Araceli has spent her entire life sheltered within the church, raised under the watchful and rather twisted guidance of Father Ambrose who was like the only family she has ever known. But just after turning eighteen, she is given away to a man she believes is the great love God has destined for her. With unwavering faith and a heart full of hope, she steps into what she thinks is her wedding, only to be humiliated when she discovers the truth. The man she was promised to is marrying someone else. Shattered and alone, she flees into the unknown, desperate for refuge. That’s when she crosses paths with Luciano Salvatore. To her innocent eyes, he seems like a savior. But Araceli has unknowingly walked straight into the arms of the devil himself. And the devil has no intention of letting her go. What started as a mere intrigue grows into a deep desire and dark obsession that makes a man go mad and go to insane lengths to keep his little saint by him.
Lihat lebih banyakThe scent of warm bread and simmering broth filled the small kitchen, wrapping Araceli in a familiar comfort. She perched on the edge of an old wooden chair, her hands folded neatly in her lap as she watched Mrs. Maggie bustle about the stove. The older woman, round and sturdy, moved with ease in the kitchen, ladling a thick stew into a large container.
“You don’t eat enough, child,” Mrs. Maggie chided without turning around. “You’re all skin and bones. What good is faith if you don’t have the strength to carry it?” Araceli smiled faintly, tracing a finger over the lace trim of her skirt. “I eat just fine, Mrs. Maggie. But thank you for the food. I know you don’t have to—” “Nonsense.” Mrs. Maggie turned, waving her wooden spoon. “What kind of Christian woman would I be if I let you starve?” Across the room, Mrs. Maggie’s grandchildren sat on the rug, giggling as they flipped through their picture books. A battered, well-loved copy of Cinderella. The cover was faded, the edges curling, but she knew every page by heart. She hesitated before asking, her voice soft. “Mrs. Maggie… would it be alright if I took the Cinderella book again? Just for tonight?” “What do you need the book for? You should be able to recite every word by heart’’ Mrs. Maggie teased, eyeing her with a knowing smile. “Still dreaming of a prince, are you?” Araceli laughed, though her cheeks burned. “I just… I like how he saves her. How he takes her away from all her troubles.” she admitted. The older woman let out a hearty chuckle. “You have a good heart, child. One day, I reckon your prince will come. A good man, God-fearing, and kind.” Araceli clutched the book against her chest, warmth spreading through her. She hope for nothing more than to find her prince someday. Someone gentle, someone who saw her heart. So she would have a taste of the love she read about before it was too late. She thanked Mrs. Maggie again, gathered the food, and stepped out into the cool evening air, the book pressed close to her side as she made her way to the home she shared with Father Ambrose. *** Father Ambrose’s fingers twitched as he fumbled with the buttons on his shirt, sweat pooling at his collar. Across from him, Nico leaned back against the worn couch, his sharp gaze studying the desperate man before him. “I’ve given you enough time,” Nico said coolly. “It’s time to pay up.” Ambrose swallowed hard. “Please, just a little longer. I swear, I—I just need a little more time.” Nico exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “I don’t know why I’ve had a soft spot for you, Ambrose, but it’s starting to harden.” He leaned forward, his voice lowering to a near whisper. “Next time I come, I won’t be asking. I’ll be burying a bullet in the side of your damn face” Ambrose’s mind raced, he knew the type of family Nico came from and that he wasn’t making empty threats. He searched his mind for anything of value that he had to offer to Nico that could stall his impending death. And then, something clicked. “What if… what if I give you a girl?” Nico’s brows lifted slightly. “Do you think I’m some kind of pimp” he spat. “Not—not like that,” Ambrose stammered. “I mean, she could… she could keep you company. While I get the money together. She’s young. Beautiful. Sweet as anything. She’d be… useful.” Nico gave him a long, unimpressed look. “Like I said, don’t run a brothel, Ambrose.” “No, no, of course not,” Ambrose rushed out. “But she’s obedient. She listens. A good girl, you know? You could settle the debt with her, at least for a little while.” For a moment, Nico seemed ready to dismiss the idea outright. And then, just as he opened his mouth the door creaked open as well. Araceli stepped inside, pausing when she saw the unfamiliar man. Nico’s gaze flicked to her, assessing, appraising. She was small, delicate almost, with wide ocean-colored eyes, curious eyes that flitted between him and Ambrose. “Hello,” she greeted politely, her voice barely above a whisper as she took in the sight before her. Father Ambrose only got visitors when people from the church wanted special intercession prayers but this didn’t look like a prayer session to her. Nico turned back to Ambrose, a smirk curling his lips. “This her?” Ambrose straightened. “She’s the one.” Araceli frowned. “W…What’s going on?” Ambrose forced a