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Althaia I let out a yawn as I woke up, carefully stretching my aching limbs. My entire body felt stiff, and my face was hurting from kissing the floor too many times. I looked over to where Damiano was sleeping, but his side of the bed was cold and empty. How does that man even function? He barely sleeps. I slightly shook my head and sat at the edge of the bed, trying to figure out how to get to the bathroom with my injured foot. I briefly considered hopping on one but immediately dismissed it as it would only make my body ache some more. So, with no other alternatives, I was forced to take the last option. To crawl. I tried my best to keep my injured foot elevated as I crawled on the floor, inching my way towards the bathroom like a fool. The room was literally the size of an apartment, and I was struggling. By the time I got there, I was out of breath, and I couldn’t tell if it was because of the condition I was in or if I was just really out of shape. Probably a mixture of both
Althaia “You don’t have an infection, which is great. Remember to keep your stitches clean and dry.” Ellie said and went to type into her computer once she was done examining me. “As for your foot, it’s a mild sprain. Are you keeping yourself off your feet?” “Damiano is carrying me everywhere and not letting me walk, so yes.” I lightly chuckled. “I’ve noticed. I'll get you crutches to use.” She smiled. “There is no need for them.” Damiano dismissed. “How am I supposed to move around, then?” I asked him. “You’re not supposed to. That way, I know you’re staying put.” He retorted with a raised brow. “But I need to move around at some point.” “I’ll carry you.” “…That can’t be healthy for me.” “She has a point.” Ellie backed me up. “See! You can’t argue with a doctor. She knows best.” I grinned at him. His eyes slightly narrowed at Ellie, but he didn’t argue with her. “Tomorrow then. You’ll rest today.” He said as a final order, which I agreed to. “Do you have any questions bef
Althaia “What did you do on your little getaway with Damiano?” Cara asked as she shoved her face with popcorn. Arianna and Cara brought a bunch of snacks as we all lounged on Damiano’s bed. I had planned on taking a nap after my shower, but since I wasn’t tired at all, they came to keep me company since I wasn’t allowed to move per Damiano’s order. “I don’t want to hear details.” Arianna said in a warning tone, and Cara let out a scoff. “I do! I want to hear every single bit of it. Tell me, is he big?” Cara’s grin was removed when Arianna smacked her face with a pillow. “Don’t be disgusting! He’s your brother-in-law!” “So? I want to know if big dicks run in the family.” She replied and Arianna gagged, which only made Cara smirk. “I will even start by saying Lorenzo has what I call a monster cock. It felt like he ripped my vagina in two!” I burst out laughing when Arianna put her in a headlock with her hand clamped against her mouth to make her stop talking about Lorenzo’s ‘packa
Damiano “Take her away. I’ll deal with her later.” I told Antonio and Luca, and they dragged her away as she sobbed. I slid my gun into the waistband behind my back, focusing on Althaia as I gently cupped her cheeks to examine her. My anger flared at the sight of her bloodshot eyes and her neck that was red. “Don’t talk.” I said to Althaia when she winced as she tried to speak. “How could something like this happen?” Cara pulled her away from me to look at her. Her eyes blazed with fury as she turned to glare at me. “Do you just let everyone have a gun in this house?” “I don’t.” “Good to know you’re not keeping track of shit.” She spat out, and I shot her a look, taking a step towards her. “It would be wise of you to watch your mouth, woman.” I warned her. Cara took a step back and looked away. “S-stop it.” Althaia’s hoarse voice caught my attention. “Try not to speak.” I spoke softly to her when she placed her hand on her throat. “Ellie is on her way.” Arianna informed me, a
Damiano“Getting drunk now?” Arianna made herself comfortable on the couch in front of me.“Shut up.” I replied while pouring my third glass of whiskey and leaned back. I took a slow sip as I looked at her, noticing a few bloodstains on her clothes. “What did you do?” I didn’t care what she had done to Sofia, but I needed to know if she was well enough to get on a plane and get the fuck away from here.“Just had a little fun with her. Might have smacked her around a bit, broke a few bones here and there. Her nose is broken, too. At least, it looks like it.” She shrugged, checking her nails as she spoke. Lorenzo returned and settled down next to Arianna, pouring himself a drink.“She’ll be on a plane first thing tomorrow.” He said and downed the drink in one go.“Good. And Althaia?” I asked.“Upstairs. Resting in Cara’s room.” I clicked my tongue at the information. She didn’t even want to stay in my room.“How pissed was she when you told her?” Arianna looked at me with a raised brow.
