Chapter: TWENTY-NINE: Little mortal.The ground was hard and cruelly cold beneath the sole of my feet as I hurried out of the four walls of that devilish enclosure. It seemed like a cult. A cult with unwell people and I wanted no part of it, I wanted no part in whatever those men just threw me in. My skin crawled with disgust at being licked as I ran into the night, my head whipping back occasionally to be sure I wasn't being pursued and I didn't stop looking behind me until I tripped on my own foot and tumbled down rough grounds, my body hitting with reckless abandon against several road bumps. Pain radiated through me and an agonizing scream left my lips, the birds in nearby trees flapping away. It was as though the wind held my weight and was effortlessly letting me roll over and I only stopped when my body lodged against a large rock. I lay there for a couple of moments sobbing from both ache and dizziness that followed. I was furious at myself for ever begging that god for a second chance and equally furi
Last Updated: 2026-05-21
Chapter: TWENTY-EIGHT: Thirty shevaris.All of a sudden they began chanting my name. “Ophelia! Call her out!” “Who is Ophelia?” The women whispered amongst themselves with genuine curiosity. I gradually lifted my face from where it was buried in my lap, a forlorn glint in my eyes as I turned from side to side in confusion. It couldn't be me they were calling, right? I had to have a namesake… The man who made the ‘fresh one’ comment suddenly crowded me, his shadow falling over my face as I stared up at him. “Aren’t you Ophelia, eh?” I wanted to shake my head in dismissal, tell him he had the wrong person but it was too late. He caught my wrist and tossed me out into the lion’s den. They weren't smiling now, no, they were glaring at me with straight faces, the kind you’d see only in horror films, the kind that was capable enough to randomly flash before your eyes in the worst possible moments. I heard my heart racing fast, weren't they all laughing just now? My vision twisted and spun under the women’s dar
Last Updated: 2026-05-14
Chapter: TWENTY-SEVEN: Pleasure court.OPHELIA.I had just puked water in his face. I gaped at him with a mortified expression, scared he’d react with irritation or try to dip himself to wash up but instead, he was cupping my soaked face, his palm cold beneath my warm skin. “Hey.” He stared at me with intent, it was as though he could read right through me.He didn't have to be here and I wished he were far away. I needed to breathe. I couldn't be this confused at this early stage in a world I hadn't yet understood.He was hard to comprehend and I should be caring about my survival; not whatever this was.“I’m sorry” I said quickly. “For throwing up in your face” He simply stared at me.“Thank…” A loud wail behind us cut my appreciation off. The water rippled as I turned around to see the boy I’d saved being pulled by the hair into an iron-caged carriage. What was happening?There were men in dark steel masks and an outfit that could pass for what people wore in the gothic eighties.I took in my environment. It wasn't
Last Updated: 2026-05-13
Chapter: TWENTY-SIX: Glitch.Ophelia was a stubborn woman and I knew exactly how to tame her if I wanted.I pulled her weight into my chest just in time before a boulder could drop on her. Despite my firm hold, she was still clumsy enough to drag us to the ground as our bodies rolled down the smooth rock into a dark enclosure. I made sure to keep my palm pressed to the back of her head, the other woven around her midriff in firm protectiveness.We were now out of sight and away from the chaos out there.Legs trampled out there in a vicious helter-skelter run. Someone got impaled on a rusty iron jutting out from a broken crack in the wall, and warm liquid gushed to the ground.Ophelia‘s head dug into my chest. She was breathing hard and fast, with her body pressed right on top of me. Fuck, I think I slammed my ribs a second time.She scrambled up from me and hurriedly began to fix her hair, her face flushed red.“We have to go get the others.” She didn’t look at me when she said that.The screams out there grew ug
Last Updated: 2026-05-12
Chapter: TWENTY-FIVE: Still see her.LUCAN. “Are you okay?” I was trying hard to ignore the commotion rolling out behind me, until her voice filled my chest, loud and insufferable. From the corner of my eye, I watched her wipe the dark red liquid trickling down that guy’s nostrils, concern flashing low on her face. She complained earlier of losing someone, the ache was fucking visible in her pale eyes that were already wrinkling at the sides in just some hours since last night’s madness, and yet, there she was curdling up to someone else. He muttered something low to her as her hand slowly reached to tug her sleeve down her wrist before her lips moved in a quivering ‘Thanks’ Concern brewed care which eventually sprouts love. Love itself was a cruel weakness that shouldn’t matter in a world like this but there she was, showing everyone around her the one weapon that could ruin her. Despite how much I wanted to turn a blind eye to her— I knew I'd still see her. Earlier, she’d pushed my buttons and made me snap a
Last Updated: 2026-02-22
Chapter: TWENTY-FOUR: Tired and sick.“Five minutes to vacate the mansion.” The voice filtered into my subconsciousness as I moved down the stairs in black leather pants, a tight-fitted combat jacket, and my hair up in a tight bun. I easily blended with the moving crowd as we walked out, while I made every possible effort to avoid Lucan. My traitorous mind did a vivid flashback to an hour ago when he’d suddenly pulled away once we were in the mansion and then I recalled how he stepped three feet away from me, no emotions leaking through him. Except I, who was a shivering mess with my lips still pulsing and every part of me feeling charged. “You’ll catch a cold if you don't get a warm bath” That was the only thing he'd said to me before walking away. I watched him disappear up the stairs as anger and an awakening need began a war in my chest. How I hated him. I hated the level of his audaciousness. I hated how he felt it was easy to jump on me and assert his dominance, something I never let anyone
