When we got home, Luca carried Leon to his room, took off his shoes, and tucked him into bed. Watching him drift off, I couldn’t help but feel love and sadness. It was hard to put into words, but I knew that, somehow, I was giving him the world, even though I wasn’t sure of my own place.Just as Luca turned to leave, I stopped him. The words came out before I could second-guess myself. “What about the tutors you mentioned? Leon hasn’t been to school yet, and I haven’t heard anything.”Luca paused his hand on the door. “Don’t worry. Everything’s under control. People are being verified, and by next week, you’ll have the timetable for everything. Just trust that they’re getting everything sorted out for Leon.”I nodded, even though I wasn’t entirely convinced. At least they were doing what they promised. For now, I should be grateful for that.It was getting late, and I figured Maria must be in her room next door to Leon by now. I didn’t want to disturb her, especially not when she nee
I was eager to feel him inside me. I wanted him to fill me. I wanted him everywhere. I especially wanted him somewhere that was calling out to him. Somewhere that needed him more than anything right now. I wanted him to fuck me. My hands went towards him as I started touching his chest, the firm muscle beneath my fingertips a stark contrast to my own trembling flesh. Planning to make my way towards his defined abs and go down there towards his member to touch him, to ignite the fire that was already burning within me. But just as my hands went towards him, he immediately caught my hands, his grip like steel, and put them in a grip on one of his hands. A little too rough for my liking, the sudden constraint sending a jolt of unease through me. Then he stopped what he was doing, the whirlwind of passion abruptly ceasing. The two of us were now breathing heavily, the air thick with unspoken desires and a tension that crackled between us. He looked into my eyes, his gaze piercing, and
His grip tightened.With each struggle, with each desperate attempt to push him away, his fingers pressed deeper into my throat. My lungs burned, my vision blurred, and I realized—I was going to die.Here. Like this. Beneath him. Panic seized me.I couldn’t die. I couldn’t.Leon—he needed me. I had to stay alive for him.What would happen to him if I was gone?What would Asher do to him if I wasn’t here to protect him?Tears spilt from my eyes as I started to beg."Asher, please… please let me go. Please, I’m begging you." My voice was weak, hoarse, barely a whisper. "Please, don’t do this. I’m sorry."My vision started to fade. The edges of the room darkened, my body growing weaker by the second. My limbs felt heavy and useless. The fight was slipping out of me.And then—He let go.I gasped, sucking in air so violently that my lungs screamed in pain. My body convulsed as I coughed, trying to get oxygen back, my tears hot and endless. My hands clutched my throat as I struggled to bre
I’m just so tired today. So I decided to put Leon to bed early. I don’t know why I’m so tired. Maybe it’s because I had been waiting till very late at night, thinking that Asher was just gonna show up. Which is very stupid, considering we all know that he hasn’t shown up. I have just been prolonging my suffering. I’ve also been nervous, and on edge, thinking about what Asher's thinking, and how he’ll show up, so it hasn’t helped. I look so tired. I have dark circles under my eyes. Makeup may have helped, but now I’m just too tired to dress up. I’m too tired to do anything. I’m just gonna take this night to sleep. And if Asher wants to show up, then he can damn well show up. But today I’m tired, and I’m not going to entertain his mind games. I’m not going to let him keep playing me. I take a quick shower and immediately put on a t-shirt and just go to bed. And the moment my head hits the pillow, as I start getting comfortable, I hear the door open. It doesn’t just open. There is a
Asher practically told me to make lasagna. Lasagna! Do you know how long that takes? I know it's his favourite food but still.....it was the middle of the night!First, there was the soffrito, all those tiny diced vegetables. Then, the Bolognese. Hours of simmering ground meat, red wine, and tomatoes. While that was happening, I had to make the béchamel, whisking milk and butter until my arm ached.Finally, the layering. Pasta, meat sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, béchamel, over and over again r. Then, into the oven for nearly an hour, until it was bubbling and golden.I swear it took me a good three hours, maybe more. Hours of cooking, as I was pulled from my sleep! But, I have to admit, the smell was enough to make my mouth water.While the lasagna was in the oven, I took the time to blend him fresh juice. I know how he loved drinking fresh juice, especially apple juice. So I took some crisp, red apples and I made him apple juice. I took the dish out, the bubbling cheese still sizzling,
I loved Asher Romano. What was there not to love about him?You should see him—the way he smiles, the way his eyes sparkle when he talks about something that excites him. So sexy. You should see him when he’s annoyed, there’s this look on his face—so sexy.Asher gets angry too. They say he has a temper. Since he’s the heir and destined to inherit the throne one day, they always tell him to take it down a notch. But he tells me that sometimes, he just can’t control himself. And when he’s angry, his eyes burn with fire. His jaw clenches, his teeth grind, and his fists tighten. You should see him..... So hot.I was a fool for him.I’ve been in love with Asher practically my whole life. It started when we were young. He’s five years older than me, so people used to make fun of my little crush, A lot of girls had a crush on Asher Romano, girls from good families, who actually had a chance with him.... No one thought I could actually have him, actually be with the heir. After all, he was
