Chapter: Chapter 97Three men, the last of Madonna’s crew who had gotten away, were hiding. They heard the news of Madonna's death, they had seen the kind of funeral Vincenzo held for her and thought it was pathetic. It was a big disgrace to their boss. She died and was buried without honors. And now, they wanted revenge.“Madonna didn’t deserve to die just like that,” one of them said, his voice a low growl. “First, he killed Vittorio, and now he killed Madonna. She did everything for her son but he chose to betray her.”Another man, a much bigger guy, clenched his fists. “We can’t let him get away with it. We can’t let Don Marino and Antonio live their lives happily after what they’ve done. We have to make them suffer. I don’t care if I lose my life in the process, what matters is that we honor our boss.”The third man, who was the leader of the small group, nodded slowly. His eyes were cold and full of hate. “Get ready, we’re taking them out today.” _________That same day, in a very nice restaurant,
Last Updated: 2025-09-15
Chapter: Chapter 96The morning when Daisy woke up, she didn't feel any better. She was still feeling strange. The sickness hadn’t gone away, and the dizzy spells were getting worse. She knew she couldn’t put it off any longer. She needed to know what was going on with her body. She had managed to convince Vincenzo to go to the office today. She decided to go to the hospital for a check up. She didn't want to worry anyone, so she told Maria she was just going out for a little while, and would be back home soon.After she left, she went straight to the hospital. A nurse took her to a room and asked her what was wrong. Daisy explained all the symptoms, and requested for a different doctor. The nurse nodded and said that the doctor would be right with her.The doctor, a kind-looking woman with gray hair and blue eyes, came in a few minutes later. She listened to Daisy with care and attention, asked her some questions about her health history, and then decided to run some tests. She took some blood and urine
Last Updated: 2025-09-13
Chapter: Chapter 95The news of Madonna’s death spread quickly. A word passed from one guard to the next, even the maids were talking about it. Ever since Daisy learned about her death, she felt a strange mix of emotions. There was a huge wave of relief that washed over her. The woman who had caused so much pain, who was responsible for the loss of her child, was gone. The threat was finally over. But there was also a hollow feeling. A kind of emptiness that came from the end of a long, terrible war. What comes next, she wondered? What happens when all the enemies are gone?Meanwhile, Antonio was finally getting discharged from the hospital. He was still weak, but the doctors said he was good to go home. He was packed and ready. He was in the hallway, ready to leave, when Vincenzo approached him. “Antonio,” he said, his voice low and gentle. “There is something you need to know.”Antonio stopped walking. He just stood there. His face, which had been so pale, now became even paler. “She’s dead, isn’t she
Last Updated: 2025-09-11
Chapter: Chapter 94After 2 days of being back home, Daisy has started to get comfortable again. She was in her room, chatting with Maria. They had been spending so much time together ever since Daisy had returned, and the other maids and staff also began treating her with much more affection and respect than she was used to.Daisy, curious about the change, asked Maria why they suddenly started treating her like a princess. Maria smiled softly. “Everyone in the Marino mansion had gotten used to your presence, dear,” she explained. “And ever since you were gone, everyone was always extremely careful not to upset Don Marino. You have no idea.”Maria went on to tell Daisy that Vincenzo had become easily irritated and annoyed. He had even fired two of the cleaners for a very minor mistake. “We all saw it,” Maria said. “Ever since you came into this household, everyone had forgotten how scary Don Marino was. He became so much warmer, so much more… human. And when you were kidnapped, he was worse than his old
Last Updated: 2025-09-10
Chapter: Chapter 93The hospital room was quiet, Antonio was still on the road to recovery. The pain in his chest was a dull ache now, a constant reminder of how close he had come to death. He was alone, just him and his thoughts, when the door to his room opened. He looked up, expecting to see a nurse or a doctor, but his eyes widened in shock when he saw Sophia.She stood there, perfectly dressed, looking like she had just stepped out of a magazine. She had a cool, distant expression. She didn't look happy to see him, not at all. Antonio, who looked genuinely surprised to see her, immediately tried to sit up straighter in the bed, wincing as his chest protested. “Sophia,” he said, his voice a little hoarse, “what are you doing here?”Sophia just eyed him, her gaze traveling from his face to the bandages on his chest. A cold laugh escaped her lips. “What am I doing here? I heard you were in the hospital, Antonio. I heard you got shot. So, I decided to come see if you were still alive or already dead.”
