Novel-novel oleh Elodie

Gabriella’s PovI paced the room. My thoughts roaming all over the place. I needed to find out what connection my mother had with Martini. I jumped up at the sound of the bedroom door creaking. Alessio stepped in, looking ravishing as always. His eyes roamed the room before landing on me. He cleared his throat before speaking. “I'll be out for a while." He began. “I'm going to Russia for a business trip. My eyes widened. Russia? All of a sudden. I knew there was more to it but I decided not to press further. My eyes shot up. "Okay, when will you be back?”He walked closer to me and I could feel his breath fanning my check as he moved closer to my ear. "If you have any thoughts of doing anything stupid while I'm gone, you better cancel those plans. You'll be under 24 hour Surveillance. You are not to leave this house without my permission.”My anger flared. "What? You can't keep me locked here, Alessio." A smirk played on his lips. “I can and I will." With that being said, he t

Alessio's PovI couldn’t sit still.Each step I took echoed in the room like a drumbeat, my boots thudding against the polished floor as I paced from one end to the other. My thoughts were a chaotic mess, and my heartbeat was louder than ever. The name Leonardo kept flashing in my mind like a warning sign I couldn’t ignore.Leonardo. My brother. The one I thought was dead.But if what I heard was true, if there was even the slightest chance that he was alive, then everything I believed was a lie.I stopped mid-step, turned sharply, and called out, “Carlo!” My voice was hoarse, strained.He looked up from his phone, startled.“Start digging. I don’t care what it takes. I want every bit of information you can find on Leonardo, where he’s been, who he’s seen, everything.” My voice cracked slightly at the end, but I didn’t care.Carlo nodded and walked off with determination in his stride.I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to ease the pressure building inside me. Every second that pass

Alessio's Pov I stood there, arms crossed, watching Martini with narrowed eyes.The way he hovered around Gabriela, a little too close, a little too familiar, it didn’t sit right with me.Something was rotten between them.I didn’t have proof yet, but my gut had been screaming at me all day, and I’d learned a long time ago to listen when it did.I shoved off the wall and headed out back, needing air, needing clarity.The late afternoon sun dipped low behind the trees, throwing long shadows across the yard.There, by the broken-down fence, was Carlo. I let the screen door slam behind me. "Pass it here," I said, jerking my chin toward the gun in his hand.He caught my tone immediately, sharp, no room for argument, and without a word, flipped the pistol around and placed it in my palm.Familiar burn along my arm as I raised it, took aim, and pulled the trigger.Glass exploded down the line, one after another, clean shots.But even as I fired, my mind wasn’t on the bottles.After a f

Gabriella's Pov The next morning, I couldn't sit still. My heart was a tangled mess of questions as I paced my bedroom, glancing every few seconds at the drawer across the room, the one hiding that photograph.I bit my lip, debating with myself. Maybe I imagined it. Maybe it's not what it looked likeBut the doubt was there. I couldn't pretend I hadn't seen it.I rushed over, yanking the drawer open and pulling out my diary. Carefully, I slipped the photograph free from between the worn pages.There it was.My mother, smiling so warmly, standing close to Martini like they had shared something... something I wasn't meant to know about. Their bodies leaned just a little too comfortably toward each other, a kind of familiarity that spoke louder than words.I stared at it, my fingers trembling slightly.Why would she be this close to him? What are they hiding?A thousand questions burned in my chest, but only one thing was clear: I couldn't sit here waiting for answers. I'd find them mys

Alessio's Pov The morning sun filtered through the tall windows, casting golden streaks over the polished wood floors of the mansion. It was rare to feel a sense of calm in this house, rarer still to feel something close to happiness. But as I stood by the window, sipping black coffee, watching the trees move. I realized there was something different in the air. It was warmer and lighter. I didn’t know why I felt it, but I wasn’t going to question it. Maybe it was the silence. Maybe it was the way the chaos in my head had reduced. . Or maybe… It was her.Gabriella.Carki noticed it too. He stood across from me in the hallway, his arms folded, one brow raised like he was trying to read me.“You look less like you want to kill someone today,” he muttered, his usual dry sarcasm creeping in.I grunted, shaking my head. “Don’t start.”He shrugged. “Didn’t say it was a bad thing.”But he knew better than to push further.I hadn’t told anyone, not even Carlo, that I was starting to see Ga

Gabriella's Pov I stood in front of the mirror, barely recognizing myself. The soft blue gown hugged my curves like it had been made for me, delicate silk cascading to the floor. It was simple, no jewels, no embroidery, nothing loud, yet somehow, that simplicity made it all the more stunning. My hair was loose, curling softly around my shoulders. After so long behind locked doors, stripped of even the smallest luxuries, it felt almost rebellious to wear something that made me feel... beautiful, alive even. Tonight, I wasn’t going to hide. Tonight, Alessio would see what he’d tried to keep in a cage. I took a deep breath, smoothed the gown over my hips, and left the room. The heels clicked softly against the marble stairs as I descended, the chandelier above scattering golden light across the foyer like falling stars. I saw him before he saw me, Alessio, seated at the long oak dining table, phone pressed to his ear, brow furrowed in that way that meant business. Even when

