تسجيل الدخول"The perfect marriage isn't so perfect after all." I’m scared fam…wondering if Nadia is going to drop the video in the next chapter 😭😭
CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT: AWARDS AND BOUGHT ACCOLADE The underground garage was cold and hollow, the echo of footsteps bouncing off concrete walls. Lorenzo moved fast, his hand closing around Matt's collar before Matt could react, slamming him hard against the wall."It's you, right?" Lorenzo's voice was low, dangerous.Matt's eyes widened, confusion flickering across his face. "What the hell are you talking about? I'm not in the mood for your rants.""Oh, you'll know soon." Lorenzo's fist connected with Matt's cheek, a huge crack echoing through the empty space. "How's your man? Dimitri? Still in bed, right? I could make you like him too, you know."Matt shoved him back, hard. "I have no idea what you're saying. Fuck off." He stepped closer, his voice dropping. "What are you desperately looking for? Is it that bad that you have to result to searching like this? You look desperate, Lorenzo."He smirked. "Does this concern Louis? When it comes to Louis, you are always desperate like thi
CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN: FOOTAGE Louis walked into the hospital room with the most serious face he could muster. You can't go soft on him, he kept telling himself. Not this time. He had been called because Lorenzo collapsed. Exhaustion, they said. Louis thought otherwise. That dickhead could be faking it. Lorenzo lay in the bed, pale but smiling the moment Louis walked through the door. His eyes lit up like Louis was the sun breaking through clouds. Louis didn't look at him much. He busied himself with setting down the container he brought, his voice flat and distant. "Anya called me. I'm just doing my duty as a husband." He emphasized the word duty like it was a burden. "I cooked something. You should eat or don't. I don't care." Lorenzo's smile didn't waver. "I miss you, Mio gattino. I was waiting for you" Louis ignored him. "Don't you miss me too?" Lorenzo's voice dropped. "What happened to 'I love you, Lorenzo'? Don't you love your husband anymore?" Louis final
CHAPTER FORTY SIX: SADNESS OF GUILT The sun was bright over the school courtyard, and Chloe had her head craned, searching the crowd before she even made it through the doors. She hadn't seen her brother in weeks. Her stomach had been in knots all morning. A scholarship student walking beside her nudged her arm. "Isn't that your brother?" Other students whispered too, staring like Louis was some kind of influencer instead of just... Louis. Chloe didn't care about their whispers. She ran towards him. "Lou!" She crashed into him, her arms locked around his waist, her face buried in his chest. He smelled the same…like home, like safety. Louis hugged her back, his hand smoothing her hair. "Have you grown taller in just weeks?" "It's the fancy food," Chloe said, grinning up at him. "They feed us like royalty here." The principal appeared, all smiles and polished words. "Chloe is one of our most well-reserved students. A true credit to the Volterra name." Louis nodded along, fo
CHAPTER FORTY FIVE: THE TRUTH BEGINS Louis was alone in the room staring at nothing when the door opened and shut quickly behind someone. He turned and Anya stood there with her back against the wood, her eyes scanning him like she was looking for damage. "Where have you been?" Her voice was low and urgent. She pointed at his cast. "He did that to you, didn't he?" Louis didn't have energy for denial. "What about Chloe?" Anya exhaled and pulled out her phone, scrolling through messages she had already memorized. "I keep in touch with her. Visiting week is soon. Hopefully you get to go." She paused. "She's fine. I've been lying to her, Louis. I had no idea where you were." Louis looked away. Anya stepped closer, her voice dropping. "I don't know how much I can do for you. But Lorenzo is obsessed with you. Even if it's a little…take advantage of that. Keep yourself afloat until the contract is over." She left before he could respond. His thoughts circled like vult
CHAPTER FORTY FOUR: THE GREAT AUNT GIA Lorenzo's voice was flat, almost hollow. "Don't call me that, Gia." Gia didn't flinch. "Why not? That's what my niece named you. Andrea. It's a beautiful name." He stepped past her, leading her inside, his shoulders tense. "Why are you here? Suddenly. After all these years." She followed him, her silver hair catching the light, her eyes scanning the halls like she was seeing ghosts in every corner. "I'm lonely, Andrea. It's been so long. The last time I saw you, you were twenty, wasn't it? I didn't stay long enough though." She paused, her hand brushing a portrait on the wall. "I heard you got married. A husband?" Lorenzo didn't answer. She smiled, almost to herself. "It's so cool not to be the only gay one in the family anymore. Can you imagine? I got kicked out when they discovered I was into women. Then when most of them died, Isabella chucked a little wealth my way. But who cares." Her voice softened. "My wife died last year, Andre
CHAPTER FORTY THREE: HISTORY He was nine years old, and his name was Andrea. The house was cold that night, the kind of cold that seeped into bones and stayed there. He crawled into his mother's bed, seeking warmth, seeking her. His small body pressed against hers, and he held his breath, hoping. Please let her be normal today. Please let her be Mama. Not the other one. The other one put pillows over his face until he couldn't breathe. The other one wrapped her hands around his neck and squeezed while whispering I love you, I love you, I'm sorry, you should never have been born. The other one tried to take him with her to places he didn't want to go. But tonight, her breathing was soft. Her arms wrapped around him, gentle. Normal Mama. Today was normal Mama. "Andrea," she murmured, her voice drowsy. "Would you comb my hair for me?" He smiled against her chest. "Yes, Mama." She moved to the mirror, and he followed, climbing onto the stool behind her. Her hair was long







