LOGINShare
2: The Art Of War
Last Updated:
2025-02-22 17:49:53The drive was quiet.
Maria sat stiffly in the passenger seat, her hands gripping the hem of her dress as the city passed by in a blur. The streets of Hay Port were still waking up, bathed in the soft gold of the morning sun, but Maria couldn't appreciate the beauty outside. Her mind was still stuck in that office. Still kneeling. Still feeling the cold marble against her knees, the weight of humiliation pressing down on her chest as Edwards dismissed her like she was nothing. She clenched her jaw, staring down at her lap. The silence between her and Luca stretched. The man beside her-her brother's best friend, the reckless boy who had once been a constant presence in her childhood-was now driving her away from everything she had once called hers. Away from Edwards. Away from the life she had built for him. But strangely, she didn't feel lost. She felt... lighter. Like she was no longer carrying all of it alone. Still, confusion lingered in her chest. "Why did you do that?" she finally asked, breaking the silence. Luca, who had been focused on the road, turned slightly, his brown eyes catching the sunlight. "Do what?" he asked, feigning innocence. Maria exhaled sharply. "You know what. Why did you help me? Why did you say all that?" Luca tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, his many rings catching the light. "Because you needed me to." Maria frowned. "I never asked you to." Luca smirked. "You didn't have to, Marie." Maria blinked at the name. Marie. Only Johan had ever called her that. It felt like being punched in the gut. Before she could respond, Luca's next words made her still. "Do you want revenge?" Her head snapped toward him. Revenge? Maria stared at him, taking in all of him for the first time in years. Luca Avancii had grown into a man that commanded attention. He was nothing like the reckless eighteen-year-old boy she remembered-the one who had been all sharp grins and mischief, always getting Johan into trouble. Now, he was... different. Tattooed all the way to his thick, corded neck. Glinting silver rings on strong, veined fingers. A jaw that was too sharp, a nose that had been broken at least once, a presence that was both effortless and dangerous. And his eyes. Those brown eyes. Warm and rich, like melting honey when the sun hit them through the window panel. She hadn't seen those eyes in fifteen years. Maria felt herself staring too long. Luca smirked without looking at her. "Stop staring at me, Marie." His voice was teasing, light. Like old times. Maria flushed, quickly turning away, her gaze finding the city outside. The morning sun was beautiful-soft and golden-but her mind was no longer on the sky. Luca's words still echoed in her head. Do you want revenge? She didn't know. She had only wanted justice. She had wanted fairness. But Edwards had looked at her like she was a nuisance. A mistake. A burden. Like she was nothing. She swallowed, blinking hard against the sting in her eyes. "You won't get half of his wealth," Luca said suddenly, his voice calm. Maria turned her head slightly, watching him. He smirked. "You'll get everything." Her breath caught. For a moment, the world felt still. She turned fully toward him, eyes searching his face for any sign of a joke. But there was none. Luca was serious. The weight of his words settled deep in her chest, curling into something she couldn't quite name. She wanted to say something-to ask how, to ask why, to ask if he really meant it-but no words came. So she said nothing. Luca didn't press. He simply kept driving, the low hum of the engine filling the silence between them. Then, finally, he pulled into the parking lot of SpitFire Autos. Maria's lips parted slightly as she took it in. The building was sleek and bold, its modern glass windows reflecting the morning sun. The structure was colored in deep grey-almost obsidian-like a storm ready to strike. The large neon sign above the entrance glowed brilliant red. SpitFire Autos. The name suited it. Sleek, powerful, untouchable. Luca killed the engine, then turned to her fully. His gaze swept over her, assessing. Maria knew how she looked-tear-swollen eyes, lower lip red from overbiting, long eyelashes damp with residual tears. But Luca didn't look at her with pity. He looked at her like he was memorizing her. Like she was important. Maria clenched her fingers against her dress. "Would you want that?" Luca asked, his voice quieter now. More intense. Maria's throat felt tight. Would she want it? Would she want Edwards to lose everything the way he had discarded her like she was worthless? Would she want justice? Or... revenge? The answer came before she could stop it. She nodded. Slowly. Firmly. Luca watched her for a second, something unreadable flickering in his gaze. Then, without another word, he pushed open his door, stepping out into the morning light. Maria followed. The moment she stepped out, the cool breeze kissed her skin, making her shiver slightly. Luca was already by her side before she could process it, his hand warm and steady against the small of her back as he guided her toward the entrance. Maria inhaled deeply, letting the scent of motor oil, steel, and something faintly like leather fill her lungs. This place... This was his world. And for the first time in years, Maria Dominic wasn't walking alone. She was walking into war. And Luca Avancii? He was her weapon.
