Chapter: Chapter 106: A Break, TogetherAria's POVI couldn’t sleep so I sit on the balcony, knees pulled to my chest.I know it wasn't entirely his fault. I know that. But the memory—it replays in endless, torturous loops. Each time it feels like another piece of my heart shatters.I stare out at the city, wondering if love is supposed to feel this way—so heavy and suffocating at times that you're unsure if you can breathe. I love Cassian. My love for him runs deep, twisting through every part of me. He's my other half, my anchor. But with that love always comes something darker. Something I can't shake. A bad omen, hanging over us like a shadow. Could we ever escape it?Could we ever live a normal life?I remember once asking him that very question, if we could ever be normal. His answer was distant, almost resigned, as if the idea of "normal" wasn't in the cards for us. Maybe it never had been.Is this my new normal? Constantly afraid, constantly in danger, watching the man I love be violated while I'm forced to watch?T
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-05-07
Chapter: Chapter 105: The Night Love Wasn’t EnoughCassian's POV"Keep your hands to yourself. Don’t touch me." she says, her voice flat. "I'm done with you and your fucked up lifestyle."I stand frozen in the middle of the room, blood still warm on my knuckles, watching as she places the gun in my hands. Her fingers are ice against mine. There's something vacant in her eyes—something I've never seen before. Not fear or shock, but something worse: emptiness.The rejection hits harder than any of Dom's blows. My throat constricts, words dying before they form. What the fuck am I supposed to say? That I'm sorry she had to watch Charlie violate me? That I'm sorry I couldn't protect her from seeing that?"Aria—""No." She cuts me off, wrapping her arms around herself. "I need space. I need... not this." Her eyes dart around the basement, on Charlie's body sprawled in a pool of crimson, on Dom's unconscious form. "I can't breathe down here."She turns abruptly, stumbling toward the stairs. I follow, each step sending pain shooting through
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-05-06
Chapter: Chapter 104: Anything for Love IIAria's POVCharlie continues her assault, making obscene noises as she works, and I feel my stomach rolling in nausea. My vision blurs as tears well up, and I choke back a sob. I want to scream, to fight, to do anything to stop this, but I'm helpless, trapped in this nightmare.Cassian's eyes are on me the whole time, as if he's trying to communicate something, some silent message of strength, of endurance. But I can see the pain in his gaze, the torment of being unable to stop what's happening.And then, suddenly. Cassian's hand shoots out out of his restraints, grabbing Charlie's hair in a grip so tight it must be painful.Charlie's eyes widen in shock and fear as his grip tightens. Dom lurches forward with a shout, but he's too late. Cassian has already flung Charlie across the room. She crashes into the wine rack, bottles shattering around her as she falls.Dom moved like a snake, delivering a brutal kick to Cassian's ribs that sends him crashing to the ground. The sound of his bo
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-05-05
Chapter: Chapter 103: Anything for LoveAria's POVI sit rigidly in the basement they let us into—our own basement, turned prison—my heart hammering against my ribcage so violently I fear it might shatter. Across from me sits Cassian. He's tense, every muscle in his body coiled tight like a spring ready to snap, eyes darting between me and Dom, calculating, always calculating.Dom stands between us. "We're going to play a game," he announces. "It's called Anything for Love." He smirks, savoring each syllable. "I want to see just how far the great Cassian Romano will go to protect his precious Aria.""If you touch her—""Ah, ah, ah," Dom interrupts, wagging a finger like he's scolding a child. "No threats, Cassian. Remember who holds the power now." His gaze slides to me, making my skin crawl. "And if you don't comply..." He lets the threat hang in the air, but it's clear—if Cassian doesn't play along, I'm the one who'll suffer.The basement feels smaller suddenly, the air thicker."Cassian," I start, trying to sound brave,
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-05-05
Chapter: Chapter 102: Siblings from HellAria's POV"I was beginning to lose my patience," Dom says, his eyes narrowing as he glares at the woman who just entered. She strides in with a confidence that makes my skin crawl, her bright orange hair cascading down her shoulders like liquid fire. The leather mini-skirt she's wearing barely covers anything, and her top—if you could call that scrap of fabric a top—leaves nothing to the imagination. Her breasts strain against the thin material, and I notice Cassian deliberately averting his gaze.Charlie walks directly to Dom and plants a kiss on his lips that's anything but familial. Her tongue visibly slides against his, her hand gripping his hair as she moans into his mouth. My stomach churns at the display."Did I miss anything fun, brother?" Charlie asks when she finally pulls away, a string of saliva still connecting their lips. Her eyes gleam with perverse enjoyment as she catches my horrified expression."Brother?" The word escapes my lips before I can stop it.Charlie's la
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-05-03
Chapter: Chapter 101: The Traitor’s GameCassian's POVThe hot water pounded against my skin, washing away the sweat from my workout but doing nothing for the tension knotting my shoulders. Viktor was awake. The relief I felt was so overwhelming I had to brace myself against the shower wall for a moment.And Aria—Christ, the way she looked at me when she told me. There was something there, beneath the anger. A crack in her armor that gave me hope, even if I didn't deserve it.I turned off the water and stepped out, reaching for a towel when a strange smell hit me. My vision blurred instantly, and alarm bells screamed in my head. Gas. Someone had pumped gas into the bathroom."Aria!" I shouted, lunging for the door. My legs gave out before I could reach it, my body betraying me as consciousness slipped away. The last thought that raced through my mind was her name, a prayer and a curse rolled into one.*****The cold metal chains bite into my wrists, but the pain is nothing compared to the fury boiling inside me. Aria stirs b
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-05-03
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak
"Sign the papers, Estella."
