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BONUS CHAPTER - LINES SHE COULD NOT CROSS

Author: Nelly Rae
last update Last Updated: 2025-12-14 02:51:10

Aria didn’t sleep.

She lay awake long after the villa lights dimmed, Leon breathing softly in his crib beside the bed, Luca’s arm heavy and protective around her waist. His presence should have calmed her. Usually, it did.

Tonight, it didn’t.

Clara’s words replayed in her mind like a whisper that refused to fade.

Shadows have long memories.

Aria stared at the ceiling, fingers curled into Luca’s shirt. She could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her palm—solid, grounding, real. And yet, unease threaded through her chest.

She shifted slightly.

Immediately, Luca stirred.

“What is it?” he murmured, voice rough with sleep but alert in a way that never truly left him.

“I’m sorry—I didn’t mean to wake you,” she whispered.

“You didn’t,” he said quietly. His arm tightened around her. “You’re tense.”

Aria hesitated, then turned to face him. His eyes opened fully now, dark and focused on her face. Always on her.

“She messaged again,” Aria admitted.

The air changed.

Luca didn’t move
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  • Ruthless Claim   BONUS CHAPTER - A NEW DAWN

    The villa was quiet, almost impossibly so, a stark contrast to the chaos of the past weeks. The storm that had raged outside and inside their lives had passed, leaving only the fragile stillness of a world slowly healing. Aria sat in the nursery, Leon cradled in her arms. His tiny hands clutched at her fingers, and she couldn’t stop smiling, even as exhaustion tugged at her bones.Luca watched from the doorway, his posture relaxed for the first time in months, yet his eyes held that familiar intensity that had saved them all countless times. He leaned against the frame, arms crossed loosely, and simply watched. The sight of Aria holding their son—the soft curve of her hair falling into her face, the gentle rise and fall of her chest—filled him with a warmth he hadn’t dared to feel in a long time.“You’re staring again,” Aria said softly, tilting her head to meet his gaze.“I’m not,” he replied, but his lips quirked into a small smile. “I’m… just appreciating what we’ve fought for.”Ar

  • Ruthless Claim   BONUS CHAPTER - WARNINGS IN THE DARK

    The villa felt warmer than it had in weeks, though the sunlight spilled lazily across the polished floors, hinting at a calm that didn’t quite reach the edges of Aria’s mind. Leon slept in his crib, chest rising and falling gently, and for a moment, she allowed herself a rare, unguarded breath.Luca was in the kitchen, humming low as he brewed coffee, the smell filling the room and reminding her of quiet mornings long before chaos became the norm. The sound was almost grounding—but Aria couldn’t shake the tension that lingered.She had just sat down with a book when her phone buzzed. A number she didn’t recognize. Hesitating, she answered, voice soft.“Hello?”“Aria De Rossi?”She stiffened. “Yes. Who’s this?”“I—We met at the engagement fair months ago. I didn’t know how else to reach you. It’s Clara.”Her chest tightened. She hadn’t thought about Clara in weeks. Not really. But the memory of the fair, the awkward smiles, the subtle tension, it all came rushing back.“I… what do you

  • Ruthless Claim   BONUS CHAPTER - SCREAMS THAT LINGER

    The villa was quiet, but not peacefully so. Every creak of the floorboards, every whisper of wind against the shutters, seemed louder than it should be.Aria sat at the nursery window, Leon wrapped in a soft blanket on her lap. He yawned, tiny fists stretching toward the sky. The world outside could be chaotic, but here, in this moment, there was calm—fragile, precious, and fleeting.Her thoughts, however, refused to remain quiet. Matteo’s audacity had shaken her. And now, the woman from the engagement fair reaching out again left a prickling unease at the base of her neck.A knock echoed from the villa’s main hall. Aria’s head snapped up.Luca appeared in the doorway moments later, still damp from the late-night rain patrol, his jacket slung over one shoulder, eyes scanning before they softened on her. “They’ve been silent,” he murmured. “No new threats reported today. For now, we’re safe.”Aria nodded, still gripping Leon tightly. “But she reached out. That woman from the fair… she

  • Ruthless Claim   BONUS CHAPTER - FIRST STEP, NEW CHALLENGES

    Morning sunlight spilled into the villa, warm and golden, catching on the delicate curves of Leon’s tiny hands as he reached up toward Aria. She laughed softly, letting the sound float through the room.“You’re growing too fast, little man,” she murmured, holding him just high enough for his tiny feet to brush her chest.Luca appeared behind her, arms crossed but a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “You’re enjoying your mother duties?” he teased, walking closer.Aria glanced up, smiling at him. “I’m enjoying them more because he’s ours. Every moment counts.”Luca crouched down, letting Leon reach for his fingers. “And every moment I get to see this… is worth everything.”Leon’s tiny hands clasped Luca’s fingers, and he made a soft cooing sound. Luca’s expression softened, a rare glimpse of vulnerability flashing through his eyes. He straightened, brushing a strand of Aria’s hair from her face.“You know,” she said, “I don’t think I’ve ever felt this kind of calm. Safe, e

  • Ruthless Claim   BONUS CHAPTER - ECHOES OF THE PAST

    The morning light filtered through the villa’s curtains, soft and golden, but Aria barely noticed. Her eyes were on Leon, who gurgled happily in his bassinet, tiny fists waving in the air. She let out a deep breath, the quiet hum of the household washing over her. For once, the villa didn’t feel heavy. It felt alive. Safe.She glanced toward the nursery door, where Luca was leaning casually, sipping his morning espresso, yet his eyes never left their son. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and his posture carried that effortless strength that always made Aria’s chest tighten.“You two look like you own the morning,” she teased softly, moving closer.Luca smiled, setting his cup down. “We do. You just happen to be part of the family now.”Aria laughed quietly, brushing a hand over Leon’s soft hair. “He’s growing too fast. I can’t believe he’s already holding onto your finger.”“He’s got my grip for life,” Luca said, kneeling beside the bassinet and letting Leon clutch his finger. “And

  • Ruthless Claim   BONUS CHAPTER - SHADOWS AND PROMISES

    The villa was bathed in late afternoon light, soft and golden, painting the walls in warmth. Aria sat on the terrace, Leon nestled against her chest, fingers curling around her thumb as he drifted into a light nap. The villa had never felt more like home, yet even in its comfort, a subtle tension lingered, one that Aria couldn’t quite shake.She traced small patterns on Leon’s blanket, thinking about the weeks that had passed—how fragile everything had been, how easily it could have shattered. And then she thought about Luca. How he had fought through everything, not just the physical threats, but the pull of his own temper and the danger of losing himself.Her thoughts were interrupted by the soft hum of the front door. She looked up to see Luca stepping onto the terrace, dark sunglasses shielding his eyes from the sun, though the slight smirk on his lips betrayed his relief at being back.“You two okay?” he asked, voice low and teasing, though his gaze lingered on Leon with somethin

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