[Juliette’s POV]Ralph said, “I did. I told my brothers that I’m out. I don’t want any of that shit title and position. And that’s why they ganged up against me. That’s why they tried to poison me that night.” I now pictured Ralph as a little boy about to eat a chip laced with poison. Cold shiver ran up my arms, spreading goosebumps. “Why would they do that?” I jumped to a bewildered stand. “You forfeited! They should leave you alone, shouldn’t they?!” Heat was burning my eyes. Ralph stared at me, speechless, as though I was a shooting star in the dark night, and he had accidentally caught sight of me.He reached across the table, took my hand and gently pulled me over. I moved across the wooden platform and into his embrace and hugged him back. Tears streamed down my face. “Why are you crying, kitten?" He rubbed my back in a comforting way. "It’s in the past, isn’t it?” "But the pain is in the present." I sobbed.I pulled from him and grabbed each end of his jaw to force his at
[Ralph's POV] Ben's voice came through as urgent as one of those Wall Street slickers. "Those son of bitches screwed us over!" "Shit," I growled. “They pulled the plug," I stated as though it was the most plausible conclusion about the WhizTech buyers. Those bunch of wolves, the business suit was just a sheep skin. "They say we’re shitting them, the price is too high!" Ben complained. I jerked the phone away and knocked the back of my hand on my forehead. Fucking bloodsuckers!! Argh! “Ralph, are you selling WhizTech?” A sweet voice asked. Shit. My eyes flew open. I stared at my fist, unable to move. I’d forgotten all about Juliette. Fuck, fuck, fuck. I should’ve taken the call when she wasn’t around. “Ralph?” she pressed on. “You’re selling WhizTech, aren’t you?” I’ll see where this goes. With my mind made up, I lifted my gaze at her and said, “Why do you think it’s WhizTech?” “Cause it’s been one of Papa’s plans for the near future,” she replied innocently.
[Juliette’s POV] I folded my arms, pretending to appear vexed. “What makes you think so?” Ralph blinked in confusion. “You’re so into clothes and grooming. And you seemed very enthusiastic discussing fashion with Monsieur Kugefield, so I thought—.” I grabbed my hips like a runway model showing off my white dress, its skirt dancing in the sea breeze. “Clothes maketh a man, don’t you think?” His laughter rang over the crashing waves. “Why do you laugh?” I wriggled my nose and snorted. “If business suits did the same as an A shirt, would you still wear them?" He scoffed. "You mean 'brand maketh a man'. Don't look at me like that, Juliette. That Miracle Dress is ten times the cost of one McLaren!" The remark appalled me. "So what? I can afford it." He rolled his eyes. "You mean 'me'–I paid for that." "With MY money," I retorted with a hard glare. With both hands tucked into his pockets, he chuckled and nodded in a knowing defeat. "You made your point." Then, he strolled ca
[Juliette’s POV]Ralph’s face jerked up and he stared deep into my eyes, as though searching for something. Was it something I said? What did I say, I couldn’t remember. Ah well, it’s not important. I reached up my fingers to stroke his jaw, ticking my fingertips with his stubble, and giggled. “Do you love it when I touch you, Ralph?” He lowered his lips on me and kissed me, slow and tenderly, as though he had all the time in the world—as though he was making love to me with his mouth. I yanked his shirt off his shoulders and kneaded his warm, hard flesh of his barreled chest, the way he liked it. Then, I slid my hands around his waist to his back and clutched him closer, so he nestled between my thighs. He tore his lips away and stared at me. “I want to show you what I see when I’m inside you.” My eyes widened in shock and then flared in embarrassment. “Wait, Ralph—!” He pulled me off the table and turned me around to bend me over the wooden edge, so my breasts were crushed a
