Writer's Note The story is slowly undergoing edits.
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“Do you think he will make it out alive?” Cara asked as we had our lunch in the garden.“I hope so.” I sighed, feeling sorry for Arianna and Dom.I’ve tried to talk to Damiano about it, but he wasn’t willing to listen. We went back and forth until he finally called Arianna and Dom into his office to talk to them. I was praying for Dom because Lorenzo was in there with them, and I just hoped they would try to have an open mind.“Poor Dom. He really was about to die in there.” Cara said, also feeling sorry for him.“I get they are protective of their baby sister, but to choke the man like that.” I shook my head. “By the way, I haven’t had the chance to ask you, but it seems like it’s going well between you and Lorenzo?”“It is.” Cara smiled. “I do like him. A lot, actually. At first, he was just my way to get away from everything at home, but now I can see us being happy together.” She said, her face lighting up with genuine happiness.My heart warmed as I smiled, seeing how her
AlthaiaI was dozing off in the car as Damiano was driving me to the clinic to get the stitches removed. It was too early for me to even be out of bed right now, but I had to make the most out of the day, since I had a lot of packing to do.I shook my head and blinked a couple of times to wake up. I let out a little yawn and looked at Damiano with my heavy eyelids. I needed at least five cups of coffee to get me going today.“A little tired?” He gave me a half-smile, his hand caressing my thigh.“It’s your fault.”When he said I would be punished, I didn’t know what he meant by it. He stripped me, blindfolded me, and tied me to the bed. Since I couldn’t see anything and only felt his touch, everything was heightened, which got me excited.He painfully teased me as he kissed and sucked every inch of my body, while his hands roamed my most sensitive parts. And that was where his punishment began.He wouldn’t let me come.“Fuck, Damiano…” I writhed, unable to use my arms or even close my
Althaia“Tell me again why you’re driving back home instead of flying. It will take like what? Five hours instead of forty hours?” Arianna asked while folding my clothes with Cara.I had persuaded them to help me pack, saying it would go faster if I had extra hands helping me, and therefore, we could spend more time together. They agreed, but they just didn’t realize they were doing all the packing for me, while I only pretended to pack so I wouldn’t do a thing.I truly am a genius.“Because it’s a metal coffin.” I said, as if it was the most obvious thing.“First butterflies, now planes?” She scoffed, not impressed at all.“I’m not scared of flying. I just don’t like to fly alone. Like, what if the plane suddenly crashes? I don’t want to die alone.” I tried to explain how it was a legit fear of mine.“I guess that is a reasonable excuse. Better than the butterfly excuse.” She teased.“Just drop it already, okay? It’s a freaking flying caterpillar. It shouldn’t be flying in the first p
Althaia“I’m going to miss you so much!” I hugged Cara tightly.“Me too! It’s going to suck without you.”“Ghee, thanks.” Arianna faked an offended expression.I couldn't help but let out a laugh as I turned to embrace her tightly. It was going to be so weird to be away from them for so long when we had spent so many days together.“Now we can all get some sleep at night without you fucking like crazy every night.” Rafaelle started, and I gave him a blank look.“Don’t you ever get tired of your own stupid comments?”“Never!” He grinned and gave me a bone-crushing hug that I returned. He was going to be missed. His comments, not so much.I gave them one last goodbye and even shared an awkward goodbye with Lorenzo, where I patted his shoulder as a farewell. I didn’t know why I still felt awkward around him, but I did. Probably because of the number of times I have humiliated myself in front of him. I guess he kind of felt the same about me too, because he awkwardly patted my head as a go
AlthaiaIt has been a week since I got home, and even though I miss the others terribly, it was good to be home and spend time with my mother. It has been crazy busy at the boutique, and I felt terrible seeing how exhausted my mother looked. I was happy to return to work next week, letting my foot rest so it could heal faster.I was sitting on the couch in the living room as I watched the Seven Deadly Sins while eating a bagel with cream cheese for breakfast. Just as I took a big bite of my bagel, the doorbell rang. I let out a noise of annoyance, trying to chew faster as I made my way to the front door.Who would be coming at this hour, anyway?I brushed away any crumbs around my mouth and quickly made sure I looked decent enough to open the door.“Delivery for Miss Althaia.” The man said and handed me the biggest arrangement of red roses I had ever seen.“From... who…?” My voice died down as he was already making his way back to his car.I stared in awe at the huge flower arrangement
AlthaiaThings at work had calmed down. I was taking a lot of stress off my mother’s shoulder now that I was back because, other than her, I was the only one skilled enough to sketch customers’ wishes. We had seamstress workers, not always in the boutique with us, but present when it got busy.Time was going by so fast and before I knew it, three weeks already went by. It felt like time was going by even faster because as soon as I would get home from work, I would pass out as soon as my head hit the pillow.I haven’t been talking to Damiano as much, only squeezing in a text message here and there. He called me last night, and I was so tired that I fell asleep while talking to him, but he knew how busy things have been. I felt guilty that I barely had any time for him when he always made sure to have time for me. And he was the one with multiple businesses and running a Mafia.Lately, I was feeling like I couldn’t get enough sleep, even though I was sleeping for over eight hours. It wa
AlthaiaWe were slowly making our way back to the house. I didn’t want to go back, but I had to if I was going with the excuse that I was in the shower because I knew he would call again. I just had to calm down entirely and make sure my voice didn’t sound off when I talked to him. Hopefully, I could end the call by saying I’m too tired to talk just to keep it safe.“Do you think he will be mad, or…?” I asked them quietly while keeping my eyes down. Maybe they would be able to prepare me for his reaction when I get the courage to tell him.“Why would he be mad?” Luca asked, and I shrugged at his question.“I don’t know… It’s not like this is planned.” I murmured. Hell, I didn’t plan to fall in love with a Mafia Boss either.“I don’t think he would be mad.” He said, thoughtfully. “He’s not allowed to be mad when he was the one who got you pregnant.” Luca tried to lighten the mood. He even got a pathetic chuckle out of me.“Damiano as a father… Shit, I didn’t think I would live to see th
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