Selena hesitated, the sound of his name on her lips feeling foreign, weighted with too much history. She tried again. “Adrian, I don’t understand. If you hate me so much, why bother?” He didn’t turn around. His silhouette against the window was unyielding, as if he were made of stone. “Because hate isn’t enough,” he said finally, his voice colder than the night air. “Not when you’re still breathing.” Selena flinched at the venom in his words. Her mind raced, trying to piece together the tangled web of emotions she saw flicker in his eyes earlier, emotions he was so desperate to suppress. “Is that really it?” she asked, her voice sharper now. “Hate? Or is it guilt?” Adrian stiffened but didn’t respond. “I broke your heart, Adrian. I know that.” She swallowed hard, forcing herself to continue even though her own voice cracked. “But don’t pretend this is only about me. You’re angry at yourself too, aren’t you? For still caring.” His shoulders tensed. Slowly, he turned to face
Three days after being discharged from the hospital, Selena felt restless. She wandered the quiet halls of the mansion's east wing, her footsteps echoing softly. Adrian had insisted on keeping her on a strict meal schedule, ensuring she regained her strength, but her heart felt heavier with each passing day. She paused when she heard the faint strains of music drifting through the air. It was classical—gentle and melancholic.Following the sound, Selena found herself at a partially open door. Inside, Valerie sat at a grand piano, her fingers dancing across the keys with ease. The melody was familiar: Chopin’s Nocturne in E-flat Major. Selena froze, her mind taking her back to late nights in their college music room. Back then, she and Valerie had giggled over missed notes, sharing secrets between measures.“Are you going to stand there all day?” Valerie’s voice broke the spell. Her hands hovered over the keys, but her sharp tone cut through the melody.Selena hesitated, stepping into
Adrian watched from his study window as Selena and Valerie walked through the garden together, their heads bent in conversation. It had been a week since he'd seen them working in Valerie's office, and the sight still unsettled him. Not because he didn't want them to reconcile, but because their renewed friendship meant something had changed – something he couldn't control. And he controls everything. This had surprised him because he knew Valerie didn't forget that easily. It was like Selena knew the key to the heart of The Russos."They look like they used to be best friends," Viktor commented from the doorway. "Before everything fell apart."Adrian didn't respond immediately, his eyes following the two women as they paused by the rose bushes. Selena was showing Valerie something on a tablet, probably work-related. His sister had started involving Selena in some of the legitimate business operations, claiming she needed the help."Have you heard anything from Dmitri?" Adrian finally
The Rosso family’s estate was bathed in the golden glow of late afternoon as the mahogany doors of the grand conference room loomed large. Inside, the tension was palpable, voices overlapping in heated debate. The long oak table, polished to a mirror sheen, was surrounded by family elders and representatives from allied clans, their expressions a mix of frustration and determination. “This family cannot afford delays!” one of the elders barked, slamming his fist onto the table. “Adrian’s refusal to settle down is a weakness, and the other families know it. We need a proper alliance through marriage.” “I agree,” another added, her sharp tone cutting through the din. “The Calabrese girl is perfect—young, well-bred, and her family controls key territories. It’s a logical match.” “Logical, perhaps,” another voice countered, “but what about the Marinetti heir? Their shipping routes would strengthen our operations in the south.” The arguments grew louder, descending into chaos as ev
Selena sat on the edge of her bed, the contracts spread out in front of her on the polished wooden surface. The soft glow of the bedside lamp illuminated the neatly typed words that seemed to mock her. Each line she read made her heart sink further. At first glance, the terms seemed standard—clauses about partnership and mutual respect. But as she delved deeper, the true nature of the agreement revealed itself.Clause after clause painted a picture of control and submission. "Once Party A and Party B are married, party B would not leave the estate without a bodyguard.""Once Party A and Party B are married, party B will cease communication with any man outside the family.""Once Party A and Party B are married, party B will comply with any request I make without question."Selena’s fingers trembled as she flipped the pages back and forth, searching for something—anything—that resembled fairness. There was nothing. The entire contract was written to reduce her to a puppet, her string
The sun was high, bathing the streets in a golden glow as Valerie and Selena arrived at the café for their luncheon. It was a quaint little place nestled in the heart of the city, with outdoor seating and a view of the bustling streets. The air carried the enticing aroma of freshly baked bread and roasted coffee beans, and the gentle hum of conversations created a comforting backdrop.Valerie stirred her iced tea absentmindedly, her gaze fixed on the table as Selena spoke about her latest project. "...and that’s when I realized he’d been working on the wrong file the entire time," Selena said with a laugh, her hands gesturing animatedly. Valerie forced a small smile but remained silent. "Val?" Selena leaned closer, her voice laced with concern. "Are you okay?" "I’m fine," Valerie replied quickly, but her tone lacked conviction. Selena frowned and followed Valerie’s gaze, trying to understand what had caught her attention. That’s when she saw him. A man seated a few tables aw