Related chapters
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 3: The Deal With The Devil
Maria followed Luca into SpitFire Autos, her heels clicking softly against the polished marble floor.The moment she stepped inside, she felt small.Not because she was intimidated—but because this place was huge.The main hall stretched out before her like a grand atrium, its ceiling impossibly high. A massive chandelier hung above, its golden arms spiraling outward, dripping with thousands of tiny crystals that caught the light. It was the largest she had ever seen—bigger than the one Edwards had installed in their penthouse, bigger than the one in his company’s lobby.Her gaze moved downward, following the elegant design of the escalators.There were several, each leading to different sections of the building.Some moved slowly, taking employees to open workspace floors. Others had security scanners at their bases—meaning they required a special pass to access. Those escalators led to the more exclusive parts of the company.Maria recognized this kind of system. It was something on
Last Updated : 2025-02-24THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 4: The Plan For Ruin
Maria finished the last bite of her pastry, wiped her fingers on a napkin, and rose to her feet.Luca watched as she walked toward his desk, her steps steady but slow, as though she was absorbing everything.She placed a hand on the polished wood surface before turning her attention to the floor-to-ceiling window.From up here, Hay Port stretched far and wide, the skyline gleaming under the morning sun. The world outside was calm, unchanged, completely unaware of the war that was about to begin.Maria folded her arms."What's the plan?"Luca pushed his chair back and strode over to her, standing beside her but slightly behind-close enough for his presence to be felt, but not overwhelming."First," he murmured, "you'll go through with the divorce."Maria's expression didn't change, but she gripped her arms a little tighter."He'll give you something, even if it's just a fraction of what you deserve." Luca leaned against the desk. "We'll take it."Maria nodded slowly.Then Luca smirked.
Last Updated : 2025-02-24THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 5: Practice Makes Perfect
Maria barely registered the nod of acknowledgment she gave before Luca spoke again, his voice calm but edged with something deeper.“How long did you say you two were together?”Maria exhaled softly, fingers brushing the polished surface of his desk.“Ten years.”Luca’s brows furrowed, his brown eyes darkening as he tilted his head slightly, processing her words."Ten years?" His voice held an edge of disbelief, almost as if he was confirming something for himself. “And you never had kids?”Maria’s throat tightened. She shook her head.“Edwards wanted to wait a while.”Luca went very still. His gaze burned into her like the midday sun.Then, in a voice that sent shivers down her spine, he said,"Marie, ten years isn’t ‘a while.’" He leaned in slightly, his presence overwhelming. “It’s a decade.”The weight of those words pressed against her.Maria opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Luca suddenly grabbed her by the waist. A surprised gasp barely escaped her lips before he ho
Last Updated : 2025-02-27THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 6: Trusting Him
"Mr. Avancii."Gina’s voice was flat, unimpressed.Maria stiffened, her heart stalling in her chest.Luca, on the other hand, remained completely unbothered. He didn't even turn to acknowledge Gina properly—just kept his hand possessively on Maria’s thigh like nothing had changed.Gina exhaled sharply, shifting the tablet in her arms."Never in all my years of working here did I think I would ever hear you say that."Maria blinked, confused.Luca, however, smirked."What, ‘fiancée’?" His voice was smooth, amused, as if he found her disbelief entertaining."That," Gina said pointedly, "and watching you actually use your office for something other than business."Maria’s face flamed, but Luca only chuckled."You wound me, Gina.""Do I?" she deadpanned.Luca let out a low laugh, finally straightening to look at her fully."You need something?"Gina pinched the bridge of her nose."You have a meeting in five minutes."Luca tilted his head."And?""And," Gina gritted out, "your presence is
