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After giving countless apologies to Vincent and his family, I rushed out of their house, hoping they won't find my abrupt departure to be rude and probably see me as some sort of prude. Vincent had offered to drive me over to my family home but I had politely declined. Quite frankly, the last thing I wanted was for him to catch even a glimpse of what my family is like…compared to his. I would be so ashamed. After a few minutes of standing by the side of the road, I finally found a taxi. I gave him the address off the top of my head. Reciting it put loud stirred up feelings that I wanted to forget. It made me realize how much I preferred being under Roman's roof than that of my father's. But why…why do my options only ever have to be choosing the lesser evil. I was so lost in thought, I didn't realize when the car pulled to a stop right in front of our small gated estate. “Miss?” The driver's voice pulled me out from my spiraling thoughts, “We are here,” He informed. I m
As I approached my father's study, my heart raced. Each step felt heavier than the last, as if my body was fighting against my decision to come here. I paused at the door, taking a deep breath to steady myself before knocking. It took a few seconds. I'd even taken a step back in those short moments, I intended to leave. To gather myself properly before facing him. "Come in," my father's stern voice called out. My back went rigid when I heard that familiar voice. I felt a ghost of pain across my skin, almost like my body was reminding me what happened whenever I went against him. I'm a grown ass woman for crying out loud! Why should I be afraid of him? I pushed the door open, and immediately regretted my decision to come. There, behind his imposing desk, sat my father, his face set in its usual disapproving frown. But it wasn't just him. Oh, you've got to be fucking kidding me. I saw Monica and Bertha seated in plush armchairs, their eyes fixed on me with unconceal
ROMAN“I will get it done as soon as possible,” Dimitri promised before the call was ended and i was left in the suffocating silence of my office, sinking into the leather seat, feeling a headache make it's presence known. Alexander was a slippery bastard, he was no where to be found, despite all of my connections…unfortunately the man knew me more than anyone else, he knew exactly who would come for him and what my next moves would be. At this point, it felt like a one sided fucking game. One I never had any intention of playing and now I was losing. I ran my fingers through my hair, feeling sick and tired of everything at that point. I knew he wouldn't try anything, not now that I was on high alert…that did not stop me from being worried. Last thing I wanted was to put my family at risk. The company especially, I had to be careful. With a heavy sigh, I rubbed my heavy, aching eyes, my eyes darting to the clock on the side. It was almost 12 am. And I was still at work.
AMELIAEverything else that came after meeting with Roman in front of the room was hazy. I knew he had led me to bed, my eyes heavy with as I kept telling him to promise. All I could think about was the fact that if he owned Grayson, I wouldn't have to give my shares to Bertha. It would be better if he owned everything…it would be so much better. Then I could buy my mother's gallery, before Hector Grayson would do anything foolish like stay true to his threats. My mind was a swirl of countless thoughts as I tried to convince myself that it would be okay. Roman had promised me. “Rome?” The memory pushed itself past whatever barrier my mind had held up, seeping through the cracks. I was in an apartment. Aching all over, I was recovering from an injury…a few. And…Roman was seated opposite me, hair blond, eyes bluer than ever, familiar and softer than I'd ever seen them. He looked younger but his eyes were strange, there was a certain edge to them. He screamed danger even fr
A FEW YEARS AGO… The final bell rang, its shrill tone echoing through the halls of the community high school. I let out a sigh of relief, grateful that another day of social navigation was finally over. As I made my way through the crowded corridors, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy at the ease with which my classmates interacted. Laughter and chatter filled the air, but I felt like I was encased in a bubble, separated from it all. I've never been good at the whole "making friends" thing. It's not that I don't want to connect with people, it's just that I struggle with the unwritten rules of social interaction. Small talk feels pointless, and I can't bring myself to feign interest in topics I find mind-numbingly dull. My bluntness, which I consider honesty, often comes across as rudeness to others. It was easier to keep to myself than to constantly worry about saying the wrong thing. As I pushed open the heavy front doors of the school, I let out a sigh of relief,