“What?” Elena screeched, causing several heads to look into the office. “You didn’t call him?”Valeria winced as the chatter in the office came to an awkward halt. A few employees exchanged annoyed glances, and someone muttered something under their breath.“Elena,” Valeria hissed under her breath. “Lower your voice.”But Elena wasn’t done. “No, seriously, why? Why would you not call him? You had one job!”Valeria stood abruptly from her desk, offering a polite smile to the few lingering stares before she pulled her office blinds shut. She closed her door and turned to face her friend.“Elena,” she said, her voice low and laced with frustration. “I didn’t call because I don’t know what I’d even say. I don’t want to come off like… like I’m chasing him.”Elena let out a dramatic groan and flopped into the armchair opposite Valeria’s desk. “Oh my God, Val. He gave you his number. You don’t give someone your number for fun. He wants you to call.”Valeria crossed her arms. “You don’t know

Celeste's mouth parted, her face filled with shock. For once, she had no comeback. Letting out a scoff, spun on her heel and disappeared into the crowd.Valeria blinked, trying to process what had just happened. Then, slowly, she looked up at her savior, and her breath caught.He was tall, effortlessly handsome, his brown eyes stared into hers deeply and his jawline was sharp making him look dashing. A single brow arched with amusement as he noticed her staring.“I'll take it that you want to tell me ‘thank you?’” he said, his lips twitching into a half-smile.Valeria stammered, feeki g her face flush. “Oh! Yes, I mean….yes, I'm so sorry. That’s… exactly what I wanted to say.”He chuckled, “It's a cool evening out there, don’t you think?”Valeria nodded quickly. “Yes, very.” And still, she couldn’t stop staring. The man was infuriatingly good-looking. And worse, he knew it.He tilted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly. “I’ll take it, you know who I am?”Valeria nearly choked on her

One year laterValeria sat behind her glass desk, her fingers absentmindedly tapping a rhythm against her sleek black sketchbook. The floor-to-ceiling windows of her office framed the bustling New York skyline, but her eyes weren’t seeing any of it. Her mind was swirling with ideas for Noir De Luxe’s upcoming winter collection.She sighed, dragging her fingers through her soft brown waves as she murmured, “Velvet, maybe... with a little touch of red. Or something softer?”Suddenly, the door burst open, and her best friend Elena walked in, her honey-blonde curls bouncing with every step. She clutched a tablet in one hand, the other raised in triumph.“Val! We got it!” Elena announced happily showing off her perfect white teeth. Valeria blinked, completely startled. “Got what?”“The Serene Enterprises deal!” Elena squealed, her eyes bright with joy. “They just sent over the signed documents. It’s official. We're in!”Valeria’s lips parted in disbelief. She stood slowly, as realization

Gasps echoed through the hall, a wave of confusion and disbelief sweeping across the room as Ares Langford's voice cut through the celebration."What the hell is going on here?"His words were sharp and unexpected, echoing through the room. Valeria's smile faltered, and as she opened her lips to speak, her gaze was drawn to a figure behind Ares. It was a woman. She was tall and stunning, dressed in black flawless gown, her hair was curled to perfection, and her presence demanded attention. The woman stepped forward, her white heels clicking against the marble floor. Valeria’s heart clenched as Ares turned to her with a familiarity that sent a cold dread washing over her.He reached for the woman's waist.“Baby, what’s going on?” she asked sweetly, resting a manicured hand against his chest.“I don’t know,” Ares replied, glancing around the decorated room like it was all some elaborate mistake.The woman moved past him then, walking directly toward Valeria. The room suddenly became qu

Valeria Langford stood by the window in her silk robe, fingers gently tracing the curve of her barely-there baby bump. A smile made its way to her lips. It was gentle, soft, and full of quiet excitement.Today was a day she had waited for, prayed for, and even cried for in the darkest hours of the night. Two years of marriage. Two years since she said “I do” to Ares Langford, the man she believed she was destined to be with. But even more beautiful than that milestone was the secret she held within her, a secret that had bloomed two weeks ago and now gre inside her. She was pregnant.The thought made her squeal happily. After two years of fertility treatments, disappointment, and sleepless nights filled with whispered prayers, they had finally succeeded. Artificial insemination had worked. And today, of all days,.she would get to tell Ares.“Mia!” she called out, her voice full of bubbling energy.The head maid appeared at the door in an instant, her gray hair neatly pinned, her apr