Italy, Milan Xavier's POV As the tires of the private jet land on the port of my home in Milan, I turn to take a look at the woman seated beside me.She is fast asleep, her face in a deep frown.A suppressing tension hung over us as we flew from New York 8 hours ago. I decided to ignore her which is why I didn't know when she fell asleep.Finally landing, I tap her on the shoulder, jerking her up.She sits upright, looking around until her eyes fall on mine."We are here", I say to her before standing up to leave. I am not supposed to bring her with me but I did this on purpose. First, she is desperate to escape just like Andre did and secondly, I guess I can use this visit to my advantage.I have a lot to do in Italy and I might be here for a week or more depending on how quickly I sort things out.I haven't seen my Grandma in ages. This is an opportunity to visit her with my bride whom she can't wait to see. I have shipments to sort out and I am also here to get back Andrew and Ma
Jasmine's POV Xavier's smile seems to be like a dream making me sit upright to see if I am actually imagining it. As soon as my hands leave his body, the car comes to a screeching halt making him avert his gaze from me. "We are here", he informs me as his guards come down from the car to open the door for us. Instead of going out, Xavier sits still, signaling to the men to do something. They disappear. "Can you speak Italian?" he suddenly asks out of the blue, his expression hard and unsmiling. I've never been out of America. Not even out of Chicago all my life. How then am I supposed to learn the language spoken here? However, a lot of men who come to the restaurant speak the language and I find it fascinating but I don't understand a word. Slowly, I shake my head. Curiosity eats at me at the reason for the sudden question. Where are we? Where are we going? A frustrated sigh leaves his mouth. I continue to stare. He curse beneath his breath and look up at me before orderin
Xavier's POV Lying to Grandma about the accident was necessary. Doing that meant her not finding out that this isn't Andre and that meant finding out that Jasmine is forced to marry me because she looks just like the woman who left me at the altar.That will make her go against my reason for still keeping Jasmine and for no reason, I still want her here. For as long as Andre is still missing, I want her here with me.It might probably be for my ego but I don't care. That is what I want and I will get it.I know the yawn from Jasmine which comes right after the question about when Grandma would get a grandchild is either from her inability to continue with the pretense or because she is indeed sleepy.I direct the maid to show her to our room while I sit back to have a conversation with Grandma."You never told me a thing about the accident", she attacks me as soon as Jasmine and the head maid are out of sight.I nod. I didn't. I didn't tell her a thing and now that I think of it, I'
Jasmine's POV The thought of going out to get Grandma a gift is what woke me up this morning. The joyful feeling since we arrived here last night and the happiness associated with the gift she gave me which I haven't been able to bring myself to unwrap is something I haven't felt in years.She reminds me of parental love. The same love which I was deprived of. She makes me feel like this is home, where I ought to be all these years.I feel indebted to people easily.Right now, I already feel indebted to her. The moment she gave me that gift, I felt indebted which is why I haven't unwrapped the gift even though curiosity is eating at me.I want to get her something. Then finally, I can open the gift to see what is inside.A smile has been plastered on my face right from where I woke up, stretching my whole body as I yawned loudly, only to realize Xavier wasn't in bed with me.I can literally count the number of times I woke up to see him in bed with me. He is always out and working o
Jasmine's POV Like a boiling rage, I can feel his anger. Probably from the way he is holding my hand so tightly as he continues to drag me out of the store.I am supposed to be the angry one. I don't know if he is just angry because of that man or if he is angry with me for even giving him an audience.That man just wanted to help. I can't help but feel sorry for him. I feel responsible for putting him in such a situation.When we get out of the store, he let go of my hand. Then there was another car beside the car which drove us here.Without sparing me a glance, I watch him throw orders around just the way he always does, in that authoritative regal voice.When he eventually turns to me, his eyes expressionless, he mutters. "Get into the car."With that, he stretches the credit card at me, making me look down at it before shifting my gaze back to his face, wondering where the hell he is going. Obviously, I am going home alone.Not wanting to get yelled at, I quickly take the card a
Xavier's POV For the very first time in my life, fear kicks in as my gaze sweeps over the familiar man pointing a gun at Jasmine and another pointing a gun towards the car window at the driver and the guard I tagged along with her.It is just five minutes. Just five minutes of being away and this is happening.When I already thought she would be back in the villa while I attended to a business.The anger from earlier simmers through me as my jaws tighten. Grabbing the gun from Ethan, he stops the car instinctively and I get down.I pull the trigger and the man dodges it, almost grabbing Jasmine who kicks him in the groin and runs to the other side of the car. She opens the back door and enters.The familiar man shoots at me but misses and I approach as he begins to flee, shooting at him repeatedly.As soon as the two men are away from the car, the car engine is ignited and off they go."Good girl", I say, dropping the gun as I watch the two men enter a black van before speeding away.
