It had been hours, the room pulsed with dim red and blue lights, an eerie ambiance that cloaked its sinister purpose. The heavy scent of leather, sweat, and stale perfume filled the air. On the floor, Hazel knelt, bound and blindfolded. Her wrists were shackled with cold steel chains, the metal biting into her skin as she trembled.She was clad in tight lace lingerie, her body exposed and vulnerable.Her breaths came in short, ragged gasps, her head drooping as if the strength to resist had long since left her. The collar around her neck tugged slightly as the man looming over her adjusted the leash. Hazel whimpered softly, her voice breaking the unsettling silence.She whimpered as the sting of the whip bit into her back again.âUmâĶâ Her voice was faint, a mixture of pain and helplessness.The man, his face hidden behind an eye mask, grinned maliciously. His big belly heaved as he leaned closer, his hand brushing against her thigh. âHow does it feel to play, darling?â he hissed, his
Hazel, her mind clouded and her body trembling, suddenly clasped Franciscoâs collar and pulled him down into a kiss. Her movements were fevered, desperate, and without hesitation. Francisco stiffened at first, his hands instinctively going to her arms as if to push her away.âHazel,â he murmured against her lips, trying to steady her. But she didnât stop, her kisses becoming more insistent.For a moment, Francisco battled with himself. He knew she wasnât in her right mindâher behavior erratic and fueled by whatever drugs that fucking Kai had forced upon her. She was vulnerable, and he should protect her, not exploit the situation.But then his heart whispered louder than his mind. This was his chanceâa chance to have what heâd long desired but could never ask for. He wanted Hazel, all of her. A family with her. A future where she wouldnât leave him, bound not just by love but by something unbreakable.He hesitated only for a heartbeat more before he gave in. His hands slid to her wais
Kai groaned, blood pooling beneath him. Max and Lucas stood by, their faces emotionless as they watched Franciscoâs wrath unfold. Neither of them spokeâthey knew better.Francisco sat in a chair, his cold gaze fixed on Kai. There was no hint of mercy, no sign of hesitation. He seemed to relish the sight before him, his lips curving into a grim line.âItâs better if you just stay silent,â Francisco muttered, his tone low and menacing.He rose from the chair, gun in hand, and knelt down in front of Kai. Gripping Kaiâs neck tightly, Francisco forced him to meet his unrelenting stare.âYou dared to touch her?â Francisco growled, his voice filled with venom.He pressed the gun against Kaiâs forehead. âYou looked at her with these eyes?â Francisco whispered, shifting the barrel to one of Kaiâs eyes.âThereâs no forgiveness for you,â he murmured, repeating the phrase like a mantra.Without warning, Francisco pulled the trigger. The gunshot echoed through the room, and blood splattered across
Hazel noticed Lily downstairs and quickly descended the stairs. As soon as Lily saw her, she hurried over with a worried expression.âMs. Hazel, youâre awake! You could have called me,â Lily said, her tone full of concern. âYou must be hungry. Please, go back to your room. Iâll bring something for you to eat.âHazel frowned, confused by the strange tension in Lilyâs voice. Something felt off.âWait a second,â Hazel said, stopping Lily with a hand. âFirst, tell me whatâs going on here. Why is everyone acting so weird?â She glanced around at the house, now filled with bodyguards stationed at various points. âAnd why are there so many guards here?âLily hesitated, fidgeting nervously. âMs., Boss arranged all of this. Theyâre here for your safety. And Iâm here to take care of anything you need.ââFor my safety?â Hazelâs tone rose as her confusion turned to frustration. âWhy do I need this? I donât need any of it!â Her voice sharpened as she arched a brow, waiting for answers.Lily sighed
Lily suddenly held Hazelâs hand, her voice calm but firm. âCalm down! Let me call him. But you have to finish your meal first,â she said before walking out of the room.Hazel sat back on the bed, irritation bubbling inside her. This is too much, she thought, clenching her fists.After a while, the door creaked open, and Max entered, his presence commanding the room. He glanced at the untouched meal on the table, his brows furrowing in displeasure. Though his temper flared, he reminded himself to stay composedâfor Franciscoâs sake.âYou havenât even touched your food,â Max said, his tone edged with restrained annoyance.âExactly,â Hazel replied, crossing her arms defiantly. âI need to talk to Francisco!âMax sighed, running a hand through his hair as he tried to maintain his calm. âHeâs not available right now, and I canât reach him either. It could be a network issue.âHazel narrowed her eyes. âWhere is he?ââHe went to his grandfatherâs house,â Max answered after a pause.Hazel raise
Max led Hazel through the mansion's expansive backyard. With each step, the path grew darker, the faint glow of the house fading into the night. Hazelâs unease deepened as they ventured further into an area she had never explored.She had never seen this side of Franciscoâs estate. Francisco always kept her confined to another mansionâone far removed from the old one where she had once worked undercover as a spy. It was there that she had betrayed Francisco, leading to his capture. But now, inexplicably, she was back in this place, even though Francisco himself wasnât there.The air felt heavy, and her heart beat faster as Max suddenly stopped.âWhy did you bring me here?â Hazel demanded, yanking her hand free from his grip.Max didnât respond. Instead, he knelt on the ground and began brushing aside a layer of dried leaves with deliberate movements. Hazel stepped closer, squinting in the dim light, and her eyes widened when she saw itâa rusted iron hatch embedded in the ground.âWhat