Last Updated: 2025-09-07
Chapter: Chapter 92“What do you intend to do now, Don?” Marco asked, his voice filled with a mix of anger and shock.Daisy, seeing the rage on Vincenzo’s face, tapped him. “First, I think you should go be with Antonio. Even though he isn’t your son by blood, it doesn’t change the fact that you raised him. You’ve been a father to him all these years. You’ve probably been through so much together and have a lot of good memories. And I think he’ll be happy to see you by his side when he wakes up.”Vincenzo just stared at Daisy, surprised to hear her speak in favor of Antonio, especially after all the horrible things Antonio had done to her. It was like he was witnessing a new side of her he hadn’t seen before.Daisy understood the question in his eyes. She spoke, her voice calm and reasonable. “This doesn’t mean I forgive him. I don’t. But I don’t want to see you suffer because I know you care about him. And I care about you. He is a part of you, a part of your life. So go be with him.”Vincenzo nodded. He
Last Updated: 2025-09-04
Chapter: Epilogue One Year Later The Barrett estate was filled with life, laughter, and warmth. It was the twins’ first birthday, and the garden had been transformed into a magical wonderland with twinkling lights, pastel-colored balloons, and flowers. The scent of freshly baked cakes and savory treats prepared for the celebration filled the air. Raven stood in front of a large mirror in her bedroom, adjusting the delicate lace dress she wore. The gown hugged her figure in all the right places, a testament to how well she'd recovered after giving birth. She had lost some of her confidence after having the babies – her body had gone through so many changes, and she had hated looking in the mirror for a long time until Mason wouldn't allow her to anymore. The thing she was most self-conscious of was the scar from the surgery she had had to have after the babies were delivered. Mason bought matching lingerie and sexy sleepwear and refused to let her question how stunning she was. Every time he saw her h
Last Updated: 2024-12-07
Chapter: One hundred and seven When they returned to the mansion that evening, the house was eerily quiet."What’s going on?" Raven asked. "Where'd everyone go?""What's that over there?" Blair pointed to a small bouquet on the table. Attached to it was a note that read, Come to the garden.Raven’s heart skipped a beat. She followed the note’s instructions, and when she stepped into the garden, her breath caught.The garden was transformed into a romantic paradise. Twinkling fairy lights adorned the trees, and a path of rose petals led to a small table surrounded by candles."Mason did this," Raven whispered, her heart swelling. Suddenly her aching feet had disappeared, the back pain that had hit her while they were in Victoria’s Secret and signalled the end of the trip. Her exhaustion was gone and she was smiling so much her cheeks hurt. She was already close to tears as she took it all in.Just as she took a step forward, looking for Mason, a sharp pain shot through her abdomen. She grabbed her stomach and cried
Last Updated: 2024-12-07
Chapter: One hundred and six Later that night, Raven was on a call with Blair, discussing the transformation of Lenora’s modeling agency."I was thinking we could add a design department," Raven suggested. "That way, we can focus on both modeling and fashion."Blair’s excitement knew no bounds. "That’s a great idea! I’ll handle the modeling side, and you can oversee the designs.""Deal," Raven said.After a brief pause, Blair asked, "You sound a bit down, not yourself. What’s wrong?"Raven hesitated. "Nothing, I’m worried about Mason.""Why? You two have been great lately, you’re perfect for each other. You’re even closer than before."Raven bit her lip. "I thought he’d ask me to marry him again by now. But he hasn’t mentioned it and I'm starting to get anxious. What if he doesn’t want me? What if the babies are scaring him off? What if he thinks I’ll be like Candice? What if-"“Raven, breathe. Have you talked to him about it?" Blair asked."No. That’s not something you can just bring up," Raven said.Blair chuck
Last Updated: 2024-12-07
