LOGINAraceli.My legs moved slowly, almost uncertain, as I walked toward Matvei’s office, my fingers tightening around the cup in my hands.I got closer to his door and stopped outside, realizing the cover-up was covering what I wore for only him to set his eyes on.I set the coffee tray on the counter beside his door, my fingers lingering on it for a second. Taking off the cover-up I had on, I folded the silky material slowly and placed it on the table.A soft breath left my lips as the cool air brushed against my exposed skin, making me suddenly aware of how little the lace was actually covering.I took a deep breath, ignoring all the thoughts rushing through my head—everything that could go wrong.My fingers moved to the lace, pulling it down just a little. My cleavage pressed against the fabric, threatening to spill out of my chest with the slightest movement. My heart began to pound harder at the sight.My fingers trembled as I steadied the coffee tray in one hand, knocking softly wit
Araceli.My eyes snapped open to darkness.For a moment, I just lay there, staring into the quiet, my breath slow and uneven. I turned to my side, reaching out instinctively, but the space beside me was empty.Sonia was gone.I guess she left when I fell asleep.A small smile tugged at my lips as memories of earlier filled my mind. After I had slumped onto the bed, exhausted, she stayed with me. We talked, laughed… she even helped set up my new phone, patiently teaching me how to use it—what to press, what to avoid, how everything worked.It felt… normal. Almost like I had a life outside of all this.I saved her contact.And she helped me save Matvei’s too.That thought alone made my chest tighten.My fingers slid toward the drawer beside the bed, pulling it open to grab my phone. The screen lit up against the darkness, casting a soft glow across my face.Should I call him?I hesitated, my thumb hovering over his name.The last time I saw him… he almost shot his father.My stomach twi
Matvei.Love is something I have never desired—never wanted to feel, not after I lost my brother. That part of me died with him. But hatred? Hatred is different. Hatred is alive. It breathes inside me, sharp and restless. It fuels me so fucking much that I can’t help myself when this monster of a father tries to lay a hand on someone I care about.The tension in the room was suffocating, thick enough to choke on. It curled in the air like smoke, laced with the one thing I thrive on—fear.A low chuckle slipped past my lips as I tilted my head, staring at my father like he was nothing more than a joke.“How dare you point a gun at me because of a fucking commoner?!” he growled, but I heard it—the surprise buried beneath his anger.Nigga, I would have killed you already if you didn’t still hold half of my fucking wealth.I let my gun drop lazily to the floor, the dull clatter echoing across the marble, and leaned back into the couch like none of this mattered.“Get to whatever shit you h
Araceli.The drive was silent.My gaze stayed mostly on my thighs. I tried using my side eye to watch him drive, but I always dropped my gaze back down the moment I noticed he was looking at me.I didn’t even realize when we got to his mansion.It was when he slowed the car for the gates to open that I noticed.My breath caught.There were more armed guards than usual.SUVs lined up—so many I lost count… maybe fifty.The men standing outside looked stiff, emotionless… cruel. Just by looking at them, you could tell, they were killers.A cold shiver ran down my spine.I flinched slightly, turning to Matvei. “What—What is happening?!”He parked in the front yard before turning to me, his expression unreadable.“Nothing… Just remember to be calm and don’t overreact,” he said firmly.My fingers curled slightly into my palm.I nodded.I trusted him.He knew what was waiting inside.I didn’t.He stepped out of the car, and every single man bowed their heads.I froze.Men who looked like they
Araceli.I stood in front of Matvei’s sports car, biting my lips while waiting for him.When I walked away, I was very sure I could hear him behind me… but when I got to the parking lot, I didn’t see him anywhere.I leaned against his car, my eyes searching around, wondering where he had disappeared to.My mind kept wandering back to what he said about fulfilling his husband duties.I knew I wasn’t playing my part well… but he already had people to do all of that for him.So what could I do?What could I do to fulfill my part?I rubbed my head, trying to think, frustration building slowly in my chest.Then I paused.I just got a new phone.Sonia said she would teach me how to use it…So maybe I could browse the internet… and find out what other wifely duties I could do—something no one else could do for him.My legs started aching from standing too long, a dull pain creeping up my calves, so I pushed myself off the car and began walking back into the restaurant to see what was keeping
Araceli.“I know the chef,” he said smoothly. “One of the best in the world. He wouldn’t dare serve me rubbish… unless he wants to leave me no choice but to cut his dick off.”My jaw dropped slightly.The words came out so easily. Like violence was just another language he spoke.“Araceli,” he muttered, his eyes narrowing slightly, “I can see the food in your mouth while you’re chewing.”“Oh—” Heat rushed to my face. I quickly closed my mouth, forcing the food down as embarrassment curled in my chest. “Sorry.”I swallowed, then glanced at him again, curiosity pushing past my shame. “How do you just… talk about killing people like that without being scared?”“Scared?” he repeated, the word rolling off his tongue like something foreign—something almost offensive.I nodded, taking another bite, slower this time. “Yes. Don’t you feel fear?”He leaned back slightly, his posture loose, unbothered. “Fear is an illusion, Araceli.”I shook my head immediately. “I don’t think so.”My fingers t
Araceli.“I want to have that too.” I smiled, my eyes glinting at her.Her lips tugged into a smile. “Are you sure?”“Yes, I am,” I answered too quickly. “I just want to experience different things, Sonia.”“I would have let you link up with a friend of mine,” she said, pausing. “But I don’t think
Araceli.This day has been the worst day of my life. I woke up to the most unusual and traumatic gift my so-called husband decided to offer me. Aside from the way I reacted when I saw how he was torturing my sister, the worst and calmest feeling at the same time is how my body reacts to him.I’m gr
Araceli.His dark green eyes turned stormy in a second, filling with an anger that felt capable of swallowing me whole.I shifted back, fear crawling up my spine, but my shoulders stayed squared—like I was daring him to do his worst. He tilted his head, then lowered it slowly.“Mind your fucking la
AraceliMy eyes widened at what his mother had just said about her own son. I blinked rapidly as I turned away, my vision blurring. I never knew words alone could make someone feel this dizzy.“H-he… he killed his brother?” I whispered, my voice shaking as I pressed my fingers to my temples.“Yes,







