Author's Pov'Elena was sitting beside her mom on the bed after her mother got discharged out of hospital. Dahlia rubbed Elena's back in a comforting manner after Elena confessed about how her life took a drastic turn. Elena was scared, anxious, sad and nervous. She still doesn't know how to feel about the situation.Her step-dad had just traded her over to Italy's most fierce next-in-line mafia king. She was still digesting the fact that her step-dad could step so low. She had never felt so helpless before. Even after being an independent woman, she felt helpless."I can't see you sad, you know that, right?"Dahlia spoke in her weak voice. She was still recovering."He is destroying my life too, Maa. It seems like all my struggles and handwork are useless."Dahlia broke the hug and looked at Elena."Don't lose hope, Anni. Remember what I taught you?"Elena nodded her head before answering."No matter how difficult the situation becomes, never lose hope."Dahlia smiled."Right! And I
Vincenzo was leaning against the glass window of his luxurious office while smoking a cigarette. A usual smirk plastered on his face as the man in the background groaned in pain."Ahhh!"He groaned painfully again when Vincenzo's men didn't show any mercy to him, because that's what happens when you mess with the wrong person, aka Vincenzo Romano!The man's body hit the ground while he coughed blood. His face was filled with bloody bruises while Vincenzo was enjoying every second of his painful screams and pleads."P-please I beg you.. Let go of my father."He slowly turned his head towards the girl who was tied up in the corner.Vincenzo signaled his men to stop, and they occasionally did, which made that weak man kneel on his bloody knees. Vincenzo approached him with his steady steps yet dangerously. Crouching down at his level, Vincenzo's deadly gaze was piercing through his soul."This is what happens when you try to mess with me."His tone was as dark as his eyes. The man lifted
Lorenzo was about to open his mouth to say something, but the sudden knock on the door caught their attention, interrupting their conversation."Come in!"Vincenzo granted the permission.One of Vincenzo's men entered the hurriedly but bowed a little to show gratitude and respect before alerting him with a news."Capo, sorry to interrupt, but there's an emergency."Vincenzo's eyes sharpened as he waited for him to continue further."Spill!""Capo, Ms. Elena Martin is planning an escape. One of our spy informed us. She's now heading towards the bus stand since she knows that if she uses her car then we will track her within seconds."Lorenzo raised an eyebrow, amused at the fact that there was someone who was not afraid of his friend's wrath. He found it interesting, but he also knew the fact that it's not a big deal for Vincenzo to track his soon-to-be wife whether she's taking her car or not.On the other hand, Vincenzo cracked his neck in annoyance and anger. Looking up at the ceili
"Looks like you want to play hide and seek with me doll?"Saying that he started walking in her direction.Her heart threatened to come outside her ribcage as she was shaking with fear. She gulped before lifting her head but only to be gasped when he pinned her against the window."Found you!"Her breath hitched when she saw his signatory smirk displaying his lips. Elena gulped and tried to get her wrist free from his hold by twisting it, but failed miserably because every time she tried his grip only became stronger and more painful than before.His intermediating gaze never leaving hers as he watched her squirm in his hold. He was holding both her wrists with his one bare hand while holding a gun in another one and caressing her cheek with it.Letting out a heavy sigh, he spoke in his own authoritative yet calm voice."You disobeyed me. Now what should I do with you, doll?"Despite his calm voice, anger was still visible on his face like he was trying to control it with all his guts
Elena's POV'I was struggling against his strong hold on my wrist while he continued to drag me into this hell abruptly. A hell of a house which I have loathed with all my heart since the day I left it all behind to chase my dream life. As soon as we stepped inside upon noticing us, James immediately stood up on his feet from the couch.Rage filled his eyes when his eyes landed on me and shook with the same familiar scary feeling. I gasped when Vincenzo pushed me in front of that bloody monster of a stepfather while he threw daggers at me with his scary eyes. Suddenly, my childhood memories started flashing in front of me."Martins!"I flinched at Vincenzo's sudden rise of tone."Even though you loathe your daughter, but at least keep an eye on her since she is my responsibility from now on, because it is my last warning and if she tries to run again, then I'll make sure to slice your body into pieces first."James gulped visibly in fear and this was the first time I had witnessed him
"W-What are you doing?"I stuttered as the pain became too much to bear. He was literally ripping my scalp."How dare you try to run?"He yelled, making my ears go deaf. I tried to move away from the monster, but his grip on my hair was too harsh. It made me impossible to move.My eyes turned watery as I struggled against his grip, while the look in his eyes was filled with rage when he looked at me like he was going to show no mercy to me this time."Let me go, you monster."I said, still struggling."Let you go? In your dreams and you have become too fearless to address me as a monster."He jerked me by my hair, making it more painful."I know where this is coming from. It's because of those little independent wings which I have given you."My eyes snapped towards him with rage this time. He has no right to claim behind my success when in actual he did nothing."You didn't give me any wings. It's all my hard work."I looked him in the eye and that's when I saw his eyes visibly shake