Marco slid the divorce papers across the mahogany table, his eyes fixed on Claudia, who hovered by his side with a victorious smile. "Did you really think a nobody like you could keep me?"
Estella's throat tightened as she forced herself to meet his gaze. The diamond on Claudia's finger caught the light—his best friend now wearing what should have been hers forever.
"You should be grateful," Claudia murmured, resting a hand on her belly. "Letting you go is the kindest thing we've done for you."
When Estella married into the powerful Valdez family, she believed in love conquering all. Instead, she found herself cast out, Helena Valdez herself showing her the door when Claudia announced her pregnancy.
Then Alejandro De Luca appeared—Marco's sworn enemy offering an unexpected proposition. "A contract marriage," he said simply. "You get protection. I get revenge."
Together, they plotted to dismantle the very family that had humiliated her. With each calculated move, Estella reclaimed pieces of herself she thought lost forever.
But revenge is a dangerous game. As their plan unfolded and tragedy struck, Estella discovered that survival meant more than settling scores—it meant learning to wield her pain as power.
The quietest heart, after all, often hides the most dangerous storm.
Baca
Chapter: Epilogue: The Secrets We KeepFive Years LaterEstella had insisted on having the windows open despite the doctors' protests—she needed to breathe something other than antiseptic and fear."Almost there," The matron encouraged from between her legs. "One more big push, Estella."Alejandro's hand was nearly crushed in her grip as another contraction seized her. The twins had decided to arrive three weeks early, sending them rushing to the hospital in the middle of the night."You're doing amazingly," Alejandro murmured against her temple. The entire pregnancy had been classified high-risk from the beginning.Estella bore down with a primal scream, feeling the first baby slide from her body."It's a boy!" The matron announced, lifting the wailing infant for them to see before placing him on Estella's chest.She touched her son's dark, wet hair. "Hello, little one,"The moment of joy was short-lived. The monitors beside her bed began beeping erratically."Blood pressure dropping," a nurse called out.The doctor in ch
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-04-11
Chapter: 216: Almost HomeThe following weeks were filled with medical tests, therapy sessions, and small but significant milestones.Three weeks after waking, he took his first unassisted steps, gripping the parallel bars with so much intensity as he forced his atrophied muscles to cooperate. I watched from the sidelines, heart in my throat, as he pushed through pain that would have stopped a lesser man."Fuck," he growled through gritted teeth when his legs threatened to give out halfway through. "I'm not stopping."His physical therapist—a no-nonsense woman who'd quickly learned to match his intensity—nodded approvingly. "Two more steps. You can do two more."He did three before collapsing into the wheelchair afterward with sweat pouring down his face."Next time I'll do ten," he promised, breath coming in harsh pants.I handed him a towel, leaning in to whisper, "Watching you fight like this is incredibly sexy, you know."His exhausted laugh was all the reward I needed.By the six-week mark, he was walking
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-04-10