Last Updated : 2025-03-05THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 7: Tables Turned
It was still morning.Not more than two hours since she had walked out of Edwards’ company, but now she was on her way back.Maria sat in the back seat of the car, her body tensed as the other vehicle followed closely behind in the steady rhythm of traffic. The ride was smooth, the city moving at its usual pace, but she barely noticed any of it. Her thoughts were tangled in the heat sitting low in her stomach, the lingering sensation between her thighs that refused to fade.She clenched her legs tighter, willing herself to ignore it."Why did I let that happen?"Her fingers curled into the fabric of her dress as memories of Luca’s touch played in her mind.The rough drag of his calloused fingers up her thigh.The firm press of his lips against hers.The teasing way he had adjusted her underwear, like he had every right to.A shiver ran down her spine, her nails digging into her palm.Luca Avancii was dangerous.And the worst part? She had let him. She had leaned into it, craved it, le
Last Updated : 2025-03-07THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 8: A Seat On His Throne
Maria stepped into SpitFire Autos, the air thick with the scent of gasoline, leather, and a lingering trace of Luca Avancii.She had barely settled in before his secretary, Gina, informed her that Luca was still in a meeting."You can wait in his office, Miss Dominic."So she did.Maria stepped inside, her heels clicking against the sleek black floors. The space was nothing like Edwards' sterile, lifeless office. Luca’s was lived-in. Controlled chaos.Dark walls. Polished wood. A liquor cabinet against one wall, a gun safe against the other. Papers scattered across his desk, blueprints of cars, notes written in his sharp, unmistakable handwriting.The chair behind the desk was large, commanding, like a throne.Maria ran her fingers over the edge of the desk, imagining him here—seated, leaning back, his sharp eyes assessing whoever sat across from him. Judging. Calculating. Owning.Her stomach tightened.She turned away, deciding to busy herself with the bookshelves instead. But before
Last Updated : 2025-03-10THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 9: The Cost Of A Signature
They were already there before he got there.Edward Kale had been drinking and partying at The Monarch, an elite nightclub reserved for men like him—rich, powerful, and untouchable. Or at least, that’s what he thought. One moment he was sipping on whiskey, Grace draped over him in a sequined dress, and the next, hands had grabbed him, dragging him through the back of the club. He had fought, of course—he had money, influence—but his protests were drowned by the pounding bass of the music. No one saw him leave.By the time his head cleared, he found himself sitting on a cold metal chair, wrists bound behind him. The room was dimly lit, one single ceiling bulb swinging slightly, casting long, jagged shadows on the concrete walls. The air smelled like damp earth and motor oil, the kind of place where secrets were buried—literally.Men in dark biker helmets stood like statues around him, unmoving, faceless, armed. His pulse hammered in his
Last Updated : 2025-03-12THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 10: The Morning After
Maria woke to warmth.Not just the kind that came from thick blankets and soft sheets, but the kind that seeped into her bones, a heavy, steady heat pressed against her back.Her eyelashes fluttered as consciousness slowly returned, the memories of yesterday drifting into focus—Edward, the divorce papers, the rings, Luca—Her breath hitched.Luca.The realization sent a bolt of awareness through her.He was behind her.Close.Too close.Maria’s entire body went rigid as she took in the situation. Luca wasn’t just lying beside her—he was molded against her, his chest pressed to her back, his arm slung low around her waist.His warmth surrounded her.His scent—smoke, leather, and something darkly spiced—lingered in the air, wrapping around her senses like an invisible cage.She barely breathed.She needed to move.Slowly, carefully, Maria tried to inch forward.