I clutched my knees towards me as I sat beside the bed thinking about today's events. All the tears which I had been holding started to flow like water through a tap."Just why?"I continued staring at the floor before while the unbearable pain remained still inside my heart. I wish Maa or Kai were here to confront me. Everything went in vain. I hide my face in my palms, shedding those unbearable tears."Why is my life like this? Even after being an independent woman in this male-dominated world, why am I still helpless? Why are my life decisions still taken by them? Why?"I sobbed while wiping off my tears, because no, I'm not weak, and crying doesn't mean you are weak. That's what Maa used to tell me."I hate all this."I had so many dreams even regarding marriage. I was still hunting for love in the hope of a miracle, because miracles are bound to happen, but it seems like all my dreams got crushed like an autumn's damaged leaf."This was all because of me. I'm to blame myself. I s
I was still shocked after what I witnessed inside my bedroom last night. A freaking camera and I know who's doing that is. Of course, no other than my so-called fiancé.Thank god I didn't change clothes in the bedroom, but soon my relieved expression turned sad as the realization came crushing to me.Sooner or later he will claim me as his. It's certain in his eyes after I have noticed the way he looks at me.I shook mentally while staring at the breakfast in front of me which that maid had left for me. It feels like my appetite has died along with my hopes.Probably two days since, I haven't eaten anything despite being a doctor myself. Moving my gaze up from breakfast, I stared out of the window as the sunlight glowed my bedroom into a golden hour."I want to see Maa, so badly."I'm literally dying to see her, yet I have to ask for people's permission to meet my own mother.How ironic does it sounds right? Finally, lifting myself up, I made my way towards the door before banging on
Author's POV'Vincenzo made his way towards my private club's meeting room where bunches of trash were present waiting for him. Vincenzo stepped into the meeting room with a measured air of indifference, his polished shoes clicking on the marble floor. The heavy oak door closed behind him with a soft thud, but the weight of his entrance wasn’t lost on the people already gathered. They were all waiting, not just for him to speak, but for him to decide.As he surveyed the room, he could feel the gaze of each person in the room slide over him—calculating, cautious, or downright resentful. He knew what they thought of him. He didn’t need to hear their backtalk or see the subtle shifts in posture when he entered the room. Vincenzo had been playing this game for too long, and he knew their hearts as well as his own.They all stood in union and bowed their heads as a show of respect for their upcoming mafia king. A few faces were open with approval. The old guards who had long since reconcil
I was silently sitting inside the car while Vincenzo was driving with Arianna in the backseat. I gulped at the extreme silence. Vincenzo hasn't spoken a word with Arianna, which makes the situation ten times worse. She was sitting nervously in the backseat while Vincenzo's men were in numerous black SUV's following us.I glanced at Arianna through the mirror. She gulped, staring outside the window, silently praying for herself, maybe. I wish I could confront her, but my bad I wasn't in the situation to help her out. When Vincenzo and I had that intense session, I wasn't in the condition to stand on my own, so he carried me all the way to the car."Vincenzo?"Arianna finally spoke."Shut the fuck up!"Arianna and I both flinched at his harsh tone of voice and that's when I knew she was doomed. I could only pray for her."What the fuck were you thinking when you were going out without fucking guards?"I clutched my dress when he suddenly sped up the car."Vin--""How dare you take my wi
"Give me the honor of dancing with a hot girl like you?"My body froze when I felt that unfamiliar touch. My anxiety was reaching its height. I looked out for Arianna who was busy dancing with that guy. How do I call her for help?That man was about to move his hand up but was pulled away from me with a jerk. Turning around, I gasped when I saw my Vincenzo punching the shit out of that man who tried to harass me.I gulped when I witnessed Vincenzo's bloodshot eyes. They were turning red with anger. How do I stop him? Hell I should be more worried about myself. What did I get myself into? What will he do to me? By now the man was bleeding and nearly on the verge of passing out, but still Vincenzo was raining punches on that man."You dare to touch what's mine with your fucking hands."Vincenzo threw one last punch and spilled blood out of his mouth. The people surrounding me were terrified like me. My breathing turned heavy. Still not satisfied, Vincenzo crushed his hand with his leath