Chapter: 215: Two Months Later, Still YoursWhen we broke apart, I rested my head on his shoulder, breathing in his scent beneath the antiseptic hospital smell. "Don't ever scare me like that again," I whispered."I'll try not to make a habit of getting stabbed in the heart," he replied dryly."This isn't funny, Alejandro." I lifted my head to meet his gaze. "I thought I'd lost you. I thought our daughter would grow up without her father."His expression sobered. "I know. I'm sorry." He squeezed my hand weakly. "How bad was it?""Bad," I admitted. "The knife nicked your heart. You lost so much blood... They weren't sure you'd make it through the first surgery." My voice caught. "And then you didn't wake up. Days turned into weeks, and you just... stayed asleep.""I'm sorry," he repeated. "For putting you through that. For not being there for you and Arielle.""You're here now," I said. The door opened quietly, and we both looked up to see Dr. Matthews returning, accompanied by a neurologist I recognized from previous consultat
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-04-10
Chapter: 214: The Sixty-Second DayTwo months laterThe hospital room had become my second home. The nurses knew my schedule better than I did—when I'd arrive each morning with fresh clothes for both of us, when I'd step out for coffee, which chair I preferred to sit in while reading aloud to Alejandro's unresponsive form.Sixty-one days of talking to someone who couldn't answer. Sixty-one days of watching for the slightest movement of an eyelid or the smallest twitch of a finger. Sixty-one days of hope slowly eroding into something that felt dangerously close to despair."The medical journal says coma patients show increased brain activity when family members speak to them," I said, turning the page of the medical text I'd been studying obsessively. "So I'm going to keep talking, even if I'm starting to repeat myself."Alejandro remained motionless. They'd removed his breathing tube last week when he started breathing on his own—a positive sign, Dr. Matthews had assured me. But his consciousness remained locked away,
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-04-10
Chapter: 213: One-Sided Conversations"Aunt Eleanor," I gasped, shocked to see her. In the chaos, I'd almost forgotten she'd been injured in the initial car crash where Arielle was taken."You look worse than me," she said weakly, attempting a smile that turned into a wince.For some reason, it was the sight of her—battered but alive, just like the rest of us—that finally broke through the numbness I'd been hiding behind. The tears came suddenly and violently, sobs wrenching themselves from my chest as she wheeled herself closer, reaching out with her good arm to pull me against her."I was so scared," I admitted between sobs. "I thought we were all going to die. I was scared history was going to repeat itself self. And this time Arielle, Alejandro—""But you didn't," she reminded me. "You saved them both."I shook my head, glancing at Alejandro's still form. "I didn't save him. He's still—""Fighting," Eleanor cut in. "Just like he always has. Just like you have."I cried until I had no tears left, letting go of the fear
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-04-10
Chapter: 212: The Silence That Hurts MostI must have dozed off despite my determination to stay awake, because the next thing I knew, someone was gently shaking my shoulder."Estella? Can you hear me?"I forced my heavy eyelids open to find Raul standing over me, his face lined with worry. Clara hovered behind him, her eyes red-rimmed."Raul," I croaked, my throat dry. "Alejandro?""He's out of surgery," Raul said. "It was touch and go for a while, but he made it through."Relief made me dizzy. "He's okay?"Raul and Clara exchanged glances."What aren't you telling me?" I demanded, suddenly fully awake.Raul sighed. "The damage was extensive. They repaired what they could, but... he's in a coma, Estella.""A coma? For how long?""They don't know," Clara said gently, stepping forward to take my hand. "All they said was the next 48 hours are critical."I struggled to sit up, ignoring the pain that shot through my body. "I need to see him.""You need to rest," Clara countered. "You're no good to him or Arielle if you collapse."
