Thank you all for the gems and reviews. I plan to do regular updates from now onwards since I am feeling better now and on regular medication that's helping greatly. Thank you all for your concern. I am planning on stepping up the chapters for the times that I missed, so stay tuned and please continue to support me. Thank you all.
Ignoring the sudden quiet around them, Rene's eyes remained locked on Benjamin as he took a slow breath, allowing the weight of the silence in the room to settle. Benjamin, still clutching his nose, was struggling to maintain his composure. The tension between them crackled in the air as Rene stepped closer, his voice calm yet full of authority."Option one, apologize to my wife," Rene said, his tone cold and uncompromising. His gaze bore into Benjamin, leaving no room for negotiation. "Option two, apologize to my wife."Benjamin hesitated, glancing nervously between Rene and Maria. He wiped the blood from his nose again, the fear in his eyes clear now."I… I’m sorry," he muttered under his breath, barely audible.Rene didn’t move, his posture still intimidating. "Louder," he demanded. "And look her in the eyes when you say it."With a shaky breath, Benjamin straightened up and turned toward Maria. His voice cracked as he forced the words out. "I’m… I’m sorry, Maria. I shouldn’t have—
With his phone pressed against his ear, he paced his office, the soft click of his shoes echoing against the polished floor. He paused by the large window, staring out at the city lights twinkling below, his mind focused on a single thought, 'Kia was becoming a problem.'He needed to handle this carefully, and for that, he needed the support of a much bigger player—Carlo Rossi.With a smirk tugging at his lips, Leonardo listened to it ring. It rang a couple of times before a gruff voice answered. "Mr. Varga.""Mr. Rossi," Leonardo said smoothly, his tone dripping with casual confidence. "I trust you’re well?"There was a slight pause on the other end before Carlo responded, his voice more guarded now. "Of course I am.""I see. That is good to know since I bear bad news and don't intend to raise your blood pressure. I am considerate, unlike your son-in-law-""What is that supposed to mean."Holding back his tongue for a moment, Leonardo leaned back in his chair and then let out a soft
With a scowl, Leonardo Varga walked into the dimly lit lounge, the scent of whiskey and cigars hanging in the air. His eyes scanned the room until he spotted Benjamin Leland slouched at the bar, nursing a drink. A casual smirk curved his lips, and Leonardo strode over, his polished shoes clicking against the wooden floor."Benjamin," he greeted smoothly, sliding into the seat next to him. "Rough today?"Sighing deeply, Benjamin glanced at Leonardo through bloodshot eyes, his face still bruised and swollen from the earlier encounter. "You could say that," he muttered, swirling his drink. "I’m sure you’ve already heard about my little… incident."Leonardo chuckled lightly, signaling the bartender to bring him a drink. "I did. It’s all anyone’s talking about. You, getting humiliated by some no-name like Kia. Unbelievable."As his eyes hardened, Benjamin’s grip tightened around his glass, his knuckles turning white. "I don’t want to talk about it.""Fair enough," Leonardo said, taking
Holding back his words, Rene scratched at his eyes, struggling to rein in the flood of emotions threatening to spill over. His pulse was racing, and just as he was about to respond to Carlo’s cutting words, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out, ignoring the frustrated glances from the rest of the Rossi family.Carlo’s brow furrowed in disbelief, his sharp gaze cutting through the room. "You dare ignore me? After everything I’ve said?"But Rene didn’t answer right away. Instead, he glanced at the phone screen and saw it was his father calling. He immediately felt a wave of relief—anything to pull him out of this tense situation. He met Maria’s concerned gaze, sensing her unease.“I have to take this,” Rene said, his voice low, though he knew it wouldn’t ease the tension in the room.Maria’s eyes widened slightly, and she reached out, gently grabbing his arm. “Kia, don’t... he’ll take offense if you walk off now. This isn’t-”Before she could finish, Rene leaned in, kiss
Closing the door behind him, Rene stepped into their bedroom and brought the phone to his ear."Rene," Rome’s voice came through with a mix of irritation and concern. "Are you trying to give your mother a heart attack? You promised to call her back, and you didn’t. What’s going on with you today?"Leaning against the edge of the bed, Rene sighed deeply. "Dad, I’m sorry. Too much has been happening today. I didn’t mean to worry her.""Too much?... You mean the attempted accident on you and Maria, or the little altercation with Benjamin Leland? Which one are we talking about here?""Of course, you already know... Both. It’s been a long day, Dad. Can we talk about it more tomorrow? I need to sort through all of this. Can you send someone to pick me up so we can meet up?""Of course. I’ll have someone there as soon as possible. But Rene, take care of yourself. This is serious, and I don’t like how things are escalating." Glancing toward the door as he heard the soft footsteps approachin
