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 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 house felt different.Luca was here, but it felt as if he wasn’t.Maria sat on the edge of their bed, her hands gripping the smooth satin sheets, letting the fabric slip between her fingers as she listened to the distant hum of the estate’s staff moving through the halls. The space beside her was empty. Had been empty for two nights now.Luca had barely spoken to her since their fight.No soft murmurs in the morning, no casual touches when they passed each other, no Luca.He was present, but unreachable.Maria wasn’t sure how much more of it she could take.Her fingers curled into fists, gripping the satin beneath her as frustration, guilt, and a dull ache all settled in her chest.Enough.She had always known how to handle Luca when he was angry. When his temper burned hot, she could cool it. When he was raging, she could talk him down.But this?This quiet, cold distance?
Maria stirred, yawning as she stretched beneath the sheets as the faintest morning light seeped through the curtains. The bed felt too large, too empty, and instinctively, she reached out beside her—only to feel nothing but the lingering warmth where Luca had been.Her eyes fluttered open. He was already awake.Blinking the sleep from her eyes, she turned her head toward the other side of the room. There he was—standing by the window, bathed in soft golden light. His back was to her, the rigid tension in his muscles clear even from where she lay. His hands were braced against the desk, head slightly bowed, as if he were lost in thought.Maria didn’t move immediately. She simply watched him.It was rare to see Luca like this—unguarded, unaware of her gaze. A man who always held control so tightly was now completely still, the weight of something unseen pressing heavily on him.Her heart clenched.She slipped out of bed q
The underground testing facility beneath RXG Dam was a fortress of steel and innovation, carved into the earth where no one but ghosts and revolutionaries walked.It was massive—a maze of reinforced tunnels and soundproofed chambers, its air thick with the scent of machine oil, metal, and the distant rush of water siphoning from the dam above.This was Luca Avancii’s true empire. Not boardrooms or polished penthouses, but a world built on power, risk, and the kind of technology that could shift the balance of industries—if not entire nations.And tonight, it all came down to one test.Luca sat at the center of the facility, arms crossed, gaze unreadable, as the SpitFire Dominion sat poised on the testing grid, its sleek obsidian-black frame gleaming under the overhead fluorescents. It was a hypercar built for absolute domination, with a reinforced carbon-fiber body, an active aero system that adjusted mid-drive, and a cockpit designed li
The moment stretched, long and suffocating.Gina stood in the center of the underground lab, her presence pressing against the walls like something too large to fit into reality.The dim lighting cut sharp angles over the burned side of her face, the part of her that had been claimed by fire and betrayal.The engineers—five of them—stood frozen in place, their collective shock hanging in the air like a static charge waiting to break.But no one was as silent as Luca.He hadn’t moved.Because Gina Frazer was standing there, breathing. Alive.And he had believed—truly believed—that she was dead.“Explain to me why you’re failing.”Her voice cut through the tension like a blade, sharp and unimpressed. It was the same voice that used to command entire rooms without ever needing to raise its volume.Roland swallowed, his throat bobbing visibly. “The engine won’t hold.” His voice was steady, but ther
Maria had spent years perfecting the art of control.Her words, her expressions, her very presence—all of it was calculated, deliberate, unshakable.But as she stared at the headline flashing across Sarah’s phone, she felt something cold settle in her chest."Edwards Kale Opens Up About Losing the Love of His Life—And How He’s Fighting to Win Her Back.”Maria read the words twice. Then once more.She exhaled slowly. “Who published this?”Sarah hesitated. “It’s everywhere. Business sites, tabloids, even finance columns. It’s not just a one-off interview—it’s a full-blown media campaign.”Maria’s grip on the phone tightened.Edwards had always been meticulous when it came to making a move. If he wanted to shift public perception, he wouldn’t just make a statement—he’d shape a narrative.And this? This wasn’t just about him talking to the press.This was a calculated attack.“Schedule a press conference,” Maria said coldly.Sarah frowned. “Are you sure? Responding could—”“I won’t let hi
