Novel-novel oleh Lady Empress

LOLA'S POV I stabbed the plushie for so long until my fingers went numb. The rage in my chest reduced to a bearable level. Of all people, why should I be the one in this kind of shitty situation? How much more unlucky could a person be?Still, my mind kept wandering back to the post. I carefully dropped the needle, using my fingers to roughly comb my messed up hair.I picked up my phone wondering if the post was still there or had been taken down.On the lit up screen, the post was replaced by a new hot trending search. A live show at that.THE ROMANO FAMILY WENT BANKRUPT OVERNIGHT.My mouth flew open.In the video, Vincenzo stood in front of the plenary hall, paparazzi lights giving blinding clicks and shots on his wounded haggard face.Bodyguards stood beside him, guarding him from the crazy paparazzi who weren't satisfied with just taking pictures. “Mr Romano, the Romano family seemed to be doing well in the top mafia elite circle, can you please explain what happe

LOLA'S POV That night, I couldn't sleep. My mind kept wandering back to the very first night I stripped, Dad, Liam, Ava and the mess I'm currently into.Overnight, I became a girl who lost her biggest supporter and anchor with no traces of body left.Ava, I haven't reached out to her in days and I wondered how she was doing. No matter how much I desperately wanted to leave this place, I knew one thing for sure. It was impossible to go back to the life I had before.Dragging the quilt over my head, muffled sounds of sobs escaped my lips. I really, really missed Dad.I cried until dawn. Till my eyes became tired. My eyelids were so heavy that I couldn't keep them open anymore. So I drifted off to sleep.*****************The next morning, I dragged myself out of the bed. My head was banging hard and painful, body muscles thoroughly aching. Dragging my feet towards the bathroom, my head spun and I grabbed the bathroom door for support, sighing in tiredness.Washing u

LOLA'S POV “Twenty million”. The phrase rang in my ears like thunder. I could barely stand, could barely keep myself up together. I glanced at the dagger on the stage, a silent storm raging inside of me as I painfully gripped the hem of the diamond-embedded gown that clung to me desperately, the same way I was clinging to hope and the devil standing right in front of me.No matter the cost, I didn't want him to give up the dagger, because I wasn't ready to lose it. I wanted him to bid until the very end. To never give up on the one thing that reminds me of my father. But in what position was I to tell him that? This was a man I barely knew. Someone I was supposed to hate.“Twenty million going once….”“Going twice…”The auctioneer’s voice sounded like a death countdown in my foggy head.Click! The gavel struck. My vision turned black, then white, to a shade of ash before my body gave out. Before I could hit the floor, a strong hand steadied me.I slowly looked

DAMIEN’S POVThe moment I lifted my paddle, the air changed.Eyes darted around the hall, quick, greedy and calculating.From me, to the woman standing at my side, to the dagger gleaming under the auction lights.Because they all knew one thing — I don’t bid on things without value.So if Damien Salvatore had raised his paddle for a mere dagger, then it was no longer just a dagger. And greed always follows certainty.“One point five million.”A woman in a tailored emerald dress lifted her paddle, calmly but alert.“One point eight.”Another voice followed almost instantly.Then another.“Two million.”“Three.”“Four point two.”The numbers climbed too fast for an object whose history is supposedly almost erased.Within minutes, the price surged past reason.Seven million.I didn’t move.Neither did Vincenzo Romano.The dagger that was meant to be reclaimed quietly for Lola had turned into a competition….because people like to gamble when they think they’ve spotted hidden tre

Damien’s POVI saw the commotion before I heard it.Three girls dressed like overpriced dolls pressed against the marble column, trembling.And in front of them… she was standing.Lola.Breathing hard, eyes sharp, anger still rolling off her like heat from a furnace.Her hair slightly mussed, dress hugging her like a second skin, chest rising and falling.I hadn’t expected that.Neither did I expect the tiny pull in my chest.She didn’t notice me until I spoke.“Exciting.”Her head snapped up.Her grip on the other girl’s hair loosened instantly, as if my voice flipped a switch inside her.The girl fell to the floor with a whimper.Lola straightened, shoulders squared, eyes defiant yet when I extended my hand, she walked towards me without hesitation.Her palm sliding into mine. Giving me a cold smile that didn't reach her eyes.“If you keep smiling like that, I fear your face would crack”.Her expression shifted as she tried to hide her disdain.I turned, guiding her away,

The rest of the day was strangely quiet.After the maids left, I finished my food alone. The house felt too big and silent, like it was holding its breath. I wandered around for a while, pacing in the long hallways, touching things I didn’t understand, trying not to think too much about why I was here.When the sky outside started to turn orange, my phone pinged.A message notification from an unknown number. I clicked on it but the user has no profile. Then the message content caught my eyes.“ I’ll be home late. Do not leave the estate.”Oh, it was him.That was it. No greeting, no explanation.Just an order disguised as an update.I dropped the phone on the bed and lay back, frustrated and restless. At some point I just rolled my eyes and sighed in frustration.---I jolted up to the sound of footsteps outside my door.Three knocks, firm and controlled.The door opened before I even answered.Two stylists walked in carrying garment bags, boxes, and a suitcase full of makeup produc