Last Updated : 2025-03-12
Latest chapter
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 63: The Ice Between Us
The bed was cold.Maria stirred beneath the sheets, blinking against the morning light filtering through the curtains. Her hand instinctively reached across the mattress, searching for warmth, for the familiar solid presence of Luca.Nothing.Her stomach clenched.She sat up slowly, pushing back her hair as she glanced toward the en-suite bathroom. The door was open. Empty.He left.A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she turned to the nightstand. His watch was gone. His phone charger was missing.Luca always left something behind when he was in a rush—his cufflinks, his laptop, something. But today? It was as if he had made sure not to leave a single trace of himself in their bedroom.Maria swallowed hard.He was still angry.She had known it last night, had felt it in the way he looked at her, in the way he let her go without a second glance.But some part of her had foolishly
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 62: His Wrath
Maria had just stepped out of the shower when her phone vibrated on the vanity counter. Wrapped in a short robe, she picked it up, her fingers already expecting a message from Luca or one of the estate staff.But when she saw the sender—an unknown number—her stomach twisted.Unknown: We need to talk. It’s about Luca. It’s important.Her pulse quickened. The text was vague, but the weight of it was enough to send a chill down her spine. Who the hell—?Her instincts told her to ignore it. Could be a trap. Could be nothing.But something gnawed at her, an uneasy curiosity that she couldn’t shake.Maria walked over to her laptop, typing the number into a tracing database. A minute later, the result flashed on the screen.Edwards Kale.Her mouth went dry.Why the hell is he texting me?She hadn’t spoken to Edwards in months, not since he tried to ruin her image at the ball. He had humiliat
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 61: Ashes Of The Night Before
The morning was bright—deceptively bright, as if the events of last night had never happened. The sun hung high, casting golden light over the estate, birds chirped in the distance, and the scent of fresh dew clung to the air.But the only evidence of the blood spilled in the dark hours before lay in the red stains the housekeepers were scrubbing off the stone pathways."Twenty-one men," one of the younger maids whispered, glancing over her shoulder as she wrung out her cloth, the water in her bucket turning pink. "That’s what Mr Collins said."Another housekeeper, older and more experienced, clicked her tongue. "And not one of them managed to step past the second courtyard.""They said snipers took them out before they even reached the main house.""Who were they?""Idiots, clearly."A gardener, kneeling beside a row of blood-speckled roses, muttered, "Only fools come for Luca Avancii in his own home and expect to leave alive."The staff exchanged uneasy glances as they worked. Some
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 60: The King's Territory
Luca had just returned to the bedroom, his bare feet making no sound against the polished floors. He had done a final sweep of the estate, ensuring everything was in place, every guard stationed, every camera functional. Nothing and no one could get past his security.Maria was waiting for him, curled in their bed, the soft glow of the bedside lamp illuminating her in a way that made his chest tighten. She watched him enter, her gaze trailing over his body as he pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it aside.Her breath hitched.The intricate tattoos on his arms, chest, and back stretched over his sculpted muscles like stories etched in ink and flesh. She had traced them many times before, memorizing the sharp edges, the elegant script of her name on his collarbone, the lion, the serpent, the marks of power and blood.Without a word, she reached for him.Luca let her pull him onto the bed, his hands already seeking her warmth. Maria straddled his lap, her fingers ghosting over hi
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 59: A Proof Of Blood