*WARNING: This Chapter Contains Sexual Violence.* [Luke’s POV] “Get it, baby! Yes! Yes! Fuck me harder!! YES!” A female screams filled the hotel room as Luke repeatedly rammed into her from behind, grunting along to his own build up of ecstasy. He sank his nails into the plump flesh and spread her butt cheeks to go deeper as he continued thrusting brutally. Every hit of the roof made her tremble, clinching him as though her life depended on it, giving him the satisfaction that he needed for his own release. “Argh!!” Luke thundered in fury. After all that he had done for her, all that he had told her, why didn’t Juliette do anything?! Well, she did—she kissed that son of a bitch before the entire fucking world and made that glorious introduction of her new status as the wife of Ralph Virtus. DAMN YOU, RALPH VIRTUS!!! Luke’s mine screamed, and slapped the crimsoned skin twice. “Work harder, Melissa!” he roared. “Yes, Luke!” squealed the girl in delighted pain and squee
[Juliette’s POV] I get it — Ralph never regarded anyone in the Virtus clan his family. Not his father, nor his brothers. Why should he? They all wanted him dead. This time, I didn’t feel sad, I felt angry. Ralph’s father took him away from his mother, only to have him murdered by his brothers. Ralph was right, the man is a hardcore psychopath. I lifted my chin to kiss the rough skin underneath his chin. “How did your mother end up taking the poison? Didn’t you say that your father threatened all these women to stay away? He even killed two of them who tried to sneak into the mansion.” Ralph chuckled dryly. “She changed her appearance and got herself a servant’s job at the Virtus mansion.” What a smart woman! She knew that an arrogant man like Damien Virtus wouldn’t give a shit about the servants, so he wouldn’t pay attention to the lot, and she could secretly stay near her son to keep an eye on him. And saved his life. “She’s a brilliant and brave woman, Ralph.” I leaned
[Ralph’s POV]“Those sharks fell for it,” Ben’s voice rang in my ear. “Her trick worked like magic.” “How much was their bid?” I asked the phone, my eyes fixed on the slender figure seated on the deck beyond the closed glass door of the living area, out of earshot. “A hundred and twenty percent — as she had predicted.” “Fuck…,” I breathed in disbelief. “Yeah, that’s the first thing that popped into my mind when I saw the numbers,” Ben remarked. “The Lux’s gift is not a hoax.” “We know it isn’t.” I swallowed to push down the lump of bewilderment. The gorgeous creature was now standing, gazing ahead. Ben added, “I just didn’t think I’d be lucky enough to experience it firsthand, you know what I mean?” I knew exactly what he meant. That exactitude of calculation is not humanly possible with even the most brilliant economist. It was as if the world was designed by her calculations. “... you managed to pacify her?” Ben’s voice snapped me back to the living area. “Yes,” I groaned.
[Juliette’s POV] Ralph looked as if he had just been named the valedictorian. “Harold Lux had the same vision for Lux Corp?” I nodded in excitement. “Yes! We both realised that our markets are saturating. The rich couldn’t get any richer. We could pump in more for R&D, to level up our innovations. But the plateau is inevitable.” Ralph turned to face me completely. “That’s why he wanted to sell WhizTech.” Again, I nodded. “We need to lessen our load in order to continue moving.” “Cut the deadweight.” “It sounds cruel. But numbers are numbers.” I shrugged. Ralph gazed into my eyes. “I didn’t want to say this, but it does feel good knowing that I share the same views as your father.” I pulled back with a suspicious smile. “Are you into Papa?” He threw his head back and expelled a hearty laugh, and I giggled along. As the laughter subsided, he shook his head in disbelief and said, “If I had a choice, I’d rather be born a Lux than a Virtus.” Instantly, the cheerfulnes
[Chatri’s POV]The EMERGENCY sign was still lit up. Chatri couldn’t tear his gaze away from it, making sure the light doesn’t go out Across him, seated on the row of plastic chairs, nestled safely between his wife and his mother, his precious fourteen-year-old daughter was praying hard for her saviour too. It was near his heart. Guilt burned the back of her eyes. Ralph-kun… I blamed you for destroying the peace that we’ve paid with our blood and sweat to get. Yet, you did not leave me alone. You fought by my side. You kept your word. With your life. Is this the root of your men’s loyalty? Three hours ago, when they got to the van, her daughter was a crying mess, her almost naked body would have been in full display if it weren’t for that bloodied jacket. Ralph Virtus was sprawled at the van’s entrance, hanging on by a thread. Chatri had to get in the chopper. Footsteps snapped him back to the silent hallway. The ex-mob leader turned to them and Ralph-kun’s right-hand man was mo