Selena settled into the plush armchair in Valerie’s living room, the soft hum of the heater filling the otherwise silent space. Valerie sat across from her on the cream-colored sofa, her fingers clutching a steaming cup of tea. The living room’s warmth felt at odds with the icy tale Valerie was about to share."Selena," Valerie began, her voice tinged with sadness, "you asked how we became what we are today. It’s not a simple story, and it’s not one I enjoy telling. But since you asked, I will tell you. I just hope you won’t judge us."Selena nodded, her gaze steady and encouraging.Valerie placed her cup down, leaning back as she let out a heavy sigh. "Adrian and I didn’t always know the truth about our family. Growing up, our parents were our heroes, busy, successful, and always protective. We thought they were ordinary people with extraordinary lives. We couldn’t have been more wrong."She paused, her eyes glassy as she stared at the flickering fireplace. The weight of the memory s
Selena sat in her car, staring at the gates of the Santoro mansion. The contract she had signed with Adrian weighed heavily on her mind. Two weeks. That was all the time left before their marriage. It wasn’t just a legal agreement, it was a ticking clock tied to her fate and his. She had agreed to this because she thought she could handle it, but after Valerie’s revelations, she wasn’t so sure anymore.Adrian wasn’t just a man caught up in the mafia world. He was a man drowning in guilt, anger, and heartbreak. He had sacrificed everything, becoming someone he despised, all for her. Selena tightened her grip on the steering wheel, her chest heavy with guilt and determination.“I can’t let him destroy himself,” she whispered. “Not for me.”Inside the mansion, Adrian sat in the study, staring at the contract on his desk. The ink had dried days ago, but it felt as if the words were still fresh, taunting him. A marriage of convenience, Selena had called it, but to Adrian, it was anything b
Selena hesitated outside the heavy wooden doors of the training hall, her heart pounding in her chest.Inside, she could hear the sharp, heated voices of Adrian and Nathan clashing against each other like swords.She wasn’t sure what was being said, but the tension in their voices was unmistakable.Nathan was angry.And she had a feeling she knew why.She exhaled shakily and pushed the door open just enough to slip inside.Nathan stood in the middle of the hall, his shoulders tense, his jaw clenched. His dark eyes burned with frustration as he glared at Adrian, who, as always, stood calm and composed, his expression unreadableThe air inside the training hall felt thick, almost suffocating. The only sound was the distant crackling of torches on the stone walls.Nathan stood rigid, his hands curled into fists at his sides. His heart pounded in his chest, but it wasn’t from exhaustion, it was from anger.Across from him, Adrian stood tall, his face as unreadable as ever. His dark eyes h
Selena lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Her whole body ached from yesterday’s training, but that was not what kept her awake.She kept thinking about Adrian.Why did he suddenly agree to train her?She had trained with Nathan before. It was hard, painful, but she had asked for it. Nathan had pushed her beyond her limits. But Adrian? He was not the type to do things without a reason.If he had decided to train her personally, then he must have seen something in her.But what?She didn’t know the answer, but one thing was clear, she could not fail.Her muscles hurt as she sat up, but she forced herself out of bed. The sun was not even up yet, but she didn’t care. Adrian would be waiting, and she would not show weakness.As Selena pulled on her training clothes, Valerie, who was sleeping , turned over in bed, rubbing her eyes sleepily.“You are seriously doing this?” Valerie mumbled.Selena tied her hair back. “I have to.”Valerie sighed and sat up. “I just hope he won’t be too hard o
Selena’s body felt like it was on fire as she walked back to her room. Every muscle screamed in protest with each step she took, a constant reminder of the grueling training session with Nathan. Her skin was covered in bruises, her arms and legs throbbing with the aftereffects of the brutal workout. It wasn’t just the physical pain that weighed heavily on her, no, it was the emotional exhaustion that came with pushing herself beyond what she thought she could bear.But as the pain continued to pulse through her, there was something else beneath it all. A feeling of satisfaction, of pride in what she had accomplished. It was as if each bruise, each ache in her body, was a step toward something greater. She had faced her limitations head-on, and she hadn’t backed down. She had survived.As Selena made her way down the hallway to her room, she could feel the weight of the day pressing down on her. It felt like the world was spinning faster, and she was trying to keep up with it all. Ever
