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38: Something Like Love
Last Updated:
2025-04-04 15:55:44
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THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 39: Wedding Bells
The morning air smelled like earth and promise. Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy of trees, casting golden rays over the outdoor venue. The scent of fresh roses and peonies, carefully arranged along the wooden altar, mingled with the crisp autumn breeze.Maria stood inside the bridal tent, her fingers brushing the lace of her dress.It was simple yet elegant—delicate embroidery tracing the bodice, the fabric hugging her curves before flowing into soft layers. But for all its beauty, she found herself staring at her reflection, not at the dress, but at the woman wearing it.She barely recognized herself.Not because of the makeup or the soft curls Gina had so carefully styled, but because for the first time in years… she looked happy."You’re thinking too much."Maria turned to see Gina, arms crossed, smirking like she knew every thought running through Maria’s head. The woman, usually all business, had softened just a fraction today."Am I?" Maria asked, tilting her head.G
Last Updated : 2025-04-04THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 40: The Bet
Maria woke up to the sound of waves gently lapping against the shore, the early morning sunlight filtering through the gauzy curtains of the villa. The air smelled of salt and jasmine, and the bed beneath her was warm, the linen soft against her bare skin.She shifted slightly, stretching out, only to feel a strong arm tighten possessively around her waist, pulling her back against a hard, familiar body."Where do you think you’re going?"His voice was deep, husky from sleep, the warmth of his breath fanning against the back of her neck.Maria bit back a smile. "I wasn’t going anywhere."Luca made a low, satisfied sound, nuzzling into the crook of her neck before pressing a lazy, open-mouthed kiss to her skin. His fingers skimmed along her stomach, drawing patterns that sent shivers dancing down her spine."You were trying to sneak away," he accused, his voice a mixture of amusement and accusation.Maria turned
Last Updated : 2025-04-05THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 41: Wrecked By Him
Swallowing, Maria stepped forward, her bare feet silent against the cold floor.Luca’s eyes tracked every movement, burning her from the inside out.And then she was there, standing between his legs, so close she could feel the heat radiating from his body.He didn’t move. Didn’t reach for her.No—he was going to make her do this. Make her surrender.Maria exhaled softly, placing her hands on his broad shoulders. She could feel the tension in him, the barely leashed restraint beneath her fingers.Then, slowly, she swung one leg over him, straddling his lap.Luca let out a low growl, his hands gripping the armrests so tightly his knuckles went white. "That’s my girl."Maria smiled—just a little, just enough to remind herself that even though she had lost, she still had some control.And then she started moving.Slowly. Sinfully.She rolled her hips against him, her body moving like liqu
Last Updated : 2025-04-05THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 42: Overdrive
Their honeymoon officially began after two nights at the villa, but instead of staying in tropical paradise, Luca had something else planned.That morning, he led her onto the private jet, all he said was, “You’ll see.”The flight was smooth, but Maria noticed the temperature dropping steadily the closer they got to their destination. When they finally landed, she stepped out of the jet and into a completely different world.Snow. Everywhere.Thick layers of white blanketed the landscape, stretching as far as the eye could see. Towering pine trees, heavy with frost, lined the private runway, their tips dusted in silver beneath the pale afternoon sun. The air was crisp, the kind that bit at her skin and turned every breath into a cloud.A stark contrast to the golden heat of Hayport.Maria shivered involuntarily, pulling her coat closer around her. Luca, on the other hand, seemed entirely unaffected.He grinned at her reaction, sliding a warm hand to the small of her back. “Cold?”Mari
Last Updated : 2025-04-06THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 43: Unrestrained
With a sharp exhale, he hit the auto-drive button on the dashboard.The female computer system chirped in a robotic voice: "Auto-drive engaged. Please keep hands and feet inside the vehicle."Luca wasted no time.His hands gripped Maria’s arms, pulling her up until she was straddling him.Maria gasped as he yanked up her dress, hands gripping her thighs, spreading her open over him.His fingers dragged down from her breast, tracing her ribs, her stomach, before slipping beneath the bunched fabric of her dress. The moment his knuckles brushed over her soaked core, he went still.No underwear.“Fuck.” His voice was pure gravel, low and sharp, a razor against the heated air between them. “No panties? You’ve been sitting next to me like this all night?”Maria swallowed, her lips parting, but she didn’t get a chance to respond.Luca’s fingers slid between her folds, finding her drenched, slick, ready. His cock throbbed painfully just above her heat.“You’re soaking,” he murmured darkly, hi
Last Updated : 2025-04-07THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 44: Ghostly Torment
