Rene Ford, the only son of Rome Ford and Catherine Barlow, and Grandson of the wealthiest family in the country is exiled by his father at a young age. He has no relation to the Ford and Barlow empire and is forced to be raised by a stranger in extreme poverty. Why? Rome wouldn't tell Rene, but then one day, Rene's life gets put at risk, and his father suddenly tells him that he is no longer Catherine and him's son and has to take on the image of a servant's child. Rene gets forced by Rome to marry into a wealthy family, and Rene thinks his life couldn't get worse, but then he finds out his ex-girlfriend is his sister-in-law, and the man she cheated on him with is his brother-in-law.
Lihat lebih banyakThe tires had barely stilled when Rene turned off the engine. The quiet hum of the Rossi estate’s grand driveway didn’t soothe the storm rising in his chest.He glanced at Maria beside him.She hadn’t spoken much during the drive. She was staring straight ahead, lips pressed into a thin line. Her hand was resting near the console. He tried to reach for it, brushing her knuckles lightly, just to feel her warmth. But she didn’t flinch, didn’t look at him.Then she blinked.And her entire body stiffened.“Don’t tell me…” she muttered.Rene followed her gaze and his jaw clenched.Their eyes locked on Layla, standing in front of the mansion, leaning against her car like she’d been planted there for hours. Her arms were crossed, her knuckles white, like she’d been gripping something too hard for too long. The moment she spotted them, her lips curved into a sweet, slow smile.Pushing the car door open, Rene’s entire body went tense.He stepped out of the car first, moving toward Maria’s side
The room was too quiet now. Too still.Layla’s heart pounded as she stood slowly, hoping Jason wouldn’t notice the tremor in her steps. Her voice was calm, “I got rid of everything.”Jason didn’t respond at first. He simply stared at her with a predator’s stillness. Then he nodded slowly, lips twitching into a faint smile.“Everyone out,” he said, not taking his eyes off Layla.Smiling at her brother, Bianca’s brows lifted, amused. “All of us?”Jason didn’t blink. “Except her.”With a deep sigh, Antonio paused, narrowed his gaze toward his son, and then at Layla, whose face had paled. He was quiet for a moment before setting his drink down with a heavy clink.“Be careful,” he muttered, then turned and walked out.Holding in her breath, Bianca lingered, an eyebrow raised, clearly enjoying the tension before Jason snapped, “Bianca.”“Alright, alright,” she said, smirking as she glided past Layla. “Have fun, lovebirds.”Watching them with desperate eyes, Layla’s breath hitched as the doo
The office smelled like cedarwood. The heavy oval desk gleamed beneath the amber lights as Jason stood at the head of the room now, sleeves rolled up, tie loosened, the embodiment of calm arrogance as he paced slowly before the others.Eyes glinting with mischief, Bianca lounged on the leather sofa, glass of wine in hand, already smiling at her brother’s smug expression. Antonio stood by the liquor cabinet, refilling his drink but watching Jason closely. Layla sat stiffly, arms crossed, her gaze wary but silent.Finally, Jason stopped pacing and turned toward them, a smirk creeping across his face.“Well,” he said, voice rich with satisfaction, “it worked. Exactly like I said it would.”Pausing the wine glass to her bottom lip, Bianca’s smile widened. “What? You mean you actually getting Maria to question him?”When their eyes locked with such a sinister glance, Jason let out a short laugh.“I didn’t just make her question him,” he said. “I planted doubt in her like a slow-burning fus
When Rene didn't utter a word, Maria’s voice cracked again. “Would you stay away from her? Completely. If it comes to me or her?”Rene looked at her... really looked at her... and something in his eyes shifted. It wasn’t anger. It wasn’t guilt. It was something much heavier. Something sad.He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he drew in a breath, slow and deliberate, before speaking in a voice so quiet she almost missed it.“If I have to cut someone out of my life just to prove that I love you... then what we have isn’t love. It’s fear.”Maria blinked, stunned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”“It means,” Rene said, tone still calm, but laced with an ache she hadn’t expected, “that if you don’t trust me… if you honestly believe that I’d cross a line with Layla, then we don’t have the kind of foundation a marriage is supposed to be built on.”Her throat closed around a lump she couldn’t swallow. Every breath started to feel heavier.He stepped closer, slow and steady. “You’re asking m
When Rene suddenly locked eyes with her, Maria’s breath hitched. Again.The words Jason had thrown at him, felt like daggers dipped in honey, sliced through something fragile in her chest. She could feel her heart pounding against her ribs, loud, loud, too loud.And Rene… he hadn’t moved.Hadn’t spoken.But his fists were clenched so tightly at his sides that it was a wonder his knuckles hadn’t split open.“Maria-” Vittoria tried again, her voice concerned now. “Say something.”“I…” Maria started, glancing at her mother.But her voice cracked. Broke like glass under pressure.Rene turned his head, eyes meeting hers for the briefest second.And she knew.He’d heard the silence too.She opened her mouth again, but-Rene stepped forward, quiet but purposeful, reached for her hand, and gently pulled her to her feet.Everyone’s heads turned. Gasps. Whispers.Mad at her daughter humiliated because of Rene again, Vittoria reached forward slightly. “Maria, wait-”But Rene didn’t even glance b