Elena's POV'Once again, I was alone at the breakfast table with no one by my side and once again alone on the bed when I woke up and found the space beside, empty not that I'm disappointed. Suddenly, the breakfast felt suffocating. Even though I tried hard, Maria still refused her oath to sit with me for breakfast. As I was sitting with a sulking face, the doorbell rang, catching off my attention. Is it Vincenzo? The thought alone makes me nervous.An instant smile appeared on my lips when I saw that bright joyful girl just right on time. I got up from my seat when I saw her approaching towards me, and before I could ask her anything she pulled me into a bone-crashing hug. Girl, take it slow!"Oh my god I can't believe that I got to see you again!"She exclaimed excitedly before pulling away. I looked at her with a happy face and noticed her dress style. The dress she wore—ivory, almost ethereal in its simplicity—clung to her figure with the grace of water flowing over stone. Its gen
Vincenzo's POV'sI took a breath of relief as my crazy family finally left. My fingers played with the little ball on my desk, my sleeves rolled up as I sat on my study chair deeply lost in my thoughts. Pissed by my wife's little play of challenging me back, annoyed by my sister's behavior to annoy me and last but not the least, angry that I still found the culprit of my mother's killer, but soon I will because I have waited years to do so.My aim for becoming the next mafia king was only to reach the culprit who killed my mother. I studied the file on my desk one by one as not only, I had to focus on that culprit, but I had business to run to. That's when I received a call from Lorenzo.Picking the phone up to my ear, I asked."Did you get the autopsy reports?""Fortunately No!"I clenched my jaw as my anger started to rise."But don't worry! We have got that hospital's name so it won't take too long to find out, do we?"I knew which methods he was referring to, and I was proud to ha
Elena's POV'I sulk standing in the kitchen for hours as the cooks won't let me cook anything, saying their capo will fire them if they let me work even after my constant tries to convince them. Not even Maria helped me, but she took their side. She's a tough nut to crack, but soon I'll melt her by being her friend.My eyes sparkled up when I saw them almost done with cooking as they did their last touch. I was more than happy that they approved me to make dessert after my millions of trials to convince them. It was more difficult than I thought, but yet I succeeded into convincing them and that is all that matters. And just like their capo, they had set one condition for me. Guess what it was that I had to complete the baking before their capo returned. I wore a floral dress with beautiful straps for tonight's family dinner.They all moved out of the kitchen one by one, and I excitedly rushed towards the kitchen island to bake for dessert. My face turned into a thinking one."Ummm...
Vincenzo's POV'I stared at the details on the file in front of me. My gaze moved towards Lorenzo, who was busy playing with the magic cube in his hand with his focused face."Did you find any traces of those fuckers who tried to ruin my wedding day?"I asked, catching off his attention. That's what I like about him. He was like a little brother to me and his behavior proves it. He should have been my frostier brother instead of that fucker Levi."There are no traces to be found, Vin."My jaw clenched in anger because there was no one who could be saved from my eyes. I have solved dozens of impossible cases where only little evidence was present. Still, I have reached the culprits, but this is the only culprit whom I have been searching for years. My mother's killer. Who's still taking those forbidden breaths? This Fucker has lived more than enough. I need to send him to hell as soon as possible.Lorenzo's face turned alarmed before asking the theory which I was thinking right now."D
Elena's POV'The next morning, I was alone in bed, a little disappointed. I don't why I felt that, but I just did when I found his side of bed empty. This was the first time I slept peacefully in so many years without having any nightmares, thankfully. I groaned lazily, forcing myself to get off bed when the golden ray of sunshine tickled my face.This is one of the worst things when you don't want to leave bed, yet you force yourself. I glanced at the watch and it said eight o'clock. Yawning one more time, I stretched my arms before finally getting out of bed. Mission successful!I suddenly blushed thinking about last night, where he could have demanded sex from me but chose not to when I already lost in that bet and lost the right to my own body, yet he didn't.I smiled slightly, then mentally slapped myself."Elena!... Ashh don't fantasize a crimininal. You're a grown-ass doctor!"I went to the bathroom and took a quick shower, but my mind wandered back at him."Where is he?"I sig
"He was my school bully."She said carefully not to trigger his beast. It wasn't a proper lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either."Bully or not, I don't want you near him again, understand?"He demanded with his dark gaze, making her shiver as she instantly nodded her head."Words, doll!"He asid, laziliy. A buzzer installed in the car indicated that they had arrived home. A new mansion gifted by his father. He signaled her to get up, and she quickly complied. Getting outside the car with his help, her jaw dropped open, witnessing the view in front of her.The mansion stood like a sleek predator in the shadows, its lines sharp and unforgiving, as though designed by an architect who had never heard of softness. Black glass and smooth, polished concrete made up its angular facade, reflecting the moonlight in fractured gleams. It was modern, but its luxury was dark—brutal in its precision, yet undeniably elegant in its restraint. Every detail had been chosen not to impress, but to com