When I reached the location, Marco hugged me tightly. "You don't know, Alessia, how stressed I was for you." I nodded. "Are you alright?" he asked. "I am fine, Marco." I licked my lips and looked around to make sure no one was watching us. It wasn't easy to come here alone. For the first time, guards didn't try to stop me. I am afraid it's another web created by Nikolai. If he is playing with me again, just the way he did with Dimitri. "We don't have much time," I told him. He nodded, understanding the situation. "Where is the black book?" he asked, getting straight to the point. I sighed and slowly reached inside my purse. My fingers trembled as I pulled it out. I hate my heart! Even though Nikolai has made his intentions clear to kill my unborn baby, my heart is still trembling at the thought of going against him. I inhaled deeply and exhaled sharply. I shouldn't forget that I am doing this for my baby. If I don't stand up to Nikolai, he will surely kill me
Alessia's POV Outside the mansion, the wind howled like a wounded beast, slapping against the windowpane. The clouds thundered as lightning flashed across the sky. The storm outside the mansion was wild, violent, and restless, just like my heart. I bit my lower lip as I tried to keep my emotions in check. I didn't blink as my eyes stared at the file in my hand; my fingers ran over the corner of a paper absently, but my eyes weren’t really reading anything. These are the exact papers that I demanded from Marco, and I received them this evening. I asked for them myself, but now that they are here, I didn’t know if I had the strength to go through them properly. I leaned back slightly; my mind was at war. After everything that has happened, this is the best solution for me and my baby, yet my heart is in ripples. I feel hollow inside. It wasn't supposed to feel like this. I feel so cold and alone. It seems as if my life is coming to an end, and the storm outside indic
The gun in my hands shook uncontrollably as he asked me to kill him. My eyes flicked between the gun and Nikolai, who was still on his knees. "What are you thinking about, Alessia? Go ahead," he whispered. "Just kill me," he choked out. His eyes were locked with mine. "I swear, I will not stop you. I will not even blink." He gasped, trying his best not to let the tears slip down his face. My throat constricted as I fought with my emotions.I couldn't move, blink, or speak. "This pain..." His voice cracked. His hand rose and pointed to his chest. "This pain of betrayal, YOUR BETRAYAL, it's becoming too much for me to bear." As if it were his breaking point, one hot, thick tear dribbled down his face and rolled down his cheek. The tear of pain. The tear I wanted to see in his eyes. The pain I wanted him to feel. But now that he was exactly in the state I wanted him, why was it hurting me so badly? Why does my chest ache like someone is tearing me apart from the inside?Why d
His body jolted slightly as the words left my mouth. It felt as if someone had struck him physically. "What?" He was completely surprised. His forehead wrinkled as his eyes flicked again between me and the divorce papers. "You are kidding me, right?" he asked in disbelief. "I am not kidding you, Nikolai. These are actually divorce papers. I asked Marco for help. He did and delivered them on time." I breathed; my chest felt heavy, "and let me tell you, Nikolai, it's my decision. No one has forced me into this. This is just to clear your misunderstanding." He licked his lips. His head cocked slightly as if he still couldn't believe his ears. For the moment, I shut off all the feelings of my heart. I was only listening to my brain. Slowly, he reached out for the papers in my hand. His fingers trembled slightly as he grabbed them. Silence spread between us as he slowly opened the file. His fingers trembled as they turned the first page. His eyes scanned the bold letters: P
Suddenly, I heard a loud gunshot that shook me in my place. My heart pounded fast as the loud voice echoed from inside the mansion. I felt my heart come to my throat as I looked around. I couldn't stop myself from opening the door and stepping out of the car. The sound of another gunshot, followed by glass shattering, made me run inside the mansion. Because of my slippery feet, I almost slipped but managed to compose myself just in time. My surroundings blurred and turned dark as I ran toward the room where I had left Nikolai alone. The door was slightly ajar, so I pushed it open to find Nikolai with a gun in his hand, pressed against his stomach, his back facing me. "Nikolai!" I shouted. Slowly, he turned around. His eyes were filled with pain, such a deep pain that it tore my soul apart. Tears streamed down his cheeks, his eyes were bloodshot red, and his lower lip quivered. His shoulders slumped, and his face looked pale, almost lifeless. "Why are you here, Alessia?" he as
I sighed and went to the bathroom to take a shower. It took me exactly half an hour to get ready. As I went downstairs, I found Marco and Dad already at the breakfast table, waiting for me. “Good morning, princess,” Marco greeted me warmly as he walked up to me and pulled me into a tight hug. “Good morning,” I smiled, wrapping my arms around him briefly before we parted. We then settled at the table to have our first meal of the day. As always, all the dishes were my favorites. Ever since I returned, my family has been going out of their way to take care of me—and the baby. Every little thing is done to make me feel safe and loved, and I appreciate it… even if, deep down, I still feel hollow. I am also trying to have all my meals despite how I am feeling inside.I visited the doctor two days ago. The report she gave wasn’t reassuring. The baby… it’s weak. Too weak. I need to reduce my stress levels and ensure I take all my vitamins and meals on time if I want to keep them safe. Th
