead with the wedding. “Because I hate you so much, that seeing you smile makes me want to peel off your skin.” She said it with so much hate, that my skin crawled. For some reason, I felt she was capable of it. “But I can't physically hurt you,” she smiled bitterly, a lobe tear sliding down her cheek. “My dad, he doesn't want me to hurt you. But Rena, I want you gone from our lives.” She said in
Rena's POV As we took our vows, Demir's expression remained bland. I tried to cheer him up, but his mood was ruined. It was I who almost fell, and embarrassed myself, yet he was the one still angry. “You could have broken some bones,” he had said when I tried to talk him out of seeking those in charge of decorating the hall. “But I didn't,” I replied. “Only because Soni saved you,” he retorted. I bit my lip and lowered my head, sighing softly. He's scary when he's angry. After exchanging rings, I kissed him passionately, even before the priest gave his consent. “You can't remain angry on our big day, Zaddy. I'm not pleased,” I whispered on his lips. “And you think a kiss would fix it?” He asked. My head bobbed like a child's, “I'm sure. You like my lips a little too much,” I giggled. He stared at me for a while, then tapped my nose, “You're becoming too braven.” I could feel his deadly aura subsiding. Grabbing his hand, I placed it on my head, beaming like a child, “Reward m
Rena's POV A group of men and one woman strode over with glasses of drinks in hand, the young woman whistled, “What a beauty.” She wore a mini black dress and black choker necklace. Her makeup was leaning towards a baddie girl makeup, with dark red lipstick and bold eye shadow. She looked like she belonged on the cover of a fashion magazine, and her confident stride and sassy attitude only added to her allure. The men with her were all dressed in sleek, expensive-looking suits, and some wore printed shirts. Unlike the disrespectful looks I've gotten so far, this group looked respectfully at me, with genuine smiles. “Behave like a decent woman for once," one of the men, a bald-headed guy with tattoos said to the lady who whistled. But the lady glared at him and sneered, “Lazy bum,” she whispered, and sashayed over to me. The bald guy flared, but was dramatically held back by a few others, who laughed so hard that I also found myself smiling. The lady came to stand before me, her
Rena's POV. Putting my doubts at the back of my mind, I smiled at Alessia. “What kind of contributions does Miss Alessia want from me?” “Your beauty is an asset, don't you agree?” I arched an eyebrow, pretending not to understand what she meant. “Of course, my beauty is desired by my husband. What more does a woman want, but to be desired by her husband?”Alessia's smile faltered for a moment, and she looked at me with a mixture of surprise and annoyance. It was clear that she had been expecting me to rise to the bait, to take offense at her insinuation. But instead, I had deflected her comment with a seemingly innocent remark. “Aww, Mrs. Ferrente is surely the best woman to stand by the boss,” Raven purred from the side, which further irritated Alessia. But she composed herself the next minute. “Do you know what happened to Soni's birth mother?” I felt a jolt of surprise at the sudden change in topic. "Soni's birth mother?" I repeated, trying to process the question. Raven's e
R-18**Rena's POV. I gulped when his fingers lightly brushed my skin. “Did you consummate your fake marriage?” The question came out of me like it had a mind of its own, but in a tender voice, like a cotton. “What do you want to hear?” His voice was deep, low, and gravelly. Extremely sexy. My heart pounded faster, heat gathering in core as I tried hard not to succumb to what his actions and voice were deliberately doing to me. “Lie,” I mumbled. “I fucked them…” he whispered in my ear. Current coursed through my veins, igniting flames of desire in me. “...against the window…” still whispering to me, he slowly pointed at the window behind me. My gaze followed and I gulped, anticipation building inside of me. “...their hands rested on the window as I fucked them from behind…as they screamed my name.”I envisioned myself in that position, screaming his name. “...their breasts bounced in ecstasy…” As he said that, his hand cupped my breast and I flinched at his sudden touch. I