BERTHAThere are two types of people in this world. There are the people who think there's a difference between good and bad and then those who know that there is no such thing. The world isn't black and white. It is a whole array of colors and even murder can be justified when the perpetrator is a sweet talker. When he tells you his reasons. My mother has raised me this way, these words have resounded in me my whole life. There is no good and there is no bad. Which is why one must always take what they want in this life because the only thing that's constant is change…and it isn't often pleasing. I looked down at the share-transfer document with a wide grin on my face. This is something I've wanted ever since I found out who my father was. I have wanted to be his heir, wanted to be the one in power but…Amelia had to come and take everything that belonged to me away. Except now, I was finally getting it all back. I would finally be able to sit with the shareholders. T
Sure, I had to find a way to have Roman wrapped around my fingers. No man could resist a woman who is always seemingly weak and had tears in her eyes. Roman ate that shit up just as I wanted him to. But something changed. Or maybe it has been there this entire time but I chose to ignore it…until Amelia reverted back to that noisy bitch who couldn't keep her mouth shut. And now…I stand at the brink of losing Roman. I watched in shock and slight panic as he refused to meet my eyes after that short, stiff greeting. I could feel my mother's questioning and no doubt satisfied stare on the side of my face and my cheeks heated up in embarrassment. I knew my mother better than anyone, she probably saw this as an opportunity. She never really cared if Roman stayed with me or not. She just wants a reason to keep him close. But Roman won't fall for a shriveled up bitch like her! Same way he simply cannot fall for that idiot, Amelia! My father opened the door, a look
“Roman!” I screeched, my voice nearing hysteria. I watched as his back stiffened up as he made his way to his car, he stopped in his tracks, turning around slowly to finally face me. His lips were pressed into a thin line, his eyes cold, almost empty as he met my eyes. “Roman…” I breathed, realizing I couldn't just yell at him with that expression on his face. He looked rather annoyed by my presence. It had never been like that. Never. Has he truly…moved on from me? “Is that really all you came here to say? To defend Amelia, to threaten my father because of her?!” He inhaled deeply, audibly and then ran his fingers through his soft brown hair. “Bertha…I have nothing else to say,” I gasped, “Not even to me?” His brows furrowed deeply, “No, I have nothing to say to you,” He stated firmly, a chill glazing over his features making me take a subconscious step back. I forced my tears to show as I looked up at him…I knew he couldn't resist that. “Is this truly how
Hi! Its me Dchenemi but you already know that lol. I want to thank you for sticking with this book this far and answer a few questions. Firstly O would like to apologize for the lack of updates, I have ongoing exams and I'm unable to focus on writing while the pressure of getting good grades are breathing down on my neck ahah.Secondly, this arc of the book will be over and after that there'll be one last arc to round up everything and then The Forgotten Marriage will be done and Roman and Amelia's story will give way to other books in the Volkov's Series. Thirdly, daily updates will resume first of February without fail and I promise to give you a satisfying ending. Lastly, thank you for sticking around and coming this far, I hope you have a great week ahead and I'll see you in February. Best, Dchenemi. P.S. You can find me on FB @Divine Chenemi to learn more about the upcoming series or get a sneak peek at oncoming chapters or if you have suggestions or anything you wish to ta
AMELIA My mother had always told me I was destined for great things, and at some point in my life, I thought it was being a well-established painter or perhaps a tycoon like she wished to be. But now I realized what she truly meant. No matter how much she had tried to escape it, her past still caught up with her. Just like my grandfather had said, one could not fully leave such a life except through death, and now... I had become one of them. Due to the things I had said and done behind Isabella's back, she had sent me into those rooms to be abused by those men, but what I came out with was power—one that I couldn't ever tell Roman about. The things I had said... and done, just to convince those men... "Amelia, how could you do such a thing without consulting me?!" Alexander whisper-yelled. He stood a few steps away from me, practically trembling from the shock and rage of what I had just told him. I interlocked my fingers and let out a soft sigh, not fazed one bit by his agitatio
AMELIAI cried myself back to sleep, my body was far too exhausted to do anything else. When I came to, Roman wasn't in the bedroom with me. Our bedroom. I was back home. It felt surreal seeing the familiar walls, the sheets, the scents. Everything made my eyes prickle with tears and the irony wasn't lost on me. Not too long ago I had wished to be out of here for good with no reason to return yet, here I was…happy to be back within three walls. My limbs felt heavy, like they didn't belong to me and my head felt like it wasn't a part of my body. I still felt out of it…a strange feeling that spread to my chest. Like I was out of place, like I didn't belong. For some reason, I half expected Marcus would open that door and walk in, sit right next to me and continue the torture I've been in for the past two weeks. It was possible. What did Roman do with him? I sat up slowly, my whole body groaning in protest. My vision spun and it took a few seconds for me to get my head in order.
