The story is slowly undergoing edits.
Althaia My heart fluttered as I stepped further into the room. His golden-brown eyes followed me as I slowly walked toward him. “You’re okay.” I breathed out in relief. I didn’t want to admit it to Cara, but I had been worried sick about Damiano. He risked his life for me. Damiano didn’t say anything, his face expressionless as he held his hand out for me to take. Without giving it a single thought, I went to him and placed my hand in his. I let out a small gasp when he suddenly took a hold of my hips and pulled me onto his lap in a straddle position. I placed my hands on his shoulders to steady myself when I almost crashed into him. “How are you?” He asked, and my body tingled when he caressed me. “I should be the one asking you. You’re the one who acted like a bulletproof vest for me.” I chuckled. He let out a genuine smile and my breath quickly got caught in my throat. It was a rare, beautiful sight that had my stomach fluttering uncontrollably. My body acted on its own and I
Althaia Planning a wedding was absolutely no joke. There were so many things that needed to be done and when I said to Cara that she owed me big time for spending hours looking at materials, cakes, colors, flowers, and whatnot, she simply said my reward was staying in this majestic manor. What a sucker. A week has already gone by since we were welcomed into the manor. And it has also been a week since I last saw him. Not that I was counting the days, and especially not because I was thinking about him every damn minute. Okay, so what if I was thinking about him? Not only did he save my life, but that man gave me some of the best orgasms with just his fingers. But seriously, who just comes to your room, pleasures you, then disappears into thin air? The Devil, obviously. And I was apparently crazy enough to let him touch me without giving it a single thought. Now, he was nowhere to be found for a week, and I didn’t know what that meant. I stopped in my tracks, getting distracted,
Althaia II walked down the last steps to the garden and looked at the scenery in front of me. It was set up beautifully, but then again, this manor was out of this world, and I wouldn’t have expected anything less. The garden was filled with round tables, each adorned with colorful flowers and large candles that cast a gentle glow. The small torches on the ground created a mesmerizing pattern as their orange and yellow flames danced in the air. Servers walked around, smiling and offering chilled champagne to the arriving guests. I grabbed a glass of champagne, giving a small smile to the guests, and went to find a secluded area in the back. I wanted to be a quiet presence and be there as moral support for Cara. I felt an emptiness in my chest, along with a lingering sense of hurt. I wished Michael were here. I missed that goofy blue-eyed man terribly. He could always put me in a better mood. “You’re looking a little sour tonight, aren’t you?” I looked up and met a man with short,
Althaia Arianna rolled her eyes in Rafaelle’s direction before casting a disapproving glance at Damiano. “Damiano, did you really have to punch him in front of all those people?” “He’s lucky he’s even alive.” Damiano calmly replied. “Is this how you welcome your cousin into your home?” Rafaelle huffed out and I dropped my jaw open. “So… you’re all… related...?” I pointed at each one of them. “We sure are, gorgeous.” Rafaelle winked, which earned him a punch in the stomach from Damiano. “Rafaelle, shut up! And Damiano, stop hitting him.” Arianna sighed in annoyance. “Don’t worry, I can take it.” Rafaelle wheezed out with his hands on his knees as he tried to compose himself. “You’re not together…?” I looked back and forth between the two of them, and the more I kept looking at them, the more I could see they were related. “That would be incest, love.” Rafaelle straightened up. Arianna was quick and hit Rafaelle in the head, sending his head flying forward before Damiano could
Althaia I was still frustrated when I made my way back to the party after changing. Not only did I have to use my teeth to untie my wrists, but I also had to hold on to my dress and make a run for it to my room. I was lucky I didn’t bump into anyone on my way. And Damiano made sure to ruin my dress by not only cutting it but also cumming all over it. He also left me no choice but to wear the dress he sent. After seeing it, I did regret not taking a peek at it earlier because the dress was stunning; an off-shoulder emerald sequin dress with a sweetheart neckline. It was long and hugged my figure nicely. The party was in full swing again, and people were dancing, drinking, and chatting with each other, forgetting what had happened earlier. “What a dress!” Cara checked me out when I reached her and Arianna. Since there had been a slight misunderstanding, there was no reason for me not to get to know her. She was his sister, after all. “That is gorgeous! But why did you change?” Aria
Althaia I woke up with the most pounding headache I have ever experienced in my life. My body was hurting like hell, and my mouth was drier than the Sahara. God… What did I do to myself? I was spread out on the bed with my eyes barely open because of the bright sunlight that streamed through the windows. I felt like I had smashed my head and tumbled down at least fifty flights of stairs. …Why did anyone ever let me drink champagne vodka? And yes, I refuse to take responsibility for my own actions when I was suffering this much. With a groan, I sat up in the bed and rubbed the sleep off my eyes while I scanned the room. My eyes landed on the green dress I had worn on the floor, and I immediately looked down at myself. I was naked. Did I undress myself? I tried to remember if anything that shouldn’t have happened, happened, but nothing came to mind. I forced myself to the bathroom to take a shower once I decided nothing weird happened to me. Although a bath sounded heavenly, but
Damiano “You’re getting slow.” I slammed Rafaelle down on the training mat. He sprang to his feet and threw a sidekick towards my head. I blocked his kick, kept hold of his leg, and kicked his other leg as he fell to the floor. “All right, I’m done.” He groaned as he stayed down. “Your reflexes are slowing down.” I told him as I walked over to the bench and grabbed a towel to wipe the sweat off my neck. Rafaelle got up and chugged a bottle of water and slumped down on the bench. “I'm gonna blame the booze for losing this round.” “And your excuse last time? You’re lazing around.” I frowned. He might be my cousin, but he was still on my payroll, and I can’t have any of my men slacking. It was not something I tolerated. “Hey, I was definitely not lazing around with that blonde chick yesterday.” He put his arms behind his head and let out a bragging smile. “Don’t fuck anyone important.” I warned him. The number of times I had to get his ass out of situations because he fucked the d
Althaia “I gave birth to you! I suffered for hours for you to come out of my vagina!” “Mom–” “My only child has forgotten about me!” “Mo–” “This is my fault. I let you go over there, and now look at you, not coming back to spend time with your poor mother.” “Mamá!” I said, frustrated, finally getting a word in. I was already in a bad mood since I was dealing with bad period cramps. I was in bed, talking to my mother on the phone. Actually, she was doing most of the talking - I take that back; she was yelling at me because she has decided in her mind that I have forgotten about her. “Mamá, I literally text you to let you know that I’m still alive, and nothing bad has happened to me. Besides, I did text you yesterday that I will be home soon to spend some time with you before the wedding.” I sighed, finally able to explain myself. “I’m your mother. I deserve more than text messages every other day! And you did not text me that.” She continued to scold me, making me roll my eyes.
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