Luca’s POVI watched her from the corner of my eye as she stood by the window, her posture stiff, her eyes distant. Emma. She had been like this since I picked her up from the penthouse—quiet, withdrawn, as if the weight of what was happening between us had finally started to settle in. Not that I cared. At least, not in the way she wanted me to. My life was built on control, and I wasn’t about to let her slip from my grasp just because she had second thoughts.I could tell she was uncomfortable. That was the point.I hadn’t expected her to be this way—so resigned, so willing to follow. But then again, this was all part of the plan. She was mine. She had always been mine. Whether she liked it or not. And I wasn’t about to lose her to some weak-willed rebellion. This was my world, and I was its king.The jet was quiet as it lifted off the tarmac, the hum of the engines barely reaching my ears as I sat back in the leather seat, fingers idly tracing the edge of my phone. Business as usua
Emma’s POVThe mansion loomed in front of me, more imposing than ever, as I stood frozen on the marble floor, staring at the opulence around me. The walls were lined with expensive paintings and crystal chandeliers that cast a soft glow on the floor. The place smelled faintly of leather and rich perfume, an intoxicating mixture of luxury and control. I could feel it all around me—the money, the power, the suffocating weight of it.This was my life now. Whether I liked it or not, Luca had made sure of that.I glanced toward him as he led me through the halls, his steps purposeful, his presence so commanding that it almost felt like the very air shifted when he entered a room. I had no choice but to follow, my legs stiff, my body protesting against every movement, every step that took me further into his world.He didn’t even glance back to see if I was keeping up. Of course, he didn’t need to. He knew I had no choice but to comply, no choice but to follow him wherever he went. His eyes
Luca’s POVI watched her, every small movement, every subtle shift in her expression. Emma was a puzzle. A challenge I couldn’t quite solve yet. She thought she could defy me, thought she could play this game on her terms. But she didn’t understand—this was my world, and in my world, no one ever got away.I stood at the large window in the grand living room, overlooking the manicured gardens and the estate that stretched for miles. It was all mine, a result of years of hard work, ruthless decisions, and an unwavering will. I had built this empire from the ground up, and I wasn’t about to let anyone, especially her, threaten it.I heard the faint sound of her footsteps approaching, her presence filling the room with an invisible weight. She was quiet, too quiet. I could almost feel her thoughts, the resistance she was still holding onto. She wasn’t ready to accept this life yet, and I could see the rebellion in her eyes whenever she thought I wasn’t looking.But I’d break her. Slowly.
Emma’s POVI sat at the polished dining table, the wine glass in front of me untouched. Luca’s presence still lingered in the air, his dark gaze seeping into every corner of the room. His words echoed in my mind, a constant reminder of the cage I was trapped in, though he believed I was just playing a game. He didn’t realize—I wasn’t playing anymore. This wasn’t a game. This was survival.He had made his point clear. The money, the power—it was all just a tool for him. I could feel it, the way he used everything around him to control every aspect of his world. And now, I was part of it, caught in a web spun by a man who treated billions like pocket change, who threw around money the way most people threw words. He had made it clear that I was his possession—whether I liked it or not.I wanted to break free from this, from him, but I couldn’t. Not anymore."Drink your wine, Emma," Luca's voice cut through the silence, his tone cold and commanding.I didn’t look up, didn’t acknowledge h
Luca’s POVI leaned back in the plush leather chair, my eyes flicking over the stacks of paperwork in front of me. Each piece represented a deal, a transaction, a power shift. But today, I couldn’t focus on any of it. My mind kept drifting back to her—Emma. The way she had looked at me earlier, that mix of fear and defiance that only made me want to claim her more. She was mine now, whether she wanted to admit it or not.But the tension between us had grown thicker. I could see it in the way she avoided my gaze, in the way she flinched every time I moved too close. It was a game, and she was playing it well. But I could see through the act. I always could. Emma would break. They all did.I stood up, the chair scraping against the marble floor with a soft hiss. My thoughts weren’t going to settle until I took control of the situation again. I couldn’t stand the idea of her slipping away, of her thoughts lingering on the life she once had. It was a distant memory now. This was her reali
Emma’s POVI could feel him watching me.Luca’s presence in the room was suffocating, even when he wasn’t near. It lingered in the air, thick and heavy, just like the opulent surroundings of the penthouse. The designer furniture, the expensive artwork adorning the walls, the sparkling chandeliers—everything screamed power, wealth, and control. And yet, none of it meant a thing compared to the weight of Luca’s gaze. It was as though his eyes could strip me bare, seeing through the act I put on every day.But he was right about one thing. I wasn’t like him. I didn’t crave this life. This world of excess, where money flowed like water and power was something to be wielded without mercy. It disgusted me. I wasn’t sure if it was his indifference or the fact that he had everything and still wanted more that irked me the most. But he wasn’t just any man. He was Luca Moretti. A mafia billionaire with a reputation that left even the most hardened criminals in awe.And yet, here I was—his unwil
