LOGINA maid diligently wiped the bloodstains from the floor. The shadows cast by the curtains seemed to elongate and contort, as if they held their own secrets.
Amid the solemn task, the maid's senses pricked with awareness as she detected approaching footsteps. An uneasy shiver traveled down her spine, and she turned her gaze toward the doorway.
There, she saw a woman—a presence unexpected at that hour. The maid's voice quavered as she stammered, "Ma'am... you! At this time?"
The woman, with an air of quiet confidence, offered the maid a sweet smile. Her grace and poise in that moment seemed incongruous with the chaos that had unfolded in this very room not long ago.
"Where is he?" she inquired, her voice carrying an undercurrent of urgency beneath the sweetness.
The maid, caught off guard, hesitated momentarily. She gestured toward the bathroom, the place where the enigmatic Francisco had retreated after the night's tumultuous events.
A knowing smile graced the woman's lips as she received the maid's response. She moved with purpose, crossing the room in the direction of the bathroom.
Left to her own devices, the maid, ever diligent, proceeded to gather Francisco's ruined and bloodstained clothes from the floor. Her movements were swift, and the garments were handled with a mixture of discretion and determination. She carried them out of the room, leaving the chamber too quickly.
**
The serenity of Francisco's bath was abruptly disrupted as the door to the bathroom eased open, revealing a figure shrouded in shadows. Moving with the calculated grace of a predator, she closed in on the man luxuriating in the water.
Just as she extended their hands towards Francisco, poised for their clandestine act, an acute sense of vigilance stirred within him. In the blink of an eye, his eyes sprang open, and his instincts surged to life. He acted with swift precision, capturing her hands in his firm grasp.
"Aww!" The exclamation, part frustration and part surprise, escaped the lips of the thwarted woman.
As their gazes locked in an intense standoff, the intruder's identity was revealed. It was Emily, a woman whose presence in this unexpected encounter was enigmatic, to say the least.
When Francisco's intense gaze fell upon Emily, he was met with an audacious smile and a flirtatious wink.
"Did I interrupt you, babe?" Emily inquired, her voice dripping with innuendo.
Emily, with her striking beauty and an allure that could captivate any soul, had long graced the pages of fashion magazines as a celebrated model. Her ebony eyes, raven-black hair, and alluring figure possessed the kind of allure that could captivate any man. Her beauty was both mesmerizing and provocative, leaving a trail of longing in its wake.
Emily's role was that of the mistress of Francisco, but to the outside world, she was portrayed as his girlfriend.
With a harsh push, Francisco distanced himself from Emily, a frigid detachment veiling his eyes. His voice, cold as the heart of winter, cut through the charged air as he demanded, "Why are you in this place? I didn't call you."
Emily's smile, as enigmatic as the secrets she held, graced her lips as she rose from the edge of the bathtub. Her movements, bathed in sensuality, were deliberate as she pulled down her dress, allowing it to cascade to the floor. The room bore witness to her naked beauty.
Her nude figure stood before Francisco, her allure intensified by the dim, sensuous lighting of the bathroom.
Her alluring bosom, adorned with taut buds that defied the constraints of modesty, caught the ambient light and shimmered with a beguiling glow.
With an air of confidence, she leaned seductively toward Francisco, her voice laced with a subtle undertone of desire.
"I am here to accompany my king," she purred, her words laden with innuendo and an unspoken invitation.
Francisco, immersed in the shadows of his own thoughts, released a heavy sigh and lowered his eyes. He remained silent, a stoic figure in the midst of a seductive dance, his intentions veiled.
Undeterred by his silence, Emily interpreted it as an affirmation. Her fingers, gentle and tantalizing, brushed against his shoulder, leaving a trail of heat and anticipation in their wake.
"Don't you have a show tonight?" Francisco asked.
Leaning down near his ear, Emily's voice was a seductive whisper, tinged with longing and urgency. "I had," she confessed, "But I was unable to resist coming here after learning that my king had returned home."
Her slender fingers, each bearing the mark of her allure, slid from his shoulders to explore the contours of his muscular and irresistibly sexy chest.
He turned his head to meet her gaze. "I don't feel like talking to you right now," he declared, his voice carrying a note of cold detachment.
As Francisco rose from the bath, water cascaded in a sparkling display of droplets, casting shimmering reflections in the dimly lit room.
Emily, her smile infused with a hint of seduction, took a step back to appreciate the vision of his body glistening with droplets of water. Her desire, once restrained, had now become an irresistible force propelling her towards him.
Unable to contain herself any longer, Emily approached Francisco with deliberate intention. She embraced him from behind, pressing her bosom against his damp back. Her actions were a deliberate, sensuous claim, an invitation into the world they inhabited.
She whispered softly, her voice carrying an undercurrent of longing, "Don't push me away, Francis. I will happily stay below your feet if you offer me a small space."
Francisco's expression remained enigmatic, his face a canvas of restraint. Yet he offered no verbal response to her entreaty. Emily, however, was undeterred by his silence.
Emily walked in front of him and knelt down, her raven eyes locked on his blue eyes. She looked at him intently as he slightly bit her lower lip. She spotted his bulge.
She did not care about his stern look and carefully put it in her mouth. She started giving him a deep breath.