Chapter: One hundred and five The dining table was filled with different breakfast dishes: fluffy pancakes topped with berries and syrup, scrambled eggs with herbs, smoked salmon on toast, and fresh fruit bowls. In front of Raven was a large bowl full of bacon, strawberry jam, and chocolate sauce – her strangest and most intense craving.Mason sipped his coffee, stealing glances at Raven as she hummed softly, her hand occasionally resting on her baby bump. He had become more attentive than before – which was already overboard according to Julie. He was more proud, more focused, and a lot more protective. Watching her scoff down her food now, still looking as sexy as ever, made his chest hurt a little. So much had happened; she had been through so much; he just wished the worst of it hadn’t been because of him.She sighed and looked up at him, offering him a genuine smile.“What are you looking at?” she asked, but all he could do was shake his head and smile back at her. “Well, you’re being very strange.”“Yeah, bu
Last Updated: 2024-12-07
Chapter: One hundred and fourJustin found Mason sitting quietly in Charles’s office. He didn’t sit at the desk, rather, he sat at the sofa to the side where they had argued so many times. He stared at his father's desk as if he could still see him sitting and working as they watched when they were children. It was the only thing he and Mason had ever been able to do together without fighting. Thinking back to those moments, Justin couldn't understand why he always felt like he had to one-up Mason, why they couldn't have been friends.He turned to leave him in peace when Mason spoke up.“Remember when we'd just sit here and watched Dad working?” he asked as if he had sensed his presence.“I was just thinking about that.”Mason looked up at him with tears in his eyes, shocking Justin with the vulnerability in the other man's eyes.“Did he suffer?” Mason asked softly, trying to hide the sob that threatened.“No,” Justin said, sitting in the seat across from him. “He just sort of… went.”Mason turned back to look at
Last Updated: 2024-12-04
Chapter: One hundred and threeMason pulled up to the Barrett mansion early that morning. He had deliberately left his penthouse early, avoiding Candice while she packed her belongings. The last thing he wanted was another confrontation. He wanted no part in her theatrics, they just made his headaches even worse than the blinding migraines he often suffered with.He exited the car and made his way inside.He had barely entered the living room when he spotted Justin coming down the stairs as if he owned the place. He looked… smug.Smug?Or something else?Mason couldn’t quite place it, but it rubbed him the wrong way to see him in his father's house. Justin had never been anything more than a snake in the grass, always waiting to take what Mason had."What the hell are you doing here?" Mason demanded, narrowing his eyes and letting the door close louder than necessary behind him. "Here to gloat about your little affair with Candice? Or measuring the curtains – you know you’re not inheriting the place, right? I’m sti
Last Updated: 2024-12-04
My Professor Lectured My Heart
A year ago, my life was simple. I was just Ariel Anthony…a regular college student, cheerleader with decent grades, daughter of a struggling baker, and recently appointed step-sister to a guy I barely knew. Nothing special.
Then came the storm.
Not just the thunderstorm that trapped me in Professor Grayson's apartment that night, but the storm that followed. The one that's still raging around me, that I created.
They don't warn you about men like Luther Grayson in freshman orientation. They don't tell you how a single glance from the right person can make you question everything you thought you knew about yourself. About what you want. About what you'd risk to get it.
They also don't warn you about guys like Ethan Cross, with his perfect smile hiding something dark. The kind of guy who's used to getting what he wants and doesn't understand the meaning of the word "no."
And no one, absolutely no one…prepares you for what it feels like when the person who's supposed to be your brother looks at you with something else in his eyes.
Mom once said I had a gift for making complicated situations worse. If she only knew.
My phone buzzed beside me, and I glanced down to see Luther's name on the screen. My heart still jumps every time, even when I'm aware of what could happen if people learned about the two of us.
I should ignore it. I should block his number, focus on my classes, help Mom with the bakery, and pretend none of this ever happened.
But I'm already reaching for the phone.
That's the thing about crossing lines… once you step over them, it's almost impossible to step back.
And I've crossed so many lines now, I can't even see where I started.