The day stretched long and uneventful for Maria.She had woken up to an empty bed, Luca already gone, his scent lingering on the sheets beside her. When she attempted to get up, determined to shake off the heaviness in her limbs, she was met with an insistent force of housekeepers, cooks, and even the gardeners—each of them reminding her of Luca’s strict orders.As she reached for her phone, hoping to distract herself, the screen lit up with a notification from an unknown number.Maria sat on the edge of their bed, her fingers trembling as she hovered over the video file sent by the unknown number. The message beneath it made her stomach twist into knots."Do you really think you’re safe with a man like him?"Her throat felt dry. Slowly, she clicked on the file. The screen flickered to life, revealing a dimly lit warehouse, its concrete walls stained with something she didn’t want to identify. The camera was shaky, as if whoever was holding it was nervous.Then she saw him.Luca stoo
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 58: The Return Of Luca Avancii
Luca stood before the mirror, running a hand over his jaw. The scruff that had once covered his face was now neatly shaved, exposing sharp cheekbones and a jawline carved from discipline. His suit, tailored to perfection, was one of the latest collections from Avancii, a testament to the empire he had built.He adjusted the cuffs of his jacket, buttoning it with precision before grabbing his watch from the nightstand.Maria stirred in bed, her hand resting on the space where he had been moments ago. Her brows furrowed slightly in her sleep, as if she could sense his absence even in unconsciousness. Luca exhaled, stepping closer. He brushed a gentle kiss to her forehead, lingering for just a second.“I’ll be back soon,” he murmured.Then, with one final look at his sleeping wife, he straightened and walked out.The morning air was crisp as Luca stepped out of the sleek black car, his freshly shaven face and sharply tailored Avancii suit making a statement before he even spoke a word
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 57: A King's Rage, A Queen's Burden
Maria barely had the strength to push open the front door. Every inch of her body ached from the endless meetings, the relentless pressure of keeping the company afloat, and the sheer weight of existing without Luca's presence. She had tried—God, she had tried—to be strong, to hold up the empire while her husband drowned in grief. But every night, when she stepped through these doors, it became clearer that she was breaking, piece by piece.Tonight, however, something was different.The estate was darker than usual. There were no staff moving about, no distant hum of quiet conversation. The air felt thick, suffocating, almost unnatural in its silence.Then she saw him.Luca sat at the dining table, still as a statue, his back to her, staring blankly out the window into the cold abyss of the night. His usually immaculate appearance was a wreck—his shirt was wrinkled, half-unbuttoned, and his dark hair was a mess as if
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 56: Hell In Hay Port
By dawn, Hay Port City was in chaos.The museum explosion was just the beginning. The entire Corinder Art Museum had gone up in flames, reducing priceless paintings and sculptures to smoldering ash. First responders arrived to a scene of utter devastation—blackened ruins, bodies charred beyond recognition, smoke still curling into the night sky like the last breath of the fallen.The tabloids wasted no time."Terror Strikes Hay Port: Corinder Museum Explosion Leaves Dozens Dead!""Who Wanted the Elite of Hay Port Dead? Massacre at Exclusive Art Event!""The Mayor, The Minister, The Actresses—Who’s Behind the Slaughter of the City's Most Powerful?"The headlines screamed conspiracy. Politicians whispered behind closed doors, the wealthy holed up in their mansions with doubled security, and the police scrambled for suspects. But no one had answers. No threats had been made. No terrorist groups had clai
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 55: Ashes Of Kings
By 1 PM, the news broke."Gina Frazer, General Secretary of SpitFire Technologies, confirmed dead after a tragic explosion at a local hospital. Authorities suspect foul play."Her name was everywhere. On TV. In tabloids. On social media. A photo of her—cold, lifeless—flashed across every screen. People mourned. Investors panicked. And behind the headlines, enemies celebrated.It was the second tragedy in less than a week.Just days ago, Grace Kale—wife of Edwards Kale and Co-Ceo of Kale Industries had been found dead in her prison cell after being arrested for stabbing Gina Frazer. Some called it karma. Others called it cover-up. But now, both women were gone, and the war between SpitFire Technologies and Kale Industries was about to get bloodier.Luca didn’t attend the press conferences. He didn’t make a statement. He didn’t show up in public to demand justice.He did nothing.Not a single tear.Not a