Maria's body quivered, still trembling from the devastating climax Luca had just pulled from her on the dressing table. Her skin burned where his hands had been, every inch of her hypersensitive, raw from his relentless possession.She could still feel him-throbbing, thick and pulsing inside her-stretching her, filling her. The heat of him seared her from the inside out, making her mind swim with a hazy, desperate pleasure. His breath was hot against her ear, the scent of sex and his cologne thick in the air, intoxicating, inescapable.But it wasn't over.A deep, primal groan rumbled in Luca's chest, a sound so full of hunger and dominance that Maria shuddered, her breath hitching. Then, before she could gather herself, he moved-lifting her as if she weighed nothing, his strength effortless. His arms, powerful and unyielding, wrapped around her, holding her against his sweat-slicked skin as he carried her across the dimly lit bedroom.The only light came from the cityscape beyond
Luca Avancii was a man who prided himself on control.Every breath measured. Every movement calculated. Every decision made with the kind of unwavering certainty that turned empires into dynasties.And yet, at this moment, his focus was fractured.The contracts spread across his mahogany desk should have commanded his full attention. The numbers, the clauses, the final steps in dismantling Kale Industries were all laid out in pristine, paper-bound authority.But his wife was in front of him.And she was staring.Silent. Still. Expectant.Luca knew better than to look up right away. He kept his eyes on the papers, his pen tapping lightly against the rim of his glasses as though he could will himself to ignore her presence.But that was impossible. It had always been impossible.Another five seconds passed. She didn’t move. Didn’t shift, didn’t cough, didn’t even tilt her head—just sat there in his study, her delicate fingers drumming lightly against the arm of the chair, her body so ut
Maria barely had a moment to breathe before he thrust into her again—slow, deliberate, dragging out every inch of pleasure as he filled her completely. The sensation was overwhelming, a heady mix of overstimulation and raw desire that left her gasping, her fingers gripping the counter as if it were the only thing keeping her tethered to reality.The wet, obscene sounds of their joining echoed through the kitchen, each thrust a slick, lewd melody against the backdrop of their breathless moans. The air was thick with the scent of sex—heady, intoxicating, laced with the remnants of last night. Luca was still inside her, and she could feel it, the remnants of his previous release making everything even hotter, even messier."You're dripping everywhere, baby," he murmured, his voice dark and amused, one hand gripping her hip possessively while the other trailed down the curve of her stomach. His fingers traced lower, teasing, smearing the evidence of their union against her skin.Maria w
Luca stirred awake to the warmth of sunlight filtering through the tall windows of their bedroom. The sheets were slightly cool beside him, telling him Maria had already left the bed. He groaned softly, stretching his arms before rolling onto his back, his mind still hazy from sleep.Then he remembered.Gina.He exhaled, rubbing a hand down his face. That brat had made him worry for no damn reason. After all these weeks, she'd managed to fake her death, stay hidden, and even keep it from him. Luca smirked to himself. He had meant to tell Maria last night, but one thing had led to another, and well… priorities.Pushing himself up, he walked into the bathroom, letting the hot water wake him fully. By the time he stepped out, towel wrapped low on his hips, the scent of ginger and something sweet drifted through the air.Maria.The morning sun cast a warm glow over the marble floors as Luca stepped downstairs, the scent of ginger and sugar wrapping around him like a slow, teasing invita
Maria's body quivered, still trembling from the devastating climax Luca had just pulled from her on the dressing table. Her skin burned where his hands had been, every inch of her hypersensitive, raw from his relentless possession.She could still feel him-throbbing, thick and pulsing inside her-stretching her, filling her. The heat of him seared her from the inside out, making her mind swim with a hazy, desperate pleasure. His breath was hot against her ear, the scent of sex and his cologne thick in the air, intoxicating, inescapable.But it wasn't over.A deep, primal groan rumbled in Luca's chest, a sound so full of hunger and dominance that Maria shuddered, her breath hitching. Then, before she could gather herself, he moved-lifting her as if she weighed nothing, his strength effortless. His arms, powerful and unyielding, wrapped around her, holding her against his sweat-slicked skin as he carried her across the dimly lit bedroom.The only light came from the cityscape beyond