The fire crackled in the hearth, filling the cozy cabin with a soft golden glow. Snow piled against the windows, muffling the world outside in an icy embrace. The air was thick with warmth and the lingering scent of Maria’s shampoo as she lay curled up beneath the heavy covers, a palm resting on her stomach. Her breathing was steady, peaceful.Luca sat at the edge of the bed, his phone pressed against his ear as he listened to the voice on the other end. His other hand rubbed at the slight ache in his temple."And you're sure he's still scrambling?" Luca murmured, voice barely above a whisper."Positive," came the reply. "Edwards is losing everything, piece by piece. Just like you planned."A slow, satisfied smirk curled at Luca's lips."Good. He doesn’t deserve a single cent, not after what he did to her." His eyes flickered to Maria, still asleep. His smirk faded into something softer. "I promised her I'd take everything from him first before I killed him."There was a pause on the
Last Updated : 2025-04-07THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 45: The Tension That Always Existed
It was the fourth day of their honeymoon, but they had barely stepped outside. Maria was exhausted most of the time, constantly drowsy or nauseous, and Luca didn’t mind in the slightest. He preferred having her in bed, tucked under the thick blankets of the warm cabin, safe and within reach.The doctor had confirmed she was four weeks pregnant, and since then, Luca had become utterly obsessed with Maria’s well-being—more than usual, which was saying a lot. He wouldn’t even let her carry a water bottle on her own.Now, Maria lay curled on her side, half-asleep, while Luca propped himself up on one elbow, staring at her stomach like it held the secrets of the universe. His large palm rested protectively over her belly, and Maria, with her eyes barely open, muttered, “You’re obsessing over me.”Luca scoffed. “You act like it’s new. I’ve always been obsessed with you.”Maria chuckled sleepily, rubbing at her fac
Last Updated : 2025-04-08THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 46: The Underground Chamber
The underground chamber was colder than it should have been, the walls thick with age and reinforced with layers of security that no one would dare breach. The room itself was decadence woven into power—an unsettling mix of old money and ruthless efficiency. The chandelier hanging above the long mahogany table wasn’t made of crystal or glass but of bones—fossilized fragments of creatures long extinct.Twelve men sat around the table, their expressions carved from stone. These weren’t politicians who played at power in the public eye. No, these were the architects of the world’s balance, the men whose hands turned the unseen gears that dictated the rise and fall of markets, governments, and even history itself.At the head of the table sat the Scar-Faced Man.His left cheek bore three jagged scars, twisting the flesh as if melted by fire. His left eye was milky, clouded over by an old injury, but his right was keen, calculating
Last Updated : 2025-04-08
Latest chapter
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 95: A Frightening Complication
The estate was still. Outside, the distant city lights flickered like dying embers, swallowed by the weight of the night. A quiet breeze rustled the trees beyond the tall gates, but the sound was faint, muffled by thick curtains drawn across the windows. Inside, the bedroom was wrapped in an almost sacred hush—the kind that settled over a house holding something fragile. The kind of silence that clung to the walls, heavy with the weight of everything that could go wrong.The room was dim, lit only by the faint golden glow of a bedside lamp. It cast gentle shadows over the ornate furniture, softened the sharp corners, and made the world seem smaller, safer.And in the middle of it all, Luca held Maria the way he always did—like she was his entire world. His arms were wrapped over her belly, protective and reverent, cradling not just her but the life they had created together. She was warm against his chest, her breath slow and
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 94: Fifteen Years Of Nightmare
The estate was quiet under a velvet sky, moonlight pooling in silver puddles across the tiled floors. The garden just beyond the balcony doors swayed gently, rustling like the hushed whispers of ghosts. Inside the master bedroom, shadows clung to the high ceilings, and the soft hum of the city beyond the hills sounded distant, almost like a lullaby. The world moved on as it always had. But Luca was drowning. His breath came in jagged bursts, chest rising and falling as if he were surfacing from the bottom of the ocean. The silk sheets tangled around his legs were damp with sweat, and his fists clenched the fabric like lifelines. Every muscle in his body was tense, as though ready to bolt. His lips parted, cracked and trembling, and he whispered her name like a prayer. "Maria..." Beside him, Maria stirred. Five months pregnant, her body had grown softer, rounder—
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 93: A Night Of Firsts
Luca stumbled into the apartment, the door slamming shut behind him with a heavy thud. The air around him reeked of smoke, sweat, and cheap whiskey, and the faint trace of cologne he’d sprayed on in a poor attempt to mask it all clung weakly to his skin. His shirt was half-unbuttoned, belt hanging loose, jeans slung low on his hips. He looked wrecked—like he’d barely made it home in one piece.But Maria didn’t see the mess first.She saw him.And for one agonizing moment, the wall of anger she’d been holding onto all evening—tight and trembling like a dam about to burst—crumbled. Just at the sight of him.Her arms slowly loosened from around her knees. Her breath caught.He looked so lost.So hers.Luca blinked, eyes hazy, but they found her like gravity. His lips curved faintly, a ghost of that cocky grin he wore far too often. “Miss me, baby?” he murmured, voice hoarse, thick with exhaustion and som
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 92: Love Is Served...With A Side Of Salmonella