[Juliette’s POV]“My father has brought us to the next level—there’s no doubt about it. But as you can see, the charts do not lie. Lux Corp will not survive the casino’s first quarter if we sit back and do nothing.”I gazed firmly around the room. These so-called shareholders of Lux Corp. I need to break their resistance and knock some sense back into them. The oldest one of the group cleared his throat and muttered in a haughty slow pace, “So what you’re saying is: remove Harold Lux as Chairman and put you in charge.” Another guy quickly added, “We don’t do this sort of thing.” Then, the third man snorted in derision. “I’m actually surprised that you gathered all of us here today without the Chairman. If he gets wind of this—.” “He won’t if none of us talk about it,” I snapped, frustration in my throat. What’s with the surprised looks and frowns of disapproval? Aren’t they as much of a businessman as Papa? Can’t they see the signs? The fucking obvious signs! Suddenly, Papa’s de
[Sarah’s POV]She can’t believe it. The unbeatable, ever invincible Don Ralph—the monster in the devil skin; a heartless murderer with the killer sense of an Olympic shooter; king of the world’s most ferocious mafia groups—is completely useless against an infant that’s less than an hour’s old. If it weren’t for Sarah’s fierce insistence and fearsome glare, he wouldn’t even hold his own child. ‘What if I break his neck?’ whispered the poor man, his eyes unable to stray from the tiny creature in his frozen arms. ‘Stop it,’ snapped the caretaker. ‘Sway gently, and you’ll be fine.’ She glanced at the bed and Juliette, who was sleeping soundly, and then back at the man, who would probably feel as though he’s on top of the world right now. Is he going to cry? ‘So what’s his name?’ asked Sarah, swiftly diverting those tears from crystalising. Without looking up, he muttered, ‘Milo.’ Then, he glanced at his sleeping wife and a proud smile appeared. ‘Milo Virtus. The first of the many.’
[Juliette’s POV]‘I am not selling anything.’ Papa’s eyes were filled with so much distaste, I felt ashamed for calling myself his heir. ‘I’m surprised that I have to remind you of the rules now. You wanted a vacation, and I gave you one. Now, you can’t even remember the simplest thing.’ My mouth opened, my explanation ready like a debate team, but I clamped my lips tight. He doesn’t want to hear anything right now. Right now, he only wants to vent. We’re losing money fast since twenty of our suppliers had suddenly asked for a price review.‘I do remember them, Papa,’ I murmured sourly. ‘Then why are you even suggesting that we sell off our least money-making businesses?’ he demanded angrily. Because that could stop more money from going out! My mind was screaming like a child being blamed for something that she didn’t do. Isn’t it common sense? When things get rough, tighten your pockets! Or is this yet another test? But I’m so done with all the tests! With the baby about to co
[Harold’s POV]SLAM!The sixty-ish fist slammed on the antique desk with the strength of a forty-year-old boxer. Even in his experience, there’s a limit to how much he can take. How did this happen? How did it slip by him unnoticed? The casino. He’d lost track. Damn his old man’s genes. They’re so useless, they made him useless as well. ‘You had no problems with the price for decades. Now, out of the blue you want—not one percent, not two—but a three percent hike?’ His knuckles were paling, bearing all the rage which only kept spiking. The calm voice at the other end of the phone irked Harold further. ‘My apologies, Mr. Lux. But you know how this works—we can’t hold down the price for any longer,’ replied the thirteenth supplier. ‘It’s been three decades since our last review. We hope you understand.’ Everyone wants his understanding. What about theirs? He’s cash strapped! Whose fault is it? If he didn’t build the casino for these bloodsuckers, he wouldn’t be stuck! If they weren’t
