เข้าสู่ระบบKAITLYN“Drive faster, Tom!” I snap, and Tom steps on the pedal.I rub my clammy hands, Don Ellios's words repeating in my head.‘I found out my daughter has returned to the country and was after Nikolai. So I sent someone to watch Nikolai from the airport.When we noticed there was a bomb in the car, it was too late, but we managed to save him. His body was burnt beyond recognition, and that made it easy to transport him to one of my private hospitals. The doctor tried to save him, but even after a year, he showed no signs of waking up. I didn't want to tell you because I knew the other Dons would try to kill him. I planned on telling you after a year, but he disappeared along with the doctor. I have been searching for him for those two years, but I haven't gotten a trace of him or the doctor. I don't even know if they are still alive.” I slap my hand over my lips and cry quietly, clutching the piece of note Don Ellios had given me.“I received this last night. I believe you have a
KAITLYNI walk down the basement, my lips trembling as I clutch the gun in my hand.This is the third day. The day Nikolai disappeared forever. The day I watched that fire burn him out of existence.I clung to every hope possible, praying he would one day walk through that door, but it seems he is never coming back.Now I have to fulfill the promises I made to everyone, and I am starting with the first one.I pause when my phone rings, slicing through the heavy silence in the basement.I slowly pull it out and stare at Tom's name as it flashes across the screen.I accept the call and press the phone to my ear.“Don Ellios is here,” Tom says.My chest tightens, and I look up at the metal door at the end of the dark corridor.“Bring him down to the basement,” I say in a cold voice, and the line goes dead.I reach the door and press my thumb on the fingerprint scanner on the wall.The door clicks open. I grab the large handle and pull the door with all my strength.The door cracks and s
KAITLYNThe trap door pulls open, and I step out, holding onto the rails for support.“Are they all here?” I ask as we walk towards the living room.“Yes, Patrona,” Tom replies. I suck in a deep breath and clench my gloved hands, tightening my face in a frown.The first year of losing Nikolai was hell for me, but I still stood strong and held onto what he had spent years fighting for. And that has caused several foes to surround me, but I am not letting go now. Never.The moment I step into the room, everyone goes silent, and all eyes turn in my direction.Most of them who have refused to call me Patrona call me La Viuda, and even though it sounds ridiculous, I still accept the title. Besides, I haven't worn any color other than black, even when they have complained I change into a brighter color and let the mourning dress go.I narrow my eyes at them, my face still cold.I wonder which of them tried to assassinate my son.My lips curl at the question before I walk to the couch at th
KAITLYN“His dead body hasn't been found yet,” I mutter as Tom asks me if I still believe Nikolai is alive.“It's been three years,” Tom sighs.I look out the window, feeling my throat knot, and I look down at my son playing chess with Mr. Harris below.“Yes, it is.” And I am still waiting. Still waiting for him to return to me. Until then, I will not get married again, nor will I let the Lucario throne in the cartel go.“I got a report,” Tom breaks the silence again.I tilt my head to the side, my brows raising in question.“If this is about the Don's petition to give up the Patrón title to another family—”“It's about my boss,” he blurts out, and my lips slam shut.I narrow my eyes, wondering if he is talking about the constant complaint to announce him dead and plan a burial or if it's about…“The assassins have been found,” Tom mutters, and my chest tightens.I let out a gasp, realizing that he is talking about my son, Kai.Someone tried to assassinate him a few days ago. I am su
KAITLYN 9 NINE MONTHS LATERI am barely listening to Ana as she complains again about Philippe’s cold attitude towards her. My eyes are fixed on the list of orders for new furniture. I have focused on my father’s small furniture company, leaving the main company in Nikolai’s hands.This small place is easier to manage. I come here almost every day to spend my days. I had a hard time convincing Nikolai to let me leave the house for work.“Are you even listening to me?”I lift my eyes from the tab in front of me and face Ana, guilt running through me.Ana’s lips twitch upward in anger, and she lets out a scoff.“I am,” I defend myself.She curses under her breath and reaches out to poke my swollen belly like she always does. I slap her hand away, shrieking.She pulls her head back, laughing. I close the tab and reach for a glass of water, my hand on my belly. “I heard Nikolai is returning today,” Ana says.“Hmm,” I hum, nodding.“I know you can't wait to have him back,” She mutters, t
NIKOLAI“The defendant is hereby acquitted on the grounds of self-defense.”The loud thud of the judge's gavel still echoes in my head as I step away from the defense table.My eyes dart towards Kaitlyn, and a smile spreads across my face. For over a month, I have been fighting to prove that I was justified in killing Jesse.The evidence was right there, proving that I killed him. My only defense was that I acted in self-defense.It isn't entirely self-defense but revenge at its core.I have slowly turned into a religious man while I was being held in jail.I prayed every day to see Kaitlyn's face again outside this fucking, suffocating courtroom.Kaitlyn lifts her head from her hand and smiles at me, tears in her eyes.I chuckle and begin to walk briskly across the courtroom to meet her.She jerks up and leaps, falling right into my hands.The people who have come to support me cheer, celebrating my release.“I told you I'll come back,” I whisper.“I’m so happy to have you back, hon
KAITLYN “Hey, Kaitlyn, wake up," I hear a voice whisper into my ear as I lie still and almost dead.Why did the voice sound so familiar? Why does it remind me of him?"Kaitlyn?” My eyes slowly open, not because I am strong enough but because I want to be sure it is who I think it is.And just lik
KAITLYNSilence reigns in the car as Philippe drives through the busy road.I glance at him for the sixth time, expecting him to speak and save me from tension, but he doesn't.Instead, he keeps his eyes on the road and grips the wheels tighter like it will break if he dare lets go.I can't take th
KAITLYNI stare at the tea the woman has made, my fist clenching. I haven't touched it since she dropped it and walked away. The only thing on my mind is Philippe's last words, and what gets me so worked up over it is the urgency in his tone.I sigh loudly and run my hand through my hair, then get
KAITLYN I can feel my heart sink into the pit of my belly as the door pulls open and his footsteps fill the living room I am in.I pull my legs together and rub my trembling hands, daring not to look up. The choking scent of his cologne, the eerie sound of his footsteps, and the irritating yet co