Pain. My mind registered an excruciating pain shooting through my entire body. An involuntary groan escaped my lips as I arched my back, my muscles tensing in response to the agony. Trying to open my eyes, the world around me blurred, fading into a dull haze as the pain consumed me. I felt like I was being torn apart from the inside out, my very cells screaming in protest. A faint, desperate thought echoed through my mind and my lips moved; “Make it stop...please, make it stop…” I mouthed, barely registering my own voice. “Boss, she's awake.” “She's finally awake? Why is she so slow? I've been waiting for hours. Help her hasten it." ‘Splash!’Cold, icy water hit me like a slap in the face, shocking me out of the haze. I gasped, my eyes flying open as I struggled against the chains binding me to the wall. The pain still lingered, but it was no longer the all-consuming force it had been moments before. I blinked rapidly, trying to clear the fog from my vision. A blurry figure st
Bianca's voice cut through the air, "Rena, you may leave now."I stared at her, bewildered. What did she mean? Was I being dismissed, cast aside like a used pawn, now that they'd gotten what they wanted?I narrowed my eyes, a spark of defiance igniting within me. "Why should I leave?" I retorted, my glare locked on Bianca's.But she held my gaze, her eyes flashing with a sharp, malicious glint, her expression a masterful blend of sweetness and venom. Oh, wow, she'd finally dropped the facade, I thought, a wry smile twisting my lips. Finally, the real Bianca had emerged from behind the mask of sweetness and innocence. "Don't force me to throw you out, Rena," Bianca's voice dripped with malice, her threat hanging over my head.My eyes flashed with anger as I turned to Luca, my gaze piercing. "So, I've been used?" I asked, my voice low and even, but laced with a hint of betrayal.Luca casually shrugged. "That's not exactly how I'd put it," he said, his tone neutral, but his eyes dartin
I had reservations about this plan from the start. A nagging feeling told me something was off, but I wouldn't uncover the truth by staying behind. Still, nothing could have prepared me for the shock that awaited me at the coffee shop. As I entered the VIP area, I was met with a room full of familiar faces - Luca, Bianca, Butler Marco, and Alessia, all gathered in one place. But it was Soni's presence that caught me most off guard. She lounged in her chair, exuding an air of nonchalant superiority, her arm draped lazily over the backrest as she gazed at me with a smirk. My eyes widened in shock, threatening to pop out of their sockets. Didn't Demir assure me that Soni would never betray him? A pang of sorrow struck my heart as I thought of my husband's unwavering trust in his daughter. He had confided in her, relied on her, and yet… "Welcome, Rena, we've been waiting for you," he said, his tone implying that I was a long-overdue guest at a party I never wanted to attend.
The meeting with Professor Orhan had left me reeling in shock and wonder. The scarf, it turned out, held a secret map, intricately sewn along its edges rather than prominently displayed in the center. At Demir's request, the professor carefully transcribed the map onto a piece of paper, which was then handed to me. As for the pendant which I originally thought was a family heirloom, was cracked open to reveal a folded paper, yellow with age and adorned with intricate shorthand writing. Much to my surprise. The professor translated the message, which not only hinted at the betrayal from Bianca's family, but also at my Yaman family's good relations with Kaan of the Ferrente family. The box holding the pendant also held its own secrets. After the first skin was peeled off, it revealed a letter written in shorthand. It was a message for me. My father had told me to seek out Kaan of the Ferrente family, and give him the scarf and pendant, claiming Kaan knew what to do. Now it dawned
When we got to the villa, I hurried into my room to look at the shemagh. Luca said there was a map on it. I found the knitted scarf among my designer scarves in my walk-in-closet. It hung oddly, looking different and out of place. Taking it out, I held it up to take a proper look at it. All I saw was a black and blue knitting in the middle. There was no map or any other visible markings that looked like a direction. I turned it over, studying it carefully, but there was nothing. Just as I was about to give up, I heard footsteps. It must be Demir's. With that, I took the scarf along as I walked back into the bedroom. The moment I stepped into the room, our eyes locked and he strode over and yanked me into a fight hug. “I heard what happened at the mall,” he said. I was stunned, “So soon? Was it Soni?” Who else would tell him if not Soni? It hasn't been long since we were attacked.“This is my territory, Little one.” He pulled away, staring into my eyes, “Soni doesn't need to tell