AMELIAA FEW DAYS LATER… Isabella had kept her word. After the meeting with Mr. Rossi and a few others who Isabella failed to mention, she didn't send me back to the building I was locked up in. She gave me two flight tickets and told me to make a choice, one sent me back home and the other…was to Sicily. To the heart of all our family's operations. She gave me a choice, once she knew would make my mind heavy with thoughts. An opportunity at power. But I already had my own plans…one I intended to execute once I was out of her grasp. I was supposed to be boarding a plane going back home before Marcus got to me, probably angry that Isabella didn't keep her end of whatever it was their bargain was. I suspected it was me. I barely remembered what happened after that, I was pumped full of whatever it was Marcus spent the last few days injecting me with. I could barely keep my eyes open, I couldn't walk and my thoughts were muddled even as panic gripped me. Fear that I had been doub
AMELIAOver a week had passed since I'd first woken in this goddamn bedroom, though time had begun to lose all meaning. The hope I'd initially clung to – that Roman would find me, that someone would notice my absence and come to my rescue – had slowly withered away like flowers left too long without water. I'd spent countless hours staring out at the skyline, watching the sun rise and set over ancient buildings that had witnessed centuries of human suffering. Now they were witnessing mine.My heart ached each time I saw people pass by, moving freely without knowing just how grateful they should be that they could. Marcus hadn't kissed a day of his visits, his constant torture and each day that passed brought me closer to the day he would finally act on his obvious urges that he's been talking about. He's going to start hurting me, not just mentally but physically. The got of it alone got him off. I'd seen him massage his dick a few times with his eyes on me, fantasizing of a day
ROMAN The mining complex loomed before us in the early morning light, a hulking mass of concrete and rusted metal that seemed to devour the shadows around it. I crouched behind a piece of machinery, my body coiled tight with anticipation as I watched the guards make their rounds through my scope. "Three on the perimeter, two at each entrance," Nikolai's voice came through my earpiece, soft but crystal clear. Even from his position in the command vehicle half a mile away, he somehow knew exactly what was happening. "They're rotating every fifteen minutes, clockwork precision. Military training, just like our informant said." "How many inside?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "Heat signatures show twelve moving bodies on the main level, four in the lower sections." There was a pause, then, "One signature in the deepest part of the complex. Isolated. That's her, Roman." My fingers tightened on my rifle. "You're sure?" "The body temperature is slightly elevated, consistent
ROMAN My finger tightened instinctively on the trigger as I studied my cousin, but something in his relaxed posture made me hesitate. He moved with an uncanny grace as he stepped closer, his cane barely touching the ground, more an accessory than a necessity. When he removed his sunglasses, I understood why – behind them, white orbs stared unseeingly ahead, yet somehow I felt more seen than I had in years. "The great Roman Volkov," Nikolai mused, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "Always so quick to reach for your weapon. Some things never change, cousin." He moved past me with the confidence of someone who could see every obstacle, his cane making soft taps against the marble floor. "Though I must say, your taste in interior design has improved significantly." He spoke like we were close, but I'd only met the man once when I was younger…two years younger than me, a strange child that had no innocence left in him. There was an attack that left both his eyes damaged beyond repai
ROMAN FOUR DAYS AGO… The sketch in my hand trembled as realization crashed over me like a wave of ice water. Those familiar features, that seemingly warm smile that had never quite reached his eyes – Vincent. Pierce! Our fucking neighbor?! The man who had wormed his way into our lives after her accident despite being our neighbor for years. He got so close to Amelia…the way he looked at her, the way he tried to get closer every fucking time. How could I have been so blind? How could I have been so stupid?! My grip tightened until the paper crumpled between my fingers, fury coursing through my veins like molten lead. "Dimitri," I barked, my voice cutting through the tension-filled air of the cabin. "Watch her. If she so much as breathes wrong, handle it." My eyes locked onto Bertha's terrified face, watching as the blood drained from her cheeks. "You helped him get close to my wife again. Remember that when you're lying awake tonight." I rose to my feet, “For every scratc
AMELIAFive days. One hundred and twenty hours of being trapped in this prison, each minute stretching into an eternity of helpless desperation. The room, with its elegant Italian furniture and sweeping views of Rome, had become my personal hell. They had taken off the covers from the furniture, told me it was once my mother's bedroom. I was in Guerrero manor, a family house in a fucking skyscraper. The highest room, a place my mother probably sought solace and now it was my cell. I'd tried every door, every window, even searched for hidden passages like some character in a gothic novel, but found nothing. The doors were sealed tight, the windows reinforced with something that wouldn't break no matter how hard I struck them. Even the beautiful crystal vase I'd hurled in desperation had merely bounced off, leaving not so much as a scratch.From my perch high above the city, I watched life continue below with a sense of surreal detachment. People moved through the streets like tiny d