로그인I was still sitting beside Alexandro's bed, holding his cold hand, when the treatment room door swung open loudly, like someone who felt entitled to enter anywhere without permission.Mona.Alexandro's mother. Or more precisely, Alexandro's stepmother. The woman strutted in wearing a red silk dress, her hair in a high bun, diamond jewelry on her neck and ears. Her face was still well-maintained, maybe from dozens of facelifts or because she had never worked a hard day in her life.Her sharp eyes immediately landed on me, not on Alexandro lying pale in the bed."Lucia, I heard my son fainted."I didn't answer. I just stared at her.Mona walked closer. She glanced at Alexandro briefly."This must be your fault. You stress him out. My son never got sick before marrying you."I remained silent."You know, Alexandro used to be healthy. Never hospitalized. But since you came into his life, everything has fallen apart. His business is disrupted, his reputation is threatened. Now he's lying h
LUCIA'S POVThat night, I was reading a book in the living room. Davina had prepared chamomile tea for me, a new habit that I had grown to like. I was starting to get used to her presence. Her smile, which once made me sick, now felt comforting. Maybe because I already knew the story behind that smile. Maybe because I had chosen to no longer be a foolish, jealous woman.My phone rang. Marco.I answered with a strange feeling. Marco never called me. Usually, if he needed something, he would pass the message through Gianna or Davina."Madam, Mr. Alexandro has fainted. We're at the hospital."My heart stopped beating for a moment."What?""Mr. Alexandro fainted. About an hour ago, after an inspection at the port. I brought him straight to the hospital.""Gianna!" I shouted.Gianna appeared from behind. Her face was tense. "Yes, Madam?""Take me to the hospital. Now."Gianna didn't ask questions. She immediately took the wheel. The car sped away from the house. I sat in the passenger seat
Author's Pov.Alexandro had felt unwell since morning.He stood in front of the bathroom mirror, holding onto the white marble sink. His head was spinning. He looked at his own reflection, his face pale, his lips slightly bluish, cold sweat on his forehead."Sir, the car is ready." Marco's voice came from behind the door.Alexandro turned on the cold water tap, splashed his face, and dried it with a towel."I'm coming down."He walked out of the bedroom, his face as blank as usual.The car drove toward the port. Marco drove at a steady speed, occasionally glancing at the rearview mirror, making sure no one was following.Alexandro sat in the back seat with his eyes closed. His head was still throbbing. His stomach felt nauseous. His hands trembled slightly, barely noticeable, but he felt it."Sir, are you alright?" Marco asked."Focus on driving."Marco didn't ask again.The port was dark that night. Lights were only on at a few spots on the dock, in front of the warehouse, on top of
The underground prison was located beneath Alexandro's safe house on the outskirts of the city. Not a luxurious house. An ordinary house, inconspicuous, like other houses in the simple residential complex, but beneath it, there was a room that the neighbors could never have imagined.Thick concrete walls, cement floor, dim lighting from a bare bulb hanging from the low ceiling. The air was damp, cold, and the smell of earth mixed with the smell of iron.Isabella sat on a wooden chair in the middle of the room. Her hands weren't handcuffed. Her legs weren't chained. There were no signs of torture on her body. She had been here for several days.The iron door opened with a creaking sound.Isabella blinked. Her eyes, already accustomed to the dimness, were slightly dazzled as light from the hallway entered. A man stood at the door. Neat black suit, perfectly styled hair, blank face without expression. Marco.He entered. The iron door closed behind him. His voice echoed in the narrow room
Author's PovIn a dark room outside the city, the light from a single bulb hung from a leaky ceiling. The walls were damp, with black stains everywhere. The smell of mustiness and cheap cigarettes mixed with the stuffy air.In the middle of the room, a wooden table was covered with files and photos. On the opposite wall, dozens of photos were pinned with red threads connecting one to another.Matteo Bianchi sat in an old wooden chair, his back slightly hunched. His black eyes were still sharp, like an eagle that never tired of stalking its prey. In his hand, a cup of black coffee that had gone cold. His eyes were fixed on one photo he held tightly.A photo of Lucia as a child.Carlo Bianchi stood beside him. His body was smaller, fatter, his face smoother. The same man who had sold Lucia to Alexandro. The man who disappeared, who was being searched for by her aunt and Elena. Now he was here next to his brother in this dark, musty room."Why is my daughter in Alexandro De Luca's hands?
Author's PovOn the twenty-seventh floor of the office, the lights were dim. Only the glow from the computer monitor lit the room. Alexandro sat behind the mahogany desk, his face cold under the screen's glare. Marco stood beside him, tablet in hand, face tense as usual.The monitor displayed a dark web site. A page that ordinary people couldn't access. A page that could only be entered through a special network. A page that sold human lives like merchandise.Lucia De Luca's name was still displayed there.A photo of Lucia taken from a distance, maybe while she was walking on campus, or when she was getting out of the car. The sunlight caught her wavy hair. Her face wasn't very clear, but clear enough to be recognized."The price went up again, Sir. Last month it was still $400,000. Now it's $500,000. This isn't normal. Usually prices drop over time, not rise," Marco said.Alexandro didn't answer. His eyes remained fixed on the screen. His fingers stopped on the mouse, not moving."So
The priest began to recite the prayer in a steady voice that echoed throughout the church. I stood still beside Alexandro, my hands feeling stiff as I held the bouquet. The scent of lilies was too strong, almost making me dizzy."We are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Alexandro De Lu
I showed him everything I had learned from Mira.I sat on his lap, both arms wrapped around his neck. My breath was slow, rhythmic, exactly as Mira taught. "Breathing is the key," she said before. "Proper breathing can make a man lose control."I whispered in his ear. "Where do you want me to start
Three days since Mira came.Three days I learned, about touch, about sound, about movement, about how to make a man want you. And every night, I waited.Alexandro did not come home.Around ten at night, I heard a car in the driveway. My heart pounded wildly.I ran to the window. The black car was p
At nine fifty, I was already sitting in the living room, my heart pounding. The simple house dress I was wearing didn't feel like enough. I twisted the hem of my clothes and waited.Right at ten o'clock, Mira arrived.Today she looked different. Still beautiful, still graceful, but her clothes were







