LOGINShare
7: Tables Turned
Last Updated:
2025-03-07 15:01:23It was still morning.
Not more than two hours since she had walked out of Edwards’ company, but now she was on her way back. Maria sat in the back seat of the car, her body tensed as the other vehicle followed closely behind in the steady rhythm of traffic. The ride was smooth, the city moving at its usual pace, but she barely noticed any of it. Her thoughts were tangled in the heat sitting low in her stomach, the lingering sensation between her thighs that refused to fade. She clenched her legs tighter, willing herself to ignore it. "Why did I let that happen?" Her fingers curled into the fabric of her dress as memories of Luca’s touch played in her mind. The rough drag of his calloused fingers up her thigh. The firm press of his lips against hers. The teasing way he had adjusted her underwear, like he had every right to. A shiver ran down her spine, her nails digging into her palm. Luca Avancii was dangerous. And the worst part? She had let him. She had leaned into it, craved it, let him ruin her in ways she couldn’t even begin to explain. Maria exhaled sharply, shaking her head. No. She wasn’t going to think about Luca right now. Right now, she had a job to do. She was going to march into that office, put those signed divorce papers in Edwards' hands, and end this chapter of her life for good. The car pulled up in front of Edwards' company. Maria stepped out, her heels clicking against the pavement as she walked toward the building. Her driver and bodyguards stayed close, but she didn’t acknowledge them. She didn’t need backup for this. She had spent years in this place, pleading, compromising, waiting. Now, she was simply here to end it. She didn’t bother with pleasantries as she made her way through the lobby, ignoring the wide-eyed stares from employees who had watched her beg before. This time, she wasn’t begging. Maria reached Edwards’ office, gripping the handle with steady fingers before pushing the door open. Then she stopped. A woman was bent over his desk. Edwards was behind her. Maria froze, her stomach turning cold as the scene unfolded in slow motion. The woman jerked up at the sound of the door opening, her head snapping toward Maria. Edwards, caught off guard, stumbled back, his hands flying to buckle his belt. The woman’s face came into full view. Grace. Edwards’ so-called best friend. The one who barely spoke to Maria. The one who had never seemed to like her, always distant, always watching with a strange look in her eyes. Maria’s gaze flickered between them. Edwards looked guilty. Grace looked indifferent. Maria? She felt nothing. No heartbreak. No devastation. No pain. Just… confirmation. This had always been her place in his life. Not a partner. Not a wife. A placeholder. Without a word, Maria stepped forward, pulling the divorce papers from her bag. She tossed them onto the desk, the crisp stack sliding across the polished wood. "Sign them." Edwards was still adjusting his pants, eyes flickering between her and the papers. "Maria, wait—" "No." Her voice was sharp, unwavering. "Just sign them, Edwards." He didn’t move. Grace slowly straightened, her expression unreadable, but Maria didn’t care enough to decipher it. This wasn’t about Grace. It wasn’t even about the fact that Edwards had been screwing someone else in their old office. This was about closure. Edwards' hands curled into fists as he looked at her. His jaw clenched. His chest rose and fell, something dark shifting in his expression. Then, he snapped. He grabbed the divorce papers and threw them across the room. Maria didn’t flinch as the pages scattered like fallen leaves. "You think you can just waltz in here and demand a divorce?" Edwards spat, his face twisting with fury. "You think you get to end things?" Maria raised a brow. "It shouldn't be a problem since it's what you want." He let out a bitter laugh, stepping toward her, but one of her bodyguards moved instantly, blocking his path. Edwards halted, his eyes narrowing. "Oh, so now you need protection?" he sneered. "Is that what your new boy toy gave you? Hired muscle?" Maria smirked. "No, that’s what my fiancé gave me." Edwards’ face darkened. "Fiancé?" His voice dropped into something almost unrecognizable. "You’re already engaged?" Maria tilted her head, watching as the anger in his eyes turned into something worse—disbelief. He had expected her to grovel. To beg. To linger. And instead, she was walking away like their marriage had been nothing more than a bad investment. Maria held his gaze, unbothered. "Yes." Edwards’ expression