Five years AgoAsher then announced, but he wasn’t just talking to me—he was talking to the crowd.“All right, sweetheart. What’s your name?”“Ariella.”“Ariella? What’s your family name?”“My father’s Antonio... Antonio Costa.”“I don’t think I know them.” He said it like he was trying to work his head around it like he couldn’t place us. He wasn’t going to get it. My family was so low in rank, we wouldn’t have even crossed his mind.“When’s this prom thing again?”“Next month. The 14th.”“Okay, I’ll be there. Don’t worry. I’m a good date. I’ll bring the flowers and all that shit.”And with that, he walked into the toilet, leaving me there.My eyes were wide, and the people around me? Their eyes were wide too. Most of us went to the same school and knew the same people, and everyone was in shock.Was that real?My friend Francesca came towards me, her eyes nearly popping out of her head "Was that real? pinch me."“I don’t know,” I said, pulling her away from the scene. I didn’t wa
Five years AgoThat must have been, the end for us. I tried calling him. He never picked up.And so, I did what everybody said—I moved on.It was just a prom date. He just took me because, maybe, he probably felt sorry for me or whatever. I didn’t know his reasons. But that didn’t mean we were ever getting close, and it definitely didn’t mean we were getting married any day soon.So, I tried to forget him.Of course, there was still news about him. Stories about his arguments with his father, because supposedly, he blamed his father for his mother’s death. And then, there was the talk of him coming back every now and then.When I turned 18, he was 21.I had just turned 18, and a lot of our friends—had either been proposed or already had arranged marriages. I didn’t have any prospects yet. I didn’t know if I even wanted any.~~~~We were at my cousin’s wedding. She was 19, and this was my first wedding. My mother told me I needed to attend so I could be prepared, and maybe someone migh
He should have. This felt amazing. He lowered himself between my legs, and I opened them for his strong body without hesitation, loving the feel of his powerful, warm body on top of me. He cupped both of my breasts with his hands, squeezed lightly, never taking his eyes off me—nor did I take mine off him. The sight of this man touching me turned into a mess of need.Kneading my breasts gently, he lavished my nipples with attention, kisses, licks, and sucks until I was panting. Without thinking, I wrapped my legs around him and pushed my centre against his stomach, needing friction. My wetness coated the firm muscles and caused Asher to groan low in his throat. His eyes flashed with triumph and hunger. His mouth worked my breasts with even more fervour until I was close to losing my mind with the need for release. I kept rubbing myself against Asher's abs almost desperately, but it wasn’t enough—not nearly enough. I needed more but wasn’t sure how to say it.I made a small impatient s
I tiptoed towards him, hoping to catch him by surprise and hug him from behind. But he wasn’t on alert. He didn’t resist. He didn’t even flinch. It was as though he had expected me all along. I slipped my arms around him and rested my head against his back, swaying him gently. I could feel his smile as he tilted his head slightly to touch my forehead.Then he turned around slowly, taking my arms in his hands, and bringing them to his lips. He kissed them softly, then kissed my forehead, and finally wrapped me into his embrace, holding me against his chest.“I know you're upset the day is over,” he said, his voice warm and soft above me, “but this is just one of the many days we’re going to be spending together. Because once I marry you, you won’t have to ask for anybody’s permission. You’ll be mine, and I’ll be yours—in every sense of the word. And we’ll get to have this time, just the two of us, every day.”He tipped my head up gently so I could look into his eyes, so he could see my
When Asher arrived, I didn’t have to fake a smile. I didn’t have to pretend to be happy—because I truly was. I had missed him. Deeply. Desperately.The feelings rushing through me were raw and real.I had been waiting downstairs after my mom left my room, too restless to stay still. And the moment his car pulled into the driveway, I didn’t hesitate. I threw the front door open and ran to him.He stepped out just in time to catch me in his arms, and I wrapped myself around him like I never wanted to let go. He held me tighter than I expected as if he needed this moment just as much as I did.I was so overwhelmed, that I cried.In his arms, everything ceased to exist. I didn’t have to think about choices or decisions. I didn’t have to think about the heartbreak waiting just around the corner. All that mattered was this—this moment, this man, this feeling.It had been almost a month since I’d seen him, and I hadn’t realized how much I’d been missing him until I was with him again. Being