"Then let me go," Hazel said firmly.Maxâs expression remained stern, his eyes narrowing.She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "Francisco isnât here. Just let me go. I promise I wonât cause any trouble for you or anyone else."Max arched an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.Hazelâs gaze locked onto his, her heart pounding. For the last time, God, let my manipulation work, she prayed silently. But Maxâs face remained impassive. Suddenly, he shoved her backward, his voice cold and sharp. "If you werenât Franciscoâs girl, Iâd kill you right here and now.""Better if you cooperate with Francisco and stop thinking about escaping," he added, his tone dripping with finality.Hazel stood still for a moment, trying to steady herself. Her chest tightened as frustration surged through her. "I was just trying to save you and your friend from more trouble," she said, her voice laced with sarcasm. "But it seems youâre not interested."Her tone shifted, quieter but full of bitterness. "Fine, then. Le
"How are you, my dear?" Francisco said in a low tone.Hazel remained soundly asleep.Francisco gently traced his fingers over her head, his touch soft and lingering. Hazel shifted slightly, as if comforted by his presence.He kept his gaze on her for a few minutes before whispering, "Thank you."The Next MorningHazel woke up, blinking away sleep. She sat up on the bed and gazed out through the Thai glass doors leading to the balcony.Last night... I felt someone was here with me. Was it Francisco? She clenched her jaw. I know he messed up somethingâthat's why he vanished.I donât know when this will end. When will I be free from this monster?I hate him.I just hate him.One Month LaterIt had been a month, and Hazel felt restless. Her period was late, which made her uneasy.She finally asked Lily to call Diana.Now, Diana sat in front of her, her expression unreadable."I missed my period," Hazel murmured, her voice laced with irritation.She couldn't understand what was wrong with
âHazel.âFranciscoâs voice cut through the silence.âYou still doubt me? Doubt my power?âHazel let out a deep sigh.âUndoubtedlyâĶ no.âA slight smirk played on Franciscoâs lips.âReally?âInstead of answering, Hazel bit her lower lip and turned her back to him.Francisco ran his hand over his rough jaw. He hadnât shaved, maybe because he was too busy or too tired.Hazelâs eyes drifted toward the porch attached to the bedroom. The thick curtains swayed gently in the cold breeze, the moonlight pouring through and bathing everything in a soft, silvery glow.The view outside looked calmâalmost peaceful. The full moon cast long shadows, lighting up the entire porch in a dream-like haze.She was lost in the view when Francisco quietly walked over and sat down in front of her.Francisco had changed his dress.Wearing only a pair of loose trousers, his bare, sculpted body caught the moonlightâevery muscle highlighted in sharp contrast, as if carved by the night itself.Amazing, Hazel thought
âWill you be able to handle everything?â Francisco asked, his voice low as he and Max walked through the quiet garden under the night sky.âDo I have any other option?â Max replied, glancing at him.They both fell silent for a moment, only the sound of their footsteps on the gravel breaking the stillness.âSo, youâve really decided to go through with this?â Max asked, sensing something heavy on Franciscoâs mind.âYes,â Francisco replied, exhaling a puff of smoke into the cool air.âI have to do whatever it takes to protect her... and the child.âMax looked at him with concern.âFrancisco, I donât knowâĶ is it really worth it? All of this?âFrancisco took a deep breath, then threw the cigarette to the ground, crushing it beneath his shoe.âMax,â he said firmly, âfor me, she is everything.""And soon, sheâll give me the best gift I could ever have.âMax looked around the still garden, the silence pressing in.âIâll pray for you,â he muttered, then let out a soft laugh.âPray? When weâre
James took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and muttered, âYeah, everything I do irritates you, but when it comes to Franciscoâeverything he does is just perfect, right?âLilith narrowed her eyes, her patience clearly thinning.âJames, just shut up.âHe smirked, not bothering to hide the satisfaction in her irritation. âFine, Iâll stop. But letâs not forgetâyou lost him too.âLilithâs expression darkened. Her jaw clenched, and for a moment, it looked like she might speak, but she chose silence. Her cold stare said enough.Dimitri let out an audible sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. âAlright, enough. Letâs stay on topic.âAndrew leaned forward, glancing around the table. âWe all know this wonât be easy. Francisco may be reckless, but heâs done a lotâthings that kept the balance. We need to decideâdo we support this internal power shift, or not?âDimitri raised a brow and turned to Michele, Kaiâs son. âSpeaking of balance, Michele... I heard about the recent attack on Francisco.âMic