smile. “Go to your room, sweetheart. Start packing a bag.” Her confusion deepened. “Packing? For what?” “Just do it,” he said quickly. “I’ll explain later.” Still puzzled, she nodded and disappeared down the hall. Araceli’s hands trembled slightly as she folded her dresses into a small satchel. From the other room, she could hear Ambrose’s low voice, but the words were muffled. Something about the situation felt… odd. When Ambrose entered, she turned to him. “Who was that man?” A slow, almost wistful smile spread across his face. “That, my dear, is the man God has chosen for you.” She blinked. “What?” “Your husband,” Ambrose said smoothly. “The love of your life.” Her breath caught. Her husband? She glanced down at the worn Cinderella book beside her bag. Prince Charming. “God has sent him to you,” Ambrose continued, his voice thick with conviction. “Remember how I always told you God would reveal the man you were to love to me. Well, that’s him. This is a test, child. Like Job in his suffering, you must prove your faith. His heart is hardened now, but you must soften it. Serve him. Obey him. And soon, he will love you as you deserve.” Her heart fluttered, equal parts excitement and anticipation. She had dreamed of this moment for so long. A love story written by fate, blessed by God Himself. This is what she’d always been waiting for since the day she told Father Ambrose about her dream of falling in love and he told her that he’d be the one to reveal her dream man to him as God would lead him. And now, her prince was finally here. But something bothered her. Why had her prince been so dismissive? “Why didn’t he say anything to me?” she asked hesitantly. Ambrose’s smile didn’t falter. “He’s testing you, like I said, my dear. The way all men do. But if you are patient, if you obey, soon he will cherish you.” Araceli nodded slowly, mentally scolding herself for having slight doubts. This was God’s plan, who was she to question her heavenly father? Ambrose brushed her hair from her face, his touch almost fatherly. “Now, be a good girl. Don’t give him trouble. Don’t ask too many questions. And—most importantly—don’t bring up marriage. That will come in time, I promise you. You will stay with him from now on and I'll go on a long trip so we might not see each other for a long time. Peace be unto you, my child.” Her lips parted in protest, but he had already gone to the main room. Back in the main room, Ambrose spoke in hushed tones to Nico. “She might bring up marriage,” he warned. Nico raised a brow. “Marriage?” “Just go along with it,” Ambrose insisted. “She’s fixated on… certain things. Like falling in love and marriage and all of that.” Nico rolled his eyes, exhaling sharply. “Whatever. As long as she can make me feel good, I don’t care what little role play she’s into.” Inside her small room, Araceli clasped a delicate chain between her fingers. It was a small necklace with a stunning Venus diamond pendant that seemed to glow in the darkness. Ambrose had given her long ago. She had never worn it, always fearing vanity, and remembering his teachings against loving material things. But she always felt that it was more than just a material possession. She felt drawn to the shape and the glow of the jewel and every edge of it. Plus it was the only gift Father Ambrose had ever given to her. Excitedly, she slipped it into her bag and smiled. It would be her wedding necklace. A special jewel for a special occasion. Her heart swelled with anticipation as she grabbed her bag and stepped back into the living room. Nico was waiting. Her prince had actually come for her. But something unsettled her and she turned to Father Ambrose to ask why he was going on such a long trip but before she could he rushed her out. “Okay goodbye child and God’s mercy be upon you,” he said almost dismissively. “Come on Let's go” Nico huffed, his tone bordering on impatience. Araceli expected a more heartfelt goodbye from Father Ambrose. She wanted to thank him for raising her all her life even though he wasn’t her biological father. She also wanted to say goodbye to Mrs. Maggie and her grandkids but before she could register or react, she was practically pushed into Nico’s black SUV. Behind her, Ambrose wasted no time. He gathered what little he could carry, shoving money, clothes, and documents into a bag. He had no intention of staying when he couldn’t possibly come up with Nico’s money. He needed to get out of the town fast. “May God help that child” he said as he shook his head and locked the door to his house that he never planned on returning to.After her failed escape plan, three days of sin with Luciano, and the humiliating encounter with Nico, Araceli had hoped today the rest of the day would bring her some semblance of peace but it didn’t. From the moment she left that living room, she felt like she was walking on pins and needles. Her body ached in places she didn’t want to think about, and her mind was still caught in the swirl of pain, guilt, and quiet panic. She tried to distract herself by spending more time than usual with Gianna, who always managed to lift her spirits, but even that felt… hollow. Her laugh came out wrong. Her responses felt stiff. None of her jokes hit.Because she knew that come night time there would be no escape. Luciano would come for her. And he had warned her, clearly, what would happen if she disobeyed.By afternoon, she was floating around the house like a ghost would, distant and silent. She found herself in the kitchen, wiping down already clean counters while Paula and Roberta chatted