twisted, veins visible at his temple. "You’re lying." Maria shrugged. "Believe what you want. Just sign the damn papers." Edwards let out a sharp breath, his shoulders rising and falling. Then, in a move that would have once terrified her, he grabbed a glass paperweight from his desk and threw it against the wall. The sharp shatter echoed through the office. Maria remained still. Grace, on the other hand, flinched. Edwards turned back to Maria, his chest heaving. His face twisted in rage, but she didn’t care. She turned on her heel, already heading for the door. "Email me my copy once you’ve signed," she threw over her shoulder. And with that, she walked out. Maria barely blinked as she arrived at Edwards' house—the place she had once called home. It felt foreign now. Like a museum of someone else's life. She moved through the house with quiet efficiency, her bodyguards helping her pack up the things she cared about—which, it turned out, wasn’t much. A few clothes. Some books. Nothing sentimental. Nothing that tied her to this place anymore. She was done. Completely and utterly done. By the time she was back in the car, watching Edwards’ house shrink in the distance, Maria felt something unexpected. Relief. For the first time in a long time, she was free. And for the first time in years, she wasn’t afraid of what came next. She leaned back against the seat, her mind already drifting to where she was going. To SpitFire Autos. To Luca. And for some reason… The thought didn’t scare her at all.
Related chapters
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 8: A Seat On His Throne
Maria stepped into SpitFire Autos, the air thick with the scent of gasoline, leather, and a lingering trace of Luca Avancii.She had barely settled in before his secretary, Gina, informed her that Luca was still in a meeting."You can wait in his office, Miss Dominic."So she did.Maria stepped inside, her heels clicking against the sleek black floors. The space was nothing like Edwards' sterile, lifeless office. Luca’s was lived-in. Controlled chaos.Dark walls. Polished wood. A liquor cabinet against one wall, a gun safe against the other. Papers scattered across his desk, blueprints of cars, notes written in his sharp, unmistakable handwriting.The chair behind the desk was large, commanding, like a throne.Maria ran her fingers over the edge of the desk, imagining him here—seated, leaning back, his sharp eyes assessing whoever sat across from him. Judging. Calculating. Owning.Her stomach tightened.She turned away, deciding to busy herself with the bookshelves instead. But before
Last Updated : 2025-03-10THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 9: The Cost Of A Signature
They were already there before he got there.Edward Kale had been drinking and partying at The Monarch, an elite nightclub reserved for men like him—rich, powerful, and untouchable. Or at least, that’s what he thought. One moment he was sipping on whiskey, Grace draped over him in a sequined dress, and the next, hands had grabbed him, dragging him through the back of the club. He had fought, of course—he had money, influence—but his protests were drowned by the pounding bass of the music. No one saw him leave.By the time his head cleared, he found himself sitting on a cold metal chair, wrists bound behind him. The room was dimly lit, one single ceiling bulb swinging slightly, casting long, jagged shadows on the concrete walls. The air smelled like damp earth and motor oil, the kind of place where secrets were buried—literally.Men in dark biker helmets stood like statues around him, unmoving, faceless, armed. His pulse hammered in his
Last Updated : 2025-03-12THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 10: The Morning After
Maria woke to warmth.Not just the kind that came from thick blankets and soft sheets, but the kind that seeped into her bones, a heavy, steady heat pressed against her back.Her eyelashes fluttered as consciousness slowly returned, the memories of yesterday drifting into focus—Edward, the divorce papers, the rings, Luca—Her breath hitched.Luca.The realization sent a bolt of awareness through her.He was behind her.Close.Too close.Maria’s entire body went rigid as she took in the situation. Luca wasn’t just lying beside her—he was molded against her, his chest pressed to her back, his arm slung low around her waist.His warmth surrounded her.His scent—smoke, leather, and something darkly spiced—lingered in the air, wrapping around her senses like an invisible cage.She barely breathed.She needed to move.Slowly, carefully, Maria tried to inch forward.