Last Updated: 2026-02-22
Chapter: Author’s final appreciationThis book is officially complete. Thank you to every one of you that has read, commented, sent gems, followed until the very end despite everything. Seeing your comments and support really helped me keep updating this book on days I didn't feel like it and I deeply appreciate y’all. I hope you’ll still be around to read some of my other future works though, haha! Thank you💕
Last Updated: 2026-03-14
Chapter: Bonus chapter:Three years dragged by slowly and steadily, but each year and each moment of it was heaven on earth for Louisa waking up to the sight of the man she loved and had chosen. Their numerous storms of passion never died—it only burned worse. Every reassurance alongside watching their son grow and hit exciting milestones was all she knew she needed. Everything still felt like yesterday when it all began, even now as she sat in the doctor's office, hands pressed tight on her lap as she watched the woman settle into her seat behind the desk. She just needed confirmation that she hadn't seen wrong on the pregnancy test strip some hours ago in her bedroom. “You are sixteen weeks along, Mrs. De Luca. The baby’s gender will be confirmed during the scan.” Her heart slammed against her chest as she froze in her seat with heat pooling in her veins despite the air conditioner. That test strip was right after all, a single delay in taking her contraceptives had her knocked up. When she drove bac
Last Updated: 2026-03-13
Chapter: Epilogue 2Sicily. “Ouu, it's happening!” The giddy tone in Eve’s cheerful voice slithered into the room on the calm morning of the wedding. The soft chime of the cathedral bell echoed from a distance along with the ocean waves crashing over the bed of rocks from the floor-to-ceiling window. The atmosphere was blissful. Soft scents of perfumes, makeup products scattered on the vanity, dresses lined up on the bed, and assistants moving quietly in the room to add finishing touches to the bride’s look. Lilian walked in after Eve, in a pleated ankle-length rose chiffon dress, with Raniero cuddled up in her arms, his bright eyeballs scouring the environment in innocent oblivion, and his sharp babbles the minute his eyes turned towards his mama. “My baby” Louisa’s voice was a silent whisper, her whole countenance lighting up as she watched them walk in. She stood regal in a fitted Chantilly lace gown that hugged her body in all the right places. The sweetheart neckline sat perfectly on her chest
Last Updated: 2026-03-13
Chapter: Epilogue 1“We haven't had a formal conversation until now.” Tension hung lowly in the midst of both men, something palpable and heavy as they sat around a table with untouched wine glasses. “In the past, I had no reason to.” Louisa’s father spoke, face drawn tightly. “Now, it's only right to meet the man who’s been circling my daughter.”“‘Circling’ is a great classification for my love,” Alessandro voiced lowly, his tone as calm as his demeanor. “You are well aware my daughter isn't built for a world as vicious as yours.” A pause. “If you love her as much as you claim, you won’t put her through such torture— a second time.”Alessandro felt his jaw tighten. Slowly he reached for his wine glass and took a quiet sip. “Louisa is my fragile woman and I intend to keep it that way for a long time— whatever transpired in the past months, dies there. My world is vicious, yes but she’ll never know that world again.” He said, leaning back into the seat with a sharp tick running down his back. “She’s
Last Updated: 2026-03-13
Chapter: Chapter 0146When the cab pulled up in front of the magnetic hotel suite, Louisa stepped out half sober, water dripping down her chin along with her own tears as she stacked a wad of cash into the man’s hands and hurried into the building—Looking messed up and out of place. “How can we help you, miss?” The front desk staff demanded as soon as she walked up to it. “I want to see Alessandro,” she replied, dropping the key card right onto the desk, and much to her chagrin. “Can you please tell me what suite he is in?” “You don't look fine, miss” The woman said Instead, taking the card and tucking it away with a wary look crumpling her face. “We have Mr. De Luca getting ready to vacate his suite, he never walked in here with a woman of any sort…” “You don't get it, I just want to talk to him before he leaves.” Louisa pleaded, her hands grabbing the woman’s own. “This card was issued to Mr. Alessandro De Luca, I’d like to know how you got your hands on them.” The woman urged. “Let’s start from
Last Updated: 2026-02-05
Chapter: Chapter 0145Louisa didn’t dress up for a party. She dressed to forget. Eve came the next day, as promised, for their crazy night out. She’d fought the urge to decline, to say an unhealed fragment of her past was making her rethink every decision she’d thought she’d made peace with. “I wish to get back into my partying spirit.” Eve had squealed, being more like herself than the nightmare she once was. “I’ll introduce you to a few friends.” Then she’d leaned in and whispered coyly, “However you relate with them determines if you’ll leave with a Christmas boyfriend.” She’d laughed, utterly oblivious of the faraway stare in Louisa’s eyes. Once up the stairs of the private lounge, Louisa moved to the bar first for a drink once Eve excused herself for a moment. The smell of luxury lingered thickly in the air. Chandelier drapings filled the ceilings, silver curtains that shone down on the bustling city. People moved about as if they had perfect lives. The music was meant to soothe, but she felt
Last Updated: 2026-02-05
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