The silence after Jason's question clung to the room like smoke after a fire. All eyes turned to Maria.Her gaze was locked on Rene.She didn’t speak.Didn’t blink.Didn’t move.And that alone said more than any answer she could have given.Jason saw it.The hesitance.The falter.The smallest stutter in her usually calm facade.He smiled, the kind of smug only someone who knew he had struck the right nerve could smile.“Maria?” he said softly, feigning confusion. “Cat got your tongue?”Lowering her gaze, Maria opened her mouth, then closed it again.Her lips parted just slightly, her throat working around the words she couldn’t quite force out.“I–” she managed.One syllable.Choked.Unable to restrain the rage burning his chest, Rene turned toward her slightly, his jaw flexing just once, but Jason cut in before he could say anything.“Don’t feel pressured,” Jason added smoothly, shrugging a little. “It’s not like anyone’s expecting you to defend him. After all, it’s not like he’s gi
The room stood frozen... like someone had sucked all the air out of it.Alejandro’s hand was still gripping Rene’s collar. The veins in his neck pulsed, but Layla’s voice still echoed in the silence she had created.Jason rose slowly from his seat. His expression wasn’t angry. It was almost amused. That slow, superior smirk... the one that said he was always ten steps ahead.Layla drew in a sharp breath and, before anyone could speak, her voice broke again, soft this time, trembling just enough to sound real.“I just… I can’t stand violence.”Scoffing, Alejandro turned to her, his brows furrowing.She continued, letting her hand fall from the table, brushing it against her chest as if calming her own heart. “It triggers me. I-I’ve worked so hard to move past things, and this? Watching you manhandle him like that? I can’t.”As her brows snapped together, Maria’s eyes flickered toward her, suspicion flashing for just a moment. But Layla didn’t waver. She lowered her gaze, perfectly meas
The moment Maria and Rene took their seats, the tension in the room thickened like an insoffociating smoke. Eyes darted. Chairs shifted. Even the air conditioner’s hum seemed to hold its breath.With a deep sign, Mr. Rossi stood at the head of the table, his hands resting on the polished mahogany surface. He wore a crisp navy suit, his tie perfect, his expression… smug.“Now that everyone is here,” he began, clearing his throat with purpose, “there’s something important I’ve been meaning to address.”Madam Rossi glanced up from her seat beside him. Her expression gave nothing away, but her fingers curled slightly around her crystal glass.The old man smiled, gaze sweeping the table, lingering just long enough on Rene to make the others shift.“Kia,” he said, pausing for effect, “has been with the family for some time now. He’s proven himself to be an asset. Efficient. Focused. Calculated. Traits this family used to pride itself on.”A beat passed. Rene said nothing, his expression as
After a silent momet, Maria took a slow, steadying breath, rolling her shoulders back as if the motion could shake off the tension still clinging to her.She didn’t look at Rene, not right away. Instead, she reached for her phone on his desk and walked off, keeping her stepped steady.Rene exhaled, running a hand through his hair before moving toward her. Just as he reached for the door handle, his office phone rang, and Marco eyed him but said nothing, and Rene hesitated.His jaw tensed. He debated letting it go to voicemail, but something about the timing made him reconsider. With a reluctant sigh, he reached for the receiver, pressing it to his ear.“Hello.”“Ah, Kia,” came the familiar voice of Mr. Rossi, and Rene straightened, his fingers tightening slightly on the phone.“Mr. Rossi,” he greeted, flicking his gaze toward Maria. She was watching him now, her expression unreadable.“Maria’s with you? I called her office and she's not there.” the old man asked, his tone sharp with e
"Rumble!!!""Boom!!""Crash!!"Picking up his pace, Rene Ford ran, clutching the bouquet in his grip and the jewelry box in the other, while the rain pounded around him like a waterfall. The streets of the campus were deserted and he was the only one on the patch of dark road, the sound of thunder reverberating through the air and lightning crackling above him. He ran with all his might, ignoring the flower petals that scattered onto the sidewalk, and kept going as fast as he could. His lungs burned as his heart pumped blood into his veins at a fast rate but his legs didn't even quiver. "This is bad!! This is bad!!" He kept repeating under his breath, the words turning into a mantra. He wasn't sure if it helped to calm himself or not. But he had no time for hesitation now. Tonight was the night he planned to risk it all and nothing was going to stop him.Finally, he busted threw the double doors leading inside, slamming them shut behind him and taking out a deep breath that he h...
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