Last Updated : 2025-03-12THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 11: A Day In The Avancii Estate
Luca had already left for work when Maria began exploring.She wasn’t sure when he had slipped out, but by the time she finished having her bath, the house was quiet, the lingering scent of his cologne the only trace of his presence.It left her with nothing but time—and an entire estate to acquaint herself with.The Avancii estate wasn’t as large as she had expected. It was grand, yes, but not the overwhelming kind of wealth that screamed opulence. Instead, it was refined, designed for comfort rather than excess.The main house had seven bedrooms, meant to accommodate Mr. Collins—or Cole, as Luca called him—along with the two cooks, and now, Maria herself. The rest of the staff lived in the boy’s quarters, a separate building housing the gardeners, security, fish workers, house keepers, and drivers.A swimming pool gleamed on one side of the house, reflecting the early morning sun.And beside it, a small patch of land lay stubbornly bare, unlike the rest of the land.Maria paused, ti
Last Updated : 2025-03-13THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 12: Crossing Boundaries
Maria hesitated at the doorway, fingers trembling against the smooth wood.She should leave.She should ignore the way Luca’s voice had curled around her like smoke, whispering promises in the dark.But her body was already betraying her.Slowly, she turned back.Luca had shifted his laptop to the side, his chair angled toward her as if making space just for her. His dark eyes flickered with something undeniable, unreadable—a warning and an invitation all at once.Without speaking, he lifted a hand, fingers beckoning.And Maria moved.Each step felt heavier, like the air had thickened around her, wrapping her in something hot and electric.When she reached him, Luca’s fingers wrapped around her wrist—warm, firm, commanding. He pulled her closer, guiding her onto the desk with effortless strength.Maria let out a soft breath as the cool surface kissed the backs of her thighs, but she barely noti
Last Updated : 2025-03-14THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 13: The Ministration On His Desk
Maria's breath stuttered, her body trembling as Luca's mouth moved over her, slow and deliberate, tongue lapping through her slick folds with practiced ease.He had been at this for minutes now-teasing, tasting, savoring.Maria was a wreck against the mahogany desk-legs spread wide, robe fallen away, the cool air making her nipples pebble, heavy breasts rising and falling with each desperate breath.Luca's grip on her thighs tightened, fingers flexing against soft skin as he pinned her open.He was loving her like this-bared, breathless, needy.He could feel the way she pulsed against his tongue, taste the way she was already soaking for him, her body offering itself up, willing, desperate.And he loved that she still had the nerve to act like she wasn't.Maria let out a ragged little moan, fingers tugging at his hair, trying to pull him deeper, closer.Luca let her.Let her take what she needed.
Last Updated : 2025-03-15THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 14: Unspoken Boundaries
Morning light streamed through the sheer curtains, casting golden streaks across the bed. The sheets beside her were cold.Maria turned her head, staring at the empty space where Luca had been.Gone.She wasn’t sure why she expected anything different.Her thighs still ached from last night—her skin tingled with phantom touches, and her lips were swollen from the way he had kissed her, claimed her, devoured her. She squeezed her thighs together, remembering the way he had pulled her apart with nothing but his hands, his mouth, his voice.And yet… he had left without a word.Maria let out a slow breath and sat up, pulling the sheets over her bare body. The heavy silence of the room felt suffocating.She hated this.Hated how her heart clenched at his absence.Hated how she missed him.Last night wasn’t supposed to mean anything—at least, that’s what she told herself. It was just a moment of weak
Last Updated : 2025-03-16THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 15: A Package And A Warning
The morning was bright, the sun casting a warm golden glow over the estate as Maria knelt on the small patch of barren land, her fingers digging into the soil. Sweat trickled down her temple, and a light breeze carried the scent of freshly cut grass from the other side of the garden. She had spent the past hour working, determined to bring life to this neglected patch of earth. The estate itself was beautiful, nestled in the quieter part of the city, surrounded by tall trees that shielded it from prying eyes. It was a world of its own—a place where silence was only broken by birds chirping, the distant hum of the fountain, and the occasional laughter of the staff moving about their tasks. Maria wiped her forehead with the back of her hand and leaned back, surveying her progress. The land still looked lifeless, but she wasn’t giving up. Just then, the crunch of approaching footsteps made her look up. Mr. Collins, or Cole as
