His hand shot out, gripping her chin tighter, forcing her to meet his eyes “listen carefully and make sure this words stick in your head” “You belong to me, I own you. No matter how far you run.. i will find you and then the next time you try to escape, I will make sure you are in a wheelchair for the rest of your life. Do you understand?” Rosa’s body shook as his words sank in, each one a cold sharp blade, she nodded unable to form words. ******* Sold to Italy's most feared mafia don to repay her father's debt, Rosa's life becomes a prison. Her only way out? Escape - even if it means running while eight months pregnant. But one wrong move leads to betrayal, a bullet, and her disappearance. Years later, Rosa reemerges as Jia - a new name, a new life, a loving husband, and twin children. She's finally free... or so she thinks. When fate brings her face to face with Silvio, the man she fled, Jia must hide the truth at all costs. But with each encounter, danger grows and so does a forbidden attraction
ดูเพิ่มเติมMay4th
On the night of her 20th birthday, Rosa sat on her bed, her fingers tracing the sides of a photograph. A picture of her and her parents from a time when things were easy. They were smiling, she sighed, brushing her hand over the surface.
"I miss us" she whispered
The sound of raised voices echoed through her room.Her parents were arguing again, She didn't need to hear the words to know it was bad
Rosa glanced out the window, watching the
daylight fades, It was supposed to be a joyful night..a celebration of the years behind her, the woman she was becoming.
Her father had never been like this. He had once been the soft-hearted man who would joke with her at the dinner table, who would spin her around the living room in a dance whenever her favorite song came on. But that was before the business failed, before the gambling took hold, before everything unraveled. She had been sixteen when it started.
Now, it felt like her family, her home and her life was just a shadow of what it had been. She pressed the photo to her chest
Suddenly, her mother's scream cut through the
night.
Rosa's heart lurched. She knew that scream. It meant things had gone too far, she didn't think, just reacted. Her legs carried her out of the room.
When she reached the living room, her mother was laying on the floor, hands pressed against her face. Her father stood close.
Rosa's fists clenched as she moved to her mother, blocking her from view. She stood between them, her voice low but fierce "Dad, you've done enough"
He turned "Shut up, you brat.
Now you have the guts to talk back to your father?"
Rosa didn't flinch. Words with him were useless now. She bent down beside her mother, her hands gentle but urgent as she helped her up "Let's go to my room, Mom" she said, her voice steady despite the fear bubbling inside.
" where do you both, think you are going?" Fabio's voice rose
Rosa straightened, meeting his glare with a defiance that burned hotter than her fear "To a place where we don't have to see your face."
Without warning, Fabio's hand cut through the air, and a sharp sting exploded across Rosa's cheek. Her head whipped to the side, her hair flying, blocking the tears that had welled up.
"Fabio!" Hana screamed, she rushed forward, shoving him away then wrapped one arm around Rosa, pulling her close. Her other hand shot out, pointing a trembling finger at Fabio "Don't you dare lay a finger on my daughter!"
Fabio sneered "Teach your daughter some respect, then. Never speak to me like that again"
He then strode to the small couch and pulled out a cigarette.. lighting it with deliberate slowness. The thick smoke curled up in the cramped room.
"Are you okay, Rosa?" Hana's voice cracked as she leaned down, her fingers brushing Rosa's face.
Rosa nodded silently, but her eyes moved to her father and she felt a pang in her chest, before she could stop it.. the tears began to fall, hot and unstoppable.
How had it come to this? How had the man she once loved turned into a stranger she feared?
She wrapped her arms around her mother and together they turned to leave. But Fabio's next words froze them both in their tracks.
"Get your daughter ready. Tomorrow, Silvio Romano’s men are coming to get her. He and I made a deal” his voice cold and detached like the words were casual as any other
Rosa and her mother turned slowly, the weight
of Fabio's words still hanging in the air, Rosa opened her mouth but the words stuck in her throat.
"What deal?"
