LOGINThe door clicked shut behind Anna, leaving Lucy alone in the hallway with Marco. Lucy’s body trembled as she took a step back, ready to turn away.“Lucy,” Marco called, stopping her in her tracks.Marco paused, studying her for a moment before asking, “How are you doing?”“Fine,” Lucy muttered, forcing the words past her lips.Marco took a step toward her. Instinctively, Lucy stepped back, putting more distance between them.Marco's shoulders slumped slightly. "Are you still scared of me?"Lucy turned her head away, her jaw tight, refusing to meet his gaze.“Please answer me, Lucy,” Marco said softly. “Don’t leave me in silence.”"I have nothing to say to you," Lucy replied, her voice trembling despite her effort to steady it.Marco stepped closer, his hand reaching for hers. The moment his fingers brushed her skin, Lucy flinched as if burned and jerked her hand away.“Don’t touch me,” she sneered.Marco’s hand hovered in the air for a moment before he finally dropped it. “Lu—” "I
The kitchen fell silent as Vincenzo stepped inside, his imposing frame filling the doorway and blocking the light from the hall. Anna and Lucy turned to the doorway and froze, their eyes widening in shock as they saw Vincenzo. Vincenzo stepped further into the kitchen, his cold eyes locked on Anna and Lucy, the room growing tight and tense with his presence. He stopped directly in front of Anna and Lucy, so close that they could smell the faint, expensive scent of his cologne, mixed with a hint of tobacco. Instinctively, Anna and Lucy stepped back, their backs pressing against the cold kitchen counter. “I won’t ask again,” Vincenzo growled, closing the distance. “What did I just hear you say?” Anna’s eyes flicked to Lucy, before snapping back to Vincenzo’s burning gaze. Her lips trembled as she tried to speak. “It’s not—” “And don’t you dare lie to me,” Vincenzo snarled, his eyes locking onto Anna with a predatory glare. Anna’s chest tightened, and she swallowed hard
~A FEW HOURS AGO~Vincenzo’s Mercedes-Benz AMG GT63S, escorted by his convoy of SUVs, pulled away from the mansion driveway, but his gaze remained fixed on the rear window.Vincenzo watched Anna and Anthony shrink into two small, blurred figures in the distance, their shared laughter lingering in his mind and fueling his anger.His hands tightened into fists on his knees, the leather of his gloves groaning under the strain.Vincenzo didn’t understand why a cold, burning fury had coiled in his gut, or why he felt this way, but it was deeply unpleasant. The memory of Anthony tucking Anna’s hair behind her ear, of him holding her bandaged hand so gently, kept replaying in his mind over and over.The drive to the city was quiet or tense. After about twenty minutes, Vincenzo’s car finally came to a stop in front of the towering office building. The name ‘ROMANO’ gleamed in bold steel above the entrance.Vincenzo stepped out, his expression stern and cold. Marco and the guards fell in b
A sudden knock came on Anna’s bedroom door.Both Anna and Vincenzo jolted in surprise. Anna’s eyes darted to Vincenzo’s chest, and a rush of heat flooded her cheeks as she suddenly realized just how close they were.“Oh my God—sorry!” Anna blurted, scrambling to her feet in a rush.Vincenzo rose from the floor, brushing dust from his shirt. The air between them felt tense with awkward silence.Vincenzo stared at Anna, saying nothing.She quickly smoothed her hair, tucking a loose strand behind her ear before running a shaky hand through it. “Uh… I—”Another knock sounded at the door.Then Lucy’s voice followed. “Anna? Are you in there?”Anna swallowed hard and turned toward the door. “Y-yeah, I’m coming!” she called.She glanced back at Vincenzo, who stood at the foot of her bed, watching her in silence.Clearing her throat, she muttered nervously, “I… I’ll get the door.”Anna hurried across the room and opened the door just as Vincenzo turned toward it.Lucy stepped into the room,
Anna jerked her hand back, instinctively hiding it behind her back. “Hot stew spilled on my hand by accident,” she explained. Vincenzo’s gaze shifted from Anna’s hand to her face. “Since when?” “Last week,” Anna mumbled. “Was it treated?” “I ran it under cold water,” Anna replied. “And Lucy put some ointment on it a few minutes ago.” Vincenzo’s eyes lingered on Anna, his tone hardening. “Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve called the doctor.” “It’s not that serious,” Anna insisted, shifting uncomfortably under his stare. “It’s already healing.” “Let me see it.” Vincenzo’s words left no room for refusal. He dropped his tablet onto the table with a clatter and reached for Anna’s hand. Hesitantly, Anna brought her left hand from behind her and extended it toward Vincenzo. He took it, his grip firm but gentle. His fingers were warm against Anna’s skin as he turned her left hand over, studying the burn marks. Camilla sat rigid in her chair, her lips pressed into a thin, furious l
Vincenzo’s words made heat rush to Anna’s cheeks. “I… it’s not—” Anna stumbled over her words, unsure how to explain herself.Vincenzo let out a low, amused chuckle.Anna froze, surprised. She had never heard Vincenzo laugh before, so hearing it now shocked her.“Relax…” Vincenzo said, his voice calm.Anna nodded quickly, still feeling her cheek heat up. Vincenzo moved away from Anna and went to his wardrobe. He opened it, pulled out a white robe, and draped it over himself, securing the belt at his waist. The chest area hung slightly open, revealing his bare chest.Anna peeked through her fingers, her eyes widening as she realized Vincenzo had covered himself. Slowly, she lowered her hands, letting her gaze take him in. Water still clung to Vincenzo’s hair and trickled down his face, tracing the chiseled angles of his jaw and cheekbones. His features looked more captivating than ever, and despite herself, her gaze wandered to the bare expanse of his broad, tattooed chest, cap







