LOGINShare
Sixty Nine
Last Updated:
2025-02-14 17:00:00"Is this sudden decision to leave because I can’t define what this is between us?” Alessandro asks in a low yet sharp voice. I shake my head.
“No, I had already made up my mind way before this date,” I say, and he shakes his head in disbelief, clearly not believing me.
“You told me that you wanted me to take you out on this date so that you could make the decision. Is this what it was all about? You giving me an ultimatum?”
I scoff and shake my head. Why would he even think that? I didn’t give him any sort of ultimatum. I would never do that. Hell, I didn’t even say anything except that I’m leaving.
“No, that’s not true,” I say, watching as his lips curl into a knowing smirk, the kind that makes my blood boil.
“Don’t lie to me, Renée. I understand the answer you want from me—I do. But I can’t give you that.”
I blink, trying to keep my
Related chapters
The Don's Forbidden Muse Seventy
Do I know what I’m doing? No.Am I going to regret this? Probably, yeah.Do I care? No, not even one bit. I probably left my guilty conscience back at the restaurant, but who cares? I won’t be around in the next twenty-four hours to question or regret my decisions.It is so quiet in this elevator. I know both of us are probably questioning what the hell we think we are doing and whether it’s even the right thing to do. Worse, after we just had a fight about this whole situation. It feels hypocritical of us—me the most. One thing I know for sure right now is that the air around us is crackling with unspoken need.The moment the doors slide open to his penthouse, his lips are on mine again, more demanding this time. His hands are everywhere—my coat, my hair, my waist—and I’m losing track of what is happening. He takes off his coat and lets it fall to the floor, just an inch away from mine.His hand reaches fo
Last Updated : 2025-02-14The Don's Forbidden Muse Seventy One
The bathroom tile feels cold under my feet as I sit perched on the toilet lid, phone pressed to my ear. I pull the bathrobe tighter to feel warm. I’m trying my best to keep my voice low because I don’t want Alessandro to hear this. I get that the bathroom is huge and the distance from where I am to where he is in the bed is big enough for me to talk freely, but still, I don’t want to. Tati’s voice, groggy but still unmistakably her, filters through the line.“What time is it where you are?” she asks.“Uhm… seven in the morning,” I whisper, glancing at the sleek clock mounted above the bathroom sink. I don’t understand why anyone would need a clock in the bathroom, but I don’t question rich people’s interior design choices. There is always something that feels out of place with them.“Seven?” She lets out a low groan. “Renée, it’s two in the morning here. Two.
Last Updated : 2025-02-14The Don's Forbidden Muse Seventy Two
This must be the longest shower I have ever had—well, the longest if it wasn’t one of those everything showers. The only reason is that I’m dreading going back to the room and having to face Alessandro. I know he won’t let this go until we’ve had that conversation, and I don’t even know if I can handle it.Because what am I even supposed to tell him? My body shut down because you’re married? That sounds absurd. It even feels absurd.There’s a fresh sweatsuit on the bathroom counter, along with some body care products. He must have placed them here while I was in the shower. I don’t even want to think about whose clothes they might belong to, but when I reach for them, I notice they still have tags on. They’re new. Does he always keep new clothes around for the women he brings home? His mistresses?See, this is why having this conversation feels like it might turn into a nightmare—because there&rsq
Last Updated : 2025-02-15The Don's Forbidden Muse Seventy Three
I feel anxious.I don’t know if it’s in a good or bad way because part of me is happy that I’m going back home. I’ll get to see my friends again after so many months of being away, and I’ll finally just be at home. But at the same time, I’m not sure if I even like the idea of going back. Partly because I feel like Alessandro and I still have unresolved issues. It doesn’t matter that we’ve talked and I said I’d be back—I just feel like if I leave, there’s a chance I may never return. After everything that happened last night and the weird tension that followed, I just need to put some space between us. I have to—for my sanity. For the sake of my heart. And then, there’s the part of me that’s scared of going back to face the reality that it’ll just be Dad and me. Mom won’t be there anymore. I’ve spent almost my entire life with her in it, and it’s going to be hard.