Last Updated : 2025-03-17
Latest chapter
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 86: How To Break A King
Miles away, in a room thick with sour smoke and the metallic stench of old blood, Mikael smiled too — but it wasn’t laughter he tasted. It was war, bitter and electric on his tongue.Mikael sat at the head of the table, one hand loose around a glass he hadn't touched. His fingers tapped once, twice — a sound like a ticking clock — then stilled. Not a man's patience. A predator's.The men gathered around him were a mix of old blood and new money, each one bringing something to the table: favors, weapons, information.But tonight, it was the man seated at the far end who commanded the most attention.Edwards Kale.He looked nothing like the arrogant bastard he once was. The man who had once dared to challenge the Avancii name now sat hunched, gaunt, a shadow of pride smoldering in his ruined eyes. His hands trembled as he shoved the folder forward — like the paper itself was poisoned — then clenched them into fists against the polished wood
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 85: Brother's Favorite Toy
Maria whimpered softly beneath him, her hips instinctively rocking back, greedy for every last flicker of sensation, every last pulse of him spilling into her.Slowly, reverently, Luca shifted, slipping an arm under her, gathering her close."Easy, mi amor," he rasped, his voice rough and sweet and filthy all at once.With aching tenderness, he coaxed her onto her side, spooning her against his chest.His cock slid deeper with the shift, drawing a broken gasp from both of them.He groaned low, forehead pressed to the nape of her neck."Fuck," he breathed.His hand splayed over her lower belly, protective, reverent, possessive.Maria trembled, overwhelmed, her hand flying down to cover his, threading their fingers together over the soft swell of her stomach."Mi esposa perfecta... madre de mi hijo..."(My perfect wife… mother of my child…)Maria turned blindly, seeking him, and he caugh
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 84: Home Is Under You
The past two weeks had settled into a rhythm—a ridiculous, clingy, over-the-top rhythm. Maria was always on the phone. If she wasn’t calling Goodness to complain about Luca eating the last of her ginger biscuits, she was on the phone with Nune as they gossiped about Ichiro’s latest death-wish stunt. And when Mafalda finally came back after a week of complete radio silence, their group chat exploded. Maria, Nune, Alexei, and Goodness had been frantic, their messages unanswered for days, their calls going straight to voicemail. Then, as if nothing had happened, Mafalda popped back into their chat with a single message: Mafalda: I live. Relief crashed through the group chat like a tidal wave. Maria: WOMAN, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? Goodness: We were about to stage a fucking rescue mission! Nune: Is he dead? Do we need to help hide the body? Alexei: Are yo
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 83: Love, Screaming & Something Dramatic
A few days had passed, yet it felt like mere minutes for the women.The estate, once a fortress of power and control, now stood in disarray. The grand halls, which had witnessed whispered secrets and stolen laughter, now echoed with the wails of its most beloved occupants. The very walls seemed to mourn their impending separation, shadows stretching long under the glow of the chandeliers, as if reluctant to let go of the mischief and warmth that had once filled the space.Maria, Mafalda, Nune, Alexei, and Goodness clung to one another, their arms locked in desperation as though sheer force could prevent what was inevitable. But their husbands—men who commanded entire empires, men who had the world at their feet—were wholly unimpressed by their theatrics.To them, this was inevitable.To the women, it was unbearable.Luca stood at the far end of the room, his arms crossed, cigarette burning lazily between his lips as he watched M
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 82: Broken Knees, Broken Kings