Fabio's smile was cold, a flash of something
dark behind his eyes. "A deal that's going to
change everything for you... for us"
Hana took a step forward, her hand trembling
at her side. "What deal did you make with
that monster of a man?"
Fabio's eyes flicked to her with a sharp, calculating glance "She's been sold to him" he said, "The contract's already signed and by tomorrow, Silvio's men will be here to take her."
Rosa's stomach twisted, the ground seemed to disappear beneath her feet,
Hana's face contorted in disbelief. In a flash of rage, she lunched herself at Fabio, her fingers gripping his shirt "You are despicable."
Rosa stood frozen, she couldn't tear her eyes away from her father, the man she once trusted. She couldn't process the words he had just spoken, the cold finality in his voice. He had sold her.
Was this a nightmare? She had seen things like this happen in movies, heard about it in whispers... but this was her reality.
Her breath came in shallow gasps as the tears finally came again. She wiped them away but they kept coming, each one heavier than the last.
Fabio peeled Hana's hand from his collar with a lazy ease as if nothing had happened. He straightened his shirt, then took a long, deliberate drag from a cigarette.
"Go pack up her things" Fabio's words cut through the air like a knife "By morning, Silvio's men will be here"
Hana's knees buckled and she pressed a trembling hand to her mouth. Her eyes darted from Fabio to Rosa, disbelief freezing her in place. This couldn't be the same man she had married--the man she had fallen in love with. He was a stranger now, a monster in a man's body.
"You have to kill me first before I let my daughter live with such a man”
Fabio's cold laugh echoed through the room, but his eyes never left Hanna’s. "You really think I care about your opinion? This is the moment Rosa pays me back for everything I've given her. I gave her the best life, didn't I?"
Rosa’s voice tremble with a fury she could no longer contain “pay you back?” She took a shaky
step forward, her hands balled into a tight fist "I don't owe you anything. Not even Mom owes you"
Her words landed like a slap but they didn't stop Fabio. He smirked, stepping closer to Rosa with slow, strides. Hana's heart squeezed as she watched him, fear creeping up her spine
Rosa's breath hitched, waiting for the sting of his hand.But when it came, it was not a slap-it was something worse. Fabio's fingers curled in the air
His hand crashed down onto her hair, gripping it with merciless force. Rosa gasped, pain shooting through her scalp.
She struggled to pull away but he yanked her head back, forcing her to meet his gaze.
"Look at me Rosa.” he growled
Rosa's vision blurred with tears, but she refused to look away.
Hana lunged forward, her hands reaching out, desperate to pull Fabio off. Before she could get close.. he shoved her aside with a force that sent her stumbling to the ground.
As Silvio moved cautiously down the hallway, he spotted four armed men up ahead. They were facing forward, unaware that he was already behind them. Silvio raised his guns and immediately opened fire.Before they could turn or retaliate, the men collapsed, blood seeping from their wounds, their bodies twitching but still. Silvio paused for a moment…ensuring they were down, then stepped out of the resort into the darkness. He cautiously peered around a corner, scanning for any signs of more threats.Suddenly, he felt the cold press of a gun against his neck. Silvio froze."Drop your weapons" a voice commanded.Silvio didn't comply, as the man's finger tightened on the trigger, Silvio acted in a flash.He slammed his elbow into the man's stomach, forcing the gun from his hand. Silvio kicked it aside then twisted the man's arm, bringing him to his knees. He snatched the weapon and slammed the butt into the man's neck.The attacker grunted, choking on the pain.. Silvio shoved him against
Silvio turned toward Jia, who stood frozen..her eyes locked on the fallen bodies.He closed the distance between them, his hand settling firmly on her shoulder "Jia" he murmured She blinked then slowly lifting her gaze to meet his"We need to move. Now"Her lips parted but she didn't respond with words. Instead—she nodded, her eyes still wide with disbelief. Silvio's hand tightened around hers and they hurried toward the exist.As they stepped out of the room, two men came speeding toward them. Jia's breath caught in her throat but Silvio was faster. His gun was out in a flash, two shots ringing out..hitting their legs. The men fell, groaning..unable to chase after them.They didn't slow their pace, but just as they neared the end of the vvip floor, two more men appeared from the left, and another two emerged from the right, each armed with heavy sticks. Silvio's grip on Jia tightened as he scanned their options."What do we do?" Jia's whisper trembled in the air behind him.Silvio