Last Updated : 2025-02-15The Don's Forbidden Muse Seventy Four
I have never been arrested in my life, and all my life I have tried to live a good life and stay on the right side of the law so that a situation like this never happens. This is one of the scariest situations I have ever been in, and worse still, I don’t understand what we could have done to deserve this.My hands are trembling, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t stop them. They are sweaty, and the cuffs are digging into my wrists as I’m led through the cold, sterile hallway of the station. The air smells like bleach and something metallic, and the fluorescent light above hums in a way that grates on my nerves. I keep my head down, my heart racing so fast it feels like it’s trying to escape my chest. The last time I was at this station was to see Dell; I never thought the next time I’d be here, it would be in handcuffs.My dad was taken into another room as soon as we got here. They didn’t even let us talk. The last thing I saw w
Last Updated : 2025-02-15The Don's Forbidden Muse Seventy Five
I stare at the phone for a moment, unable to move or even breathe. It’s burnt, probably from the fire Alessandro and his men set at the warehouse where Morales died, but it’s unmistakably the same phone. I don’t know what to make of it.How did they find it?Didn’t Alessandro get rid of it?Do they know something?Do they know Morales is missing—or dead, perhaps?Who am I kidding? They have his phone. They definitely know he’s missing.But Dell told me he handled it. He said he managed to steer their suspicions elsewhere, that he made them believe Morales left town for an assignment.Did he lie to me?No, he wouldn’t. Dell and I have had our differences, but he wouldn’t do something that would jeopardize both of us. If I go down for Morales’s death, it won’t be long before he goes down too.“I can tell from your silence that you know whose phone this is,” Agent Carter says. “And you might be considering our deal.”I look up at him, trying to maintain a poker face, but I don’t know how
Last Updated : 2025-02-17The Don's Forbidden Muse Seventy Six
I can clearly tell from the look in Maria’s eyes when she saw Michael working with the FBI that it triggered something in her—fear, perhaps? Yes, she was shocked, but in a way that made it clear she was scared of what it meant. And if I’m being honest, so am I.Michael folds his arms, not taking his eyes off Maria, a smug and self-satisfied look on his face.“She can’t be released,” he says, his tone cold and final. My heart is still pounding. For a moment, I thought I might get out of here, but now I’m not so sure. “Renée was arrested on legitimate charges,” he adds.Maria raises a brow, her voice razor-sharp. I’m surprised at how quickly she regains her composure after looking so shaken moments ago. “What charges?” she asks.Michael shrugs. “Falsifying flight documents. As her lawyer, I thought you would already know that,” he says simply, as though it’s a s
Last Updated : 2025-02-17The Don's Forbidden Muse Seventy Seven
I can’t explain why, but my heart warms when I see him.He’s standing by the car, his broad shoulders and confident stance unmistakable. He looks effortlessly good in black jeans, a T-shirt, and a leather jacket. Maria strides toward him, her heels clicking sharply against the pavement.“What the hell are you doing here?” she demands, but Alessandro doesn’t even glance her way.His eyes find mine, and in a few swift strides, he’s standing in front of me. “Are you okay?” he asks, his voice low and filled with concern.Before I can answer, he catches me off guard by pulling me into his arms. I hesitate for a moment before wrapping my arms around him.For an instant, everything else disappears. It’s just us—the warmth of his embrace, the strength of his arms around me. It feels like home, like safety. I close my eyes and sink into the feeling. He’s warm, and he smells incredible. Honest
Last Updated : 2025-02-17
Latest chapter
The Don's Forbidden Muse Three