Luca’s POVThe city sprawled beneath me like a glittering map of my empire. From this vantage point in the penthouse, I could see the lights flickering in the distance, the busy streets, and the occasional flash of luxury cars driving by—each a symbol of the wealth I had built. It had all come so effortlessly, like the smooth and calculated movements of a predator in the night. Everything I wanted, I took. And now, I had her.Emma.She stood at the far side of the room, her back turned to me as she stared out at the city, her body tense. I could feel the electricity in the air, the unsaid words, the tension that hung between us like a fragile thread. She didn’t want to admit it, but I knew she was drawn to me, even if she hated herself for it. She fought it every step of the way, but she was already mine. I could see it in the way she looked at me, the way her body responded to my presence.But that wasn’t enough for me. Not nearly enough.I had never been one to play fair. I had neve
Emma’s POVThe weight of Luca's words lingered in my mind, heavy and suffocating. The arrogance in his voice, the undeniable conviction in his eyes—he was so sure of himself, so certain that I belonged to him. But I refused to believe it. I couldn’t. No matter what he’d given me, no matter how much power and wealth he paraded in front of me, I wasn’t his. I was my own person, and I would never be controlled by someone like him.Still, a part of me couldn’t help but feel the way my heart raced whenever he was near. Every word he spoke felt like a knife twisting inside me, a reminder of just how dangerous he was. His power wasn’t just in the wealth he commanded, or the men he controlled, or the empire he built—it was in the way he could make me feel things I didn’t want to feel.I had told myself that I’d never let him get to me, that I’d never let him break me. But with every passing day, I felt myself inching closer to the edge of that line.The penthouse felt oppressive today, the wa
Emma’s & Luca’s POV (Combined POV, Epilogue)Emma’s POVI had always wondered if love was something that could truly save you. I used to think it was just a fleeting feeling, something that passed, something that couldn’t bear the weight of life’s complexities. But standing here, with Luca beside me, I realized that love wasn’t just a feeling—it was a force. A force that had pulled us through the worst of times and brought us to this moment.I watched Luca from across the room. He was sitting at the desk in the study, looking out over the sprawling estate that had once felt like a prison, but now felt like a home. The weight of the past was still there, but it wasn’t a burden anymore. It was just a part of us, woven into the fabric of who we had become.Luca’s hand moved over the documents in front of him, but his focus was elsewhere. He was thinking, just like I was. About everything we had overcome. About everything we had fought for.I stood up and walked over to him slowly, the ba
Emma’s POVThe morning light filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm, golden glow over the room. I could feel the weight of Luca’s body beside me, his steady breathing a comforting sound. It had been a long time since I had woken up to this peace—this quiet certainty that, no matter what happened, everything would be okay.I shifted slightly in the bed, not wanting to disturb him, but craving the closeness that we shared. I rested my hand gently over my stomach, feeling the slight movement of the baby inside me. Our child. The child that had brought us closer, and in a way, had healed so many wounds between us.The events of the past few days seemed so far away now. The tension, the fear, the uncertainties—they all felt distant, replaced by something else. Something tangible. Something real.I glanced at Luca, his face relaxed in sleep, the hard lines of his jaw softened in a moment of vulnerability. It was a side of him I didn’t often get to see. The Luca I knew was the
Emma’s POVThe morning light filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm, golden glow over the room. I could feel the weight of Luca’s body beside me, his steady breathing a comforting sound. It had been a long time since I had woken up to this peace—this quiet certainty that, no matter what happened, everything would be okay.I shifted slightly in the bed, not wanting to disturb him, but craving the closeness that we shared. I rested my hand gently over my stomach, feeling the slight movement of the baby inside me. Our child. The child that had brought us closer, and in a way, had healed so many wounds between us.The events of the past few days seemed so far away now. The tension, the fear, the uncertainties—they all felt distant, replaced by something else. Something tangible. Something real.I glanced at Luca, his face relaxed in sleep, the hard lines of his jaw softened in a moment of vulnerability. It was a side of him I didn’t often get to see. The Luca I knew was the