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-04-09
Chapter: Chapter 31: The First Strike BackI wrapped my arms around myself, Adrian's shirt soft against my bruised wrists.Damien lingered in the doorway, eyes crawling over me in his father's clothes. "You can choose to end this now, Elle. Come back to me while I am still forgiving."My skin crawled but I forced a brave face. "The only place you'll see me is court. When I tell them exactly what you did."His smile turned cruel. "Your word against mine, baby. And we both know who they'll believe.""Get out."He blew me a kiss before following his mother.Beth hurried to my side the moment they left. "Mrs. Blackwell, are you alright?""Fine." My voice sounded hollow even to my own ears.Marla stepped closer, concern painted on her face. "Perhaps you should rest. You've had a shock."I looked at her—really looked at her. She is now playing the concerned servant."Get out of my face Marla." I stepped closer. "Before I slap the living daylights out of your face."Her eyes widened filling up with unshed tears. "I'm sure I don't kno
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-04-05
Chapter: Chapter 30: ConsequencesElleAdrian's arms were steel bands around me as sobs wracked my body. I couldn't stop shaking, the memory of Damien's hands still burning on my skin."Let me see." Adrian's voice was lethal as he gently pulled back, examining my wrists. Dark bruises were already forming where Damien had pinned me.His jaw clenched. "I should have killed him.""I'm fine—""You're not fucking fine." His fingers traced the torn edge of my shirt. "He touched you."I shivered, but not from cold this time."And why the hell are you soaked?" His eyes narrowed, taking in my drenched clothes."Marla." I tried for a smile but it wobbled. "Apparently I needed a shower."His expression darkened. "What did she do?""Nothing I can't handle." "Elle.""Really, I—" My voice cracked and fresh tears spilled."Come here." He scooped me up like I weighed nothing, heading for the stairs. Tom quickly looked away as we passed, but I caught the concern in his eyes."Adrian—""Shut up and let me take care of you."I pressed
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-03-21
Chapter: Chapter 29: ShatteredElle"What do you want?" I wrapped my arms around myself, too aware of how the wet shirt clung to my skin. "Why are you here this early morning?"He crouched in front of me, close enough that I caught the familiar scent of his cologne. The same one he'd worn when we—Stop."You know why. I know you would be up by this time and I want to talk to you before everyone wakes up." His voice was soft. Almost gentle. The way it used to be, before he turned to Vanessa."Don't." I shifted away but the tree blocked my escape."Elle." He reached out, fingers hovering near my cheek but not touching. Not yet. "You're shivering.""I'm fine." "Here." He shrugged off his jacket. "Let me—""I said I'm fine." But my teeth chattered, betraying me.He draped the jacket over my shoulders anyway. "I miss you." The words ghosted across my skin. "Every day, I miss you."I moved to stand but he caught my wrist. "Damien—""I made a mistake." His thumb stroked over my pulse point. An achingly familiar gesture.
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-02-25
Chapter: Chapter 28: ThornsElle The morning air bit at my cheeks as I jogged through the private gardens, my feet pounding against the gravel path in a steady rhythm with my racing thoughts. Last night replayed in my head - his hands, his mouth, the way he'd pulled away just when I wanted more.Asshole.Two could play at that game. If he thought he could just walk away after a kiss like that...My plan to work up a satisfying amount of righteous anger derailed when I spotted Marla watering roses by the fountain. Great. Just what I needed - Adrian's oh-so-devoted housekeeper with her perfect makeup at 7 AM.I slipped past her ,completed another lap turned to begin a new one. I just rounded the corner and collided with a wall of ice-cold water. "Oh!" Marla's shocked gasp would have won her an Oscar. "Mrs. Blackwell, I'm so sorry! I was just watering the roses and absolutely didn't see you..."I wiped water from my eyes, my thin running top now completely soaked through. "Really? Because the roses are behind you
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-02-24
Chapter: Chapter 27: RestraintAdrianI was half-listening to Harrison's merger proposal my mind kept drifting to Elle, wondering what she was doing now. Then my phone buzzed. It was Tom telling me she ditched him for a club."We'll continue this another time," I cut Harrison off, already standing."The stakeholders are expecting—""They can keep expecting." Mirage. Of all the places she could have gone. I knew the club well – too well. The kind of place where inhibitions disappeared under pulsing lights and overpriced champagne.The moment I walked in, I saw her. The dress she wore was pure sin, the fabric clinging to curves I'd been forcing myself not to think about. But it wasn't the dress that made my blood boil – it was the man leaning into her space at the bar, watching her laugh at whatever bullshit line he'd just fed her.Something primitive roared to life inside me. The careful control I'd maintained. Since that night in the library when I'd promised myself I wouldn't touch her again. Wouldn't complicate
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-02-22
Chapter: Chapter 26: Dangerous Games IIElleWe walked in tense silence through the club, the crowd parting instinctively before Adrian's imposing presence. Outside, the cool night air hit my flushed skin, making me suddenly aware of how revealing Sophia's dress was. Adrian's eyes darkened as he took in my appearance fully under the street lights, his gaze lingering on the expanse of thigh the hem barely covered.His jaw clenched. "Get in the car."Tom was waiting with the Bentley, his expression carefully neutral as he opened the door. I slid in without argument, suddenly exhausted by the whole night.Adrian joined me a moment later, the door closing with a soft thud that somehow sounded final.Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. "Are you going to lecture me all the way home, or are you saving it for when we have more privacy?"Adrian's eyes met mine in the dimness of the backseat, his expression darkening. "Oh, we'll have plenty to discuss when we get home. Starting with why my wife was at a nightclub dressed like that,
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-02-22
Masuk
