The atmosphere outside the mansion seemed strangely silent compared to the chaos that just happened in the study. The storm had passed leaving the night wet and calm, but Liya’s heart was anything but still. The scene repeatedly played in her mind. Every detail troubled her mind as she followed Aldo and Melinda down the shadowy hallway, her movement quick to keep up with them.
Liya’s breath came out in pants, her palms sweaty as she wrapped her arms around herself. She had never felt so uncomfortable, so totally exposed. The beauty of the mansion, with its spotless floors and grand chandelier, felt more like a sugar-coated cage rather than a shelter. Aldo stopped suddenly, turning to her. His fierce gaze on her and for a minute, her breath stopped. “We don't have a lot of time,” he said in a low but firm voice.”Damian won’t stop just after a single attack. This was the first of many, so we need to hurry.” Liya’s stomach knotted. Thoughts of the lifeless human in the study filled her mind. His last disturbing words: Damian sends his greetings, weighing heavily on her and suffocating her mind. “Why would Damian decide to attack you now? I thought… I thought the deal was finalized when I agreed to marry you?” She asked with a trembling voice. Aldo’s jaw hardened. “ Damian never honors any deal unless it's beneficial to him, so don't put too much faith in him. The marriage was just a move on his chessboard and he is still playing the game.” “And I guess I'm just another piece in this game of his.” Liya whispered bitterly. “Absolutely,” Aldo voiced without stalling, his tone harsher than she predicted. “But you are not a puppet anymore, you're something more, Liya. And that's the reason Damian will keep seeking you and coming after you.” Liya blinked, confusion and alarm bells ringing in her head. “More? What do you mean?” Aldo didn't give her a response immediately. His eyes moved to Melinda, standing silently with her hand fixed on the gun hidden in her hip. The strain between them made Liya uncomfortable. “There’s no time to explain everything right now,” Aldo said, evading her question. “Right now, you need to stay close and do as I say. Make sure you follow my lead.” His tone made Liya angry but she withheld her reply. Even though she hated the way he treated her like a child who could barely understand the entire situation, she couldn't forget the fact that he had just saved her life. For now, she had no choice but to trust and listen to him, even though her intuitions screamed at her not to do so. Aldo guided them down another hallway, his actions conscious and quiet. The elegance of the mansion was shown continuously before them–arts that were the kinds displayed in museums, fancy woodworks that must have taken so long to design but Liya couldn’t take a moment to deeply admire them. The squeak of the floors and every shadow that appeared in the dark posed a threat to them, the hair at the back of her neck standing like they were being watched. They finally reached a large wooden door at the end of the hall. She got through the doors and into the room only to come face to face with a broad underground room loaded with a range of advanced tech equipment; monitors, weapons, and maps draped out on the walls. A bunch of men and women with hard expressions were already stationed inside, their attention shifting to Aldo as he entered. “Give me a status update,” Aldo demanded, his voice slicing through the tense room like a sword. One of the stern-faced men, a lean figure with a vertical scar on his cheek came forward. “We’ve guarded the surroundings, but the attack shows somebody from within supplied Damian with info, cause he knew precisely where to strike. It’s too accurate to be a coincidence.” Aldo’s entire appearance darkened and Liya felt the warmth in the room drop. “A rat,” he whispered. “Find them immediately. I don’t care what it takes, they’ll wish they never double-crossed me.” The scarred man nodded and vanished into the darkness while the others carried on with their tasks. Liya hovered around the door, her anxiety building as the seconds passed by. She had believed the storm was over, but if it was true that there was a mole, then this night was far from being over. Aldo turned to her abruptly, his gaze piercing. “Stay here, don’t leave until I say it’s safe for you to do so.” “What?” She exclaimed fear taking over her. “No! You can’t…you can’t just leave me here alone! What if–“ “You’ll be safe,” he cut her off, his tone leaving no room for an argument. “This room is highly secured. Melinda will stay here with you.” Liya’s gaze moved to Melinda who stood at the side. While her presence gave her a slight sense of comfort, the thought of staying back while Aldo faced the danger hiding in the shadows made her chest tight. “I don’t want to just sit back and be clueless, I deserve to know what’s happening,” she said in a trembling voice. “You’ll know what there is to know when the time is right, this isn’t a battle you’re prepared for, trust me.” His voice held an edge to it as he stepped