Alejandro's PovIt’s been days, series of stupid days. She doesn’t speak to me, she doesn’t look at me, she barely breathes when I’m near her.Another day passes and it’s still the same.She makes breakfast for her father-in-law, my father, takes it up to him, chats with the old man for a while, comes down, walks past me and into my car. And then I drive her to the golf club where she runs a few errands for the growth of the family.Then she sits back into my car, and I drive her home.The cycle repeats. It’s been days, more than a few days, yet there’s been no change.Today is another day.I pace across my room, frustration simmering beneath my skin. Mariana's silence is suffocating me. It’s the seventh day, and just like before, we’ve just returned from the gold club, yet she's barely spoken a word.Seven days without speaking to me, without allowing me the opportunity to at least speak to her.Why won't she talk to me? What did I do wrong?I stop in front of the window, staring o
Mariana's PovI’m not as good, angelic, naive as I make myself out to be.For whatever I do, there’s always a hidden goal behind it all. To kill, to observe, to know, to win—Whatever facade I put on, whenever I wear a different mask, there’s always a reason.Why am I saying this?It goes to say that I am not a weak girl, or a girl who falls in love with a man simply because he has pretty eyes, a dark aura, and can bring her to a climax. I am not that type of woman. I do not love Alejandro Raes Vastlav.Yes, my pussy pounds erratically whenever he’s near, but that’s all there is to this. Physical.Perhaps the case is different for him. I don’t care.He’s my key, the light at the end of the tunnel, the one who I plan to use as my human shield when things eventually blow out of proportion. Therefore, no woman is allowed to sway his mind.I need him to focus on me, only me. He’ll look only at me, breathe for me, think of me. And to achieve that, I need to make sure no woman gets too close
Mariana's PovI slide a spoonful of greek yogurt into my mouth, a smile etched at the corners of my lips as I watch my husband yap away about his stressful day.It’s another morning, a new day, and the rendezvous of the previous night is still fresh in my memory.“You’re smiling a lot this morning, Maria, did something happen last night while I was away?” My husband asks, his tone suspicious.Of course, dearest husband, a lot happened and you’ll be exceedingly thrilled when you discover the dirty things your brother did to your wife.“Why?” I ask, biting my bottom lip, “does it pain you to see me happy, Alex?”“Don’t get mouthy with me, Mariana.”Just as he seethes the words, the sound of the underside of boots knocking against the floor gains our attention. And we all know there’s only one man in this entire estate who prefers to
Mariana's PovA gulp forces down my throat, my eyes closing and opening with rapid movements.I'm entranced by the symmetry of his features, the harmony of his face. He's a sunrise breaking through darkness.I'm lost in the contours of his face, tracing the map of his soul. Every line, every curve whispers stories of strength and vulnerability.His features are like a masterpiece unveiled. His skin is porcelain-smooth, illuminated by the soft light.I see how his eyes compliments that beautiful face. How the darkness of those orbs compliments the softness of his features.And then his nose, a gentle slope. My eyes slowly lead me to his lips. They’re plush, curved into the perfect shape of heart, inviting. I gulp again and lead my gaze to his jawline. Sharp and chiseled, perfectly sculpted. Alejandro’s face is a face that defies mortality. Peculiar. My breath catches. I've never seen anyone like him.He's a work of art.A masterpiece.A revelation.My heart beats anew, pounding out a
Mariana's Pov“I’m so fucking hard, Maria,” he whispers, “aren’t you going to get on your knees and do something about it?”My brows furrow in protest. And as my lips part for a response, he beats me to it. “Maria?”“Yes?” I answer.“Kneel.”I stand tall, defiance burning within me. Alejandro's command hangs in the air, heavy with expectation. My instincts scream rebellion.Refuse.Resist.Run.But his eyes—His eyes freeze my resolve, fury and seriousness swirling in their depths, like a storm of dark clouds brewing.He pins me with his eyes, his stare unyielding, uncompromising.My legs tremble, my heart faltering. I try to summon courage, but his gaze strips me bare, exposing my doubts, my fears, my vulnerabilities."You're going to pay for this, whatever game you’re playing. I’m not a fool, and I’m not oblivious to what you are. I’m letting you use me because as much as I hate to admit it, we share the same goals.”—his words are continuously ringing in my ears.He’s letting me use
Mariana's PovI climb the stairs, tray balanced in my hand. The aroma of freshly baked cookies wafts up into my nostrils, sweet and inviting.I've added a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, his favorite. Reaching the door to my father in-law’s private office, I knock once, gentle."Are you in there, father?" I call out.“Come,” his commanding, gruff voice echo.I twist the door knob and the door creaks open. I peek my head through the small space, smiling. My father in-law looks up from the documents scattered across his lap, his fingers quickly adjusting the reading glasses perched on his nose."Ah, Mariana. Come in, child," he says, his voice warm.I enter, tray held high, and approach the couch."Thought you might need a break," I explain, setting the tray down.His eyes crinkle at the corners as he smiles. "Your timing is impeccable." He waves a hand, inviting me to sit.I settle beside him, feeling the soft cushions envelop me. The couch creaks comfortably beneath me. "I e
