I gently smiled, cherishing Marco's openness and sincerity towards me. His unique display of emotions exclusively for me reassured me that his feelings were authentic. But doubts flickered within me—why the sudden change in his stance?As a hush hung in the air, Marco broke the silence, his voice breaking through."Stop taking the pills. I want to give you a baby," he said, determination coloring his words.The sheer audacity of his statement left me incredulous. It hadn't been too long ago when he expressed reluctance towards parenthood. What prompted this unexpected reversal? My mind raced, grasping for understanding."What prompted this change of heart? Why the sudden desire to have a child?" I inquired, seeking an understanding."Maddie, I'd rather create a family with you than risk losing you or watching you grow distant," he revealed earnestly, his eyes locked with mine. "Ensuring your safety and the well-being of our child is my priority. I'll make sure to allocate ample time s
We stayed in that position for a few moments, quietly holding each other, our hearts beating in perfect synchrony. Eventually, I pulled away from the embrace and locked eyes with Marco, curiosity burning within me."Marco, can you please tell me the story of how we first met? How did you come to know me?" I asked, hoping he would share a memory that had eluded me.Marco hesitated, having previously been reluctant to disclose this tale, wanting me to remember it on my own. Uncertain if I could ever recall it completely, I pleaded, "I genuinely want to know, Marco. I can't remember our initial meeting." My fingers traced towards his v-line, stopping at the tattoo that read '2-29.'I gingerly touched his tattoo, yearning for an explanation, a key to unlock memories. "What does '2-29' signify?" I asked, hoping it held a clue to our shared past.Marco hesitated before responding, leaving me thinking he was avoiding the topic. Yet, to my surprise, he finally broke his silence."2-29, Februa
"Who are we waiting for here, Marco?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. Despite having resolved our issues, Marco and I had decided to extend our stay on the island for a few extra days, relishing in its tranquility before returning to the bustling city. With Saturday upon us and no work commitments, we discussed the possibility of heading back to New York tomorrow night.But earlier, Marco received a call that prompted him to arrange four rooms in our island house. Yet, he had remained tight-lipped about the visitors' identity, leaving me intrigued and eager for their arrival."Here they are," Marco calmly stated, his gaze lifted towards the sky. I followed his line of sight and spotted two helicopters approaching.A smile spread across my face, anticipation building as I eagerly awaited the passengers' identities. While Marco typically maintained a cool demeanor, never one to outwardly display his emotions, I found it delightful whenever his expressive side surfaced, even if it was rese
"What if I don't?" I continued to laugh, knowing that Marco didn't like that. He turned to face me, and I stopped laughing when I saw the serious expression on his face, like a storm was brewing."If you don't, I'm going to f**k you until you forget about the annulment, and the only thing on your mind is me inside you, and how I'll make you sore. How you'll scream and moan my name while you c*m on my c**k. I'll f**k you so hard, you won't be able to walk tomorrow."At first, I was surprised by what he said, but in the end, I smiled at him seductively.I approached his ear and whispered, "Go on, Marco. F**k me all you want until I forget that I ever wanted to leave you." I grabbed his crotch. I could feel his body tensing up, so I moved away.I bit my lip playfully before winking at him, relishing in the reaction that followed. Then, I sauntered away, unable to contain my laughter when I heard him groan.Spending time with Marco's cousins and their partners brought me immense joy. Inte
I couldn't help but fixate on the woman holding onto Marco, who eventually moved away from her and came closer to me. Despite his attempt to conceal it, I could discern a smile from him. Sadly, I couldn't muster the strength to reciprocate. My focus remained on the woman, who appeared to be studying me in return. Who was she? I yearned to inquire about her identity, but revealing my jealousy to everyone was not an option.Marco touched my elbow, successfully diverting my attention. I turned to him, arching an eyebrow. "What brings you here, Maddie?" I desired to reprimand him for his calm demeanor, but a tinge of bitterness colored my words."Sir, Ma'am Maddie called earlier," the secretary interjected. "I couldn't inform you right away as you were engrossed in conversation with Architect Heleina."Heleina, huh? That's her name, and she's an architect.I observed Marco in silence, my gaze fixed upon him. Heleina approached us with a warm smile, seemingly ignorant of her earlier snub t
After bidding Marco farewell, our plans for dessert were abruptly halted when Penelope called him, notifying him of a 1:30 meeting. Wishing not to disrupt Marco's work, I hurriedly exchanged goodbyes.Seeking a moment to refresh, I retreated to the restroom. Renzo had already departed for the parking lot and planned to wait for me there. Fortunately, being in Marco's secure building instilled a sense of safety, even though I found myself alone.Candidly, I paid little attention to the door swinging open, assuming it was an unrecognizable individual passing through. However, a distinct voice penetrated the air, causing me to momentarily pause in my lipstick application."Madison Arellano, isn't it?" The woman I had encountered earlier addressed me, her voice embodying familiarity. Though I refrained from turning around immediately, instead, I observed her presence through the mirror's reflection.I anxiously awaited her next words, sensing an air of unease in her manner. The absence of