closer to her, his presence towering over her. Having said that, he turned and left the room, leaving her with Melinda. —————————— Time went by as Liya paced the room, her anxiety growing as the seconds went by. Melinda just stood by the monitors with a heavy expression as she watched the different areas of the mansion displayed on the screen. “Is he always like this?” Liya asked, not being able to bear the silence any longer. “Like what?” Melinda asked, her brows wrinkled. “Blocking people, acting like he can’t rely on anyone but himself,” Liya said in frustration. Melinda smirked. “In a world like his, trust is like a poison that kills you slowly. He is not used to depending on anyone but himself.” Liya wanted to question her further, to understand the man she was forced to marry, but before she could open her mouth, the screen of the monitors blinked and showed the front gates of the mansion. Liya paled. A black car was parked outside, its engine running. She tried to look inside but the tinted windows made it impossible. A chill ran down her spine as she turned to Melinda, “Tell me that's back up.” she whispered to Melinda, scared her voice would carry through the monitor. Melinda studied the screen and became rigid. “ No, they are not our men,” she equally whispered as she reached for her earpiece. “Aldo, there's a situation at the front gates, an unknown SUV is parked out in front.” His reply squeaked through the earpiece. “Stay where you are, I'm on my way.” Melinda nodded and faced Liya. “Stay here, I’ll be back.” “What! No! No!” Liya said, her voice hysterical. “You can't leave me alone, what if they get in here?” Melinda’s eyes softened for a second. “ That's impossible Liya, this room is like a fort, nobody can get through to get in. You'll be safe.” Liya watched as Melinda slipped out of the room, the doors locking behind her, leaving her with the view from the monitors and panic-filled thoughts. ————————— Minutes crawled by as Liya sat on the steel chair, her hands fisted so tightly her knuckles turned white, her posture stiff, and her ears on alert for any sound. The monitors showed Melinda and Aldo approaching the front gates, both of their guns drawn. Liya leaned forward, her heart beating rapidly as they approached the SUV. The driver exited first, then a tall wide-shouldered man in a suit followed. His face was partially covered by the darkness but something familiar about him made her blood run dry. He exchanged words with Aldo, and though she couldn't hear them, she could tell they were intense. Aldo’s entire demeanor was stiff. The man suddenly reached inside his suit pocket. Liya gulped, fear gripping her, but Aldo was faster than she imagined, drawing his gun and aiming it at the man. The screen flickered and went blank. “No!” Liya banged her hands on the monitor, wondering what had happened. Her mind raced with dangerous scenarios. Was Aldo okay? A loud thud sounded through the walls of the room, accompanied by gunshots. Her breath caught in her throat as she lowered herself against the wall, panic surging. Suddenly, the doorknob shook. Liya sat still, hoping it was Melinda or Aldo coming to her rescue. The handle twisted and the door cracked open, a silhouette appearing in the doorway. Her face paled as the figure stepped into the light, his face coming into view. It wasn't Aldo. It wasn't Melinda. It was someone different. Not again.The figure that stood at the doorway was tall, shoulders wide, and somewhat hidden by the dim lighting in the room. Her pulse pumped and her head ached. Didn't they say this was a safe place, reinforced and impenetrable? So what was this man doing standing inside the supposedly secured room and glaring at her? How did he break through the mansion’s security? “Who…who are you? What do you want?” Her voice cracked, shaking with fear. He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he fixed his sharp eyes on her, assessing her like a predator examining its prey. He stepped forward and Liya willed herself to move but her legs refused to cooperate. Her eyes flitted to the monitors but they were black and without any image. The room which had once felt like a refuge suddenly felt like a snare. “I–I’ll scream,” she stuttered in a quivering but feisty voice. The man raised his brows, a light smile on his lips. “You could, but I wouldn't advise it,” he said in a smooth and calm voice, sounding bore
The days after the attack went by in a blur for Liya. The broken window had been fixed but flashbacks from that night continued playing in her head like a broken record. She had finally seen the dangerous world he lived in, a world she was no part of. Liya roamed the wide halls of Aldo’s mansion, the fanciness around her a total opposite of the storm inside her. Even with the expensive crystal chandeliers and paintings that decorated the walls, the air was still filled with tension. She felt like a prisoner in a golden cage, her every move watched by Melinda or one of Aldo’s men. Her brain kept returning to Aldo’s words from the night of the attack: you're a party to the game now. She couldn't figure out what he was saying. What role did she play and what game was he talking about?While roaming, she came across a library, the room was filled with books from floor to ceiling, it was every girl's dream. She ran her fingers over them, inhaling the smell of leather and paper which was
