The moon hung low in the velvet sky as Alexander slipped out of the Robinson mansion, the weight of his family’s expectations pressing heavily on his shoulders. He had to see her—Maxine. He needed to hear her voice, to feel her reassurance. He couldn’t face the future they had planned for him without knowing where they stood. The small café they used as a meeting spot was dimly lit, tucked away on a quiet street far from the prying eyes of his family. It was late, and the few patrons inside paid little attention to him as he walked toward the back booth. Maxine was already there, her hands wrapped around a cup of tea, her face illuminated by the faint glow of the candle on the table. She looked up as he approached, her warm smile faltering slightly when she saw the tension etched across his features. “Alex,” she said softly, standing as he reached her. He pulled her into an embrace, holding her tightly as if she might slip away. “Max,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “
The grandeur of the Robinson-Fowls wedding was the talk of both the legitimate and underworld communities. Held at an exclusive estate on the outskirts of Florence, Italy, the ceremony was a seamless blend of elegance and tension, with an atmosphere heavy with hidden agendas and unspoken alliances. The estate itself was a sprawling villa surrounded by lush vineyards and guarded by a security detail so discreet yet intimidating that no uninvited soul dared approach. The sprawling gardens were transformed into a fairy tale setting. Ivory drapery lined the open-air pavilion, with crystal chandeliers suspended above rows of gold-trimmed chairs. A fountain gurgled softly in the background, its waters shimmering under the midday sun. A symphony orchestra played a hauntingly beautiful melody, a mix of classical compositions and Italian folk songs, setting an air of sophistication. At the center of it all stood the altar, adorned with white roses and lilies, a stark contrast to the darker u
The sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the master suite, bathing the room in a warm, golden glow. Despite the luxury surrounding them—the pristine marble floors, the designer furniture, and the breathtaking view of the Tuscan countryside—the atmosphere between Alexander and Klarisse was anything but warm.Alexander sat at the edge of the bed, his tie undone and his shirt sleeves rolled up. His posture was tense, his hands clasped together as if trying to hold himself together. Klarisse stood by the window, arms crossed, gazing out at the sprawling vineyards below. Her wedding gown was gone, replaced by a simple satin robe, her hair cascading over her shoulders. The night before had been uneventful; they had shared a room but kept to their respective spaces.After a few moments of silence, Alexander finally spoke, his voice low but resolute. “We should talk about... how this is going to work.” Klarisse turned to face him, her expression neutral, though her hear
“Klara, hold still! You’re ruining the veil!” Klarisse giggled as she adjusted the sheer scarf over her sister’s head. “It’s not a veil, it’s Mom’s old curtain!” Klara protested, her face lighting up with a mischievous grin. She stood in the middle of their childhood bedroom, twirling in an oversized white dress they had found in the attic. It was too big for her, dragging on the floor and slipping off one shoulder, but in their eyes, it was the most beautiful wedding gown in the world. “And you’re supposed to be the prince,” Klarisse said, tying a makeshift bowtie around her neck with a piece of ribbon. “Now, come on, you have to marry me!” Klara clapped her hands together dramatically, pretending to swoon. “Oh, Prince Klarisse! You’ve swept me off my feet!” Klarisse puffed out her chest and extended a hand. “I, Prince Klarisse, vow to be the best husband ever! Now kiss the bride!” The two dissolved into a fit of giggles, collapsing onto the bed in a heap of laughter. Their play
The meeting was set in an opulent villa deep in the Italian countryside, a neutral territory chosen to ensure no single family had the upper hand. The grandeur of the estate, with its frescoed ceilings and marble columns, was a stark contrast to the tension that hummed in the air. This was no mere gathering—it was a summit of power brokers in the mafia world, led by the formidable Valentin Marconi.Klarisse adjusted the cuff of her cream-colored blazer, her expression composed but her mind racing. She and Alexander stood side by side at the entrance of the villa, their parents, Bronson Robinson and Alan Fowls, walking a few paces ahead. Alexander, dressed in a tailored black suit, glanced at her, sensing her unease.“You ready for this?” he asked in a low voice.“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Klarisse replied, her voice steady despite the nerves coiling in her stomach. She added, with a faint smirk, “Try not to embarrass us.”Alexander chuckled dryly. “Funny, I was going to tell you the
The words hung in the air, and Klarisse felt a pang in her chest. She had no right to feel disappointed—this was what they had agreed upon. Their marriage was a facade, a duty to their families, nothing more. Alexander had been honest about his love for Maxine, and she had told herself she respected that. Still, the question stung in a way she hadn’t anticipated. Klarisse’s fingers tightened ever so slightly on her lap, but she kept her expression composed. She turned to him with a calm smile. "You don't have to ask me for permission, Alexander," she said evenly. "We’ve already agreed to keep personal matters separate." Alexander studied her face, searching for any trace of resentment or judgment, but there was none. Klarisse had become adept at hiding her feelings, a skill honed over years of navigating her family’s secrets and expectations. "Thanks," he said softly, his voice tinged with relief. "I just didn’t want you to think I was being... disrespectful." Klarisse shook her
