MARIELLA Something was off at home. I could feel it. Mama’s constant side looks and Ara’s distance bugged me, but I had been too tired last night to point it out. I walked into the kitchen and scanned everyone’s face before moving toward the toaster. Mama, Ara and Papa were all at the table, excha
My breath hitched and all the eyes turned to me too quickly for me to recover my startled expression. Eros was here. For me. The reality delighted me. But then I realised. The insult, the heartbreak and the accusations, they all were real, too. How could I let him waltz me that easily? Mama stood
Ella halted and her shoulders rose, but before she could whirl around and snap something, I spoke up. “It’s nothing big. We’ll be fine and I really think matters between a husband and a wife should stay between them. No offence to you.” I gave Danilo a stern nod and hovered behind Ella, keeping a c
“There are so many things we both have misunderstood about each other,” she voiced. “I know. Miscommunication at its worst.” She chuckled. I said, “We need to work on it. Talk before reacting.” She bobbed her head and shrugged at the same time as an obvious gesture. “Yes, I agree. I should’ve talke
MARIELLA “There are a few things that you need to keep in mind, Arabella,” Eros said as he stopped the car in front of a huge double gate. “No one inside this house will tolerate that snappy mouth of yours.” “Why do I feel you’re deliberately scaring her?” I asked with my brows pressed. Eros purs
“I would much prefer if you do not enter my wing,” Adonis’s voice beamed in the air. Ara’s jaw dropped as she watched him walk out of the left-wing, his hands in his pocket. “Wha—” “Yeah, that’s why.” From what I had gathered, Eros loved surprising, amusing, and befuddling people. “You’re related
“How did this happen, anyway? I mean Rocco, of all the people, it could’ve been.” “It was at a party. I really wanted to go, and he was the only one I trusted, who could sneak me out, drive me there and drop me back at home safely.” She sat at the edge of the bed and slumped, exhaling a ragged brea
EROS The billionaire and his contract wife—A scandal worth watching. A contract marriage—the sham of the year by the businessman of the year. If these headlines weren’t devastating enough, the contents were excruciating. "The billionaire CEO has always been a promiscuous mess from what we've hea
I walked toward Ella’s bed and sat down beside her. She pulled herself up with much difficulty and looked down at our daughter. “She’s so small,” I said, my eyes filling with tears. The wait, the pain and everything were worth this—this joy and the deep love I felt in my heart. I met Ella’s gaze a
[FOUR YEARS LATER] EROS I was panicking more than Ella was. But I couldn’t take her screams, let alone look at her. She was covered in sweat from head to toe and her entire body was shuddering. This was partially my fault, I could say. She buried her head back on the pillow and let out another lo
Even in my absence, I had been sure that Mariella was okay. She was upset, which was understandable, but she was safe. Adonis had ensured it. I hurried into my wing and up to my room, unable to control the burdening feeling in my chest. I needed to let out all that I had been holding inside, to tel
Both Mom and Adonis scanned the room. I didn’t know why, but I didn’t have a good feeling about this. Ella was running away. Or perhaps hiding something from me. I sincerely wished it was the prior. Adonis took a deep breath and spoke. “Ma, I need to speak to Eros.” I was dumbfounded. I widened my
EROS With all the men guarding me, I felt like a child being carried to the principal’s office. Every fucking one of them had a brooding look on their face. And I had been seeing them every day for the past two months. No more. I was finally returning home. To my family. To my wife. I wondered ho
As I pushed the door, I noticed the girl sitting on the ground, holding a grey shirt to her chest. Eros’s shirt. Had she been holding onto him in this manner? Crying herself to sleep holding that one shirt? Consoling herself that he was alright? “Mariella?” Her eyes widened and snapped toward me.
ADONIS I couldn’t stand the sight of people who pretended as though my world hadn’t completely changed. Many people greeted me as I walked out to the main wing. Danilo, his wife and younger daughter. Terenzio and Fabiola. Niana Galasso and the idiot who got Danilo’s daughter pregnant. My wife and
“My sister has a habit of meddling in other people’s matters. I’m sorry for that.” She probably didn’t know who I was, either. Her expressions suddenly fell, and she said with an apologetic look on her face, “I’m sorry if I sound rude, but my coming here wasn’t really a coincidence.” I frowned. “I h
Eros leaned down and whispered something into his niece’s ears that made Alessia smile bigger. Letting go of his hands, she motioned toward her father. Eros, the matchmaker, was back in the room. He wanted nothing more than what I did and that was to see this little family of ours be happy and one