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Chapter: Chapter 32Ariel stared at him, her mouth slightly agape, completely taken aback. “Are you serious?” she breathed, unable to fully process the magnitude of his sudden change of heart.“Yeah. Invite him over for dinner or something. I’ll play nice. I promise.” A faint smile touched his lips.“Wow. That’s… I don’t know what to say.”“Say you won’t cook.” Daniel teased. “Or at least try to help Susan in the kitchen so you don't burn everything.” He nudged her playfully with his elbow.She laughed, leaning against him. “Hey, I’m not that bad. You’re serious about this. Aren’t you?” she asked, a flicker of doubt still lingering, this was almost too good to be true.He nodded. “Completely.”When they got home after lectures, the aroma of Susan’s cooking was already wafting from the kitchen. Daniel went straight to the kitchen where Susan was busily preparing dinner.“Hey, Susan. Just a heads-up, Ethan’s coming over tonight. For dinner.” Daniel announced casually, reaching for an apple from the fruit b
Last Updated: 2025-06-14
Chapter: Chapter 31The men’s locker room buzzed with the familiar sounds of after-practice activity. The whoosh of running showers filled the air, mixing with the metallic clang of locker doors as athletes changed. Ethan stood near one of the long wooden benches, a towel slung over his shoulder, toweling off the sweat that still glistened on his skin after an intense basketball practice. His body was present, but his mind was miles away, lost in thoughts about Ariel. Specifically, the kiss. He hadn’t seen her since the party, and her sudden departure had left him in a state of debate. Should he bring up the kiss? Or should he pretend it never happened? The idea of pushing her away, of making her uncomfortable, was the last thing he wanted. He valued their friendship, and the thought of jeopardizing it with an ill-timed conversation about a kiss filled him with so much dread. He wanted to understand what it meant to her, but he was terrified of the answer, terrified of scaring her off.“Hey, Ethan. Got a
Last Updated: 2025-06-14
Chapter: Chapter 30Ariel’s POV Later that evening, during my shift at the bar, I was surprised to see Ethan and his teammates walk in. The place was already buzzing with energy, the air thick with anticipation for the night ahead. He approached me with a casual smile, leaning against the counter as I wiped down a glass.“Hey, I didn’t see you on campus today,” he said.I nodded, continuing to polish the glass. “Yeah, I had a bunch of classes back to back today, and then a mountain of assignments to get through. You know how it is, there's always something to do when you’re a student.”“So it’s not because you’re trying to avoid me?”“Of course not. I’ve just been busy.”“Great.” Ethan gestured towards his friends who were already staking out a corner. “One of my teammates is moving to another country, so we wanted to have a little fun before he leaves. We’re having a send-off party for him.”“Here?” I asked, a hint of surprise in my voice. It wasn't uncommon for small gatherings, but a full-blown party
Last Updated: 2025-06-01
Chapter: Chapter 29Ariel's POVStacy sat across from me in the noisy cafeteria, she had just returned from a long trip. I couldn’t contain my joy. Her presence was like watching the sun rise after a week of relentless rain.We sat across from each other, our lunch trays forgotten, laughing like we were the only two people in the room. I watched her as she animatedly recounted the mundane events of her trip. It hit me then how long it had been since I’d genuinely smiled, let alone laughed, like this. It felt good, the lightness of it, the easy camaraderie that only a best friend could bring.“So, tell me everything about the wedding!” I leaned forward, my elbows resting on the table, my eyes wide with anticipation. I was eager to hear every detail, every magical moment she’d witnessed.Stacy’s eyes lit up, reflecting the fairy lights she was about to describe. “It was magical, Ariel. Like, truly magical. The venue was this beautiful garden, filled with fairy lights everywhere. You should have seen it! My
Last Updated: 2025-06-01
Chapter: Chapter 28The gym vibrated with a powerful energy. The rhythmic thump of basketballs against the polished hardwood floor echoed loudly, creating a steady beat that was nearly drowned out by the enthusiastic, wild cheers erupting from the students packed into the bleachers. Ariel, standing among her cheer squad, felt the adrenaline surge through her veins. Her arms were raised high, the pom-poms flying as she shouted the familiar chant, her voice joining the collective roar:“Let’s go Panthers! Let’s go!”On the court, Ethan was absolutely in top form tonight. It was as if he was playing in a different league entirely. His movements were fast and precise, his shots incredibly accurate, leaving the opposing team bewildered and constantly scrambling to keep up. Every time he managed to get his hands on the ball, the entire audience leaned forward, holding their breath in eager anticipation. And when he scored, which he did with astonishing regularity, the whole gym erupted into a deafening roar. T
Last Updated: 2025-05-30
Chapter: Chapter 27Professor Luther sat in his office, the video playing again and again on the screen of his phone like a cursed loop that refused to break. Ariel’s soft moan echoed through the tiny speakers, a sound that had once been intimate and precious, now weaponized against them both. The way he had kissed her neck desperately, the raw, unguarded emotion that had flickered in her eyes as he fingered her… it all played repeatedly on his phone screen, each replay driving the knife of guilt and longing deeper into his chest. His jaw clenched so tightly that the muscles in his face began to ache.The message accompanying the video was brief but chilling: “Stay away from her, or things will get ugly.”He had read the words so many times they were etched in his mind. He placed the phone face-down on his desk, leaning back in his chair. He had cruelly rejected Ariel, using the most hurtful words he could think of. He pretended their intimate moments meant nothing, and he vividly remembered the disbeli
Last Updated: 2025-05-29
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