The soft light of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Maria stirred in her sleep, her face peaceful and relaxed, tangled in the soft sheets. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the light. The first thing she noticed was Rene.He was lying beside her, propped up on one elbow, watching her with a gentle smile. His dark eyes softened with affection, and his fingers absentmindedly played with a strand of her hair. The warmth of his gaze made her heart swell. It was a rare sight—Rene, so unguarded, so completely hers in this quiet moment.“Morning,” Maria whispered, her voice still thick with sleep as she shifted closer to him, nuzzling against his chest. “Morning,” Rene murmured back, brushing his thumb lightly across her cheek. His voice was deeper in the early hours, rich with that sleepy warmth that made her want to stay wrapped up in bed with him forever.For a while, they just stayed like that, the world outside forgotten. The tension o
As the tension in the room thickened, Maria’s heart sank, and her fingers trembled slightly as they gripped the edge of her chair. Across the table, her grandfather narrowed his eyes at Rene, his steely gaze demanding an explanation."And why is that?" Carlo asked, his voice low and dangerous, barely masking his displeasure.Rene, calm and unbothered, leaned back in his chair, meeting the older man’s gaze without flinching. “I have to go to work,” he said, his tone casual but carrying an edge.Carlo’s brow furrowed. “Work? I wasn’t aware that work was more important than keeping the peace between families. What kind of job could possibly take priority over this?”Rene’s lips curved into a faint smile. He knew exactly how to shift the power in the room. “Mr. Gunnar expects me to be at the office all the time... I can't just excuse him because of someone like Benjamin, can I?” he said, letting the name hang in the air with just the right amount of weight.At the mention of Mr. Gunnar
In the dimly lit office of Rossi Enterprises, Jason leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming on the table. His jaw was set, his patience wearing thin. Across from him, Antonio paced the room, his expression a storm cloud of frustration. The silence between them was heavy, broken only by the soft ticking of the wall clock.“Kia’s really grown wings since he started working with Gunnar,” Jason finally said, his voice laced with irritation. “He’s been acting like he’s untouchable. If we don’t clip them soon, he’s going to be a real problem.”As Antonio stopped pacing, his eyes narrowed, and he sighed, "You’re not wrong. Kia’s getting cocky, thinking he’s bigger than this family. We can’t let him run loose, not with the connections he’s building... He's getting good at using powerful people's names as a shield."Jason leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with an almost predatory glint. “So, what do we do? We need to send a message. If we let this slide, it’ll only make us look weak.”
The morning sunlight spilled across the marble floor, golden and warm but not quite enough to soften the tension thickening inside the Rossi estate. Even though it has been two weeks, the walls in the mansion still whisper about the day Jason was slapped and every soul knew about it now.Madam Rossi stood in the hallway, quiet and still, her silk robe brushing softly against her ankles as she listened to the muffled voice of her husband behind the half-open door to his study.He had been up since before dawn, pacing, commanding, orchestrating this celebration as if the fate of the family hung on the thread of imported seafood and ambient lighting.She took a sip of her coffee. Bitter. She didn’t flinch.Inside the study, Mr. Rossi was in full control mode.“I don’t care how rare they are, Alberto,” he snapped into the phone. “You find the scallops. Pay triple if you must. I won’t serve frozen shrimp like some sad cruise buffet.”A pause, then he waved his hand as if dismissing a perso
As his gaze darted across the room, Rene kept the phone pressed tightly to his ear, Gunnar's voice echoing again on the other end."Hello, boss."The words rang in Rene's ear, but he stood motionless, letting the sound linger for a moment longer than necessary. He could feel the stares digging into his skin, hot and prickling, as if the entire room was holding its breath... waiting.After another moment of silent, Jason's frustration burst first."We can’t hear a damn thing from over there!" he snapped. "Put it on speaker, Kia. Now. Let us hear it ring so we can know when he answer.""Yeah, come on," Juan added, arms crossed, leaning forward. "Let’s all hear what he has to say.""If it’s the truth," Luis said, with a crooked smile, "you shouldn’t mind sharing it.""He’s right," Bianca chimed in, her voice cool. "Let Mr. Gunnar confirm that you weren’t with Layla. Or should we be calling her instead?"Even Vittoria, usually more reserved, nodded. "If you want to proof your inocence, It
The silence stretched, taut and expectant. The question lingered in the air like smoke... where was he this morning?Rene’s gaze swept the room, pausing momentarily on each face. They were waiting. Wanting. Ready to pounce.He could feel Maria beside him, her stillness louder than any words she could speak. And that silence... her silence, was what cut the deepest.He inhaled slowly, deliberately. “I wasn’t with Layla.”“Then who?” Madam Rossi’s voice cracked through the air like a whip.Staring at the stone-cold faces in the room, Rene hesitated, knowing full well the weight of the name he was about to speak. “Mr. Gunnar.”The room went still. Like a spell had been cast. Even the distant ticking of the grandfather clock seemed to pause.Mr. Rossi’s expression barely shifted, but Rene saw it. A flicker. Not a surprise. Not suspicion. Fear.It was enough.Rene locked eyes with the family patriarch and took a step forward, voice steady. “Yes. I was with Mr. Gunnar this morning. He reque
