He has an impressive thick chest, arms that fill out a shirt, a well defined six pack, broad shoulders and narrow waist. How can this man look to be in his middle age, yet gives a youthful man's vibes? He's dripping with sexiness, hot, and big. I feel small in front of him. I was lost in my own lewd thoughts that I didn't notice he'd been staring at me as I trailed my fingers across his abs, until he gripped my wrist. Snapping back to reality, I realized my fingers were hovering over his torso. My face burned with shame and I looked away, apologizing in a small voice. He lifted my jaw to meet his deep, unfathomable gaze. “If someone else had done that, their fingers would have fallen off.”Chill ran down my spine. He didn't sound like he was joking, and his eyes admitted he was saying the truth. Why was he telling me this? I tried to pull my hand away, but his hold on me was like a vice. “...granted, you may become my wife. I'll let this slide.” “I - I'm sorry.” I wished the gro
The temperature in the bathroom was warm. He was already in, soaked in bubbles, in a drop-in dark bathtub. The bathroom was equally lit with candle lights, but a lot brighter than the room. It seemed that this man is romantically involved with darkness, because, why would anyone want to live in darkness? I didn't wallow in the theme of the bathroom for too long and went to kneel behind him. Picking up the brush, I began to scrub his shoulders. “Pour me a drink, Rena.” He said, as if I was supposed to have done that before anything else. “I'm sorry,” I quickly got down from the platform and rinsed my hands in the sink before getting a glass that had been arranged beside a bottle of wine. Not long after, I returned with a glass of crystal clear wine and handed it to him, but instead he said, “Taste it.” “I don't drink alcohol,” I replied and he didn't push it. He took it from me, smelt it and tasted it. “Begin.” Just as I was about to go behind him, he uttered again, “A coat doe
Rena’s POV The night was supposed to be shorter now, since I went to bed past 3 AM, but it seems the night was longer than usual today. I tossed and turned in bed, the last words he said to me about his daughter having the last say really got to me. What if his daughter was a spoiled brat? Ah, what if his daughter only wants her biological mom? Right, shouldn't I have asked him about his first wife? I sat up, feeling my anxiety growing stronger now. Maybe his wife died, but what killed her? Could she have died as a result of this dangerous world they belonged to? The thought of this world made my head ache, and so was my stomach, protesting. I was hungry. Biting my lips, I tried to fall asleep again, but my mind drifted to the mess I made earlier in his room. A soft sigh escaped my lips. This is too much. I can't even mourn my mother properly with all these jumbled thoughts running through my head. I willed my mind to focus on my mom since I couldn't fall asleep. Her smiling fac
Rena’s POV. He wouldn't be the city's top playboy if he didn't know how to get into a girl's heart. Maybe I would have been able to resist him if I wasn't under pressure. I hated the life Bianca wanted me to live. My life was more than a tool for revenge. I wouldn't be wrong to say I accepted Roland as an act of defiance, because that resulted in the first fight between Bianca and I. Biance was extremely furious when she learned I was dating a playboy. She didn't raise me up, waste her energy, and years for me to become a playboy’s toy. But I was sick of the revenge life - I ate for revenge, breathed for revenge, slept for revenge. Everyday, when I got home, tired from the day’s troubles, Bianca would be there to remind me that I shouldn't break down. She would be there to remind me that five families went down because of my family. She would be there to remind me of the hell she endured… It was too much. It was exhausting. I needed to get some fresh air. She didn't know what my
Rena’s POV. I paced back and forth, biting my nails. The chaotic beating of my heart rhymed with the mess floating on my mind. It was unbelievable. Not only was Soni my savior's daughter, but she had the nerve to discredit me in front of her dad. She wouldn't even let me speak. She claimed she didn't know me, but she couldn't accept me as her mother, because I might be younger than her. That bitch wanted me out of their lives... "Tsssp!"The sudden pain in my finger made me suck air through my teeth. Glancing at my shopped nails, I sighed. I'd bitten more nails than necessary, and it throbbed in protest. A tiny pinch of blood appeared on the spot.“Soni…” The pain in my finger wasn't enough to deter me from seething with rage. My teeth clenched, fury clouding my judgement. “... you want to hide your dark side from your dad, isn't it?” Malice flashed through my eyes, my lips curled into a sinister smile. “Let's see how you do that.” The door burst open, startling me back to real
Rena’s POV. He stayed silent, staring into the depth of my eyes. “I hate lies, Rena.” My eyes shook. I tried to maintain eye contact but failed. His gaze was cold now, extremely cold. He tried to peel me away but I held tightly, refusing to let go. “I'm scared, please don't throw me out. My fate will be worse.” My eyes stung with tears. “Please...” “What's your relationship with Soni?” He suddenly asked, his thumb gently brushing my tears away. I swallowed, deciding to tell him everything. He might do a background check on me, and if there's any discrepancy in my story, he'll know I lied, so I calmly told him everything Roland and Soni did to me. As I finished speaking, the silence between us was oppressive, heavy with unspoken emotions. I dared a glance at him, searching for any sign of belief or skepticism. But I found none. His expression was still, his eyes fixed on me with an unnerving intensity. I felt like he was seeing right through me, to the very soul of me. And then,
Kaan’s POV. Every time I saw her, she was always in one trouble or the other. Two years ago, on a business trip to the US, I saw her running across the street, wearing a black backpack. She almost got hit by my car. Frantically apologizing, she dashed into an alleyway. Such an insignificant incident shouldn't have meant anything to me, but for some reason, it did. Maybe it was the desperation in her eyes, or the way she seemed to be constantly looking over her shoulder. Whatever it was, it stuck with me, and I found myself wondering about her, long after our brief encounter. Who was she, and what kind of life was she living? And why did I care? For days, I couldn't get the thought of her out of my mind. She was a stunning beauty, just around twenty years old, Soni's age mate. But her beauty wasn't what captivated me. I'm not one to be swayed by pretty faces. I've seen my fair share of beautiful women, more beautiful than she could ever be. And I've never been one to get caug
Kaan’s POV. But when I thought she couldn't get herself into more trouble, I saw her a few moments later, caged with barely anything on. I felt a surge of possessiveness and anger, one that I'd never felt in a long time. My eyes narrowed, and my jaw clenched as I took in the sight of her, exposed and vulnerable. The urge to protect her, to claim her as my own, was overwhelming. I felt a growl rising up in my throat as I scanned the room, my gaze locking onto the men who were leering at her, bidding for her. Our eyes locked. Her gaze pleaded for me to save her, but I didn't. Instead, I sat there, my eyes locked on hers as I struggled to reconcile the conflicting emotions warring within me. Her plea for help hung in the air, a silent accusation that I was abandoning her to her fate. But I couldn't care less, or so I thought. I was a man bound by my own rules, my own code of conduct. And yet, as I looked into her eyes, I felt a crack in my armor. Annoyed, I left the hall, feelin
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