AlthaiaThree days have passed since Sofia tried to kill me, and three days since I last spoke to Damiano. I have been staying in Cara’s room as I didn’t feel like seeing Damiano right now. Cara tried to talk to me about it, but I wasn’t ready to talk loudly about how Damiano and Sofia had fucked. Oh, and how he somehow thought it was a brilliant idea to keep her under his roof while getting his dick wet by someone else.Yet I was still missing him.I let out a loud groan and buried my face in the pillow, wanting to get him out of my head so I would stop thinking about him.On the bright side, I was healing. My throat wasn’t hurting anymore because I wasn’t talking, and my foot was a lot less painful. I was still limping, but I could move it around.“Get up! I’m tired of you being in that bed all the time.” Arianna ripped the blanket away from me.“Leave me alone.” I grumbled and rolled in bed. This wasn’t the first time she had tried to get me out of bed.“Sorry, love, but you’re gett
AlthaiaWe drove back to the manor in silence. I sat as close as I could to the door to create as much distance between us as possible while facing away from him.“How long are you going to be like this?” Damiano’s deep voice broke the silence. I ignored him as I focused on the window, savoring the view of the stunning green fields.“Althaia.”“You’re the one who kept your fuck buddy around, so I’ll stay like this however long I want to.” I snapped, finally looking at him with a frown on my face.“Fuck buddy? Is that what you’re calling her now?” His hands clenched around the steering wheel.“I’ll call her something much worse…” I muttered under my breath and Damiano rubbed his jaw.“I already told you it was a mistake.”“Easy to say after you get caught.” I swallowed hard, my emotions getting the best of me. “Did you sleep with her while being with me?” The thought made my heart clench, but I couldn't stop wondering about it.“Don’t be ridiculous.” He growled when we came to a stop in
Althaia“Do we have to do this now? I don’t feel like doing anything today.” I groaned and complained to Arianna as she dragged me and Cara downstairs to their gym. Apparently, a new day meant a new activity, and today we were going to learn self-defense.“You should be the last one to complain when it’s you who’s had near-death experiences.” Arianna retorted as we entered the gym.I groaned but followed her anyway to a big mat for wrestling. Luckily, I would be more of an observer while Cara had to mock fight Arianna. I was already praying for Cara because she was going to get her ass kicked.The look on her face showed just how much she didn’t want to.We were not the only ones in the gym. Rafaelle, Damiano, Lorenzo, and another guy, whom I didn’t know, were working out. I slightly bit down on my lip as I focused on Damiano.He stood in nothing but shorts, beads of sweat glistening on his body as he relentlessly pounded the punching bag. I gawked at the way his muscles in the back lo
Althaia“Maybe we should have gotten me a change of clothes before coming here.” I said as I walked out to them while looking down at the tank top I had taken from Damiano, pretending to be fixing it. I was actually fixing it because my nipples were almost showing.Damiano looked up from his phone. His eyes slowly trailed down my body and his gaze stopped at my barely covered breasts. Whatever he was doing on his phone could wait as he carelessly tossed it on the couch.He gave me a lazy smirk and motioned for me to come closer to him. With a gentle yet firm grip, Damiano wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me flush against his body.“What’s the need for clothes when I plan to have you naked the entire time?” He said with a mischievous grin on his lips. I blushed, not expecting him to say something like this in front of them.As if remembering there were other people in our room, he looked at them with a blank look.“What are you still doing here? Get out.” He told them sharply.
Althaia I huffed and looked at the time. It was a quarter to four in the morning, and I was wide awake. Feeling horny. I turned to look at Damiano, who was sleeping peacefully next to me. I wanted him, but I didn't want to wake him up just to take care of my needs. He had a long day ahead of him, flying out to a meeting with Mr. Roberts, and other high-end restaurant owners. They saw the custom-designed wine bottles for Mr. Robert's restaurants, and how they attracted more customers. Customers loved the whole idea of taking a unique wine bottle home with them as a souvenir. Some even started to collect them. The sales went crazy and landed us a few more deals. I suggested that each restaurant have its distinct design as a trademark, but with Damiano's wine business name engraved. And he was going to meet them all and show them my sketch ideas. I would have gone with him, but since I was heavily pregnant, I couldn’t fly. Maybe it was because I knew he would be gone, and wouldn’t b
Five months later The sun was high up in the clear sky, shining over the crystal blue water in the most enchanting way. Calilo was always a beautiful island, but today, it was even more breathtaking. The beach was elegantly decorated and rows of chairs lined up endlessly on the bright green grass. A mirrored aisle had been set up in the middle with either side decorated so stunningly with Angel’s and Devil’s trumpet flowers. At the end of the aisle was a grand gazebo with pillars decorated with colorful flowers. A crowd of people was present, chatting and finding their seats. By the gazebo stood Damiano, overlooking the crowd of their friends and families. Everyone had flown out to make sure to witness this special day. Damiano had a small crease between his brows, shuffling around on his feet for the first time in his life as he kept fixing his tie, double-checking to make sure he at least looked decent enough on such a meaningful day. “Nervous, brother?” Lorenzo walked up to him
