A 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.
Francisco sat in the car, heading out for official work, when his phone buzzed. A sharp alarm flashed across the screen.Max, sitting in the front seat, glanced back at the sound. Francisco’s face darkened as he scrolled. His fingers moved fast, his jaw set tight. Max had never seen him like this — agitated, tense.“Turn the car!” Francisco barked, his voice cutting the air.Max stiffened.“What happened?”“We’re under attack,” Francisco growled.He pulled up the CCTV feed. The new mansion had cameras outside, but none inside. This time, he hadn’t installed them. He had wanted to trust Hazel, to give her freedom. That decision burned in his mind now.He dialed Lily’s number.No answer.He tried the landline.But it was Dead.No one recieved.“Bastards!” Francisco slammed his fist against the seat, rage flashing in his eyes.The car picked up speed, tires biting the road. Max opened his mouth to calm him, but stopped. Francisco’s fingers drummed on his thigh, restless, sharp. Panic sho
Hazel blinked awake, her eyes heavy from sleep. She sat up, the room empty. Francisco was gone, but a note lay waiting on the table.She picked it up.Eat on time, my love.Her chest tightened at the words.Love?She scoffed, rolling her eyes, masking whatever stirred inside her. With a sigh, she stood, her face cold, refusing to care. She pushed the door open.Guards filled the hall, their eyes sharp, their presence suffocating. Ignoring them, Hazel made her way to the library, craving the silence of books.Downstairs, Lily carried a tray with steaming chicken soup, Francisco’s order for Hazel. She balanced it carefully, her steps light as she moved toward the stairs.But just as she lifted her foot to climb, a sudden crack split the air.Gunshots.Lily’s brows shot up at the sound. Before she could react, the front door slammed open, and a storm of bullets ripped through the air.The tray slipped from her hands, crashing to the floor. She leapt aside with sharp, trained movements. Y
Hazel let out a long sigh.She knew Francisco too well. He was a master at twisting words, reading emotions, and using them as weapons. But despite that, something in his voice felt real.She looked away, then slowly turned her eyes back to him.“What if I ran away with our baby?” she said with a soft smirk, watching his face carefully.Francisco raised his head, locking eyes with her.“Really?” he asked, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Are you planning to run away again?”Hazel leaned back slightly and shrugged.“Not now. But if you break our deal—if you try to keep me here—I won’t have a choice.”Francisco took a deep breath and stepped closer. He knelt in front of her, placing his hands gently on her knees.His voice dropped, low and steady.“Why would you run when I’m giving you everything?”Hazel arched an eyebrow.“Everything? Like what?”He tightened his hold slightly, not enough to hurt, but enough to make her feel the weight of his words.“Myself,” he said, his tone unwav
Six months had passed, and Hazel’s body had changed—softened by pregnancy, her belly showing clearly now. But more than her body, her behavior toward Francisco had changed.She spent more time with him, cared for him in quiet ways. She no longer pulled away when he reached for her. Sometimes, she even came to him first. It felt like she was finally letting him in.Francisco stood in the living room, speaking on the phone. His voice was low and tense—something had happened. Something bad.Hazel approached him slowly. His back faced her, shoulders stiff. She leaned down, wrapped her arms around his neck, and rested her cheek against his.Francisco tilted his head toward her, brushing his hand gently along her cheek.“I’ll call you back,” he said onto the phone. He ended the call without hesitation.His hand found her hair, fingers slipping through it with care.Hazel spoke softly, her voice laced with warmth and fatigue.“I’m not feeling well.”Francisco immediately turned to her, conce
Before Freddie could speak, Rafael suddenly grabbed Ron’s face.Ron groaned in pain, but Rafael tightened his grip, pushing him hard to the floor.“Sir!” Freddie rushed forward, grabbing Rafael’s shoulders, trying to pull him back.But Rafael didn’t budge. His strength surged like something dark had taken over him.The chair clattered to the floor with a loud crash.Rafael pinned Ron down, his hand locked around his throat.“You know what…” Rafael said, his voice low and threatening, “I don’t give a damn about you.”“If you won’t talk, then maybe you don’t need to live.”He raised the burning cigarette in his hand, inches from Ron’s face.Freddie’s eyes widened. He stepped forward quickly. “Sir, wait! Don’t do this.”Rafael didn’t look at him.“Freddie,” he said, his tone suddenly cold and calm. “Get out.”“I don’t want to see your fucking face.”Freddie stood still for a second, jaw clenched, eyes filled with frustration. He knew there was no stopping Rafael now.Rafael gripped Ron’s
“I hope I’ve made everything clear, Mr. Kevin,” Dimitri said firmly.Kevin sat on the sofa, tapping his fingers on the armrest. He had listened to every word. He had warned Francisco before—but the boy hadn’t listened. Kevin had held back, giving him time to come around. To realize the weight of his choices.But it seemed Francisco had taken his warnings lightly.Kevin let out a long breath. “Dimitri,” he said, his voice calm but heavy, “I don’t believe Francisco will do anything that breaks the rules.”Dimitri rolled his eyes at the other end of the line, clearly unimpressed.“But…” Kevin paused, his tone shifting.“If things spiral, I’ll do what I have to.”Dimitri’s eyes narrowed. His voice dropped to a cold, steady tone.“I hope you remember what you just said.”There was silence for a moment. Kevin’s jaw tightened.Without another word, he ended the call.“Alfred!” Kevin’s voice was low and heavy, laced with disappointment.Alfred entered the room at once, sensing the shift in mo