The next morning, when Hazel woke up, something felt different. She looked around the room, her brows knitting together in confusion. The walls, once cast in shadows and a cold ambiance, now glowed with soft, natural light. The curtains were lighter, fresh flowers adorned the corners, and the overall atmosphere felt warmâinviting.No longer did the room feel like a prison.Hazel propped herself up on one elbow. âWhat is thisâĶ?âJust then, Lily entered with a bright smile and a large bouquet of fresh flowers in her arms. âGood morning, maâam.âHazel blinked in surprise. âGood morningâĶ but whatâs going on?ââSir instructed us to redecorate the room,â Lily replied, arranging the flowers in a vase by the window. âHe said it should feel brighter for you.âHazel raised an eyebrow. âWhy?âLily smiled softly. âBecause the doctor said it would help improve your mood.âHazel pressed her lips into a thin line and said nothing. She simply stood and made her way to the washroom. After freshen
Enemies surrounded Francisco from all sides. He had built his empire on blood, and now the ghosts of his past were closing in.On him.On her.On their unborn child.Hazel studied him for a moment longer before shifting her gaze back to the book in her lap.Franciscoâs voice cut through the silence."I didnât mean to shock you."Hazel didnât look up. Her tone was flat."Itâs nothing new for me."Francisco clasped his palms together, his fingers pressing against each other in thought. He wanted to keep talking to her, to break through the walls she had built around herself, but Hazel was determined to end the conversation before it even began.He blinked slowly, exhaling through his nose.As he watched her, something stirred inside himâan overwhelming craving. He wanted to pull her into his arms, to hold her close, to feel the warmth of her body against his.He had heard that pregnant women experienced mood swings, that they craved more affection even as they pushed people away.Was th
âSo the deal is more important to you than your child?â Arthur asked, his voice gentle yet firm.Hazel fell silent.Her heart pounded faster, but she forced herself to ignore it.Then, Arthur spoke again.âWill you really be able to live without your child, maâam?âHazelâs fingers tightened around the book she was holding. She had only been thinking about her freedom, about escaping the monster who had taken everything from her. But she hadnât once stopped considering the child.Would she really leave her baby with him?Would the child grow up to be like Franciscoâa ruthless mafia king?A deep frown creased Hazelâs forehead.No. She didnât want to think about that. That wasnât her concern.She was only supposed to care about herself.That was the plan.That was the deal.That was it.Taking a deep breath, she spoke, her voice steady but cold.âArthur.âArthurâs eyes remained on her, waiting.âDo you know your boss is monitoring me?â she asked, tilting her head slightly. âEvery second.
Francisco and Hazel arrived at the mansion after the dangerous chaos. The ride had been silent, but the weight of what had happened lingered between them like an unspoken storm.Hazelâs face was gloomy, her expression distant. She wasnât naiveâshe knew this was only the beginning.There would be more.More blood. More danger.More reasons to fear for the life growing inside her.Her hand instinctively rested on her belly.At first, she didnât care much about the child. The idea of carrying Franciscoâs baby had been unbearable. But now, an unfamiliar feeling twisted inside herâsomething more than just obligation. A strange, indefinable bond.Francisco, watching her closely, noticed the way her fingers pressed lightly against her stomach. He didnât say anything, but he understood.She was shaken.She hadnât expected an attack so soon.He clenched his jaw. From now on, he had to be more careful.Whatever he had been beforeâruthless, reckless, untouchableâit didnât matter anymore. Now, he
Francisco glanced at his bodyguard, his tone sharp and commanding.âTake her from here. Iâll handle this.âThe bodyguard hesitated, his grip tightening on his weapon.âBoss, itâs too risky. How can I leave you alone?âFranciscoâs gaze snapped at him, cold and unwavering.âDo you need me to shoot you right now?âThat was enough.The bodyguard stiffened, lowering his head in obedience.âUnderstood.âHe turned toward Hazel.âMaâam.âBut Hazel wasnât moving.Her eyes were locked on Francisco as he fired at the advancing enemies, drawing their attention toward himself.Each shot echoed with deadly precision, but Hazel saw it clearlyâhe was outnumbered, and he was bleeding.Still, he didnât hesitate.Didnât falter.The bodyguard reached for her arm, his grip firm, almost forceful.âWe need to move.âHazel barely registered his words. She was staring at Francisco, unwilling to leave.As they shifted to retreat, a sudden bullet shattered the glass near them with a sharp crack.Hazel ducked in
Maxâs phone rang as he worked through a stack of files. Without thinking, he glanced at the screen.Diana.He hesitated, a flicker of agitation crossing his face. For a moment, he considered ignoring it.But he couldnât.With a sigh, he answered."Yes?"There was silence at the other end. Then, after a brief pause, Dianaâs voice came through, quieter than usual."Francisco came here.""I know," Max replied flatly, his tone robotic.Diana took a deep breath, trying to steady herself."MaxâĶ Iâm not feeling good about this. FranciscoâĶ heâs messing everything up. I donât know what to do."Max slowly set the file down, his jaw tightening. He knew exactly what she meant.But he also knew there was no turning Francisco back now.A faint, bitter smile tugged at the corner of his lips.Sarcastic.Resigned.Francisco loved Hazel so much. So much that, if anyone stood in his way, Francisco wouldnât hesitate to ruin everything.And the dangerous part? People wanted that kind of devotion."Diana,"