Lilith stopped, lowered herself, and hugged Victor carefully. Her arms wrapped around him, holding on as if she needed his strength.Victor kissed her forehead, his voice soft.“I wish you a happy life, my dear.”Lilith nodded, blinking away the sting in her eyes.“Thank you, Dad.”Her manager stepped forward and gently positioned Victor’s wheelchair beside the aisle. Lilith rose, took a steady breath, and turned toward the stage.She looked at Francisco.Tradition demanded he step forward. That he extend his hand and welcome his bride.He didn’t move.He stood still, his face unreadable, his hands resting calmly at his sides.For a moment, Lilith thought he might change his mind. That he would lift his hand at the last second.He didn’t.The silence grew heavy.Murmurs rippled through the guests. Heads leaned closer. The media sensed it instantly—cameras clicked faster, greedier. This wasn’t part of the script.Lilith’s chest tightened.This wasn’t just rejection.It was a public sla
A month passed in the blink of an eye.The wedding day arrived.Lilith sat in front of the mirror, dressed in an exquisite lace gown that flowed softly to the floor. The fabric hugged her perfectly, elegant and flawless, just as everyone expected. She looked like a bride from a dream—beautiful, radiant, and poised.Yet her reflection did not calm her heart.She stared at herself, fingers clenched lightly in her lap. Happiness lingered on her lips, but fear coiled tightly in her chest. Francisco’s face haunted her thoughts.What was he thinking?Had he truly accepted everything so easily? Or was he hiding something behind that cold silence of his?The questions gnawed at her mind, tightening her breathing, driving her close to panic.A sudden knock on the door snapped her back to reality.She turned quickly.“Grandpa!” she said, standing as Francisco’s grandfather stepped inside.Kevin walked toward her with steady steps, his sharp eyes softening just enough as he looked at her.“You a
The sea was restless. Waves crashed against the shore with violent force, driven by the wind, rising and breaking again and again as if the ocean itself was angry.Lilith stood at the edge of the beach, her coat fluttering around her legs, eyes fixed on the dark water. Her face was stern, unreadable, but her thoughts were anything but calm. The longer she stared at the sea, the heavier her chest felt.She was waiting.Footsteps approached behind her. Her manager stopped a few steps away and spoke carefully.“Ma’am, I don’t think Mr. Francisco will come.”Lilith didn’t respond right away. She kept watching the waves, letting the wind whip through her hair. After a moment, she spoke, her voice low but certain. “I know he will come.”Her manager hesitated. “He hasn’t replied. It’s been hours—”“He has to,” Lilith said, cutting him off, her eyes still locked on the horizon.The manager lowered his gaze, understanding there was nothing more to say. He quietly turned and left her alone wit
Kevin let the silence sit for a long, heavy moment. Then he said calmly, “Elvish, tell someone to clean the third master’s bedroom.”Elvish bowed his head and left without a word. His footsteps faded down the corridor.Kevin’s eyes stayed on Francisco’s back. He knew exactly what that command implied—and he knew Francisco understood it too. The room was being prepared. For Francisco. For Lilith. For the deal he was certain his grandson would bend to.Francisco didn’t turn. Didn’t speak. His shoulders were rigid, every muscle pulled tight like wire.“You have three days,” Kevin announced, raising his voice just enough to be heard through the hall. “Three days to think about my proposal.”He paused, letting the words dig into the air like a blade.“I know you won’t disappoint me,” he added. “Not as a businessman.”With that parting shot, Kevin walked toward his room, his cane tapping lightly against the marble floor. The echo lingered long after he disappeared around the corner.Francis
“If I don’t give you the baby,” Hazel said, her tone cold and steady, “then what?”Kevin groaned softly, leaning back in his chair. Smoke drifted from his cigar, curling between them like a dark veil.Hazel’s eyes burned with hatred, but her voice didn’t tremble.Kevin exhaled and said, “I thought about helping you, Hazel. Giving you a way out. Separating you from my grandson before you both destroy each other.” He paused, his gaze sharp as steel. “But you won’t take it. Because you know him too well. If you try to keep that baby and run, he’ll find you. No matter where you hide.”Hazel’s fingers clenched at her sides, but she said nothing.Kevin took another slow puff, studying her like a piece of art he didn’t quite understand. “The more you stay with that child,” he continued, his tone low, deliberate, “the worse your life will get. My grandson will make sure of it—without even realizing it. You’re already in hell, girl. I’m just offering you a softer one.”Hazel’s jaw tightened, f
The room was dark, cold, and silent. The stone walls pressed in like a cage. Hazel lay on a narrow bed, wrists bound, her breath shallow. Every inch of her body ached.Across from her sat an old man, legs crossed, posture regal, eyes sharp and unblinking. Beside him stood Elvish and Alfred, watching in silence.The man was Kevin — Francisco’s grandfather.Minutes passed before Hazel stirred. Her eyelids fluttered, and the blur before her began to take shape. Slowly, she turned her head.Her temples throbbed. Her body felt like lead. And then—“How are you feeling now?”The voice was deep and commanding, each word weighted with quiet authority. Hazel froze. Then, forcing herself to stay calm, she lifted her gaze toward him.White hair, chiseled jaw, eyes as cold as glass. Despite his age, the man radiated power.Masculine.Intimidating.Dangerous.Hazel’s lips parted slightly as she pushed herself up. It hurt, but she managed, sitting upright on the edge of the bed.Her eyes locked wit