Luca’s POVI stood in the doorway, watching Emma as she moved around the kitchen, her presence consuming every inch of the space. It was almost too much to take in. How many times had I found myself in this position, silently observing her, unsure of what the future held but knowing that she was the one constant I could rely on?Her pregnancy had shifted something between us. I could feel the change in the air. Not just because of the child we were expecting, but because of the subtle, quiet intimacy that had begun to envelop our relationship. It wasn’t the fiery passion we’d once known—though that still flickered beneath the surface—but something deeper, something that tethered us together. It was the unspoken promise of loyalty, of building something lasting. Together.I’d never been the type to wear my heart on my sleeve. I didn’t show vulnerability, not the way other men might. But with Emma, it was different.The silence between us was comfortable now. No longer thick with uncert
Emma’s POVI leaned against the counter, staring at the small, almost insignificant pregnancy test that lay there, staring back at me. It felt like the weight of the world was in that little plastic stick, its truth just hanging there, waiting for me to fully comprehend it. The reality of it was still so fresh, so surreal, that I couldn’t quite process it. I was pregnant. And Luca—my husband, my partner, my betrayer turned savior—was going to be a father. A father to the child we’d conceived out of love and conflict, joy and pain. The thought should have filled me with more fear, but it didn’t.Instead, it stirred something deeper. Something undeniably tender. It was as if this little person growing inside of me was a symbol of all that had happened and all that was yet to come.The door to the kitchen opened, and I didn’t need to turn to know it was Luca. I could feel him, his presence as palpable as ever. He had this way of walking into a room that made everything feel like it was h
Luca's POVThe tension in the air felt heavier than it had in days, suffocating me with each passing minute. Emma had asked for time, and for once, I was going to give it to her. The selfish part of me—the one that still longed to close the gap between us and erase the pain of the past—wanted to push, to demand things move forward. But I had learned my lesson the hard way. No more rushing, no more pressing her for answers or action. She was right. She needed space, and I was going to respect that. But that didn’t make the waiting any easier.I leaned against the doorframe, watching her from across the room. She was standing by the window, her back to me, as the soft glow of the evening light bathed her in warmth. Even from this distance, I could feel the pull between us, an invisible thread that tethered me to her, no matter how much I tried to resist it.It had been days since that conversation, the one where she told me she wasn’t sure about us. Days that had felt like weeks. I hadn
Emma's POVThe weight of the silence in the house was unbearable. Every step I took felt heavy, like my body was still trying to recover from the conversation with Luca. I couldn’t shake the image of him standing at the door, his hand frozen on the handle, his expression a mix of frustration and guilt. I knew he was struggling, but I wasn’t sure how much longer I could let him wear that expression on his face.I had given him the space he needed, the time he asked for, but it didn’t feel like enough. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the vulnerability in his gaze, the raw emotion he had tried so desperately to hide. He wasn’t the same man who had hurt me before; that much was clear. But was that enough for me to let him in again?My mind kept replaying everything that had happened between us. There had been so many promises, so many moments of tenderness, but I couldn’t erase the past. I couldn’t pretend that what had happened before didn’t matter. Luca had hurt me in ways I couldn’t
Luca's POVI could still feel her presence in the room, lingering like smoke long after she had gone. Emma had walked away, but the weight of her words had settled in my chest, a heavy reminder that things could never be as simple as I wanted them to be. There was a part of me that believed we could move forward together, but she wasn’t ready. She wasn’t ready to trust me. She wasn’t ready to forget all the things I had done to her.I stood at the door for a moment, my hand still hovering over the handle, but I couldn’t bring myself to turn back. The silence between us had become a wall, thicker than ever, and I wasn’t sure how to break it down. I wasn’t used to this kind of rejection, especially from someone who had once been my everything.I didn’t know what I expected when I had told her the truth, when I had tried to show her a side of me that I thought she could trust. But I had underestimated the depth of her pain. She wasn’t just angry at me; she was scared. Scared that I would
Emma's POVThe silence between us hung heavy, thicker than it ever had been. I had no idea what to say, no idea how to process the weight of what Luca had just told me. He wasn’t asking for forgiveness, he wasn’t asking for my love, but there was a quiet strength in his words. It was something I hadn’t expected. Maybe that was the problem: I didn’t know what to expect from him anymore. His actions, his words, had always been unpredictable—except when it came to the one thing that always stayed the same: his need to control.And now, he was asking me to let go of that control. To trust him, to give him the space to show me that he had changed. But the truth was, I didn’t know if I could. I didn’t know if I could ever stop seeing him as the man who had taken everything from me.My fingers tightened around the edge of the table, the sensation of the wood grounding me in a reality I wasn’t sure I wanted to face. Every part of me was screaming to pull away, to protect myself. To walk out o