My eyes widened in shock as I spun back around to face Soni, my mind racing with questions. But before I could ask any of them, Soni grabbed my arm and pulled me towards her car. Opening the door, she pushed me in and bent over, opening the compartments in haste, “Don't open the door unless I say so.” Her stern voice suddenly rang as she pulled out two silver guns. “Are we under an attack?” my mind was racing with worst-case scenarios as I slid into the passenger seat, my heart pounding in my chest. Scenes from what happened in Turkey clouded my mind and I subconsciously gripped Soni's elbow. “Let's run.”She halted her movement and locked eyes with me, the corner of her lips raising ever so slightly, “I don't know how to run.” With that, she snatched her elbow from me and checked the guns. Seeing they were loaded, she cracked them and straightened her back. “Don't open the door no matter what,” she repeated before running towards the fleet of cars packed in the garage. I watched i
“You're being too reckless!!” I screamed over the roar of the engine, my voice hoarse from fear. Soni's laughter echoed through the air, a manic, exhilarated sound that sent shivers down my spine. She floored it, the Lamborghini surging forward like a bullet. I gripped the armrests for dear life, my knuckles white with tension. "Soni, stop! You're going to get us killed!" I screamed, but she just laughed, her eyes gleaming with a wild, unhinged light. The speedometer needle quivered at 150, 160, 170... and still Soni pushed the car, her foot heavy on the accelerator. I closed my eyes, praying that we'd make it out alive.Suddenly, Soni slammed on the brakes, and the car skidded to a stop. I gasped as I jerked forward with a shrill cry, my heart still thundering in my chest. “Woohoo! That was life!” Soni exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she turned to me with a grin. She was still revved up from the adrenaline rush, her cheeks flushed and her hair disheveled from the w
I flinched, my heart racing as we locked eyes. Soni's gaze held mine for what felt like an eternity, her expression unreadable. Then, I heard her cold voice. “Where are you coming from, Rena?” I swallowed hard, trying to compose myself as I met Soni's piercing gaze. "I went out to see–" "Someone?" Soni's eyes narrowed slightly, her expression skeptical. "Who do you know in this city?" Every step she took down the stairs brought her closer to me, her eyes never leaving mine. "We have a spy in the family and my hunch points at you, Rena.”My mind snapped and I forgot the fear I felt for her, “You've lost your damn mind for accusing me falsely, you bitch!” Silence consumed the air and my heart drummed against my ribcage. Before I knew what her profession was, I could say anything to her without fear, but now, knowing she could easily kill me before help came, made my toes curl with dread. I didn't want to die, not now that I'd seen Bianca, my greatest enemy that I must get rid of.
Luca shook his head, "I'm not asking you to demand anything from Kaan. There's already a plan in motion to get the olive business back from Kaan…”My eyes almost popped. Really, there was? And nobody thought I deserved to know? Wasn't the olive business mine? Hah! Of course, how could it be ‘mine’, when my family was murdered because of it, and one of the culprits was sitting right in front of me? My gaze lingered on Bianca, my fingers clenching my purse so hard that my knuckles turned white. It took all the forces of wisdom in my head to keep me from lunging at Bianca and demanding her head. I took a deep breath, my eyes glued on her bare neck, imagining my hands wrapping around it, but slowly I unclenched my fists and reined my thoughts in. Luca's voice broke the tension, his words dripping with sweetness."You see, Rena, we've been working behind the scenes to ensure that you get what's rightfully yours. And with Bianca's help, we can finally bring Kaan to his knees." Bianca's ey