The sky was darkening as Jia finished her photo shoot. She wrapped a silky white robe over her shoulders and gave her goodbyes to the crew before heading toward the resort's entrance.When she reached the elevator, she pressed the button and adjusted the robe, smoothing out the wrinkles. Just as she was about to check her phone— the elevator doors slid open. Jia looked up to find two men standing inside, both dressed in black leather jackets.One was tall, the other shorter and both wore expressions that could cut through steel. Their eyes were cold, unreadable.She gripped her phone tighter, almost feeling the weight of her decision. Taking a deep breath, Jia stepped into the elevator, pressing the button for the top floor-the VVIP level The doors glided shut with a soft thud and the elevator began its ascent, each floor passed only adding to the tightness in her chest. The silence was oppressive, making her stomach churn Then, suddenly..a phone buzzed behind her. One of the me
Silvio's reflexes snapped into action, his shoes hit the ground in a flash and he jumped into the water with no second thought He searched frantically, his heart thudding in his chest, calling her name but there was no sign of her "Jia!" His voice cracked through the water He dove again, holding his breath..his eyes darting through the murky depths. And then—through the haze of the water, he saw her..her body sinking, limp and still.With one powerful stroke, he reached her. His hands closed around her..pulling her with all the strength he had, swimming toward the shore.He laid her down on the cold rocks, his hands pressing against her chest but there was no response.Panic clawed at him, he didn't know if he was too late. He tilted her head back and opened her mouth, blowing air into her lungs, then pressed again on her chest, harder this time. Still nothing.His heart pounded as he worked, a cold fear clenching in his chest… He couldn't lose herAnd then, just as the darkness
In the underground garage, Enzo leaned against his car, waiting for Jia. A few minutes later—she arrived."Let's go, Enzo” Jia said, making her way toward the door.But Enzo's voice stopped her "I'm waiting for Silvio" he said, his tone firm.Jia paused and turned toward him, confusion creasing her brow "What for?"Enzo's gaze fixed on the approaching figures."To take back my necklace"Before Jia could respond, Silvio and his men neared, heading for his car. Enzo pushed himself off the car and rushed toward Silvio. But before he could get close.. one of Silvio's men shoved him violently. Enzo stumbled and fell to the groundJia rushed to his side, helping him up "Let's just go home Enzo" she whispered, her voice soft but insistent Enzo gently removed her hands from his. His eyes remained fixed on Silvio "You tricked me into spending so much money on something worthless” he said, his voice filled with frustrationSilvio scoffed, not even glancing at him "Your foolishness broug
The next evening.. Jia and Enzo arrived at the private auction house. Jia wore a straight white gown that embraced her curves, paired with a long blonde fringe wig and black glasses..making her almost unrecognizable They were guided to their seats and the room filled quickly. As the last guest settled into their chair, the auctioneer stepped up to the stage. He flashed a warm, inviting smile "Ladies and gentlemen, we begin tonight's auction…” All of a sudden, a heavy set of footsteps echoed through the room, causing several guests to turn..their murmurs spreading quickly The auctioneer's smile wavered and he lowered his head in a quick bow. Jia and Enzo followed his gaze.. both looking toward the entrance.Jia's pulse faltered. There—standing tall and commanding attention, was Silvio. Their eyes locked, a brief but intense moment.Enzo stiffened beside her, his face fell as he followed her gaze, His grip on the armrest grew tight ..his knuckles white.Silvio was led to a prime
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