LOGINI was not the type with secrets. Okay, maybe I have some things no one knows about—girls' stuff, the kind of things you take to the grave like your first celebrity crush or that time you accidentally called your teacher "Mom." But that didn't stop my brain from working overtime, spinning conspiracy theories like a tinfoil hat convention, wondering what could be wrong now.Another scandal?Was it about Adrian and me this time? My patience was running thinner than my bank account before this contract. While she was typing, I dialed her phone. She picked up at the second beep.There was silence on the other end before she said something, her voice coarse as if she had had a long night of partying. Or crying. Or both. Knowing Maggie, probably partying until she forgot her own name."You won't believe it," she muttered."I won't believe it if you don't tell me, of course," I said, my curiosity eating me up from within like a hungry little gremlin with a personal vendetta."It's about Adri
I didn't know how he would react. Would he shout? Would he strike back? Would he have me escorted out and thrown into the streets of Monaco like yesterday's trash? I could feel my heart against my ribs as I waited for the explosion.Adrian straightened himself, maintaining his composure like he had not just had a slap on his face. The red mark was already blooming on his cheek, a vivid reminder of what I'd done. His gaze darted towards the two men who stood by the door. With that, they stepped out without a word. The door closed behind us with a soft click, and suddenly his presence felt more dominant, more overwhelming. It was just the two of us now, and the room seemed to shrink around me.He didn't say anything. He didn't even try to caress his face to reduce the pain. His expression remained cold and indifferent, as if I had merely swatted a fly instead of delivering a full-force slap to his face.With a slow pace, he walked towards me. I didn't move. I stood there, my legs roo
"Mrs. Blackwood? Are you okay?" The driver asked, his voice laced with panic. He turned, his eyes scanning my body frantically to see if I was hurt. Technically, his life would be on the line if anything had happened to me. I could practically see the calculation behind his eyes—if she dies, I die—and honestly, that made me feel slightly better. At least someone cared about my survival, even if it was for selfish reasons."I'm fine," I said, not sure if I was telling the truth or just trying to convince myself. My hands were shaking, my heart was pounding, and I could still see the body on the pavement in my mind. The way the person had crumpled like a discarded puppet. But I was alive. That had to count for something.A notification came in, but it wasn't on my phone—it was the driver's. He glanced at his phone, and in a swift move, he stepped on the gas and drove off. He reversed like a pro, tires screeching against the asphalt as he executed a maneuver that would have made a stu
Something in me had snapped at the sight of Victoria, standing there in all her fairly used glory like a hand-me-down designer bag that had seen better days. At that moment, I knew I had to hit her where it hurt if I was going to survive her intimidation. She had walked in like she owned the place—and my future husband, apparently—and I was not about to let her bulldoze me in front of Ivy and a rack of couture that cost more than most people's houses.My blood ran cold. "What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice a mix of anger and dread."Why wouldn't I be here? I have eyes everywhere, Elena. I know everything in Milan. Including the fact that you're trying to marry a man who should be mine."Her eyes gleamed with malice, part of me wanted to laugh, scream, cry, and throw up all at once. The nausea from earlier hadn't fully gone away, and Victoria's presence was not helping.Instead, I smiled. The kind of smile that said, "I'm not scared of you." Even though I was. Even though my p
I walked into the hotel feeling a bit dizzy from throwing up, my legs unsteady beneath me, my stomach still churning with an uncomfortable queasiness that refused to subside. The lobby was grand, with marble floors that gleamed under the soft glow of crystal chandeliers, but I barely noticed any of it. My vision swam slightly at the edges, and I had to focus on putting one foot in front of the other just to stay upright.Fortunately, the receptionist spoke a little bit of English—broken but understandable—and I was able to find my way around the hotel down to my room. She handed me a key card with a polite smile, her eyes lingering on my disheveled appearance for a moment too long before she looked away. I mumbled a thank you and made my way to the elevator, leaning against the cool metal wall as it ascended.The room was spacious, elegant, but I barely registered any of it. My body was screaming for rest, for relief. I walked straight into the bathroom, and turned on the faucet. Th
"We've spoken about this before," Adrian said, he finally lifted his gaze from his plate, paying full attention to what was unfolding on the table. "That family tradition ends with me."The atmosphere was tense, so thick I could almost taste it on my tongue. His father stared at him as if wanting to rip him apart, his jaw clenched so tightly I could see the muscles twitching beneath his skin. My eyes darted from Adrian, to his father, then to his grandmother, trying to read the room, trying to understand what was happening. My heart pounded so loudly I was certain everyone at the table could hear it."Adrian, this is our tradition," his father reprimanded, his voice low and commanding. "She's not going to carry my child before marriage!" Adrian said, his voice rising for the first time since we had arrived. He clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white as if he was about to punch someone. Carry his child?The words hit me like a physical blow. That was not included in the contra
Elena’s POV “You’re not my husband. I don’t remember getting married. I don’t even remember you.” I said. The man was quiet for a moment. He walked up to me and cupped my chin with his hands. “Well, you’ll have to find out if we are married or not.” The man said. Find out? What does he mean I
Elena's POV I shove a spoon of soup into my mouth. I remembered everything as my head that was in a mess began to clear up. I had met with him at an event, he was the CEO of the Blackwoods Conglomerate. While in my thoughts I got a call from Maggie, my sister. I watched as the phone rang on the ta
Elena’s POV The bed felt so soft, the smell from the bed sheet smelt different. I rolled over, the bed quite bigger than the bed I was used to. My hands slowly pat the empty side of the bed only to feel pillows, as I turned, a sharp beam of light flashes through the curtains poking my eyes. I squi
Elena’s POV My eyes slowly opened and all I could hear was slow and subtle beeping from the pulse oximeter positioned opposite me. A drip was fixated on my hand. I was confused. Where was I? I tried to sit up but I felt a sharp pain on my head and my memories surged. I was hit by an incoming ca







