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90: Tangled Boundaries

Author: DiaryOfDaisy
last update Last Updated: 2025-05-06 07:01:16

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
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  • THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME    1: Maria

    Maria Dominic never thought she would end up on her knees. Not in front of him. Not in front of the man she had loved, trusted, sacrificed for. But here she was—kneeling on the cold, immaculate marble floors of Edwards Kale’s office, her dignity slipping away with every second that passed. Her hands trembled as she clenched them into fists against her thighs. She had come here for justice, for fairness, for something that resembled the years she had lost. But as she looked up at the man seated in his oversized leather chair, all she saw was apathy. Edwards leaned back, exhaling slowly as he swirled the amber liquid in his glass. The sound of ice clinking against crystal felt like a hammer against her skull. His navy-blue suit was perfectly tailored, his golden cufflinks gleaming under the warm office lights. Everything about him screamed power, wealth, control. Everything about her felt powerless. “Get up, Maria,” Edwards said, his tone flat, emotionless. “You’re embarrassing you

    Last Updated : 2025-02-22
  • THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME    2: The Art Of War

    The drive was quiet.Maria sat stiffly in the passenger seat, her hands gripping the hem of her dress as the city passed by in a blur. The streets of Hay Port were still waking up, bathed in the soft gold of the morning sun, but Maria couldn't appreciate the beauty outside.Her mind was still stuck in that office.Still kneeling.Still feeling the cold marble against her knees, the weight of humiliation pressing down on her chest as Edwards dismissed her like she was nothing.She clenched her jaw, staring down at her lap.The silence between her and Luca stretched. The man beside her-her brother's best friend, the reckless boy who had once been a constant presence in her childhood-was now driving her away from everything she had once called hers. Away from Edwards. Away from the life she had built for him.But strangely, she didn't feel lost.She felt... lighter.Like she was no longer carrying all of it alone.Still, confusion lingered in her chest."Why did you do that?" she finally

    Last Updated : 2025-02-22
  • THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME    3: The Deal With The Devil

    Maria followed Luca into SpitFire Autos, her heels clicking softly against the polished marble floor.The moment she stepped inside, she felt small.Not because she was intimidated—but because this place was huge.The main hall stretched out before her like a grand atrium, its ceiling impossibly high. A massive chandelier hung above, its golden arms spiraling outward, dripping with thousands of tiny crystals that caught the light. It was the largest she had ever seen—bigger than the one Edwards had installed in their penthouse, bigger than the one in his company’s lobby.Her gaze moved downward, following the elegant design of the escalators.There were several, each leading to different sections of the building.Some moved slowly, taking employees to open workspace floors. Others had security scanners at their bases—meaning they required a special pass to access. Those escalators led to the more exclusive parts of the company.Maria recognized this kind of system. It was something on

    Last Updated : 2025-02-24
  • THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME    4: The Plan For Ruin

    Maria finished the last bite of her pastry, wiped her fingers on a napkin, and rose to her feet.Luca watched as she walked toward his desk, her steps steady but slow, as though she was absorbing everything.She placed a hand on the polished wood surface before turning her attention to the floor-to-ceiling window.From up here, Hay Port stretched far and wide, the skyline gleaming under the morning sun. The world outside was calm, unchanged, completely unaware of the war that was about to begin.Maria folded her arms."What's the plan?"Luca pushed his chair back and strode over to her, standing beside her but slightly behind-close enough for his presence to be felt, but not overwhelming."First," he murmured, "you'll go through with the divorce."Maria's expression didn't change, but she gripped her arms a little tighter."He'll give you something, even if it's just a fraction of what you deserve." Luca leaned against the desk. "We'll take it."Maria nodded slowly.Then Luca smirked.

    Last Updated : 2025-02-24
  • THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME    5: Practice Makes Perfect

    Maria barely registered the nod of acknowledgment she gave before Luca spoke again, his voice calm but edged with something deeper.“How long did you say you two were together?”Maria exhaled softly, fingers brushing the polished surface of his desk.“Ten years.”Luca’s brows furrowed, his brown eyes darkening as he tilted his head slightly, processing her words."Ten years?" His voice held an edge of disbelief, almost as if he was confirming something for himself. “And you never had kids?”Maria’s throat tightened. She shook her head.“Edwards wanted to wait a while.”Luca went very still. His gaze burned into her like the midday sun.Then, in a voice that sent shivers down her spine, he said,"Marie, ten years isn’t ‘a while.’" He leaned in slightly, his presence overwhelming. “It’s a decade.”The weight of those words pressed against her.Maria opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Luca suddenly grabbed her by the waist. A surprised gasp barely escaped her lips before he ho

    Last Updated : 2025-02-27
  • THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME    6: Trusting Him

    "Mr. Avancii."Gina’s voice was flat, unimpressed.Maria stiffened, her heart stalling in her chest.Luca, on the other hand, remained completely unbothered. He didn't even turn to acknowledge Gina properly—just kept his hand possessively on Maria’s thigh like nothing had changed.Gina exhaled sharply, shifting the tablet in her arms."Never in all my years of working here did I think I would ever hear you say that."Maria blinked, confused.Luca, however, smirked."What, ‘fiancée’?" His voice was smooth, amused, as if he found her disbelief entertaining."That," Gina said pointedly, "and watching you actually use your office for something other than business."Maria’s face flamed, but Luca only chuckled."You wound me, Gina.""Do I?" she deadpanned.Luca let out a low laugh, finally straightening to look at her fully."You need something?"Gina pinched the bridge of her nose."You have a meeting in five minutes."Luca tilted his head."And?""And," Gina gritted out, "your presence is

    Last Updated : 2025-03-05
  • THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME    7: Tables Turned

    It 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, le

    Last Updated : 2025-03-07
  • 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 : 2025-03-10

Latest chapter

  • 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.

  • 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

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