“Sign them over to me.” For a moment, I thought my ears were ringing, that I had heard something wrong. First, I can't believe Nikolai has transferred his property into my name without telling me, and now Marco wants me to sign it over to him. Why? I realized my hands were trembling when I felt a large, rough hand cover my palm. It was my father's. He looked at me and nodded reassuringly. He already knew about it, and he also wanted the same from me. How could I not know about my own life and the things happening to me? They gave me a few minutes of silence to understand the entire situation. Then Marco spoke again, "Alessia, I know you are pregnant, and we shouldn't give you too much stress, but this can't wait any longer." He sighed. His tone was very soft, as if he were speaking to a child. "Alessia, before taking you away from us, Nikolai snatched the throne of Mafia king from Dad. It is only because of him that our mother is not with us." Marco's gaze flicke
My heart stopped for a moment as I listened to that deep, rough voice that somehow managed to make space in my heart. It still made something inside me stir. I wanted to end the call, to prove that he no longer controls me, but the way he said "please" made it impossible for me to do so. My grip on the phone tightened as not a single word came out of my mouth. Silence spread between us. I could hear his ragged breathing and feel his nervousness through the phone. Then, I heard the rustle of wind on the other end, as if he were outside. "How did he get my number?" The question popped into my mind. I mentally slapped myself for being so stupid. How could I forget that he has many sources? "I didn't think you'd pick up," he said softly, breaking the silence. Suddenly, I felt a rush of emotions and was about to end the call when he spoke again. "I won't take much of your time, Alessia." I swallowed hard. "One minute—just say whatever you want," I stated in a cold and flat tone, t
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
"Goodbye, my love." His words sounded broken and fragile, as if he were trying to hold on to the shattered pieces of his soul. I felt a sharp tug at my heart when he slowly stood up. He gave me one last look before turning around and walking away, and my body still couldn't move. My chest felt too heavy to breathe. My eyes were stinging with tears. My lips were wobbling, my heart was crying, yet I couldn't do anything to stop him. I was trapped—trapped in the cage of my own pain and emotions. My eyes closed, and my hands shot to my head. My eyes closed on their own, and now I could see everything clearly, very clearly. This time, it wasn't just broken silhouettes or blurred visions; it was clear. Painfully, excruciatingly clear. I saw everything from my past: the sweet moments with Nikolai, the laughter, the soft kisses, the dreams we used to share for our future. I remembered the way he used to place his hands on my belly, speaking to the little life growing inside me w
A sharp, blinding pain shot through the left side of my brain, searing all the way to my eyes. My hands flew up instinctively, clutching my head tightly between my trembling palms. A gasp left my throat. No! This can't be possible. Like every other sibling, over toys, over silly misunderstandings, over small, meaningless things. But to think... to even imagine that he would try to kill me? I shook my head violently. "You're lying!" I blurted out. "Marco would never—" "I wish I was," he whispered. "God, Alessia, I wish I was." The ground beneath me slipped as I couldn’t believe my ears. The breath caught in my throat, and it became hard for me to even breathe. "Marco wanted to become the Mafia King as badly as your father," Nikolai said in a grim tone. He spoke slowly, not wanting to put too much pressure on my mind at the same time. "He knew that once your father got the throne, it would only be a matter of a few years before he inherited it. He was so blinded by ambition,
“Would you have believed me if I told you that it was your father who attacked us?” “What the hell are you saying, Nikolai?!” My voice came out louder than I intended. My father had always raised me with love and protected me like his most precious treasure. He always said my happiness was his top priority. He couldn't—he wouldn't—try to kill me. Until now, I had believed everything he told me: about the baby, about my family keeping me away from Nikolai because he was a rival. But this? This was too much. Nikolai let out a bitter chuckle. “I knew it, Alessia, I knew it,” he smiled. “You will never believe that your father was a traitor. He attacked us…” He breathed, “and he is the reason that today your mother is not with you.” My heart skipped a beat. My head spun, and suddenly it became hard for me to breathe. “When you meet with an accident, you not only lose our child but your memory too. The doctor said that you can regain the memory with time, but he strictly aske
Pain. Raw pain. That was all I could see in his eyes when he said that I forgot him. His voice was laced with pain that I have never heard before. He wasn't angry or frustrated. He was just heartbroken. I can't imagine, how hard it must be for him. "You forgot every single moment that we spent together. Every promise that we made. Everything we did. You completely forgot me." His voice that was once commanding was now barely above a whisper. His voice cracked by the end. "For you I became a monster, who killed your mother" A tear slipped from my eye, and I wiped it away with the back of my hand, but it did nothing to stop the storm building inside me. "Because that’s exactly what they told you, isn’t it?" Yes. After I lost everything—my memory, my past, my sense of self. I had been told that it was Nikolai who had taken everything from me. That he killed my mother. That he tried to kill me and I believed it too. He loved me so much and I was carrying his child so practi