The day finally arrived—the day she married Aldo Marino. When she visualized her wedding, she would always think of happiness, a soon-to-be husband that she loved, and an intimate ceremony with her loved ones. This wasn't what she had dreamed of. She stared at herself in the mirror, dressed in a beautiful satin dress that clung perfectly to her curves, the soft lace brushing softly over her skin, the beauty contrasting her heavy heart.“Ready to go?” Melinda’s voice cut through her thoughts.Liya turned to face Melinda who stood at the doorway with a neutral expression. The woman had been her shadow since the attack and while Liya was thankful for the support, her presence only pointed out that she was continuously in danger.“I'm not sure I could say that but I can't back out either,” Liya said in a resolved voice. Melinda looked at her with soft eyes only for a moment. “It’s not about being ready, it’s about doing what you can to survive.”With that, Liya nodded and followed Melind
The strong grip over her mouth made Liya tremble in fear–she couldn't scream nor could she call for help. “Don’t try to scream,” her attacker said as he removed his hand that was pressed over her mouth. Before Liya could turn around, she felt something sharp and cold like a knife press into her side, and she stiffened, fear gripping her. “Walk,” the man steered her towards the staircase which led down to the garden. Her mind busied itself with thoughts of an escape. She searched around for a way out. She looked at the door, contemplating if she could make a run for it and get help. Like he read her mind, he pressed the knife harder into her sides. “Don’t even dream about it. One wrong move from you and you'll be ending up tonight in a body bag and not on a bed with your husband,” he warned her. Liya gulped, her throat suddenly dry from fear as she nodded, allowing him to guide her.They moved through the garden in silence, the constant rustling of leaves and crickets the only th
Aldo was up before sunrise since he couldn't sleep– he spent his night tossing and turning and wondering how his security was constantly breached. He enjoyed the silence in his mansion, especially in the early hours of the morning. But as he sat in his study, he could hear Liya moving in the hallway and wondered what she was up to. He thought she would not be able to leave her room today and was ready to have her meal sent to her but he was wrong. Last night was scary for her– he had rushed to her room in the middle of the night when he heard her scream from a bad dream. He didn't want to leave her again but at the same time he didn't want her to make this out to be something it was not, so he reluctantly returned to his room even though all he wanted was to get in bed with her and hold her in his arms. The pull to her was intense.He got up and went to the door to catch a glimpse of her. He leaned against the doorframe as he watched her study the antique furniture and old paintings
Aldo straightened his suit and cufflinks while standing in front of the mirror. The black tux was correctly designed to fit his broad frame. Exiting his room, he went to his home bar to have a drink while he waited for Liya. Women usually took their precious time while getting ready and he was sure she wasn't any different. He had also just dumped the news of the gala on her just the other night, not giving her enough time to prepare her mind. Thinking of the other night, his mind went back to the conversation they had about the locked room and he could only pray she didn't go snooping around and digging into areas of his life he had long buried.The clicking of heels coming down the stairs called his attention as he turned to see Liya descending the stairs. Her presence commanded his attention and awakened something in him that he didn't want to acknowledge. She was stunning in her dark red dress that filled out in the right places, not too much but enough cleavage and the smooth ski
Seated in the back seat of the car and Liya by his side, Aldo couldn't help but notice how her body turned away from him. As she gazed out the window, the streetlights brightened her features giving her a charming glow. They hadn't said a word to each other the entire ride from the gala and he could only wonder what was going through her mind. He couldn't help but feel a bit of pride at the way she handled herself with Tomas even though she was out of her setting.He also recalled her question— just two words that left him overthinking— should I?She was only supposed to be a tool in this game but she was gradually becoming something more. His train of thought was cut as the car stopped in front of the mansion. He got out and went to open the door for Liya but she was already out of the car.“At least let me get the door for you,” he said, moving to stand before her.“That's okay, I can do that,” she said, smiling softly.“Of course you can. But what kind of man would I be if I let m