Selena lay in bed, but sleep evaded her. The attack, Isabelle’s disappearance, Adrian’s frustratingly overprotective attitude – it all swirled in her mind, a chaotic mess of worry and anger. She stared at the ceiling, the ornate patterns blurring in the dim light. She felt restless, trapped.A soft knock on the door broke through her thoughts."Come in," she said, her voice a little rough.Valerie peeked her head in, a concerned look on her face. She was wearing her usual oversized t-shirt and sweatpants, her hair a mess."Can’t sleep?" Valerie asked, padding over to the edge of the bed and sitting down.Selena shook her head. "Too much going on."Valerie nodded, understanding. "Yeah, tell me about it. Isabelle disappearing like that… it’s creepy.""Creepy and weird," Selena agreed. "It’s not like her to just leave without a scene. Did you find out anything else?"Valerie sighed. "Nothing. Matteo checked with all the usual places she’d go – fancy hotels, spas, even some of her ri
Selena crossed her arms, staring at Adrian with a scowl. “Take me home.” Adrian leaned back against the car, his eyes scanning her face. “No.” She clenched her fists to prevent them from trembling. “Adrian, I’m not in the mood for this. I want to go home. Now.” His jaw tightened, but after a long pause, he sighed. “Fine.” Without another word, he opened the car door for her. She slid in, arms still folded, heart still racing from the earlier encounter. Adrian got in, started the engine, and drove in silence. Selena glanced at him. His grip on the steering wheel was tight, his knuckles white. He was pissed. No, beyond pissed. But she didn’t care. She was just wanted to get out of there. She wondered how many of these fights she would have to endure.When they finally reached the house, Selena pushed open the car door before Adrian could say anything.She pushed open the heavy front door, her shoulders tight. The familiar smell of the house – the rich scent of aged leather
He deepened the kiss, his arms wrapping around her waist. For a moment, Selena was complacent, lost in the familiar pull of his touch. It was like coming home, a dangerous, intoxicating comfort. But then, the reality of her situation crashed back down on her. She remembered the argument, the forced intimacy, the way he had manipulated her. She remembered Nathan, the hurt she had seen in his eyes. And she remembered the lie she had told him.She pulled away from Adrian, her hands pushing against his chest. “Stop,” she said, her voice trembling.He looked at her, his eyes searching hers. “What’s wrong?”“Stay away from me, Adrian,” she said, her voice stronger this time.He frowned, his expression hardening. “What are you talking about?”“You know what I’m talking about,” she said. “Last night… it wasn’t right.”“It’s what you wanted,” he said, his voice low.“No, it wasn’t,” she said. “I was vulnerable. You took advantage of me.”He scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous.”“Don’t p
Selena slammed the bedroom door shut, the sound echoing through the lavish suite. "Damn him," she muttered, pacing the plush carpet. She felt like a caged animal, trapped in Adrian's gilded cage. Her phone was still in her purse downstairs, and she cursed herself for not grabbing it. She needed to contact Nathan, to let him know where she was. Or maybe she should call the police. But would they even help her? Adrian had connections everywhere. She was practically invisible to the law if Adrian wanted it that way.She stalked over to the window, gazing out at the city lights twinkling below. It was a beautiful view, but all she felt was a suffocating sense of confinement. She needed to escape, to regain control of her life. But how?A knock on the door made her jump. "Go away!" she yelled.The door opened anyway, and Adrian walked in, a bottle of wine and two glasses in his hands. He closed the door behind him, his expression unreadable."I brought wine," he said, holding u
Adrian sat in his office, his fingers loosely holding a pen while his eyes remained locked on the file in front of him. He hadn’t flipped a page in the last five minutes. The words blurred together, meaningless, as his thoughts spiraled elsewhere. Selena.She wasn’t just angry—anger, he could handle. She wasn’t avoiding him, either. Avoidance meant she still acknowledged him, even if only in irritation. No, Selena had gone beyond that. She treated him like he didn’t exist. No glares, no insults, no hatred. Just… nothing. And somehow, that was worse than any argument she could throw at him. His jaw clenched as he drummed his fingers against the desk, his patience thinning with every second that passed without her looking at him, speaking to him, or acknowledging that he was still there. Matteo stood nearby, watching with an amused expression. He had been observing Adrian brood in silence for far too long. He smirked. He knew why. Adrian had messed up. Bringing Isabelle into the
Selena sat on the terrace long after Nathan left, staring at the untouched glass of orange juice. The morning breeze felt cool against her skin, but her mind was burning with thoughts she didn’t want to have. Mafias don’t divorce.That one sentence had unraveled everything she thought she knew about her situation. She had signed a contract, believing that once it was over, she would be free. But now? Now she was trapped. Footsteps echoed behind her. She turned to see Maria standing at the doorway, hesitant. “Mrs,” Maria said softly. “Breakfast is ready. Should I bring it here?” Selena shook her head, forcing a smile. “No, I’ll eat inside.” Maria nodded and disappeared back into the house. Selena leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping against the glass as she let the weight of Nathan’s words settle. No divorces. No easy way out. The only way to be free was through death—hers or Adrian’s. She let out a slow breath before speaking. “Then I need to learn the rules.”