MasukB I A N C AHours after the birth of Ian, we were still in the hospital room, the paparazzi camped outside the entrance.They wanted an exclusive, but we weren't going to give them one. We didn't want the world to find out about Ian yet. He was our own little secret, a miracle baby who we had been lucky enough to bring into this world.But we knew the time would come when we would have to introduce him to the world.I had been stitched up after the birth and was resting in bed, Ian snuggled up against my chest. They had taken him a couple minutes ago to run some tests, but they returned him."He's perfectly healthy," the nurse said, a smile on her face."Oh, thank God," I whispered, relieved.I knew it was normal for babies to be taken for tests, but that didn't mean I didn't worry about him.As soon as Ian was sleeping in his hospital cot, the room flooded in as our friends and family rushed into the room. Chloe rushed to my side while everyone else went to see the sleeping baby."Ho
B I A N C AI was dressed in a white dress a few weeks later, wearing a mommy to be sash. I stood nervously outside the door of the room where the ceremony would take place, butterflies fluttering in my stomach.Today was the day. The day I’d be knowing my baby’s gender and officially announcing the news of my pregnancy to the world. As a public figure, I couldn't keep the pregnancy hidden for too long.I took a deep breath and straightened up.Damian came up behind me, a grin on his face. "Ready?" he asked."As ready as I'll ever be," I replied, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips.He placed his hand on the small of my back, guiding me into the room. We were met by a chorus of cheers, my parents, friends and family already gathered in the room.My mom came over and gave me a hug, her eyes shining. "Oh, honey, we're so happy for you," she gushed.My dad shook Damian's hand, a smile on his face. I was in my fifth month of pregnancy now, so I was no longer showing a slight bump, in
B I A N C AWe arrived at the gala in a sleek black limousine, the flashing of cameras immediately blinding my eyes. Damian gave my hand a small squeeze, urging me on. I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders, and stepped out of the car.The whispers started immediately. I could feel the eyes on me, the speculative glances, the hushed murmurs following our every move. But I held my head high, a practiced smile plastered on my face. I was used to the attention, to being the center of the Salvatore universe. But this was different. This was pity mixed with curiosity.And it was the first time they would be seeing my now visible baby bump, and trust the paparazzis to go haywire as soon as they caught sight of it. Their cameras went crazy, shouting questions at us."Are the rumors true? Is Mrs. Moretti expecting?""Is this the reason you've been missing for weeks?""When did you find out about the baby?"I kept smiling, holding onto Damian's arm like my life depended on it. We posed for
B I A N C AI stood naked in front of the full length mirror in my closet, my hands resting on my stomach. I was only four months pregnant, but I was already starting to show.It was like my tummy grew overnight, and now I had a visible baby bump. A smile spread across my face as I thought about the life growing inside of me. Our baby. It still seemed surreal.Damian came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and resting his hands on my stomach. He looked at my reflection in the mirror. "Look at you." he murmured, a look of admiration in his eyes. "Radiant."He kissed my shoulder, his touch sending a wave of warmth through me. "Have I told you how much I love you today?" he asked, murmuring in a low voice."Not yet," I said, a playful smile on my face."Well, I do," he said. "More than you'll ever know." He placed his large hands on my belly. "And I love you too, little one."I leaned back against him, my body relaxing into his embrace. We’ve been using these past couple of
B I A N C AI woke up in the hospital bed to the sound of the beeping heart monitor.Damian was asleep in a chair beside my bed, his hand holding mine. He looked exhausted, dark circles under his eyes, a five o'clock shadow on his jaw.I squeezed his hand and he stirred, his eyes fluttering open. A look of relief washed over his face when he saw I was awake."Hey," he said, his voice rough with sleep."Hey," I whispered, my throat dry.He poured me a glass of water, holding the straw to my lips. "How are you feeling?""Sore," I said, my voice hoarse. "But... I'm okay. The baby?""The baby is fine," he said, a small smile on his face. "Strong. Just like its mother. The doctors said you were dehydrated and malnourished, but you and the baby are both going to be fine."A wave of relief washed over me. "Thank God," I whispered.He sat down on the edge of the bed, his eyes full of a concern that made my heart ache. "Bianca, what happened in there? After you called me, we traced the call an
B I A N C AAdrian walked in, a beer in one hand, a predatory glint in his eyes. Laura followed behind him, a smirk on her face."Enjoying the quiet?" Adrian asked, walking towards me. "Don't get too used to it. Tomorrow is going to be a big day."He crouched down in front of me, his eyes scanning my face. "I should really kiss you." He slurred, the smell of alcohol on his breath. "Just to let you know what you'll be missing. But the thought of your lips touching my own makes my dick so hard.""Get away from me," I snarled, my heart pounding in my chest.He laughed. "Still got some fight left in you, huh? My sweet Bianca, what am I going to do with you?"He stood up, turning to Laura. "We need to make sure the plan is foolproof. I want you to go to the factory right now. Set up the explosives. Make sure they're connected to the detonator. I want to be able to take out the entire building with the press of a button.""And what are you going to be doing?" Laura asked, a suspicious look
L U C A SI slammed the car door shut, not bothering to open Natalia’s side for her. The engine roared to life, and I peeled away from the curb, the tires screeching in protest."Lucas, slow down! You're going to get us killed," Natalia shrieked, clutching the door handle."Good," I snarled, my eyes
L U C A S"Fuck!" I threw the glass of whiskey against the wall, the liquid splashing across a painting my mother had gifted me. But, I couldn't care less about it.The glass shattered, the sound as violent as the anger coursing through my veins.I looked at the articles flying around, my entire li
B I A N C AI was so confused. A part of me wanted to slap him, to rage against the chains he was forging around me. But another weaker part of me wanted to melt into him, to let him take control, to let him fight my battles. It was a terrifyingly seductive thought.He must have seen the war waging
D A M I A NI watched her go, a feeling of helplessness washing over me. I had pushed her too hard. I had laid my cards on the table, and she had run.I couldn't blame her. I had started this with a manipulation. I had forced her into this marriage, into this life. I had no right to expect her to tr