Aldo stood in his study, his gaze lost in the fireplace while the rain beat heavily against the windows and roof. The whiskey in his hand was barely touched as he recalled what he had said to Liya and he felt like kicking himself in the leg. He remembered the hurt on her face and concluded that he was such a jerk. He didn't mean to blurt out what he had said to her but she was tearing down walls that had been erected for a long time with so much ease that she barely noticed and he didn't want that or did he?His thoughts however shifted to what he had been trying to ignore, the reason why he seemed so lost. Despite locking up the past, some ghosts still slipped through the cracks, and the night was one of those nights.The door to his study opened and he knew only one person could enter his study unannounced. Liya. He didn't turn around, ashamed to face her after what he said in the Library.“I knew I'd find you here,” Liya’s voice was soft when she spoke. He'd expected her not to bot
Aldo stood downstairs, with his hands behind his back. After that little talk with Aria, taking Liya to a party just for her to unwind was the only thing he could think of. His mind was clouded as well. They both needed to socialize. So it was a good idea for them. He wanted to plan a dinner date with her, but he knew that she wasn't going to be comfortable sitting alone with him at a table, so the party was his best option at that point. There was going to be a party and then a little dinner afterwards. It would give him a chance to teach her as well. It was going to be a win-win for both of them. He wondered why she was taking so long. Maybe she didn't want to go join him for the party, but he was prepared to head upstairs and dress her up himself if that was what it took. He was ready to carry her over his shoulders and take her to the party. It was going to be awkward between both of them, but he didn't care. It wasn't like he was going to outrightly apologize to her. Another t
“Maybe she is worthy of being trusted,” Melinda said, looking up at Aldo as he went through his files. He was tired of keeping things to himself and she seemed like the only person he could talk to at that point. The only thing he could do was hope that Melinda wasn't going to be one of the next people to betray him. That would mean everyone around him was a snake. He knew it would somehow affect his empire so moving forward he had to be careful.“I don't know anymore,” he said, going through all the routes that she had changed. He was going through the new passwords. After Liya had given the passwords away, he felt the need to change them again. “She was just scared, trying to save her brother. You might have done the same thing if Aria was in trouble.”Aldo paused, looking up at her and she apologized immediately. “It's fine,” he said stiffly. He might have done the same thing if it was Aria but the case was different here. Liya was constantly trying to be independent. She didn't
Liya waited for Aldo to tell her to continue walking away, but he didn't. He grabbed her hand instead and pushed her back into the car. He was mad at her, and she knew that much. It was mostly her fault and she couldn't even blame him. He got into his side and drove so fast like he couldn't wait to be out of the same car with her. It hurt her because things were finally starting to make sense between both of them and she had ruined things with one text. Even in her head, she was starting to compare herself with Franco. The one thing she didn't think she’d ever do. But it was the truth. She had betrayed Aldo as well. Giving the same information that Franco had given. Aldo parked the car in the garage and got out without her. She watched him as he walked out of the garage, and into the mansion. Liya couldn't bring herself to come out of the car. She sat there and allowed the tears to flow. She bent her head to her chest and cried even more. She reached into her purse, bringing out her
The door to the warehouse slammed shut, but Aldo didn’t seem to care as he started the car. Liya felt pale. She could feel her throat contract from time to time, but she didn’t even have anything to come up her throat, which she was thankful for. She didn’t want to throw up in the car and annoy Aldo more. He drove off, barely looking at her and she couldn’t bring herself to say anything either. She had chosen Aldo back there, and it should have been enough for him. But obviously, it wasn’t enough for him. He suddenly turned to her. “Why did you choose the note?” It wasn't the question that she expected him to ask, but she was willing to answer him because she knew why. “I just couldn't pull the trigger.” The words were barely out of her mouth when he interrupted her. “I knew you couldn't,” he said, slamming his hand against the wheel, making her flinch. She bit her lower lip so hard she was sure it would bleed if she added any more pressure. Aldo grabbed the steering wheel until