My chest tightened.Asher.I swallowed hard, trying to relax my stiff shoulders. But I couldn’t. Not after hearing Asher’s name roll so carelessly off Domenico’s tongue.How could you bring Asher into this? I wanted to scream. How could he be okay with any of this?Domenico cleared his throat, casual and composed. “I came here to see you because I thought it would be appropriate for us to meet before our engagement.”I cringed at the word engagement, but I masked it with a tight, polite smile.He continued, voice smooth. “I also thought we should talk about my son.”My stomach dropped.There was an awkward pause before my mother gently nudged me.“Yes,” I answered quickly, forcing my voice to stay steady.“I thought we were under the same understanding,” he said, eyes narrowing slightly. “That you were supposed to have broken up with him by now.”“I—” My lips parted, but nothing came out. “Yes, I was going to.....""But just this morning, I spoke to him, and he was… excited. He said h
That night, when Asher called, I couldn’t bring myself to pick up. I didn’t want to fall into the same pattern I had before—ignoring him to get him to give me what I wanted. But tonight, I just... couldn’t.When I woke up the next morning, my phone was full of missed calls and messages from him. I finally called him back, forcing myself to sound normal, to enjoy the time we still had. Because deep down, I knew the truth—this wouldn't last. The next time I saw him, I’d have to break his heart.So I told myself to hold on to this moment. To Enjoy these few more days. Pretend it was still us. Pretend I wasn’t about to shatter everything.He was so excited. Said he was getting a swing for his arm now that the metal had been removed. He could finally move more freely. He said he’d come to see me soon—really soon. The way his voice lit up, the way he spoke like we were about to go back to how things used to be... it broke something in my heart.I dreaded that day.When I went downstairs for
I cried.Not just with tears—but with sound, with trembling, with my whole body. The kind of crying that strips you bare and leaves you raw.My father pulled me into him, his arms strong and warm, wrapping me in a quiet shield. He didn’t say anything. He just held me, patted my back, and whispered things I couldn’t even hear through the roaring in my chest. The more he tried to soothe me, the more I broke. And I kept crying. Until there was nothing left.No tears. No words. Just silence.I sat there, staring at the nothing in front of me. Eyes open, but seeing nothing. Feeling everything.Then he spoke.“Whatever decision you make… you’re an adult now. Like I told you—I’m not afraid to die. The only thing I am scared of is to lose you, my precious baby girl.”His voice cracked a little, and it hurt to hear that.“Everything I’ve ever done has always been for you. I think about you before I think about anything else. So if you want to keep this baby… if you want to tell Asher… whatever
My eyes widened to saucers. What do you mean? I asked, my voice small, trembling, as my eyes blinked rapidly—once, twice, too many times.My father looked at me, and there was nothing but sadness in his expression.“You’re very smart, Ariella,” he said quietly. “I think you can see it.”But I couldn’t.I didn’t.And now, hearing him say it, my mind began to race. Had I missed something? Was there a piece I hadn’t seen, a truth I hadn’t dared to believe?He took a breath, long and shaky. “I didn’t tell you everything about my meeting with the Don,” he admitted. “Because I didn’t want you to fear for your life. I didn’t want you to be scared.”My throat tightened. I swallowed hard.“I feel like a failure,” he said next. “I feel like I failed you. I feel like I failed your mom. I feel like I failed our family. What kind of father am I?”“Don’t say that,” I whispered, reaching for his hand and folding it into mine. “Don’t say that, Dad. Please, don’t. I’m so proud to be your daughter. I k
Because beneath the sadness in Dad's face, beneath the anger, beneath the heavy emotion… was something worse.Disappointment.That was what broke me.I had wanted a reaction—but not this one. I didn’t know what to do with this. So I stood there, frozen, unable to move, just watching him as he walked out. Leaving me behind. Leaving me alone with my sobbing mother.My hand instinctively moved to my belly. I was holding it, cradling it.Just minutes ago, I’d been so happy. And now… now I was completely lost.When I realized I wouldn’t be getting any answers—not today—I quietly turned and walked toward the stairs. My mom kept sobbing and shouting behind me. I didn’t even register what she was saying. Her words were just noise.I walked upstairs. I walked into my room. And then I just sat down.I didn’t know how to feel. Didn’t know if I should be crying. Didn’t know what I should be doing.So I just sat there for a long time, staring out the window. Silent. Still.Lost.The house was eeri
I was pregnant.I was holding the pregnancy test in my hand, staring at it like it might change.I was pregnant with Asher’s baby. My plan had come to fruition.I was finally going to be with him, just like it was supposed to be in the beginning. No more obstacles. No more waiting. This was our future. Our family.I couldn’t stop smiling.I wanted to run to Asher, tell him everything, let the joy explode between us—but I knew it had to wait. There was something I had to do first. Something that mattered just as much.I slipped the pregnancy test into the pocket of my jeans, took a moment to breathe, and walked down the stairs.Mom and Dad were in the living room.Dad was reading, Mom was watching TV, and her arms folded across her chest.I stepped inside, and I couldn’t hide it—the happiness lit up my face like sunlight. Mom noticed first. Her eyes snapped to mine, narrowing. She slapped her hand against Dad’s arm and then nudged him harder. They both turned toward me.“What is it, Ar