All Chapters of Cruel Attraction: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

We headed to the locker room, the silence between us comfortable. Ace knew when to push and when to back off, and for that, I was grateful. We showered quickly, the hot water soothing my aching muscles.After getting dressed, we made our way to the living room. The house was quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos that usually surrounded me. My eyes landed on the wedding photo that still hung on the wall, a painful reminder of what once was."Still got that up, huh?" Ace said, nodding toward the picture."Yeah," I replied, my voice rough. "Can't seem to take it down."Ace's eyes narrowed as he looked at me. "So, after longing for her for the past seven years, you're just gonna let her off the hook? Just like that?"I clenched my fists, the anger boiling just beneath the surface. "It was her idea, Ace. The divorce. If it were up to me, I’d never let her go. But I love her enough to let her do what she thinks she needs to do."Ace scoffed, shaking his head. "Love her enough to let her run

GabriellaIt had been five days since I last spoke to Giovanni. Five days of dodging his calls, canceling our plans, and moving on my own. The guilt of doubting him gnawed at me, but the fear that he might have betrayed me was stronger. He tried to talk to me, but I kept turning him down. This was better. I had too many things on my mind.I sat at the kitchen table, trying to focus on the mundane task of eating breakfast. Allistori was there, too. He had come early to check on things and to talk. Despite my lingering suspicions about his behavior, I let him in for old times' sake. But he was acting strange, his demeanor making me uneasy. He looked at me like he was up to something, and it sent a chill down my spine."So, Allistori," I said, trying to break the tension. "What brings you here so early?"He gave me a tight smile, his eyes never leaving mine. "Just wanted to see how you were doing. It's been a while since we've had a proper chat."I nodded, taking a sip of my coffee. "Yea

GiovanniThe underground headquarters felt like a pressure cooker ready to explode. I slammed my fist on the table, scattering the maps and documents. “We need to move now!” I roared, glaring at the men around me. “My father has had control over us for too long.”Ace, standing nearby, nodded. “We’ve located his main operations. We hit them all at once.”I cut him off. “No mistakes. If anyone screws this up, they’ll answer to me.”The room fell silent. They knew better than to cross me when I was this mad. My father’s grip on us wasn’t just a threat—it was a stranglehold, and I was ready to break it.“Ace,” I growled, “I want the traitors found. Now. I want names.”“We’re working on it,” Ace replied, trying to stay calm.“Work faster,” I snapped. “I’m done playing games.”As the men scattered to prepare, I stayed behind, my mind racing. The image of Gabriella, locked in our mansion, wouldn’t leave my thoughts. She was beyond furious with me, and I knew she would be pacing the room, rea

I couldn’t sit still. My study was a cage, the damn clock on the wall ticking off every second like a countdown to hell. Every tick was a reminder of the precariousness of my new position, every tock a whisper of the danger lurking just outside. My mind raced, but one image burned through the chaos—Gabriella, locked up upstairs for her own damn safety. It was a mess, but hell, it was the only way.The meeting earlier that day had scared the shit out of me. Not for myself but for her and also for our son. It’s all a mess. I killed their king, but they won’t accept me that easily as his replacement. How come my father still has influence even after his death? My blood boiled at the thought. I kicked a chair, watching it crash against the wall."Damn it, Gabriella," I muttered, frustration lacing my words. Why’d she have to be so headstrong? Last time, she nearly got herself killed, thinking she could negotiate with those backstabbers who pretended loyalty to my old man.Enough. I had to

Third Person's POV The drive to the venue was quick, the streets of New York blurring past as they discussed their strategy for the evening. "Remember, tonight's about solidifying connections. We need to reassure our current allies and maybe even draw a few new ones into the fold," Giovanni instructed, his tone now all business.Gabriella nodded, her mind already running through the list of guests. "I’ll handle the Hendersons. They've been waffling since the last shake-up. It’s time to secure their loyalty.""And I'll take care of the Martins. They've been too quiet lately. I want to know where they stand," Giovanni added, his eyes narrowing slightly as he considered the potential threat.The car pulled up to the opulent venue, the grand entrance illuminated by elegant lighting that cast long, dramatic shadows. They stepped out, immediately greeted by the flash of cameras and the murmur of the high society gathered there. Their arrival had not gone unnoticed, and as they walked in, t