I just stare at her as she walks toward me, too frozen to move even if I wanted to. Motherhood has done Maria good, no doubt. It’s a thought I can’t shake as she gets closer. She’s radiant, more stunning than I remember. Time has softened her, and, contrary to what anyone would expect, motherhood has only made her more beautiful. Her features are sharper but still delicate. Her skin glows, her hair falls in soft waves around her face, and even her casual outfit—a simple blouse and jeans—looks like it was made for her. I hate that I can notice even the tiniest details that make her this beautiful. How much more beauty can one person have?“Renée?” she says again, her brows furrowed in surprise, her lips curving into a half-smile. “I thought I saw someone who looked like you. What are you doing here?”I clear my throat, shrugging. “Nothing,” I reply, my voice clipped.She tilts her head, studying me. “Are you in therapy too?”I remain silent. It’s obvious. This building kind of hosts th
The Don's Forbidden Muse Two
I’m seated in an armchair across from Dr. Hensley; her office is as familiar to me as the scent of lavender she always diffuses. I’ve never been much of a fan of coming here, but when you go through a traumatizing and life-altering event like the one I did, you don’t get much of a choice. It’s been years since I last saw her, but she hasn’t changed much. Her warm smile and attentive eyes make me feel like I’ve stepped back in time.“It’s good to see you again, Renée,” she says in a calm, steady voice, just as I remember. “It’s been what, two years, two and a half years?”I nod, my hands twisting together in my lap. “Something like that.”“And what brings you back to me after all this time?”I shrug. “You’re the only therapist I have in the country,” I joke, and she smiles, nodding.“That’s good to hear. Have you been doing more sessions back at home?”I look away when she asks that. I haven’t been as committed as I was supposed to be. When the nightmares stopped, so did the sessions.
The Don's Forbidden Muse Chapter One
Two Years Later“Roses?” Luca asks in a soft, curious voice.I nod. “Yes,” I say, smiling up at him. “But not just any roses. Red roses.”He chuckles, his arm brushing mine as we walk side by side. “Red roses, huh? Not white, not pink?”I nod again. “I love roses.”“You know, I never thought you’d be a rose-loving kind of girl. Roses seem… too ordinary,” he says, and I shrug.“I’m just an ordinary girl, Luca.”He shakes his head. “Not even in the slightest,” he says. “So, red roses it is.”I laugh. “If I were ever to get married, it would have to be red roses. They’re passionate, bold… beautiful.”“Point taken.” He gives a playful, mock-serious nod, and I nudge him with my elbow.“It’s just a joke,” I tease, grinning. “The marriage part. You don’t have to take notes. I mean, marriage? Who does that anymore?”He stops, turning to face me, his expression suddenly solemn. “I do. With you.”My smile fades, replaced by something warmer, something deeper. “Luca…”“I’m serious,” he says, tak
The Don's Forbidden Muse Chasing After Her Ghost
PrologueTwo Years AgoMy phone is pressed to my ear, my hand shaking slightly as I pace around the room. My wedding dress brushes softly against the floor with every step I take, the delicate lace catching the light streaming through the tall windows.Saying I am nervous would be the understatement of the year.“I feel like I’m going to throw up,” I say in a shaky voice."Renée.” His voice is calm and warm, steadying me even through the phone. “Breathe, amore. Everything is going to be perfect,” he says, and I sigh, smiling.I stop and stare at my reflection in the floor-length mirror, taking in the nervous girl staring back at me. She is beautiful. I am beautiful. This dress is perfection, and it makes me feel beautiful, so I hate that I have this feeling in the pit of my stomach. “What if something goes wrong?” I whisper, voicing the fear that’s been eating me up all morning.It’s not like many people liked the idea of us getting married. Even getting here, we had to fight for it.