Once Renzo had left, leaving just the two of us, I couldn't resist playfully pinching my sister's side. Her gaze, once filled with longing for Renzo, was now directed at me."Ouch, Sis! That actually hurt!" she protested, rubbing her side.Deep down, I knew there was more to Violet's visit than just my company."What's the real reason you're here, Violet? I have a feeling it's not solely about me."Sniffling, she glanced around nervously before tugging me towards the living room where we settled onto the sofa."Sis, it's about Renzo..." Her voice trailed off.I closed my eyes briefly, already understanding what her gaze had meant earlier.I offered her an empathetic smile. "Do you think he might have a girlfriend? And even if he doesn't, the age gap between you two is quite significant. Don't get your hopes up, Violet. Renzo is even older than me. He and Marco are practically the same age, just a few years apart.""Age is irrelevant, Sis!" She playfully nudged me. "Come on, lend me a
In recent days, I bore witness to my sister's endless pursuit of Renzo, and it was a spectacle that left me suspicious. Often, I would simply shake my head, unable to understand her behavior, and there were moments when I wished I could just close my eyes and spare myself the embarrassment of watching it unfold. Have you ever experienced secondhand embarrassment? It's that weird sensation where you feel the humiliation of someone else's actions, even though you were not the one responsible. That's precisely what I felt whenever Violet engaged in her attention-seeking antics in Renzo's presence.On one particular day, as I returned home from work, I found Violet slumped on the sofa, her face filled with dejection. She had been persistently pestering Renzo earlier, but now she seemed utterly defeated. Concern washed over me, and I swiftly took a seat beside her.Regardless of her misguided actions, I couldn't bear to witness Violet in such despair. It was as if her sadness reached beyon
Marco handed the gun to one of his men before walking in my direction. He paused briefly when he faced Caleb."Why did you bring her here?" Marco asked in a stern and chilling tone."She wanted to know where you were," Caleb replied casually.Marco walked directly toward me. He grasped my arm and pulled me out. He closed the door behind us, cutting off my view of the people they were tormenting. I looked at him and was met with the cold gaze of his eyes.It had been a while since he had looked at me this way, and seeing it again now made me feel uneasy."Go home, Maddie. I'll have someone take you back," he said."No," I regained my composure when I heard Marco's voice. His manner of looking at me hadn't changed. "I haven't seen you at home. I'm not even sure if you're still coming home. That's why I went to Caleb to find out where you were. Who are the men inside? What are you doing to them?"Marco hesitated, clearly restraining himself from saying something. Eventually, he closed hi
We arranged a proper burial for my sister and for Renzo, even though his body hadn't been found yet. It was extremely private, with only the three of us present. Aunt Mildred sobbed uncontrollably and couldn't accept Violet's fate. I, too, was running out of tears from all the crying while they were being laid to rest in the ground. I couldn't help but recall all the happy memories I had with her."Sis, I can't sleep. Can I stay here?""Sis, why does Dad hurt you like this? It shouldn't be like that. If I could take away the pain you're feeling right now, I would.""Sis, I'm happy that you're my sister. You're two in one, you know! I have a sister and a best friend in you.""You know, Sis, if I were given a choice of who I'd want as my sister, I'd choose you every time. I love you, Sis!"Tears flowed even more as I remembered those moments. I knew that their memories would stay with me, but I would never hear Violet's voice again.Half of my being felt like it died when Violet passed
Marco's embrace tightened, causing me to lift my gaze and meet his intense expression.At first, I believed Marco was indifferent to the situation, but now I see my assumptions were mistaken. He was undeniably affected by it all; he simply concealed his emotions.Eventually, we returned home, leaving Caleb behind to lead the squad in the search for the Lombardis. I overheard Marco conversing with his father, entrusting him with the responsibility of managing the company during his absence.We reached our home, where the household staff kindly assisted me in freshening up since I was physically unable to do it myself. Once I was left alone, I found it impossible to function, overwhelmed by a deep sense of weakness. The realization that Violet was no longer part of our lives seemed incomprehensible, refusing to fully register in my mind.I lay on the bed, silently sobbing. No matter how desperately I wished to stop, every recollection of Violet's last words brought forth uncontrollable t
