Nikolai's POV"This is so unfair. You promised that island to me!" Antonio shouted, his voice hoarse from hours of suffering. He was tied to the chair, exactly where and how I wanted him, beaten black and blue by my men. His arrogant posture now slumped against the chair. The blood dripping from his temple soaked into his white shirt, painting it red. He was always under the illusion that he could outsmart me. Even in the past, he betrayed me by joining hands with Alessia's father. But today, reality had hit him harder than my men’s fists. I leaned against the heavy wooden desk, casually swirling the whiskey in my glass, letting him cry a little more. It was bringing peace to my heart. The air was thick with the smell of iron and blood, something I am used to. I wanted Alessia to witness the consequences of her actions, but I knew she wouldn't be able to stand here. She hasn't been feeling well for the past few days. After that night, she struggled to even walk to the bathroo
Alessia's POV It had been over a week since Nikolai had brought me back to this hell. Since then, I have done nothing except sleep. No matter how much I slept, I felt very tired and restless all the time. Every time I spent a night with Nikolai, I regretted it the next morning. No matter how much I swore to resist, I always lost control whenever he was close. I had barely spoken to him since then. I avoided him most of the time. To my surprise, he also gave me the required space instead of forcing his presence like at other times. He was trying to act all soft around me, but I knew his reality. I wasn't going to be lured by his fake care and concern. I knew what a skilled manipulator he was. The soft click of the door opening broke through my thoughts. I immediately shut my eyes, curling deeper into the mattress, pretending to be asleep. A few seconds later, I heard the soft click again, which meant he had closed the door. He stayed there for a moment before I heard the
When the car slowed to a stop, I fully expected to find myself in front of a lavish five-star restaurant, the kind that matched Nikolai’s personality: extravagant, cold, and overwhelming. Instead, I found myself standing in the middle of a small and warm restaurant. It was dimly lit, with rustic tables and soft golden lights. Suddenly, the scent of freshly baked bread and rich spices wafted through the air, and I couldn't help but inhale it again and again. It felt so familiar, even though I had come here for the very first time. I swallowed hard and turned my head to Nikolai, only to find him already watching me, his dark eyes filled with something close to fascination. My brows furrowed. Why does he always look at me like that—as if I am the most precious thing in his world—when he has already taken away my happiness, my life? I cleared my throat and tore my gaze away. “Have a seat, my lady,” he said smoothly, pulling out a chair with a soft smile on his lips. I glanced at
As my eyes slowly opened, I saw a man walking through the streets. Due to the darkness, I couldn't see him properly, but from the side, he looked like Marco, my brother. My heart leaped into my throat as I called out to him, but he didn't hear me, as I was at a distance. My heart slammed against my chest as I turned and ran towards him. I had to cross the entire balcony and exit to reach the street. I just hoped that he hadn't moved away from me by the time I reached him. While running, I left my heels behind. The sharp wind hit my face as it was about to rain, but I didn't care about anything. I just wanted to reach my brother and hug him tightly. I couldn't believe my eyes; he was alive. A spark of hope ignited in my heart, and maybe he had been saved in that incident, or maybe he was here to take me back. A strangled cry escaped my throat when my ankle twisted. My breath was trapped somewhere between my lungs and throat. The clouds crackled above my head, but I didn't care a
What does a person do when they have no other way left? When every door is shut and every path leads to a dead end? They adapt. They make peace with their circumstances, not because they want to, but because it's the only way to survive. And that's exactly what I’ve done. I’ve stopped questioning and stopped fighting the inevitable. Maybe it’s not acceptance—maybe it’s just exhaustion. But to stay sane, I’ve convinced myself that this is my reality now; that resisting won’t change anything. I don't know if it is making me weak; all I know is that it is necessary for me not to go completely mad in this house. I have faith in God that, soon, He will give me a reason not just to survive but to truly live—to be genuinely happy. I was done folding all the clothes and was arranging them in the wardrobe when the door opened. I didn't bother to look that way; it was probably a servant coming to call me for lunch. "What are you doing?" I was surprised to hear Nikolai's voice. He w
What in the world? No! This can’t be happening. My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach. I can't breathe, blink, or move. I stared at Nikolai, but he didn’t seem to notice my internal panic. His expression remained unreadable, but I could feel his gaze studying me. I quickly averted my eyes before he could read me. I forced myself to breathe; my chest heaved up and down heavily. My mind was spinning—completely blank one second and then flooded with so many thoughts the next. My hands trembled as I pressed them against my stomach. If I was… if I was pregnant… Then what? What would I do? A shiver ran down my spine. I wanted to scream and cry, shake myself and wake up from this nightmare. This can't be happening! This CAN'T be happening! Nikolai grabbed my shoulder and shook me slightly, bringing me back to my senses. “Alessia, what happened?” My head snapped to him, and I found concern written all over his face. “I have been calling you for so long, but you a