The Don's Forbidden Muse Epilogue
One year laterThe soft click of the camera is the only sound in the room as I lean in closer, adjusting the angle to capture the perfect shot. My client is seated on the velvet chaise, draped in delicate lace. Her confidence radiates through the lens, and she is beautiful. The natural light streaming through the tall windows bathes her in a warm glow, highlighting every curve and detail.“Beautiful,” I murmur in a steady voice as I guide her. “Tilt your chin slightly… yes, just like that. Perfect.”This is my world now. My studio, my work, my passion. It’s been over a year and a half since I found my footing in this country, and my boudoir photography has taken off in ways I never imagined. Had someone told me I would stay here and make it my home after all the tragedies that happened, I would have laughed in their face. But here I am. High-end clients, features in glossy magazines—it’s everything I dreamed of an
The Don's Forbidden Muse Ninety Five
I open my eyes, and the splitting headache is a clear reminder of the hangover from last night. I think I might have had a little too much to drink. My body is tangled in soft linen sheets that aren’t mine. I quickly sit up, blinking against the brightness streaming through the curtains. For a moment, everything is hazy—the room, the night, and the nagging sense of regret clawing at the edges of my mind.I push myself up slowly, the cozy carpet beneath my feet unfamiliar. Panic starts to creep in as I take in the space. A strange home. My mind is slowly piecing everything together, and then it hits me—Luca. The bar. The bathroom. His bed.“Oh my god,” I whisper, my hands flying to my face.What the hell have I done?The events of last night quickly come crashing in. What we did didn’t just stop in that bar bathroom. Somehow, we ended up here, and we didn’t stop until... I shake my head, trying to will the memories
The Don's Forbidden Muse Ninety Four
The restaurant is quiet. Too quiet. I’m seated at the center of it, watching the soft shadows cast across the empty tables around me by the flickering candlelight. The dress delivered earlier fits like a glove, hugging my curves and making me feel beautiful, but I’m slowly starting to feel less and less beautiful as time keeps passing by. Sitting here alone in this massive restaurant feels uncomfortable.I swirl the wine in my glass, the rich red liquid catching the light. I sigh and take a sip. It’s my third—or is it my fourth? I’ve lost count. I don’t normally get drunk on wine, but if I keep taking one glass after another, I’ll be tipsy by the time this date even starts. I glance at my phone for the umpteenth time, the screen lighting up with the same message he sent over forty-five minutes ago:I’ll be late, but I’m on my way. Order something, love.That word love feels hollow now. I check the time again,
The Don's Forbidden Muse Ninety Three
Several months laterThis always feels like the first time. I’m straddling Alessandro in the warm, scented water of our bathtub, riding out the pleasure as water laps against my skin. His hands grip my waist tightly, and his head tips back as he groans my name. It’s moments like this when I forget the chaos around us. Here, it’s just him and me—no one else.I let out a soft moan as I finish, my body trembling as I collapse against him. He catches me, cradling me like I’m the most precious thing in the world, before pressing a kiss to my forehead, then to my lips, his breath warm and tender.“I love you,” he whispers softly, tucking my hair behind my ear.Those three words hit me like a wave every time he says them. I smile, kissing him back gently before leaning against his chest, slowly listening to the rhythm of our breathing. His hand brushes through my hair, untangling it with care.“What are you
The Don's Forbidden Muse Ninety Two
I am shaking as I stare at the pool of blood on the floor next to my father’s leg, which keeps growing larger with every passing second. His face is pale, and he is starting to get weaker. I’m trying to hold back my tears, wishing I could help him, but I can’t move. My body feels like it’s chained to this seat, my fists trembling in place on my lap.“Okay, I’ll ask again,” Emilia’s sharp voice cuts through the air, making my heart race even faster. “Who do you have resentment for in this room, Principessa?” she asks in a mocking voice.My throat is dry, my voice barely above a whisper as I stammer. “Maria.”I hear Maria scoff at the other end of the room. “Bitch,” she mutters under her breath, but it’s loud enough for everyone to hear.I swallow hard, trying not to look in her direction. Emilia leans forward, clearly intrigued. “Oh, now this is getting interest