We trailed the man without hesitation, even though he clearly wasn't keen on my presence. His resistance didn't matter as I doggedly pursued their path. On the opposite bank, some of Marco's associates were causing a stir, extracting something from the river. I pushed through the bustling crowd to catch a glimpse of their find."Violet!"My sister's usually fair complexion appeared ghostly pale. Her lips lacked color, and her closed eyes gave her an eerie, lifeless appearance.I lunged toward her, but the authorities on the scene stopped me."You can't, ma'am," they firmly hinder my approach. I stared intensely at the body they had recovered, fearing the worst – it bore an uncanny resemblance to Violet."No! I need to confirm if it's truly her! Let me through!"Fighting against the police, I strained to reach Violet, but Marco swiftly grabbed me, preventing me from getting any closer.I observed him, noticing how he averted his gaze, clearly unable to confront my current state.A surg
I could sense the unrest within me, a constant unease that refused to subside. My mind ran wild with thoughts of the missing ones, their absence gnawing at my soul. I longed for a break, a moment of respite, but time slipped through my fingers, as if mocking my desire for calm.In that turbulent state, Vittoria took charge, guiding me gently to sit. Her firm yet soothing touch caressed my back, attempting to bring solace to my weary spirit. Yet, beneath her reassuring words, I sensed the hollowness of promises unfulfilled. Deep down, I knew that true peace would elude me until my sister and Renzo were safely by my side.Time blurred, each passing moment a mystery as reports and updates were limited to Dad alone. The rest of the Moretti family and their associates remained scattered across distant lands. Only Stefano, Dad, and Vittoria were present, while Gabriele, burdened with his laboratory duties, stood confined inside.The door swung open with a sudden force, grabbing my attention
Violet abruptly broke away from my grasp, She quickly stood up and ran the other direction. Her eyes showed an unbreakable determination, which caused the chase to pause for a moment, seizing the attention of those chasing us. The moment I realised her success, I also quickly went the other way.Tears coursed down my cheeks, my heart wrenching with worry for my sister's safety. I prayed fervently that she would remain safe until I could find help.Exhausted beyond measure, I refused to stop my desperate flight. Numbness consumed my legs from the relentless pace. Lost in my thoughts, I failed to notice the uneven ground beneath me.I stumbled and cascaded downhill, agony searing through my body, but I mustered the strength to rise. My eyes widened in profound realization—the realization that I had fallen onto a desolate road.I swiftly rose to my feet, determined to keep running. With every step, I prayed to the universe to grant me a sight of a passing car and a compassionate soul to
The security cameras in this place paled in comparison to the extensive surveillance at the Moretti's. Thanks to Marty, I knew exactly where the blind spots were, which turned out to be invaluable now.As I listened to one of the guards speaking, their voice laced with suspicion, it became evident that something had caught their attention in the adjacent room. The number of people present remained a mystery, clouding the situation further.Our path grew darker as we proceeded. Taking a momentary shelter, we huddled together, seeking solace in each other's presence while contemplating our next moves."Sis, what now? We're lost," Violet voiced her vagueness.Unable to provide an immediate answer, I echoed her confusion. The labyrinthine layout of this place made navigation a formidable challenge."Let's stick with the plan, Violet. Evading capture is our main priority. We'll uncover a way out in due course," I said, exhaling deeply while clasping my sister's hand tightly. The grip on my
"Sis," Violet whispered, her voice barely above a murmur. "The new driver, he's one of them. He deceived us all, infiltrating our home and studying our every move. This was all part of their carefully orchestrated plan. They were aware of Marco's imminent departure and the Moretti family's gathering, ensuring your guards would be occupied elsewhere. They had all the information, which is why they struck today."Violet looked at me, concern etched on her face. Uncertainty flickered in her eyes, but I tried to reassure her with a smile. While Ronan seemed knowledgeable about the Moretti family, he couldn't possibly comprehend the full extent of my capabilities. He never suspected that I had a plan to escape from this predicament, using my wits and resourcefulness to secure our freedom.As the details of my plan unfold, Violet's apprehension gradually transformed into trust. Though the odds were stacked against us, with risks looming at every turn, I remained determined. I would stop at
"I am Ronan Lombardi, the last remaining heir of the Lombardi family—the one your husband annihilated. I am also the inheritor of the organization where your mother dedicated her life, and where you reluctantly pledged your service." He stooped down to my eye level, caressing my hair and coercing me to meet his gaze. "Maddie, your loyalty should rightfully belong to me, not your husband. I am the master, and your mother entrusted your life to our cause."My teeth clenched, confirming my instincts. Despite Marco's claims of wiping out the entire Lombardi clan, there was indeed one survivor—the heir, Ronan.Tightening my fist, I regretted not voicing my doubts to Marco that fateful night. Maybe, if I had, he would have taken precautions to ensure the annihilation of every last Lombardi, leaving no room for survivors.My thoughts came to a halt as Ronan slowly raised his hand towards the mask covering half of his face. He gently caressed it for a moment before slowly removing it.My eyes