My heart started pounding in my chest as Nikolai drove toward our destination. My mind was busy thinking of ways to deceive the mafia king and get what I wanted. I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but I had no other option. Even if he wasn't home, I would have to find a way to get my hands on a pregnancy kit. Suddenly, fresh air hit my face as Nikolai rolled down the window. I frowned and turned my head to Nikolai, finding his attention on the road. "Fresh air," he reminded me. "That’s what you wanted, right?" I slowly nodded and shifted my attention back to the road. The air carried the scent of damp earth. The ride was quiet, but my mind was filled with many thoughts. "Hope it’s doing you some good!" Nikolai asked all of a sudden. I nodded again without turning to look at him. Nikolai had always stayed one step ahead of me. In the past, he had always figured out what I was planning. I just hoped he wasn't already suspicious. My body leans forward when he braked in front o
My heart leaped into my throat when Nikolai insisted on checking the bag. Of course, I didn’t want to give it to him. His eyes were too sharp—he would catch on instantly. If he found the test, everything would be over before I had even gotten the chance to know the truth myself. I swallowed, gripping the bag tighter. "Alessia, don’t test my patience and just hand over the bag to me." And before I could move, suddenly we heard a loud honk from behind. It startled me, and Nikolai let out a frustrated sigh. Thank God. And thank you to whoever was behind us. Nikolai just shook his head and started the engine. I let out a breath of relief. The journey home was silent, but I knew a lot was going on in Nikolai’s head. As soon as he pulled up in front of the house, I was out of the car before he even cut the engine. I had to act fast. I knew Nikolai would bring up the bag again, especially after my blatant protest. The moment he parked the car in the garage, I reached into the bag, p
The moment the intruder's face came into the light, the gun wobbled in my grip before slipping from my hands with a loud clatter. My breath hitched in my throat. Everything seemed to cease in those moments. My heart pounded so hard that it was deafening. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't blink. I was afraid he might disappear from my sight if I blinked. Am I being delusional or what? Because right in front of me stood Nikolai. My Nick. My mind refused to accept what my eyes were showing me. The doctor told me he had died and had already been buried, that I lost him forever, that he would never come back again, but he was standing right here, right in front of me, tall and very much alive. But he looked very weak. His eyes were tired and sunken. Yet they lit up the moment they caught my gaze in the darkness. Both of us were frozen in our places. "Nick," I whispered to myself. It was such a low murmur that I was sure he didn't hear it, but maybe he heard the voice o
The applause that followed my crowning ceremony was deafening. It should have made my heart swell with pride, but it didn’t. I couldn't immerse myself completely in happiness because something was missing. It wasn't just anything; it was the biggest part of my life. Nikolai. This place was and is rightly his. I am merely filling his space to prevent the throne from falling into the wrong hands. I was strong all this time, but I am unsure how I will rule this Empire alone. Drawing a deep breath, I stepped down from the stage with slow and steady steps, ensuring that I kept my chin high to prevent the crown from falling. It is not just a crown; it is a heavy responsibility that rests on my head. People bowed before me, and a few came forward to congratulate me with warm words. "Congratulations, La Regina,” they said. “You’ve made history.” I mumbled a small thank you with a soft smile on my lips. I could see that a few of them were faking their smiles. Of course, not everyone ca
“This is mine!” Marco roared, pointing to the throne behind us “I built this! I cleaned the blood! I earned every piece of this empire while you were out living in your bubble!”“You stole what was never yours to begin with,” I said, in a low but steady voice. “You manipulated the system, lied to the council, and betrayed your own bloodline. The only thing you’ve earned is a disgrace.” I spat venomously. He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, I cut him off. "Nikolai transferred his property in my name with the hope that I will raise our child and give him everything he deserves. I can not let anyone snatch my baby's right" I stated. Silence spread in the hall, and Marco broke. “You think you can fool everyone with that belly and a couple of forged papers?” he spat. “You don’t know anything about ruling an empire, Alessia. You’re just a spoiled little brat and we are not even sure if you are carrying Nikolai's blood!”Unable to stop myself anymore, I slapped him
