LOGINThe world beyond our glowing ring of candlelight completely faded away.It was just the cool night breeze rustling through the cypress trees, the quiet, rhythmic lap of Lake Albano against the shore below, and Kai holding me as if I were the only precious thing left in the world.I leaned back against his chest, feeling the deep, steady rise and fall of his breathing beneath my cheek. Kai’s left arm was wrapped snugly around my waist, pulling me flush into his warmth, while his right hand held a strawberry dipped in dark chocolate."Open up, bellisima," he murmured, his deep baritone vibrating through my back.I turned my head slightly, looking up at his sharp jawline and the soft, rare tenderness in his dark eyes. I parted my lips, taking a bite of the strawberry right from his fingers. The rich dark chocolate combined with the sweet berry burst on my tongue, and I let out an appreciative hum, closing my eyes."Mmm…delicious," I whispered, turning around on the velvet blanket so I wa
~~Hazel’s POV~~The crimson glow of the late afternoon sun began to bleed into deep violet as Kai drove us further out of the dense center of Rome.I couldn't sit still. I kept shifting in the leather passenger seat, my eyes darting between the dark window and the dashboard navigation screen—which Kai had intentionally switched off before we even left E&H headquarters."Kai," I said for the fifth time, raising a suspicious eyebrow at him. "Where are we going? We’ve been driving for over forty minutes, and this definitely isn't the road back to the penthouse.""Calm down, bellisima," Kai said smoothly, keeping his left hand on the steering wheel while reaching out with his right to lace his fingers through mine. He rested our joined hands over his knee, his thumb lightly stroking my knuckles. "We're almost there. Trust me."I let out a dramatic, long sigh, though the small smile tugging at the corners of my lips betrayed my attempt to look annoyed. "You know I hate not knowing things.
~~Kai’s POV~~I was sitting in my office, staring blankly at three different syndicate security reports spread across my heavy mahogany desk. My mind wasn't on the numbers or the territory expansion. It has been a busy day today and I was completely exhausted but I still had a few technical software expansions to work on before the close of the day. My phone chimed against the polished wood.I picked it up, expecting an update from one of my underbosses, but the caller ID showed Sophia. I slid the phone to my ear."Sophia," I answered, leaning back in my leather chair. "What’s up girl? Are you good?""I’m doing perfectly fine, Boss Man," Sophia’s sharp, confident voice echoed through the speaker. "I’m just calling to make sure you actually have your life together. I hope you have something grand planned out for next week."I pinched the bridge of my nose, frowning. "What are you talking about? My next week's schedule is still on, I have several meetings and appointments next week.A
~~Hazel’s POV~~The smooth hum of the air conditioning was the only sound echoing through my top-floor corner office.After the boardroom session wrapped up, I didn't spend another second dwelling on Damon or Melissa. They were trapped in the net I had cast, and the clock was ticking down. E&H Investments had dozens of multimillion-euro real estate portfolios across Europe that required my attention, and I threw myself into the work for the next eight hours.By half-past four in the afternoon, the bright Roman sun was still pouring through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows. I was reviewing an acquisition contract for a luxury resort property in Amalfi when a soft knock sounded at my door.Lisa pushed the door open, a wide, sly grin playing on her lips."Miss Sinclair," Lisa said, leaning against the doorframe. "You're still working overtime?""Just finishing the Amalfi risk assessments," I replied without looking up from my screen, my fingers tapping against the keyboard. "Is everyth
~~Damon’s POV~~I pushed open the double doors of Boardroom A, stepping onto the thick, plush carpet with a confident stride that I had practiced in the mirror that morning. Still, sweat prickled at the back of my neck beneath the stiff collar of my tailored suit. Melissa walked half a step behind me, clutching her tablet so tightly her knuckles had gone white. Two of our senior Moretti Group executives, Arthur and David, followed closely, their presence meant to back us up, though I could feel the tension radiating off them as well.Around the massive mahogany conference table sat seven senior board directors of E&H Investments. At the center of the table, sitting in the chief investor’s chair like she had been born for it, was Hazel.She looked imposing. The sharp charcoal-grey suit she wore was perfectly tailored, not a single crease out of place. Her dark hair was pulled back into a sleek, severe style that left her face completely open — cold, beautiful, and completely unreadable
~~Hazel's POV~~The morning sun broke through the heavy glass windows of the master suite, casting long, golden streaks across the hardwood floor.I stood in front of the full-length mirror, smoothing down the front of my tailored charcoal-grey pantsuit. The sharp, double-breasted cut hugging my waist felt like armor. I wore a crimson silk blouse underneath, the collar buttoned crisp and clean, and paired it with six-inch black stilettos.Behind me, the bathroom door clicked open. Kai stepped out, drying his dark hair with a white towel. He was already wearing his crisp trousers and a black dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms.He stopped in his tracks, his dark eyes sweeping down my suit, taking in every inch of my stance with slow, burning approval."You look deadly, bellisima," he murmured, tossing the towel aside as he walked over to stand behind me."Good," I said smoothly, turning my head to look at him in the mirror as I fastened a pair of diamond stud earring
I woke up late the next morning, to sunlight streaming through the windows in my room. For a moment I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, my mind replaying everything from the night before–the board with all those photos of me, Kai’s intense eyes, the way he had carried me inside like I already
I had the divorce papers ready by evening.I called my lawyer, Mr Hartley, someone who didn't ask too many questions. I told him exactly what I wanted-a clean break. No alimony. No fighting over assets. I just wanted my freedom and my dignity, what little I had left of both.He prepared the papers q
The emergency room was chaos.Doctors and nurses rushed past us in a blur of white coats and urgent voices. Melissa was already being taken deeper into the hospital, away from us, and Damon was following her, his hand on her shoulder, his expression a mixture of rage and desperation.I came through
I stood at the top of the stairs, completely frozen, unable to move, unable to process what had just happened."No," I whispered. "No, no, no. Melissa!"I hadn't pushed her.I hadn't meant for this to happen.It was an accident.But she was lying at the bottom of the stairs, not moving, and Miss Mia