Klarisse decided to go to her cafe and talk to her only friend and business associate. The cafe was Klarisse’s sanctuary, her one place of freedom from the heavy chains of her family name.Allie, her business associate and closest confidante, stood behind the counter, adjusting the display of éclairs. She was a bright and bubbly presence, with curly auburn hair and an easy smile that had won over even the grumpiest of customers. When Klarisse walked in, Allie immediately noticed the tension in her friend’s posture.“Klarisse!” Allie called out, waving her over. “You look like you’ve had a week, and it’s only... what? Day two of being Mrs. Robinson?”Klarisse managed a small smile as she approached the counter. “Don’t remind me.”Allie handed her a cappuccino without asking. “Come on, spill. What’s going on?”Klarisse took the cup and headed to their usual table in the corner. Allie followed, plopping down across from her.“I don’t know where to start,” Klarisse admitted, staring into
The cafe was unusually quiet that morning. Klarisse sat by the large bay window, staring at the untouched latte in front of her. The early sunlight spilled through the glass, casting golden hues across the room, but the warmth did nothing to soothe the cold unease in her chest. Something felt off. Her phone buzzed on the table, breaking the silence. She glanced at the screen: **Alexander.** For a moment, she hesitated. Their relationship had become a strange dance of guarded conversations and half-kept boundaries, but lately, Klarisse had found herself looking forward to his calls, even if she would never admit it. “Hello?” she answered, trying to keep her voice steady. “Klarisse.” His tone was different—serious, almost strained. She sat up straighter. “What’s wrong?” “I... I need to leave for a while,” Alexander said, his words heavy with an unspoken weight. “What do you mean ‘leave’?” Klarisse’s heart began to race. “There’s a situation I have to handle. Something that can’t
The morning sunlight filtered through the lace-curtained windows of the Robinson estate’s bridal suite, painting delicate patterns on the floor. The house was filled with movement—florists arranging centerpieces, chefs preparing hors d’oeuvres, staff bustling about in well-rehearsed harmony. But inside the suite, there was a hush, as if the whole world had paused to take a breath.Allie stood before the mirror, wrapped in a silky white robe, her hair half-curled, makeup just beginning. Her dress hung nearby—sleek, elegant, with a train that whispered stories of power and grace.Klarisse knelt at Allie’s feet, gently sliding on the wedding shoes—blush-colored satin heels with tiny crystals stitched along the sides. She looked up at her best friend, smiling faintly.“Still fits,” Klarisse teased lightly, adjusting the buckle.Allie laughed softly. “You doubted me?”“I’ve seen how much cake you’ve stress-eaten this past week.”“I will *not* be shamed on my wedding day,” Allie replied wit
Two weeks after the proposal, the Robinson estate was a whirlwind of activity again—not for another battle or family council, but something far more nerve-wracking for Artemis Robinson:**Planning a wedding.**“Tell me again why we can’t just elope?” Artemis muttered, leaning against the edge of his desk in the west wing study. He was flipping through a thick leather-bound wedding planning book that Allie had left on his desk, a pencil tucked behind his ear like a reluctant student.“Because I want to walk down an aisle and make someone cry,” Allie called out as she entered, two sets of color swatches fanned in her hands. “And Klarisse’s dad *will* cry if I ask him to walk me down. I want that.”Artemis paused, setting the book down. “You’re really asking Alan and Kareen to give you away?”Allie walked over and plopped the swatches in front of him, her smile a little more tender this time. “I don’t have parents of my own, Artemis. But Klarisse’s mom and dad… they’ve always treated me
It started with a text.“Dinner at the Robinson estate. Mandatory.” — Artemis.Klarisse had laughed reading it. Artemis had never been one for flowery messages. But something in the tone—something just a little too smug, too deliberately vague—had her raising an eyebrow.So when the black cars began arriving at the estate that evening, one by one, the anticipation was palpable.Klarisse and Alex were already waiting in the garden courtyard when Artemis and Allie arrived. The warm sunset cast an amber glow over the Robinson mansion’s elegant architecture. The old stone walls seemed to welcome the peace that had finally returned after months of chaos.Allie looked radiant, though she tried to pretend she wasn’t glowing. Klarisse didn’t miss the way she kept fiddling with her hand, trying to act casual as her fingers grazed a very new, very obvious ring.Klarisse’s jaw dropped. “Is that—?”“Oh my God,” Kareen gasped from behind, having just stepped onto the patio with Alan right beside h