Andre's POV That look of hunger that has been in his eyes since we made out is still present as his car comes to a screeching halt right in front of me and Brent.His eyes linger on me for a while before shifting to Brent who is now with the bouquet. I watch his jaws clench as he grips the wheels of the car harder.Wanting to annoy the shit out of him, I turn to Brent with a smile.His car is blocking the way but before I can tell Brent to let us go, Alex comes out of the car, slamming the door of the car shut.Curiosity fills Brent's face, then he turns to me. "Do you know him?""Yes, she is my woman so fuck off!" Alex barks at him, almost throwing him a punch because of his balled fist.I step forward, standing between the two men. Before I can say anything, he grabs my hand roughly sending ripples of shiver down my spine. "Get into the car."I hate it. I hate being told what to do. It makes me want to slap him across his face.He might be goddamn good-looking and hot but this is w
Jasmine's POV My tears are uncontrollable.I really can't figure out why I am crying when I ought to be happy that I will never be bothered by him ever again.Vicenzo is gone but Sebastian is still alive and he wants me now that his boss is gone.Is Xavier going to kill Sebastian as well?I should have known that they were all the same. These Mafias are all the same. All they know how best to do is to kill and torture people. I should have known that he was not only going to torture Vicenzo but also kill him.I guess that thought escalating in my mind is what hurts me the most. I never thought Xavier would do such a thing; having Vicenzo's blood on his hands.This is all to protect me but I don't feel happy about it. He shouldn't have killed him. There are better approaches to take. Not kill him.I clap my hand over my mouth to stop myself from sobbing all over again as I try so hard to stop my tears.Now that he killed him, does it mean that he believes I am not Andre now or is this
Xavier's POV If there is anything I regret, it is inviting Alex to witness this and also asking him for advice on how to propose. The asshole clearly told me to use G****e which I did. Jasmine's kiss stops me from minding the silly jerk. I was ready to punch him in the face for spilling the beans and embarrassing me like that. Dragging me behind her with Alex acting all childish makes me wonder how Andre fell in love with the idiot. When we get inside, they all begin to chatter away leaving me to watch in awe. A lot has changed about me. Jasmine has changed me. Aside from Grandmother, I hate having family time like this. I don't know if it's because I barely have time for such or it's because it reminds me so much of my parents. I just hated it. But now, I have a new family. Aside from my Grandmother. Alex and Sophia are now part of that family despite my effort to push them away forever. Jasmine's gaze meets mine and she signals to come to take a seat while Alex pops the c
Jasmine's POV With a blindfold over my face and after several attempts to get him to spill the beans about where we are going, the car comes to an abrupt stop.From the screeching sound, I can tell it is on sandy ground. It pricks my hibernating curiosity and I turn around unable to see anything.Finally, I felt his touch after hearing the sound of the car door opening. He places his hand on my back and another on my lap. Then he helps me out of the car without a word.Where are we? What is happening? What surprise awaits me here?I can't help but wonder, managing to hide away the fear gnawing at my heart as I push down the choking tide of panic building.Unable to hold it back any longer, I voice out barely in a whisper. "Where are we, Xavier?"He hushes me up as he helps me take slow steps on the sandy ground towards somewhere. The cool air hits my face as soon as we come to a stop. I am tempted to pull off the tight blindfold and look around. As if hearing my thought, he holds my
Xavier's POV Throbbing with a wild, raw, and primal feeling inside me, my tongue slides deep between her parted lips.From the moment she stepped into the restaurant, all I could see was her and all I could feel was pure admiration. She looked so beautiful and elegant in that black long dress that I could barely hold myself back from touching her.The sparkle in her eyes and the smile on her face didn't help in quenching my desire. The thought of being more intimate with each other intensified the heated lust already raging inside of me, filling me with wild and crazy imaginations of what I would do to her.The car comes to a stop and I flutter my eyes open, my hands on her back and my lips still on her.I couldn't resist not touching her as soon as we got into the car. She responded with the same energy and I almost lost it.Lifting my head, I brush back a stray piece of hair with my fingers. We local gazes for a second, breathless from the kiss before I say. "Let's get out of here.
