The night air was cold and filled with energy as we drove toward our destination. Nikolai was sitting beside me, glancing at me every now and then. Each time our gazes met, he said nothing, just that quiet intensity, as if he were trying to figure out what was going on in my head. I didn’t want to be here. I didn't want to attend any event or function with him, but I wasn't left with any other option. If I wanted Nikolai to listen to me, then of course I would have to listen to him, no matter what. That was the unspoken deal, no matter how much I hated it. So here I was, sitting inside the car, all dolled up for the grand masked ball event. The car pulled up in front of the grand marble steps of the Belladonna Estate. Nikolai handed me my mask, and I put it on. My heart thudded in my chest as the chauffeur opened the door, and I stepped out into the night. The cold breeze caressed my exposed shoulders. Classical music could be heard even from the outside. My gown hugged me like
Marco! No, this time I am not delusional. I can confirm that it was my brother. Same eyes, same personality, same cologne. He is here to meet me, disguised as a bartender. He is alive. My brother is alive. My hands shook violently. I swallowed and tried my best to keep my expression normal. Without thinking twice, I immediately stood up. Everyone looked up at me because clearly, it was against the ethics, but right now, nothing mattered to me. Trying to appear normal, I scanned the surroundings, looking for the rooms. Just when I took one step, Nikolai came in front of me. "Alessia, where are you going?" he asked, concern etching his face. I breathed and swallowed, trying to seem normal. "I urgently need to use the washroom," I lied. His eyes flicked down to my body for a second, as they always did when he suspected me. "Nikolai, I seriously need to use the washroom," I stated in a stern voice, "now!" He tilted his head. "It's to the right," he told me. To
"Alessia?" Nikolai's voice came from behind. My soul almost left my body. My grip on the phone tightened. The first thought that shot through my mind was of Marco. My eyes flew open in horror. My cheeks turned red as I looked around, but to my relief, he wasn't here. Thank God. "Alessia!" Nikolai stepped onto the balcony. His forehead furrowed as he took in the sight of me, tense, breathless, and clearly rattled, standing there alone. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. I shouldn't have looked around in front of Nikolai. He notices the smallest things. He suspected something was wrong. Without saying another word, he turned on his heel and stalked into the room, checking the bathroom, the corners of the balcony, and even under the bed. My stomach churned. I swallowed hard. Please don’t come back, Marco. Please stay hidden. I had no idea where he had disappeared to, but I was grateful he had the sense to vanish before Nikolai showed up. While he was inside, I quickly shoved
The silence in the mansion was almost deadly. Nikolai is very busy these days. He barely has time for anything else. As mentioned by Marco, he is actually doing something big in which he is putting his heart and soul. I haven't put the speaker in his study yet, nor have I contacted Marco. But each passing day is becoming difficult for me. I really want to be free from this home so I can start a new life with my baby, and for that, I know I have to do as Marco has said. Nikolai has invited a few clients to the house. They will have a private meeting in his study, a place that is the most secure, according to him. I need to plant the speaker today itself, or else it will be of no use. I changed hands when my right palm became too sweaty for holding the tiny recorder for long. I let out a deep breath. Nikolai hasn't left his study, which won't allow me to execute my plan. But now I have to do it no matter what. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to destroy Nikolai, but I knew I had to try
My heart skipped a beat when a soft clicking sound reached my ears. My forehead frowned, and a soft yawn passed my lips. My eyelids felt too heavy to open. I rubbed my eyes and blinked multiple times to clear my vision. The first thing I saw was a blurry image of a man. I didn't need to think twice about who it was. It was Nikolai. He was back. A soft yawn once again passed as I sat up and rubbed my eyes once more. I blinked and looked at Nikolai, whose back was now facing me. He looked too tired and frustrated to be bothered by my presence or the silence in the room. His movements were sharp and silent as he slipped off his watch and tossed it carelessly onto the table. His shoulders were tense—too tense. And he didn’t even glance at me. Something was off. But my mind was still foggy, as I had been in a very deep sleep earlier. My head was spinning. Without giving me a single look, he walked straight to the bathroom. I let out a long breath and reached for a glass of water
Today, Nikolai left early. Last night, he slept holding me close to him. Since I had slept a lot in the afternoon, it was hard for me to fall asleep again. I kept thinking about my decision. To get revenge for everything he has done to me and my family, I had to do this, but I am unable to cope with the guilt that is eating me from the inside. I sighed and placed the book aside. The rain had started tapping against the glass window. Nikolai hasn't returned yet. He asked me not to wait for him as he could be late. Suddenly, I remembered the phone. Marco told me that he would try to contact me through that phone. I hadn't even checked it. With Nikolai not being around and no hope of him returning early, I believed this was the right time to contact Marco or at least check the phone to see if he had left a message or anything. Stepping down from the bed, the first thing I did was check the lock on the door; I didn't want to get caught. Although Nikolai could unlock it easily, it wo
I slipped the book beneath the folds of my shawl and tiptoed back to the room. The servants had returned to prepare for dinner, but I was glad that no one noticed me. My heart raced in my chest. Though no one saw me, I was scared of even the walls, as if they had eyes and knew what I had just done. I just hoped Nikolai wouldn't find out about it until we had succeeded in our mission. Once I was inside the room, I locked the door and went straight to the wardrobe. My wardrobe is the only place that's mine; Nikolai doesn't look into it, so my things are safe there. Once the book was hidden and secure, I reached for the purse and pulled out the encrypted phone Marco had given me and turned it on. My fingers trembled slightly as I dialed my brother's number. He picked up the call in just two rings, as if he had been waiting for my call. "Alessia," came his voice, sharp and expectant. "Did you find it?" I thought he would ask if I was fine, but his question was directly business-rela
I stirred lazily in my sleep as the soft warmth of sunrays caressed my cheeks. I rolled over and pulled the blanket higher. But something felt different. The sweet, fresh, and strong scent of roses reached my senses. I frowned in my half-sleep. I wanted to sleep more, but my surroundings wouldn't let me. My hand shifted beneath the covers until it brushed against something soft. Instead of the fabric of the bedsheet, petals slipped between my fingers. My eyes snapped open. What the… Where am I? I remembered last night. After having dinner with Nikolai, I fell asleep in his arms. My heart pounded in my chest as I slowly pulled down the blanket, only to be met by a surprise. The whole bed was covered with rose petals. They were scattered from the pillows to the edges of the blanket, in shades of pink, red, and white. Their thick, fresh scent filled the air. My breath caught in my throat when I saw a small chocolate cake sitting on the nightstand beside me. It also had a folded
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
There was darkness all around, except for the place where he was standing. Nikolai. With his hands tucked in his pants pocket, he was smiling at me—the kind of smile he used to give me when I called him Nick, his favorite nickname. My heart pounded in my chest as he slowly opened his arms wide for me to run to him and hug him tightly. This is exactly what I wanted, so without waiting for anything, I tried to run, my legs moving as fast as I could. But like the last time, no matter how far I went, he stayed the same distance away. Then, slowly, he began to fade. Bit by bit, like dust in the wind. His last words echoed in my head on a loop. "I promised not to show my face to you ever again, and I am going to keep that promise." "Remember, Alessia, I always loved you." The moment he was gone, the darkness engulfed me completely. "NO!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. "Nick... don't leave me..." My hand stretched out desperately, trying to reach him. But he ke