Maria had spent years perfecting the art of control.Her words, her expressions, her very presence—all of it was calculated, deliberate, unshakable.But as she stared at the headline flashing across Sarah’s phone, she felt something cold settle in her chest."Edwards Kale Opens Up About Losing the Love of His Life—And How He’s Fighting to Win Her Back.”Maria read the words twice. Then once more.She exhaled slowly. “Who published this?”Sarah hesitated. “It’s everywhere. Business sites, tabloids, even finance columns. It’s not just a one-off interview—it’s a full-blown media campaign.”Maria’s grip on the phone tightened.Edwards had always been meticulous when it came to making a move. If he wanted to shift public perception, he wouldn’t just make a statement—he’d shape a narrative.And this? This wasn’t just about him talking to the press.This was a calculated attack.“Schedule a press conference,” Maria said coldly.Sarah frowned. “Are you sure? Responding could—”“I won’t let hi
The moment stretched, long and suffocating.Gina stood in the center of the underground lab, her presence pressing against the walls like something too large to fit into reality.The dim lighting cut sharp angles over the burned side of her face, the part of her that had been claimed by fire and betrayal.The engineers—five of them—stood frozen in place, their collective shock hanging in the air like a static charge waiting to break.But no one was as silent as Luca.He hadn’t moved.Because Gina Frazer was standing there, breathing. Alive.And he had believed—truly believed—that she was dead.“Explain to me why you’re failing.”Her voice cut through the tension like a blade, sharp and unimpressed. It was the same voice that used to command entire rooms without ever needing to raise its volume.Roland swallowed, his throat bobbing visibly. “The engine won’t hold.” His voice was steady, but ther
The underground testing facility beneath RXG Dam was a fortress of steel and innovation, carved into the earth where no one but ghosts and revolutionaries walked.It was massive—a maze of reinforced tunnels and soundproofed chambers, its air thick with the scent of machine oil, metal, and the distant rush of water siphoning from the dam above.This was Luca Avancii’s true empire. Not boardrooms or polished penthouses, but a world built on power, risk, and the kind of technology that could shift the balance of industries—if not entire nations.And tonight, it all came down to one test.Luca sat at the center of the facility, arms crossed, gaze unreadable, as the SpitFire Dominion sat poised on the testing grid, its sleek obsidian-black frame gleaming under the overhead fluorescents. It was a hypercar built for absolute domination, with a reinforced carbon-fiber body, an active aero system that adjusted mid-drive, and a cockpit designed li
Maria stirred, yawning as she stretched beneath the sheets as the faintest morning light seeped through the curtains. The bed felt too large, too empty, and instinctively, she reached out beside her—only to feel nothing but the lingering warmth where Luca had been.Her eyes fluttered open. He was already awake.Blinking the sleep from her eyes, she turned her head toward the other side of the room. There he was—standing by the window, bathed in soft golden light. His back was to her, the rigid tension in his muscles clear even from where she lay. His hands were braced against the desk, head slightly bowed, as if he were lost in thought.Maria didn’t move immediately. She simply watched him.It was rare to see Luca like this—unguarded, unaware of her gaze. A man who always held control so tightly was now completely still, the weight of something unseen pressing heavily on him.Her heart clenched.She slipped out of bed q
The house felt different.Luca was here, but it felt as if he wasn’t.Maria sat on the edge of their bed, her hands gripping the smooth satin sheets, letting the fabric slip between her fingers as she listened to the distant hum of the estate’s staff moving through the halls. The space beside her was empty. Had been empty for two nights now.Luca had barely spoken to her since their fight.No soft murmurs in the morning, no casual touches when they passed each other, no Luca.He was present, but unreachable.Maria wasn’t sure how much more of it she could take.Her fingers curled into fists, gripping the satin beneath her as frustration, guilt, and a dull ache all settled in her chest.Enough.She had always known how to handle Luca when he was angry. When his temper burned hot, she could cool it. When he was raging, she could talk him down.But this?This quiet, cold distance?