The room was thick with the scent of tobacco and expensive cologne, the kind that settled into leather and power. It was the kind of space where fortunes were made, alliances were tested, and destruction was decided with a single word.Malachai sat at the head of the long, obsidian conference table, fingers drumming idly against the polished surface. The dim glow from the chandelier overhead cast a golden sheen across the room, reflecting off crystal glasses filled with aged whiskey.Luca, seated to his right, flicked open his lighter, the flame briefly illuminating the sharp angles of his face before he lit his cigarette. He inhaled deeply, letting the smoke coil around him like a ghost before he passed the lighter across the table to Rafael DeSantis. Rafael took it with a nod, his own cigarette already perched between his lips.Aziel Tau leaned forward, sleeves rolled up, his forearms flexing as he tapped a few keys on his t
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 81: Where Power Wears A Smile
The docks were a blend of rustic charm and rugged elegance, the wooden piers weathered with years of use. Boats of various sizes bobbed gently on the water, their sails filled with the coastal breeze, creating a quiet rhythm as the waves lapped against the stone and wood. The air was thick with the scent of saltwater, a subtle reminder of the vast ocean beyond the island.The horizon stretched out in a wide arc, where the deep blue of the ocean met the sky in an endless line. The island felt like a place suspended in time, a realm apart from the rest of the world.Luca’s arm tightened around Maria’s waist, pulling her closer as he leaned in, his voice a low murmur against her ear. “Behave, unless you want to be punished again.”Maria simply nodded, her heart racing as she tried to hold her composure. This was a new world for her, a world of power and danger that she barely understood. She had to play her part, not just for herself, but
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 80: The Beginning Of The End
The day after Maria’s spa treatment, the tabloids exploded. The world couldn’t stop talking about her. Every moment captured by the paparazzi had its own headline. A multitude of pictures flooded the internet—Maria at the spa, her baby bump glowing in the soft, golden light of the afternoon; Maria sitting at the café, croissant halfway to her lips, sunglasses hiding her frustration. The world was obsessed, speculating, questioning every move she made.Headlines screamed:“Maria Avancii’s Baby Bump: The Real Reason She's Staying Out of the Spotlight?”“Maria Avancii’s Health: Why the Pregnant Wife of Luca Avancii Has Become a Rare Sight”“Is Maria’s Condition Keeping Her From Her Empire? A Glimpse into the Struggles of Pregnancy in the Spotlight”“Baggy Clothes: The New Trend Maria Avancii is Bringing into Fashion”Meanwhile, a different scene unfolded in Edwards Kale’s penthouse. Alone and furious, Edwards sta
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 79: Unexpected Alliances
The early morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of earthy tones.Luca stood on the balcony, the city stretching far away from him in a haze of artificial lights and the fading darkness of dawn. A cigarette burned between his fingers, the embers glowing each time he took a slow drag.He hadn't slept well.Maria’s disobedience troubled him, the memory of her soft cries and stubborn glare gnawing at his chest like a dull, constant ache. His body remembered the feel of her, hot and trembling beneath him, even as his mind waged a war he couldn’t name.Luca exhaled a curl of smoke into the cold air.Inside, he could hear the faint shuffle of sheets. He turned his head slightly, just enough to catch a glimpse: Maria curled beneath the cotton duvet, her baby bump a tender curve even under layers of fabric. A picture of innocence. Fragile. His.His phone vibrated in his pocket, cutting through the silenc
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 78: Tears And Tethers
First round had been punishment — this was pleasure, wicked and indulgent, tangled with the remnants of anger he hadn't quite managed to shake.Luca couldn’t stay mad at her forever. No matter how much Maria defied him, no matter how she pushed and tested — she was his. Always his. His anger melted into something darker now, something possessive and hungry.His gaze pinned her down, unreadable, heavy.Then he leaned in, slow, deliberate, his breath a sinful caress against the shell of her ear. His lips barely grazed her skin when he whispered, low and vicious,“Keep crying for me.”The words dragged along her spine like silk and steel, a cruel promise and a dark demand wrapped into one.Maria whimpered, fresh tears brimming in her eyes. The saltwater clung to her lashes, trembling, before spilling down hot onto her flushed cheeks. Her thighs trembled from the effort to stay open, vulnerable beneath him, but she didn’t dare move. Could