Everyone likened him to the devil. But he had to have God-like self-control to restrain himself the way he had.Luciano clenched the steering wheel, jaw tight as the city blurred past the windows. The fact that he hadn’t fucked Araceli in that hotel suite still gnawed at him even as he drove them back to the estate. All three nights she’d been there, vulnerable and broken, and yet he hadn’t done it.It was really godlike restraint. Or something damn close. He had told her to sit in the back seat as if that would help anything. As though distance could cleanse his thoughts. Much to her delight, she’d obeyed.He noticed that she was off. Quieter and more fragile looking than usual. The unconsciousness still haunted him. He told himself it was just her sensitivity and that her body was too delicate for the intensity of what they’d done. He’d have to break her in more before anything real could happen.Still, the memory of her moans, the sight of her trembling body, stirred something viol
A couple hours later, Luciano was already halfway back to the hotel, one hand on the wheel, the other resting on the open window frame. The wind dragged through his hair.His phone buzzed on the dash, Donenico was calling him. Releasing a frustrated sigh, he swiped to answer.“Did I not tell you about the dinner with the Hastings?” his father snapped, voice like gravel.Luciano’s smile curled lazily. “And did I not tell you I wasn’t going to attend?”“This is your last warning, Luciano.” There was a pause heavy with threat. “Take me seriously or there will be serious consequences.”Luciano sighed theatrically. “Oh no. I’m shaking already, Father. Please don’t threaten me like that—I’m driving. You could cause a serious accident.”A hissed breath on the other end. Domenico was seething. Luciano could practically see his face turning red, veins bulging, his perfectly round head resembling a flushed tomato.“Don’t forget to breathe, Father,” Luciano murmured with mock concern. “Anger’s n
Luciano stepped out of the shower, toweling his hair dry, the cool air of the suite prickling his skin. He glanced around the room. His jaw tightened when he noticed it was empty.There was a strange twist in his gut when her absence regained. It wasn’t anger or annoyance. Rather it was something sharper that bordered on panic. He didn’t like it. Not one bit.He scanned the space but found nothing disturbed, no broken windows, no open doors. Then his gaze landed on the second bathroom. The door was closed.He crossed the room in three strides, knocking hard once, twice. “Araceli.”There was no answer. He banged the door louder but still no response. He growled under his breath, something dark and unfamiliar crawling up his throat. “Open the door.”The silence mocked him and his patience snapped. With one powerful shove, he threw his weight into it. The door cracked, resisted, then gave in with a violent splinter of wood and hinges. It slammed against the wall with a hollow crash.He s
“Keep touching it,” Luciano said, voice low and strained, eyes burning into her.Araceli stared at it rigid. The thing between his legs stood upright across his abdomen, thick and flushed, like some strange, burning branch growing where no branch should. It reminded her of a large, veiny pepperoni, angry red, heavy-looking, throbbing with life.She swallowed, bile rising in her throat.“I said,” he repeated, dragging her gaze up to his face, “keep touching it.”Her hand hovered uncertainly in the space between them. She flinched as his fingers wrapped around hers, guiding her forward. She touched it lightly, then immediately pulled back with a startled yelp.“It’s hot,” she said, horror flickering in her voice. “I don’t know what to do.”Luciano’s jaw flexed. He looked down at himself, then back at her, groaning in irritation. “Just move your hand on it. It’s not complicated.”But Araceli was shaking her head now, lips trembling. “No. I—I don’t want to.”Silence thickened between them
The Golden Astoria. That was the name etched in gold against obsidian glass, the name talked about with reverence by the elite, the powerful, the untouchable. Celebrities, royals, oil barons, and politicians passed through its hallowed halls. But none more feared than Luciano Salvatore.Araceli had only heard of the hotel through gossip from Paula. But now, she was about to be dragged toward its gates.They would be staying in his private suite. The presidential suite, tailored for someone who ruled more than a country. And the moment he said it, every hair on her body had risen in alarm.Luciano had already stepped out of the car, his door slamming shut with finality, but she stayed frozen in place, her hand trembling on the handle. When she didn’t move, he opened her door himself, reached in, and dragged her out like she weighed nothing.“No,” she whispered, stumbling in her heels. “I’m not going anywhere with you—”He yanked her against him with force. Her front collided with his h
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