Jasmine's POV Stepping out of the white limo with an INGOO sleeveless backless black dress and cross strappy heels, saying I am anxious is an understatement.My heart is thumping wildly within my ribcage.My hands are trembling slightly despite my firm hold on my tiny purse.My lips are quivering in excitement mixed with nervousness as I glance around to see Mathew appear in front of me.He is wearing a black official suit.Before I can ask him where Xavier is, he presents a bouquet to me. I gasps slowly before taking it from him without any question.I'm sure this is from Xavier.With that in mind, I begin to feel teary. Bowing down, he sways his right hand towards a direction which I assume is where Xavier is. There is a door at the entrance and staring up at the high building, I see it is a diner.It is so beautiful from outside.Flashing him a smile, I walk along graciously, feeling tingles of excitement as I perceive the scent of the flowers in my hands.The transparent door sw
Xavier's POV It took everything in me to say those words.Finally, I breathed out when it came out.I had to breathe in and out, unlocking my heart to say the one thing I have never said to any woman.Desire floods through me as I caress her entire body, deepening the kiss. Her body trembles with passion as she whispers against my lips. "I love you too, Xavier."It is taking everything in me not to scoop her up and throw her to the bed, to show her just how I want and love her and just how much I want to worship her beautiful milky body.She brings out a different part of me. That part I don't want to show anyone. She has managed to pull down that strong high wall I built around myself which makes me think I can never feel the emotion called love again.She holds onto me strongly, as though she is scared I will disappear. I hold her back with the same firmness, letting her melt into me with pleasure.Before I know it, I'm kissing her like she is the last air I need to breathe. I neve
Jasmine's POV I can feel his fear. His fear of confessing his love for me and also the fear of not confessing so he wouldn't lose me.It makes me want to feel glad that my feelings are being reciprocated though not vocally. I have never been in a relationship before just like how he has never been in a serious relationship either.We are both new to this but I am willing to do all it takes for it to work, including confessing my love for him over and over again. But from what just happened, I realize Xavier isn't ready to do what I want. What I feel right now is anger. Pure anger coursed through me for his show of jealousy when he hasn't even admitted his feelings for me.If it wasn't Alex and it was just a casual friend of mine, is this how he would have embarrassed me publicly?So much for causing a scene.Ignoring the chuckle from Alex who is bleeding, I storm towards the exit, murmurs rising from others in the restaurant.I didn't slap Catherine when she introduced herself as
Xavier's POV Jasmine isn't home.She has been ignoring me since we got back from Chicago. Our plan to go on an official date is ruined again.And I fucking miss her.I miss kissing and cuddling with her on our matrimonial bed. I know she needs some space and I gave her space. We haven't slept in the same bed for two days now.After deciding to put an end to all of this and inviting Nicholas and his wife to the mansion so we can clear the air, she isn't home.I tried her number but it is unreachable.Sebastian, who is a threat, is gone already but I still don't feel ok having gone without prior notice or any bodyguard with her.Anything can happen.Being my wife makes her an easy target.Restlessly, I pace the extent of our bedroom, trying her number again and again until it starts to ring.After ringing for almost a minute, it goes into voicemail.Goddammit!Impatiently, I stroll out heading towards the control room. I hope she hasn't done anything silly.I know she is sad about kno
Jasmine's POV My Aunt's flat is the third one. Seeing that he is at the first flat, I nod at him in appreciation. He must be a local for him to have known the description so well.I tap Xavier and we both get down. The driver is going to wait till we are done so we can take us back to the airport.Xavier wanted us to come with his helicopter but I told him not to. I have my reasons.Dropping out of college was not intended. I wanted to go to school but I had to drop out when I could not afford my fees.Despite the years of working my ass off, I still don't have any savings. But I intend to still go back to school which was why I was in search of another job in Chicago before I crossed paths with Xavier.I don't mind going part time but I intend to start working again so I can afford my fees and go back.When we get close to the flat, I knock on the door and Xavier holds my hand, making me flash him a smile.I can hear rustles from inside and a few seconds later, the door is thrown op
Jasmine's POV My aunt lives in the slum part of Chicago and I feel uncomfortable having Xavier with me on our way to see her.Even though I feel safer with him beside me. I snuggle closer to him in the back seat of the car we hired. We have been silent since we got to the airport.He keeps pressing kisses to my forehead and hair and it amazes me.Even though Xavier still has not said the love word, I know I mean a lot to him. It just saddens me that he doesn't know how to express his feelings vocally.This should be enough. His actions ought to be enough but I am not satisfied. I want assurance. I want him to say the word. I want us to be free with each other. To be able to tell each other anything and everything. To be able to share secrets. To understand each other's silence too.I don't regret loving him. I don't regret telling him I loved him anymore too. I just want him to say it back to me."We should go out to a nice restaurant after you meet with your Aunt, what do you think?