As we made it back to the mansion, I couldn’t shake the memory of what had happened earlier. The attack lingered in my mind, the possibility of being killed still haunting me with every recollection. I understood that Vincenzo lived in a world vastly different from the norm; as a mafia, death was always lurking around him like a shadow. Yet, even with that knowledge, I couldn’t seem to acclimate to it. The idea of constantly living under the threat of violence unnerved me, and I wondered if I would ever be able to grow accustomed to it.I tried to push the thoughts aside as we entered the mansion, but they continued to gnaw at me like a persistent ache.Vincenzo's presence beside me offered some measure of comfort, his hand a reassuring weight on my shoulder as we walked through. But even his presence couldn't dispel the unease that settled in the pit of my stomach.I couldn't help but wonder what the future held for us. Would these attacks become a regular occurrence? Would I ever tr
Arcel rushed to me while I was in the garden. I have been staying and resting here since it’s the pace where I can actually be at ease. There were less guards here, less violence, and there were plants were refreshing, giving me a peace of mind.“Ma’am, you have received a call,” she said as she handed me the phone. It was my phone who were confiscated from me when I first got here. Though Vincenzo gave it back to me a week ago—right after the incident in the car.I took the phone, feeling curious and a bit nervous. Who could be calling me here? As I answered, I braced myself for whatever news might come.“Annizah, dear?” I heard a familiar voice of a woman, and I stopped when I realized who the caller was—it was my adoptive mother.“M-Mom?” I asked, suddenly feeling a knot in the pit of my stomach.I clenched my fists, trying to calm down the emotions I felt that was starting to overwhelm me. Ever since she made up that negotiation with Vincenzo to have me as a collateral, not once d
"Thanks, Arcel," I said with a grateful smile as she handed me the iced coffee. She returned the gesture with a small smile of her own before asking if I needed anything else. I shook my head, indicating that I was fine, and watched as she walked away.Alone in the garden, I took a moment to savor the tranquility of the surroundings before deciding to head towards the pool. I knew from past experience that it would likely be deserted at this time of day, providing me with a private sanctuary.Sure enough, as I approached the pool, I found it empty, the water shimmering invitingly under the midday sun. With a sense of relief, I quickly shed my clothes, leaving myself in just my underwear, and stepped onto the cool tiles surrounding the pool.As I dived into the refreshing water, a sense of liberation washed over me. Despite the weight of my circumstances, in this moment, I felt free. The water embraced me, enveloping me in its cool embrace as I swam leisurely back and forth."Ah, this
Vincenzo's been acting different lately. He's, like, way nicer and chill around me now. It's kinda surprising, but in a good way. Like, he used to be all serious and stuff, but now he's, like, actually pretty cool most of the time. Don't get me wrong, he still has his grumpy moments, but overall, he's way easier to hang out with. I gotta say, it's a welcome change. It's way less tense when we're together now. We can actually talk and joke around without it feeling awkward or anything. It's like a weight's been lifted, you know? I'm kinda hopeful that this means things are gonna be better between us from now on. I sighed as the maids adjusted the dress on me. The fabric, a striking shade of crimson, draped over my figure like a second skin, accentuating every curve. Its halter-neck style offered modest coverage at the front, while the daring backless design added a touch of sophistication. The skirt stopped just above my knees, not too short, not too long. I slipped into black stilet
My heart suddenly ached for a reason I didn’t know. Or perhaps I did know, but it was easier to pretend I didn’t. I put my trembling hands behind me as I smiled towards his family in front of us. There was a long awkward silence that stretched around us, and the tension was getting thick and intolerable.“Good evening, ma’am, sir,” I greeted, trying to break the tension. Only then did they shift their attention back to me.His mother flashed a small smile and a brief nod to acknowledge me before she turned her gaze back to the woman next to her. “Do you feel uncomfortable, Ella? Pardon my son’s attitude, okay? We all know he hasn’t moved on yet. So why don’t you guys talk to each other and try to catch up—”My smile faltered as I clenched my fists behind me, my stomach churning in discomfort all of a sudden. I knew I am basically not that fit to be Vincenzo’s fiancée nor did I reach the qualifications to be someone standing next to him, but to disregard me like that blatantly, suddenl
"You have access to him in a way that no one else does. Use that to your advantage. Extract the information I need, and you'll be rewarded handsomely."His words echoed in my mind, sending a chill down my spine. He wanted me to betray Vincenzo, the man I had reluctantly agreed to marry. It was a betrayal that cut deep, even if our relationship was merely a facade.I stared at him for quite a while, my mind grappling with the information I had just heard. After revealing Vincenzo's past to me, he was now asking me to essentially stab him in the back?Although Vincenzo and I didn’t have the best relationship, and he made it clear to me before that our marriage was strictly business, betraying him was out of the question for me. Perhaps, he had lied about marrying me altogether, but wasn't that better? I could live a normal life and we could continue on our separate paths. For some reason, it hurt to think about, but it was a reality I had to face in order to survive.After all, I had al
I gaped at Katana longer than I intend to, my heart was beating so fast in my chest as her words kept repeating on my head like a broke radio. I knew it was words, but it left a huge impact on me than I admit it.“You're the one who caught Vincenzo's eye..."I bit my bottom lip as I process on her words. It was hard to believe it. Such mere words wouldn’t be enough to determine if Vincenzo likes me or not. Maybe he was attracted on my face and my body, but that’s all to it. Just like what Katana said, I am nothing but a beautiful face.“R-Really?” I asked, averting my gaze from her as I fiddled with my fingers.She shrugged nonchalantly. “Well, it’s just base on my assumptions and as what I have observed, but we’ll never know.”I sighed, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders al of a sudden. “Right… and it’s not that I am someone special to him. I-I… I heard that woman earlier was his lover back then. They must have loved each other.”Katana suddenly went silent. I didn’t min
As I turned my back on him and began to walk away, each step tore at my heart. Yes, he had a lipstick stain on his neck, the same shade as Ella's earlier. I wasn't foolish enough not to notice. I wasn't naive enough not to understand. Vincenzo and Ella were likely still in love with each other. I shouldn't interfere with them. As I walked away, I felt his hand wrap around my wrist, pulling me back gently. "Wait, let me explain," he pleaded, his voice strained with urgency. But I couldn't bear to listen. Ignoring his words, I wrenched my wrist free from his grasp and continued towards my chambers, my heart heavy with a mixture of anger and hurt. His footsteps echoed behind me, but I refused to turn back. I needed space to process everything, to come to terms with the realization that perhaps our connection wasn't as genuine as I had hoped. Entering my chambers, I closed the door behind me with a heavy sigh, leaning against it as I tried to push away the thoughts swirling in my mi