[Juliette’s POV]And then it crashed onto me. Like a boulder. I observed those golden swirls in his eyes burning with hurt and that hurt clenched my chest. Utensils down and my mouth wiped, I reached across the table and covered his hand with mine. ‘Growing up, I imagine the Virtuses as cold-blooded monsters,’ I began. Those brown irises dilated with fury, and I slipped my fingers through that large hand and rubbed my skin against his to calm the fire. ‘Because of all the stories I’ve been fed—we’ve all been fed.’ To his tensed jaw, I muttered softly, ‘I must speak for everyone, Ralph.’ ‘You’re not telling me that your father was fed the same story. He came to me with the aim of stealing my family’s land, Juliette.’ ‘I’m not saying—.’ ‘Stop defending him!’ Ralph jerked his hand out of my grasp, fuming. But his eyes never left me, which was a good sign. So immediately, I leaned forward and pleaded, ‘I’m not defending him.’ ‘Then what the fuck are you doing?’ ‘I’m trying to te
[Juliette’s POV]I smiled at the man gently resting his hand on my belly, so careful, so timidly, I almost couldn’t recognise him. Is this Ralph Virtus, the Mafia King? The one whom everyone calls The Devil? The handsome beast with the wits of a chess master. Those cold, fierce eyes were filled with so much fear that I wanted to hug him and squeeze those bad thoughts out of him. Those same golden brown eyes now widened in amazement as they swung up to me. ‘It moved.’ I chuckled and covered his hand with mine. ‘Of course it does, silly.’ He gazed at my stomach, his pupils dilating some more. ‘It’s kicking.’ He looked up, worried. ‘Does it hurt?’ I shook my head. ‘My chest just feels tight when it happens.’ Then, his ears were on my belly, listening intently. As amusing as it was watching his face change colour every second, I can’t help but worry that the next second something will happen to destroy this peaceful moment. As though he read my thoughts, his attention was back on
[Ralph’s POV]‘D…Did you just—I knew it.’ Her eyes were shaking with such low confidence, I almost couldn’t recognise them. ‘You find me annoying now….’ Her hands slid off my chest in defeat. Is this what a baby does to a woman? ‘I did not say that.’ As soon as I heard my voice, I froze again. Shit—that was cold. Quick—correct it. ‘I mean—I don’t mean what I said.’ I tried to grab her hand but missed it. ‘Juliette….’ Her shoulders were shaking too. ‘Jesus… you’re not crying now, are you?’ What? No. That came out wrong again. What the fuck is wrong with me? She spun around in full rage. With tears gushing down her steamed face, she jabbed a finger at my shoulder. ‘YES! I’m crying like a clingy pathetic woman! And whose fault is it? Who put this thing inside me?!’ She pointed at her round belly protruding proudly through her skirt. “WHO?!”I laughed. It was unplanned. Before I knew it, I was already holding my waist to steady myself. My shoulders were shaking, my chest was rumbli
[Ralph’s POV]I blinked at the Hong Kong mob leader and his voice returned. ‘... do you think?’ What were we discussing? Something that reminded me of Juliette and the baby. Of my fears. Of the baby dying inside Juliette’s stomach… or Juliette dying with the baby—yes. We were talking about that old fox and his shady business. My finger stopped tapping. ‘I’m closing all of it down.’ ‘No offence, nong Ralph.’ The Thai leader burst through. ‘My elders love khun Lux. It won’t be easy to shut them down.’ Chinh was frowning too. ‘You close down one, another will pop up. Who’ll say no to money?’‘Money and power,’ mumbled Andrei. ‘I’ve told you before. Harold Lux is well-connected. I can’t have the boys going against me. There are many who’ll have my head and you said that you’ll handle it. So all I have to do is focus on protecting my family from the ollies.’ ‘And this doesn’t change that,’ I repeated firmly. ‘I failed to see how,’ muttered the cool and collected Isamu. ‘Harold-san gi