“I lived up to his expectations and even surpassed it. We were revered, not just in Russia but in other families outside of the country,” His fingers traced nervous patterns on my hospital blanket, creating intricate shapes. "But now," he continued, "now that rumors have spread about my intention
I was in the hospital for a few more days, under strict observation as the doctor wanted to make sure my blood pressure would be back normal and wouldn't become a complication. In those three days I stayed in the hospital, Roman tried as much as possible to spend his nights by my side while also j
Roman shook his head, “Not any time soon,” I understood immediately. They were probably closer than he was letting on. Best friends even. But it seemed what transpired between them was enough to destroy the friendship that was between them. I could tell there was more to it. But I didn't probe a
MARCUS What is a man without a craft? Without a passion? Without a purpose? I spent the first half of my life roaming endlessly, doing what was expected of me, doing everything a good son would do for parents as expectant as mine. A diploma, a degree, a doctorate, a phd, whatever the fuck i c
I let her go and spent the coming years watching and enjoying what her time with me did to her. There was no light in her eyes, no flames in the words she spoke and no one seemed to give a shit…i found it funny and fulfilling, she stayed silent about it like it was a bad dream and i enjoyed watching
AMELIA I once used to think that I wasn't meant to find happiness or deserve to be loved by anyone. Because my father and Monica stopped at nothing to remind me. My father's beatings and Monica's verbal abuses were enough to bring down my self esteem or rather burn it to ashes. Despite how much I
The warmth of Roman's lips lingered on mine as he finally decided to leave. His fingers traced the curve of my cheek, his touch so gentle it almost felt like a whisper against my skin. I watched him, my heart swelling with a mixture of love and that inexplicable fear that I couldn't quite shake. Ev
AMELIA Vincent's movements seemed sluggish, almost mechanical. As more time passed, his usually vibrant energy seemed to have dulled, replaced by a weariness that hung around him like an invisible cloak. I watched him carefully, my instincts picking up on the subtle and yet obvious signs of exhaus
AMELIA TWO YEARS LATER… I was twenty-seven years old, younger than my mother was when she had me, and five years older than she was when my grandfather entrusted the Guerrero family's responsibility to her. Despite trying my best not to think about her, everything I did, everywhere I walked in It
"And sitting back and doing nothing is better?" My voice rose, a mixture of frustration and desperation. "I'm tired of being the victim. Tired of being passed around like a piece of property, like something to be traded and bartered." His blue eyes flashed. "I would never let that happen to you aga
AMELIA Why was I so hesitant? I had been sure of my choices, I had accepted that it was what I really wanted and what I needed. But sitting here, with his head on my shoulder and his eyes looking so distant, I couldn't bring myself to say a word. Nothing. “Amy?” “Hm?” Roman raised his hea
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
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 cau
"I don't want anyone near you right now," he admitted quietly. "The thought of letting anyone close after what happened..." "Rome," I reached up to cover his hand with mine. "We can't live like that. I won't live like that – trapped in fear, suspicious of everyone." I wasn't going to tell him what
The thought of Roman losing control made my chest ache. I knew how he could get when his emotions overwhelmed him, knew the darkness he fought to keep at bay. "How bad was he? Really?" Maria led me toward the kitchen, her grip steady and supportive. "Bad enough that when this cousin appeared, even
AMELIA I 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 iron
AMELIA A 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