“My birth certificate, my documents, and even DNA tests, if you want,” I said coolly. “All prove I was born of the legal wife of Mr. Rossi. I am the only legitimate heir; Marco is...” “Enough!” Mr. Rossi roared as I started opening his cards one by one, cutting me off mid-sentence. The dirty secrets he has been hiding from everyone for so long are now being exposed, and he just can't stand it. I have always considered Marco my real brother because he never let me feel otherwise, but only we family members know the truth. He was not my mother's son. He was the result of my father's betrayal. "I haven't even started, Dad," I said, infusing the word with honey-dripped venom. “What are you implying?” one of the council members asked, frowning. “How could you make such a serious accusation against your own father and brother?” “Whose father? Which brother?” I asked sharply, turning to the man with fire in my eyes. “They both died for me the day they tried to kill me.” The hall
"NO" Silence. Ear-deafening silence. This is what spread after I announced my decision. A single word detonated like a bomb. First, they were not expecting me to be here, and after knowing the reason behind my presence, they were definitely not expecting this answer from me. My father flinched in his position, and Marco's smile vanished. "What did you just say?" Marco growled near my ear, narrowing his eyes at me. He couldn't believe his ears. "I said no," I repeated just for him, just in case he didn't hear me. I turned slightly to face the Mafia council. "I am not ready to give my consent to make him a mafia king," I declared. The council members exchanged looks of confusion among themselves. The crowd gasped and whispered amongst themselves. "Any particular reason behind it?" The senior-most council member asked. "My husband built this Empire with his blood and sweat. He didn't inherit it; he earned it through scars. Before handing it over to someone else,
Black dress... This is what you are supposed to wear for the mafia king's crowning ceremony. It is a sign of power and mourning for the bloodshed that leads to the throne. It is a old tradition. That's why I wore white! Because I wasn’t here to mourn. I was here to defy. The black dress sent by Marco lay in the corner of the room like a rag while I slipped into a satin white gown, which I was meant to wear on my wedding day. I chuckled to myself. What irony. The silence in the room pressed into my skin like needles. I stood in front of the mirror, staring blankly at my own reflection. The dark circles under my eyes were clearly visible, and I hadn’t even tried to hide them. Let the world see what this house has done to me. My hair fell messily over my shoulder. I picked up a brush, and, as usual, I was about to tie it up when I remembered that the other women would have styled their hair into stiff buns because this was what was required of them today. So, I won't! I droppe
Thirty hours... it has been thirty hours since I last had a bite. The hunger was burning in my stomach, but what was worse was the thirst. My tongue felt like sandpaper, and my head pounded as if someone were hammering it from the inside. At one point, when I couldn't hold it anymore, I went to the bathroom and took a few sips to keep my baby alive. Marco knows the condition of my baby. He knows that I need not only meals but also the medicines for my baby to live, and he is still doing this. I don't have any purpose to live anymore. With Nikolai gone, I would have gladly given my life too, but in all this, my baby is suffering. It has nothing to do with betrayal, power, or position. I have spent the entire day lying lifeless on the bed, staring at the ceiling as if it held answers. Tears dribbled down the sides of my eyes, dampening the pillow. The only sound that could be heard in the room was the soft ticking of the antique clock on the wall. My stomach groaned again, but I d
The room was silent. Too silent. The only sound that could be heard was the curtains hitting against the windowpane, occasionally broken by my silent sobs. I sat on the floor with my legs folded, my head resting on the edge of the bed, my arms limping at my sides. My hair was a mess, my lips cracked to the point that blood started to appear under the skin, and my throat was dry from all the screaming, sobbing… and the silence that followed. It's been seven days since I was brought here. I had cried so much; I didn’t know if there were tears left in me anymore. But pain? Pain never seemed to run out. I was once again in my father's house, but now these walls felt cold and hollow. It isn't my home anymore. I left the place that was truly my home: the arms of my Nikolai. "Nick." His name escaped my lips in a whisper. My lips hadn't grown tired of calling him again and again, hoping that it would bring him back, as if my voice could somehow reach the other side. But
“No…” I shook my head. “No, no, no! He can’t leave me! He promised me forever. He said he’d never let me go! HE PROMISED!” Sobs escaped my throat in waves. The nurses around me looked down with sympathy, but I didn't care. My heart was too heavy; the pain was too much. My body shook with the force of my sobs. My throat burned. My heart felt like it was bleeding. “I didn’t get to say goodbye…” I wept, “I didn’t get to tell him I love him… that I remember everything… that I never wanted to leave…” It felt like the pain would kill me; it was tearing me apart from the inside. “He never gave up on me,” I whispered. “Even when I did.” I cried out my heart. I wasn't just broken; I felt empty inside. "Ma'am, please control yourself," one of the nurses said from above. "For the sake of your baby," she added. "The baby's condition is already very fragile. We don't want you to lose it as well." Instead of giving me strength, her words broke me further. My head tilted to the cei