Maria had one goal tonight—prove to Luca that she wasn’t useless.She stood in their tiny kitchen, sleeves rolled up, with an air of reckless determination. Tonight, she was in charge of the cooking. Luca always did it, like it was second nature to him. But tonight? Tonight she was going to surprise him.And maybe, just maybe, she wanted to impress him.Except… things weren’t going well.The rice was burnt at the bottom. The soup smelled questionable, a strange mix of too many spices and something vaguely sour. And the chicken—well, she wasn’t entirely sure if it was cooked all the way through. But she’d tried. That had to count for something. Right?Luca, sprawled out on their small bed scrolling through his phone, finally noticed the burning smell. His eyes widened slightly.“What the hell are you doing?” he asked, pushing himself up with a sigh, already making his way to the kitchen.Maria quickly blocked his path, pl
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 91: Mistakes Were Made
The lights were dim, and the smell of takeout hung thick in the small apartment — fried chicken and something spicy Maria couldn’t quite place. She was curled beside Luca on their lumpy mattress, her half-eaten noodles cooling on her lap as the movie played, the sound filling the otherwise quiet room. It was one of those horror movies that stretched out the silence until something horrifying leapt at you. Maria’s skin crawled. She hated these kinds of movies. But she’d picked it. Luca, however, seemed completely unfazed. He leaned against the wall, eating noodles with slow, casual bites, his focus unwavering — like he was watching a documentary. Maria shot him a sideways look, irritated but grudgingly impressed. How is he so calm? Suddenly, a loud screech tore from the TV. Maria tensed, heart hammering. Her chopsticks slipped from her hand, clattering to the f
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 90: Tangled Boundaries
The morning light slipped through the cracked blinds of their small one-room apartment, casting soft golden streaks on the peeling walls.The air smelled faintly of last night's cheap instant ramen, mixed with the slight musk of Luca's cologne. It wasn’t the most ideal setting to start the day, but for Maria, it had become the norm.Maria stood by the only mirror in the room, adjusting her school uniform. The fabric was thin, a faded gray that had seen better days, but it fit well enough. Her blouse was neatly tucked in, but the hem of her skirt sat a little too high on her thighs. She stared at her reflection for a moment, running a hand through her tangled hair. The mirror barely showed her face—cracks ran through its surface like an old photograph.Luca, who had just buttoned his shirt halfway, paused mid-motion when he caught sight of her in the reflection. His brows pulled together, eyes narrowing in a way that she had come to reco
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 89: A Ring Too Loose
Maria had once dreamed of a wedding — a real one.A soft white dress that brushed the floor, heavy with lace and hope. A church full of family she never had. Flowers trembling in her hands as she walked down an aisle toward a man who would look at her like she was everything he had ever wanted.She could almost hear the music, soft and trembling, almost smell the fresh-cut roses.But reality had given her none of that.Edwards hadn’t proposed with a trembling voice or shining eyes. There had been no tearful promises.One day, without warning, he had simply said, "Let’s make this official."And then he took her to a courthouse — a gray, crumbling building that smelled of bleach and dust and lost hopes.No celebration. No flowers.Just a grim-faced clerk in a too-tight suit, sliding papers across a counter. Just Edwards' hand on her back, pressing her forward like a deal being closed.A cold exchange of v
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 88: Trustfall
The city lights flickered like dying embers in the distance as Maria sprinted through the empty streets, her breath sharp, her heart hammering in her chest like it was trying to escape her ribcage. They were still behind her. She could hear them—footsteps pounding with ruthless intent, voices barking cold, clipped orders that cut through the silence of the night like gunfire. “Find her!” one of them snarled, rage lacing every syllable. Maria’s stomach twisted, a knot of panic anchoring deep in her core. She didn’t know where she was anymore—what street, what block—only that every turn felt like a trap, every shadow a threat. The city had always been big, but tonight it felt endless, merciless. The cold air sliced at her exposed skin, making every step feel like a punishment. Her shoes—cheap, worn down, barely holding together—slapped against the pavement with frantic rhythm. She had barely esc
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 87: Silk And Steel
Maria woke up to an unfamiliar stillness.The penthouse was too quiet, too cold, as if it had been abandoned overnight. The usual soft hum of the city that crept through the double-glazed windows felt muted today, as if the world had decided to hold its breath.Her hand instinctively reached for the other side of the bed, but it was empty. Not just empty—untouched.The sheets were smooth, still pressed, a stark contrast to her side where the blanket twisted around her legs. A chill ran down her spine, her brows knitting together as she sat up, the silk strap of her nightgown sliding down her shoulder.Edwards had come home last night, hadn’t he?She remembered waiting for him, curled up on the velvet chaise by the window, watching the minutes drag by. The clock had ticked past midnight, then one. Still, she waited. She had convinced herself that he was just busy. That was always the excuse.Important meetings.