Althaia Ellie was already at the clinic, waiting for us when we arrived. The closer we got to the examination room, the more anxious I got. I was dreading it more than ever. To get that confirmation that it was another miscarriage. That another life was lost in me. I felt suffocated. Damiano, Antonio, and Giovanni were just as worried. No one bothered to mask their emotions as they were concerned for my well-being and what was going to happen. “So, what are we dealing with?” Ellie asked once she closed the door to give us some privacy while Antonio and Giovanni waited outside. “I took a pregnancy test, it was positive but… I’m bleeding and cramping.” I swallowed hard as Ellie listened carefully to me. Damiano stayed close to me, holding me as if I would collapse at any moment. What I loved about Ellie was that even though she knew us, she was still being professional and not letting us see if she was concerned as she listened to me. “Okay, we will do a blood test and do a transv
Althaia My eyes welled as I could feel the pain, and my heart ached for them both. The fact that my mother was going to tell them, maybe even holding onto the hope that they could finally be together. But no. For her own protection, mine even, she had to accept that was how her life was going to be. And I couldn’t even imagine what Alexei must be feeling now. To know he was close to being told he was going to have a child with the woman he loved. But his own mother stood in his way and took the truth with her to the grave. Nestor looked completely taken aback as he looked at my mother and followed Alexei once he came to his senses. I was sure Alexei needed some time to think it all through. I didn’t say anything, giving my mother some time to gather herself. I looked at Damiano, he was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, already looking at me. I couldn’t tell if he was truly interested in the story or not as he wore a straight face. Then I knew he wasn’t interested wh
Althaia As soon as Alexei drew out his gun, Damiano pulled me behind him and he and his men pulled out their guns as well, finger on the trigger and ready to fire. But then Nestor quickly pushed Alexei away when a knife flew right in between them, missing Alexei’s head by a hair. Surprised and confused, everyone turned to look in the direction where the knife came from. My mother had her brows pinched with her gaze locked on Alexei, ready with another knife in her hand. “Did you forget how she loved to do that to you?” Nestor sighed at Alexei. But he was too focused on my mother with a furious gaze. “Seems like her aim is off.” He sneered. “It’s not off, it was simply a warning. I got you once, and I can do it again.” My mother spoke calmly but had a whole different demeanor to her. My jaw was on the floor as I looked at them back and forth in pure shock. This whole damn thing had me completely dumbfounded. Wasn’t Alexei the one who had demanded to see her, and almost started a
AlthaiaI didn’t think it was possible to feel more miserable than this. But I kept being dragged down into an endless, dark hole while drowning in fear and pure devastation.I was exhausted.Exhausted from everything that happened and exhausted from every single piece of information thrown at me. I still haven’t even processed the fact that Gaetano wasn’t my father. And then everything else followed as if trying to give me a heart attack by exposing the brutal truth to me.That my entire life has been a fucking lie.Twenty-five years old and I was suddenly having an identity crisis that appeared out of the blue. For so many years where it has just been me and my mother, living life together. But it turned out I didn’t even know who she truly was.My mother, who I thought I witnessed die, was somewhere in this safe-house.Well, and alive.I thought I was hallucinating when I saw her. Or maybe I was seeing a ghost. Or maybe I ended up in hell and this was my punishment. To be tormented
Damiano“No. Stay here.” I stopped Jacinta when she tried to go after Althaia. I knew she would be shocked and in denial but I wasn’t prepared for this kind of reaction and run away.I gritted my teeth, walking as fast as I could in the direction she ran off. This fucking gunshot wound was limiting me too much.I stepped outside to the garden, watching her leaning against a tree to catch her breath.“Althaia.” I frowned, looking at the state she was in.“Stop! Just.. please stop. Don’t come any closer.” She closed her eyes, trying her best to control her breathing. I clenched my fists in frustration. Frustrated with me that I was the cause of this. I stood still, watching her cry and gasp for air. And I would rather get shot a hundred times more than see her like this.“How… How could you do this to me?!” Althaia shouted at me with so much anger than I had ever seen from her. Her innocent, green eyes turned into ones with a rage-filled storm.And betrayal.“I did what I believed was t
DamianoAlthaia was shocked.Shocked to the point her body gave up under her and collapsed to the ground. I grabbed her and pulled her into me, gritting my teeth as I ignored my own pain when I saw the state she was in. I didn’t give two shits about Alexei at this moment, only worrying about her. She looked numb, lost, as she tried to comprehend what I just said. For once, Alexei kept quiet and had his men stand by as he looked at Althaia.His daughter.He hadn’t expressed what he thought of the situation. About him having a daughter. But he was pissed at her mother for keeping away and not telling him. Twenty-five years had he lived on with his life without knowing he had a child out in the world. And to make it worse for him, his daughter thought Gaetano was her father.An Italian man who married his woman“Come on, breathe, Althaia… There you go… Breathe.” She gasped for air and I felt how her entire body was shaking against mine. I held her tightly, even though I was struggling to