Mariana's Pov“You fucking whore!” My husband roars, the mug in his hand flying in my direction. I dodge it. He charges for me, his hand around my neck, holding me in a chokehold, his fingers digging into my skin. “What did you do to my father, huh?”He breathes exasperatedly, his skin shaking subtly.He’s about to have another episode of insanity. And I’ll make sure to drive him there as quickly as possible.“I don’t know what you’re talking about, baby,” I choke out, my eyes immediately moving to meet Alejandro’s.He looks pissed, so pissed I can see the muscles of his temple feathering.“The old man was fighting for his life,” my husband’s voice gains back my attention, “he was fighting to breathe, yet he didn’t fail to call out your name as his perfect choice for club Logovo D'yavola. Why’s that? Why you? Why would he choose you of all people?”I force myself to hold back the laughter threatening to ripple out of my throat. “Why don’t you go and ask him, husband.”Radimr’s eyes f
Mariana's PovHe’s not pathetic.No, he’s not. He’s hot, so fucking hot.With his eyes feasting on my body, on my calves, a growl rumbling low in his throat, and his hands kneading my ass, I tremble.“Pathetic?” He asks, a smirk dancing around his perfect lips.“Yes, you are,” I hush, my eyes clouding over with lust.A chuckle, low in his throat, rumbles.His hand molds itself to my breast, his eyes darkening. “Oh,” he breathes a hush, “your skin is soft. I almost forgot how soft you feel.”“Don’t,” I warn.“Why not?” He asks, “does it make you hate yourself how you were crawling on your knees for this pathetic gentleman? How you let him bend you over, spit on you, degrade you while fucking you right in front of his girlfriend whom you murdered out of jealousy?” His chest rumbles with a laugh, “now who’s the pathetic one, dear sister-in-law.”My nose flares. I move to create a distance between us, his hand slaps the back of my head, fingers curling into my hair.He leans in, kissing m
Alejandro’s PovThis anxiety—I’ve never felt anything like it before. My nerves are all over the place, my skin trembling. I kiss Mariana again for the millionth time in a handful of hours.She smiles at me. The smile is distant, almost like it doesn’t reach her eyes. I smile back and pull her closer, holding her as tight as I can, fearful that this might be the last chance I get at holding her this close to me.And no, this has nothing to do with her winning the fight or dying in that cage because as long as I breathe, Mariana will walk out of that cage alive and well.But I’m afraid of the responsibilities that come with the position she’ll occupy. I’m afraid that she might forget our love and become intoxicated with power.All of this might just happen in a few hours.“The way you’re holding me, Alejandro, one might think I’m about to die from a terminal disease.”She says.Is she trying to make a joke? Does this seem like a joke to her?I open my mouth to speak but a knock on the
Mariana’s Pov“I will fight in her place. . .”The world around me goes completely silent the moment Alejandro blurts those words. When I planned to use him as my human shield in chaotic times like this, I didn’t expect to fall for him so ridiculously hard that I’m unable to imagine him getting hurt for my sake.Love is a strange and terrifying thing. I never imagined feeling it this deeply, this intensely. Not for Alejandro. Not for a man who was supposed to be my shield, my weapon. And now, the very thought of him stepping into that cage for me… it’s unbearable.The second reason?It’s pride. It’s survival. These men already think I’m weak. They see me as nothing but a woman—Radimr’s wife and mother of his son. If Alejandro steps into that cage in my stead, I will be proving them right, I will become that which they think I am.Weak.Unworthy.And then, everything I’ve clawed my way toward will crumble before my eyes. I can’t let that happen. I won’t let that happen. So, no. Aleja
Mariana’s PovOne word.Fuckers.No, let’s make it two words.Misogynistic fuckers.They’ve kept me in here for hours, scrutinizing me, digging into my soul in their fruitless attempt at finding the truth of what truly happened to my husband.Alejandro too is seated here as a high ranking made man and a member of this family. Surprisingly, my father, mother and brother are here too. Not inside the parliament room, but they’re right outside the door, waiting for when the chaos escalates so they can stand in for me.It warms my heart.“Let’s go through it again,” one of the elders says, “what did you say happen to your husband? Tell us that story again, in detail.”“I. . .” I open my mouth to speak but Alejandro’s thick, aggravated voice resounds, cutting me short. “I believe she has told that story more times than we all can count.”“Yes, we know that,” another elder says, his russian accent thick. “But we need to hear it again.”“Why?” Alejandro asks, “why are you poking a woman wh