The quiet of the chapel was sacred.Not in the religious sense—though the carved stone walls and flickering candles held a solemn grace—but in the way it held time still. Like the universe, for once, had exhaled and let the moment stretch.Allie stepped inside, heart pounding. The heavy wooden doors shut gently behind her, and she was alone with Artemis. No guards. No family. No chaos. Just them, in this sanctuary of silence and light.Artemis turned as she entered, his hands momentarily tightening around the envelope he still held. He looked nervous—not the kind of nervous that came from fear, but the trembling tension of someone who had planned something down to the smallest detail and still hoped it would be enough.“Allie,” he breathed, almost like a prayer.She smiled, soft and shaky, her heels clicking faintly on the stone floor as she approached him. “You’ve been busy,” she said, eyes flitting over the candlelit chapel.“You deserve something beautiful,” Artemis said. “And quie
Two months may not have healed everything, but it had settled the waves—enough for the dust to breathe, for wounds to scab, and for hearts to begin beating steady again.Allie stood barefoot in the garden courtyard of the Fowl estate, the spring sun painting soft gold across her face. A breeze brushed through her hair, lifting strands and carrying the scent of fresh blooms—lavender, jasmine, and roses that Kareen had insisted on planting just outside the kitchen patio. It was peaceful here, almost deceivingly so.And yet, something tugged at her nerves.She couldn’t name it, but she could feel it—the prickle at the back of her neck, the way Artemis had been a little too quiet lately. Not distant, just… thoughtful. Intentional. Secretive, in the kind of way that made her stomach flip.“Allie?”Kareen’s voice pulled her back. Allie turned to see Klarisse’s mother walking across the stones with a tray of lemon tea and fresh fruit.“You’ve been out here for over an hour,” Kareen said gent
Two months had passed since the bloodied dusk that marked the end of Luca Marconi’s reign.The world had not paused for mourning.It moved on, rebuilding and reshaping itself, as Artemis knew it always would. The Council of Five held steady, each family returning to a new rhythm, with silence taking the place of war drums—for now.But amidst this calm after the storm, Artemis found himself tangled in a far more intimate battle: one of the heart.It was early evening when Artemis entered the private terrace of the Robinson estate, where Alexander now resided with Klarisse and the twins. The sky was streaked in soft golds and violet hues, the sea whispering beyond the hedges. Artemis was dressed with effortless elegance—dark tailored slacks, rolled-up sleeves, his usual severity slightly softened by something deeper, more thoughtful.Alexander was already there, sitting with a tumbler of scotch in hand, staring absently at the view. He glanced up, a small smirk tugging at the corner of
The silence that enveloped the Robinson mansion was a stark contrast to the chaos that had once filled its walls. The events that had transpired in the last few weeks had left their mark on everyone—physically, emotionally, and mentally. Klarisse, still recovering from her ordeal, had found solace in the comfort of her family, but a lingering tension remained between her and Alexander. The love they once shared had been tested in ways neither of them could have foreseen.As Klarisse sat on the couch in the drawing room, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of a teacup, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was still broken between her and Alexander. She knew he had made the choice to save Maxine, but the wound it had caused—her heart still ached from it.Klarisse had spent a lot of time in her own thoughts, trying to piece together the confusion that had clouded her mind ever since the rescue. She understood why he had saved Maxine first, but it didn’t stop the feeling o
The Robinson Mansion stood tall, its grandeur undeniable against the backdrop of the fading afternoon light. The vast marble pillars at the entrance gleamed under the sun, and the soft hum of the fountain echoed through the front yard. It was a place of opulence and power, but for Klarisse, it felt like something else entirely—a place that once held love, hope, and dreams, now tainted by pain and loss. But as the car carrying her, Alexander, and the twins slowly made its way up the long driveway, she couldn’t help but feel a sliver of something else too: a possibility for renewal.Klarisse looked out the window, her eyes wandering over the familiar yet distant landscape. She had spent the last several weeks in a haze of uncertainty, shuttling between the Fowl mansion and the safety of her own mind, trying to piece together the shattered fragments of her life. The twins, Lucas and Liana, had been a constant source of strength, but it hadn’t been easy. The mansion had once felt like hom
The sunlight filtered through the windows of the Fowl Estate, casting a warm, golden glow across the quiet halls. Birds chirped in the garden beyond the veranda, but the house inside was subdued—a careful silence, the kind that comes after a storm. The kind that waited.Klarisse sat near the window of the guest room she’d been staying in, a blanket draped over her lap, her hands gently wrapped around a porcelain teacup. Though her wounds had begun to heal, there was a deep ache still resting behind her ribs. She had moved little over the past few days. Her body was fragile, but her soul felt even more so.The soft patter of little feet came before the door creaked open. Lucas and Liana peeked in, holding hands. Their eyes lit up as they saw her.“Mommy,” Liana whispered.“Come in, babies,” Klarisse smiled faintly, holding her arms out. The twins ran to her, snuggling into her embrace. Lucas leaned against her side while Liana curled up in her lap.It was moments like this that reminde