Liya couldn’t hold back her tears as she ran back to her room. She was thankful that there were none of the maids or guards present in the hallways.As soon as she shut the door, she allowed the tears to flow freely as she sank to the floor. Aldo was betrayed barely twenty-four hours ago, and she had just done the same thing. How could she be so stupid?What if it was just a test from Damian? She wished that she didn't have to face Aldo ever again but she knew that it was going to be impossible. They practically lived in the same house. She was Mrs. Marino. Aldo’s fucking wife. What kind of wife betrayed her husband?She pushed the thought out of her head. She buried her face in her knees as she sobbed. She didn’t even know when she fell asleep on the floor. As she woke up the next morning, Liya hurried to the bathroom. She could barely see clearly as she stared at herself in the mirror. She couldn't recognize the woman that stared back at her. Her eyes were swollen, and her cheeks
Liya paced around the library. She couldn't even go back to her room to sleep. It wasn't just the fact that she had seen Damian that managed to shake her but the message that she had gotten right after he had left her in the greenhouse but not without slipping a burner phone between the flowers. Damian had sent her a text that he had her brother in his custody and that she needed to act fast. Liya tried not to cry. It wasn't the first or second time that she was in such a difficult situation just because of Liam. She rubbed her sweaty palms against her jeans. She couldn't even call Liam to confirm if it was true, because his phone was switched off and she hadn't seen or heard from him since the day he came to warn her about trusting Aldo. Liya stared at the burner phone in her hand. The phone that she was supposed to send the codes that Damian needed. She shook her head, trying not to do it. But there was only one thought in her head and that was saving Liam. She knew she should l
Liya could barely keep to herself after she finally told Aldo goodnight. She had only slept for a few hours too, unable to settle the fluttering butterflies in her stomach. By the time she woke up, the sky was gray and gloomy. Almost as if there was an impending doom. But Liya didn't want to see it like that. Things were starting to make sense between her and Aldo and nothing would go wrong between the both of them. It was chilly around the house, and even the fireplace did nothing to help. It was warm, but Liya didn't feel comfortable around it. She had a cup of coffee and decided to head outside. She was sure that the estate would be more secure. She hadn't seen Aldo, Aria, or Melinda that morning, but she wanted to give them their space as well. As she walked into the greenhouse with her huge sweater, she quickly put on the rubber boots and walked through the arrangement of different flowers. She would stop and sniff, closing their eyes and committing the scent to memory. She hu
Liya quickly had her bath and headed to Aria's room. She was barely in the mood for breakfast. All she wanted to do was spend some time with the little girl. Just as she was heading there, she walked past Aldo in the hallway. She opened her mouth to greet him, but the look that he gave her made her shut her mouth immediately. She wanted to go after him and ask him what was wrong, but she knew better than to do that. She couldn't push away the feeling that something had happened. Something that had shaken him. Something that couldn't have been easily fixed. Liya knocked, trying to smile as she got into Aria's room. Aria was already up and refreshed, reading a book on her bed. Liya tried observing every single action that Aria made, trying to see if she noticed that something was going on with her brother. But Aria seemed like she was oblivious to whatever had happened to Aldo. “Have you read Frieda McFadden's newest book?” She asked out of excitement. “Yes, I have,” Liya said, try
After talking to Liya, Aldo knew that nothing would ever remain the same. He wanted to head to his room, but he knew that sleep was the last thing on his mind at the moment. He ended up going to his study to see if he would be able to go through some files that needed his attention. Business was the only thing that seemed to save him whenever he was drowning in thoughts. He tried going through them, but he couldn't get Liya’s voice out of his head. Her calm voice when she said she just wanted him to be real with her. He didn't know if all the answers that he had given her were the best but at least he was truthful to her. It was true that he and Damian were close. Very close allies and businessmen back then. Damian was more like an older brother and that was due to their age difference. He was a mentor but now Damian was more like a wolf hunting Aldo down. Aldo ran his hands through his hair in frustration, as he tried not to groan. A knock on the door brought him out of his dilemm