The sun dipped low over the horizon as Rene guided the car along the winding road back to the Rossi estate. Shadows stretched long across the dashboard, golden light dancing on Maria’s face. She hadn’t said much since they left the restaurant.Instead, she kept her gaze fixed on her phone, screen dimmed but not turned off. Her thumb hovered near the edge, as if deciding whether to press the number or not.Rene glanced at her, his fingers lightly drumming on the steering wheel. "You’ve been quiet."Maria didn’t look up."Everything okay?" he asked."Mmm.""That the same 'mmm' you give when you’re lying to me or the one when you’re annoyed at me?"She finally looked at him, but her smile didn’t reach her eyes. "Neither. Just thinking."Rene tilted his head, eyebrows raised. "About?"Maria took one last look at the number glowing faintly on her screen. Then slowly, deliberately, she pressed the side button. The screen went black."Nothing," she said.Rene didn’t believe her. He didn’t pu
The elevator doors slid shut, sealing Jason inside with his grandmother. The silence settled thick between them, unforgiving, heavy, like a noose tightening with each breath.Madam Rossi turned slowly, her gaze fixed on him with the cold weight of generations behind it."You should be ashamed," she said, her brows snapping together. "You stand there, hands in your pockets, watching your fiancée crumble under scrutiny... and you say nothing? You let her lie to you-to us. Do you think silence makes you honorable?"Jason’s jaw clenched, but he said nothing.Madam Rossi’s lips curled into a scowl. "You are a Rossi. You were raised better than this. If Layla is slipping, you are the one who should rein her in. It is your responsibility to keep your woman in check."His nostrils flared. “And what about Maria?” he snapped.Looking away from him for a second, Madam Rossi’s eyes narrowed.“She’s married, isn’t she?” Jason pressed. “To a man who doesn't even act as a Rossi should. But do I see
The sharp slam of Juan’s voice still echoed in Madam Rossi’s ears as she sat motionless behind her desk.Her nails tapped against the armrest... an erratic, frustrated rhythm. For a moment, she thought about pouring herself a drink, something dark and bitter to match the aftertaste of that conversation. But even that felt too indulgent.Instead, with a sharp breath, she stood.The air in her office was thick... thicker than it had any right to be. She needed out.Throwing on her tailored black overcoat, she moved to the door, pushing it open with more force than necessary. Her assistant, a young woman named Eloise, perked up from her desk outside, immediately rising.“Ma’am-”“I’m going for a walk,” Madam Rossi snapped without breaking stride.“Should I call for the car? Or-”“No.” The word came like a tense command. “Do not follow me.”Eloise froze, halfway to grabbing her clipboard. “Of course, ma’am,” she said softly, bowing her head.Madam Rossi didn’t bother to respond. She march
The soft clink of silverware and the murmured conversations of other customers barely reached Maria's ears as she followed Rene through the charming little bistro he had chosen.The place was tucked away on a quiet street... one of those trendy new spots where the lighting was warm, the walls were lined with eclectic art, and the staff treated every customer like royalty. It was the kind of place Rene always gravitated toward... intimate, curated, just a little indulgent.“Here we are,” Rene said gently, pulling her chair out with a flourish. “The best seat in the house.”Meeting his gaze for a second, Maria allowed a small smile as she sat, smoothing the hem of her skirt as she settled in.She wasn’t fully relaxed, but she appreciated the gesture. He always knew how to charm. Even now, after the tension that lingered like a fog around them, he knew exactly how to make her feel special.The waitress approached with a practiced smile. “Welcome to Villa di Fiore. May I get you started w
As the ticking sound of the clock echoed in the room, Maria sat hunched over her desk, the golden afternoon light casting long shadows across the stacks of documents she’d been ignoring for a while.Now, they were her fortress. Every page she skimmed, every note she scrawled, every report she pretended to analyze, it was all a battle tactic. A desperate attempt to quiet the gnawing ache in her chest. She wouldn’t let herself think of Rene. Not his voice, not his absence, not the way the silence of the morning had stretched like a cruel whisper through her bones. She buried herself in figures and forecasts, anything to dull the truth: she was worried. And even though she dreaded the thought of it, she was scared.As she was about to sign the document, her office phone rang.Maria flinched, her pen freezing mid-word. She swallowed hard and forced herself to answer, her voice calm. “Yes?”“Ma’am?” Cassie’s voice chirped from the other end. “Your husband just walked into the building.”M
Maria didn’t flinch. Not even a blink. Jason’s voice and words were provoking enough, but she was far too seasoned, too calculated, to give him the performance he wanted.“Harassing?” she repeated, her tone light, almost amused. She looked up at him with a faint, pitying smile. “Jason, you really should stop mistaking concern for confrontation. It makes you look… insecure.”Clarisse’s eyes widened slightly, her lips parting in quiet surprise at Maria’s restraint, though Maria caught the small twitch at the corner of her mouth.Still trying to push his narrative, Jason scowled. “You have no business interrogating her like that.”Maria turned to Clarisse, giving her a small, respectful nod. “My apologies, Mrs. Leonti. I let worry get the better of me.”Clarisse placed a gloved hand gently over Maria’s wrist. “No harm done, dear. I understand.” Her gaze flicked briefly to Jason, a flash of something critical behind the practiced warmth.Without another glance in his direction, Maria walk