Alejandro’s PovDon’t sleep tonight.I’ve thought about those words in every way possible, imagined every possible scenario that’ll make Mariana ask me to stay awake tonight, and yet, I’ve found none.Or maybe I haven’t thought about it as deeply as I should.I wanted to hold her, to ask her more, but the presence of her husband made that impossible. And now, hours have ticked by, and I’m still unable to get my answers.Wait—is tonight the night? Is her plan unfolding tonight?Truth is, I don’t even know what her plan is, but I strongly suspect it has everything to do with ending Radimr. So, if she’s asked me to stay awake tonight, it might mean she needs me close.I pull open my room’s door and step out into the hallway. The manor is too quiet. Everyone is asleep, and those who aren’t are standing guard outside of the house.My stomach twists with a warning that chaos is brewing tonight, but I push it aside and start walking. I make a turn towards the stairs and start moving up the s
Mariana’s PovTime flies when happiness fills your days.It’s been two months since I gave birth to my Angel. Two months since my heart swelled with love so pure and overwhelming, I thought I might drown in it.I love my son.I love him for coming into my life and unraveling a part of me I never knew existed. For being my light in the darkness.But most of all, I love him for arriving exactly when I needed him—as though sent by the universe itself to give me a way out.Because today, after weeks of persuasion, my husband has finally done what I’ve been waiting for. He has presented my son to the elders of his family, naming him as his successor should anything happen to him.It’s tradition, a ritual of power. To the outside world, it’s a declaration of legacy. To me, it’s the final piece of the puzzle.I know Angel is too young to be entangled in this messy, bloody business, but I had to secure his place in this world before setting my plans into motion.Plans that have been months in
Alejandro’s PovThis is the happiest I’ve ever been in my life. For the first time, it feels like I have a complete family—no, I know I have a complete family.In the last three months, the universe has granted me a gift I never expected: uninterrupted time with the woman I love and the child she carries. Our son. Every morning, I wake up beside her, wrapped in the warmth of her presence. I feel my son’s first kick as the sun rises, and his tiny, eager movements as the night falls. I’ve stayed awake with them, laughed with them, cried with them, fallen sick with them, and loved them. I’ve been a father and a lover in every way that matters.Why? Because Radimr’s travels somehow stretched from days into weeks, and weeks into months.“Something else has come up, and I’ll need to stay another week. . .” That’s been his excuse for three months.On the phone, Mariana plays the part of the concerned wife. She sighs and murmurs her disappointment, as though his absence truly pains her. But
Mariana’s PovWhen my eyes open, I’m met with the most beautiful sight I’ve seen in days. Alejandro, sleeping peacefully, his lashes fluttering, arms still wrapped around me.Wow!How did we fall asleep?I lean in and smack a kiss on his lips, causing him to stir a bit, groaning, his arms tightening firmer around me. I kiss him again, this time longer.It doesn’t take seconds before his mouth parts, his lips fusing with mine. I moan just as a groan vibrates throughout his body.His eyes flutter open, just a tiny slit, the lazy gaze holding mine. It’s like realization dawns on him and he retrieves his lips from mine in a swift motion. “Mariana. . .” He whispers groggily.“Make love to me,” I declare.His brows pull into a furrow, lips formed into a pout. “I. . .” He starts and I cut him off.“Please,” I hush, my lips ghosting over his.His resolve falters. And he’s staring at me with adoration as well as restraint.Then there’s the feral desire burning in his eyes. In mine too. The ris
Mariana’s PovTime seems to slow down when things aren’t really going your way.Maybe I pushed too hard, too far the other night. Far enough that Alejandro has been completely ignoring me for days now. Far enough that Radimr has become ware of me, always staring at me with suspicious eyes. Far enough that the maids in this house seem to avoid me as often as they can.To simply put, I’ve been living an isolated life for the past seven days.Just me, and my heavy fucking stomach. It’s dreadful just as much as it is comforting.I’m pulled out of the daze when a towering figure stands in front of me and wraps his hand around me. “Don’t look so sad, I’m just going to be away for just a few weeks, my love,” Radimr whispers as he hugs me. I thin my lips into a smile. “I’ll miss you.”His smile is radiant when he replies, “I’ll miss you too. Please don’t over work yourself. . .or get to upset while I’m gone. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to my son.” Stupid fucker.I scoff. “I’m a big g
Mariana’s Pov“Look at that,” Alejandro says, his voice low, the smirk on his lips sharp enough to cut. “How easy it is to lure you out here and break your heart into a million pieces.”The words land like a blow. He doesn’t even try to soften them. And I know exactly what he means. When he came into my room, kneeling by my bed, whispering the words I had been desperate to hear for months, he knew. He knew I was awake, knew I’d hear every word and cling to the hope they offered.It wasn’t an accident. He said them to draw me here. To break me just as much as I’ve broken him.Petty bastard.But it’s not the cruelty of his intention that stings the most—it’s how he chose to do it. By humiliating me in front of someone else. Bringing her into a room that should have been our sanctuary, our safe haven.My lips tremble as I force out the question. “What is that supposed to mean?”Alejandro steps forward, his movements slow and deliberate, his smirk twisting with mockery. “What are you doin