"What if I don't?" I continued to laugh, knowing that Marco didn't like that. He turned to face me, and I stopped laughing when I saw the serious expression on his face, like a storm was brewing."If you don't, I'm going to f**k you until you forget about the annulment, and the only thing on your mind is me inside you, and how I'll make you sore. How you'll scream and moan my name while you c*m on my c**k. I'll f**k you so hard, you won't be able to walk tomorrow."At first, I was surprised by what he said, but in the end, I smiled at him seductively.I approached his ear and whispered, "Go on, Marco. F**k me all you want until I forget that I ever wanted to leave you." I grabbed his crotch. I could feel his body tensing up, so I moved away.I bit my lip playfully before winking at him, relishing in the reaction that followed. Then, I sauntered away, unable to contain my laughter when I heard him groan.Spending time with Marco's cousins and their partners brought me immense joy. Inte
I couldn't help but fixate on the woman holding onto Marco, who eventually moved away from her and came closer to me. Despite his attempt to conceal it, I could discern a smile from him. Sadly, I couldn't muster the strength to reciprocate. My focus remained on the woman, who appeared to be studying me in return. Who was she? I yearned to inquire about her identity, but revealing my jealousy to everyone was not an option.Marco touched my elbow, successfully diverting my attention. I turned to him, arching an eyebrow. "What brings you here, Maddie?" I desired to reprimand him for his calm demeanor, but a tinge of bitterness colored my words."Sir, Ma'am Maddie called earlier," the secretary interjected. "I couldn't inform you right away as you were engrossed in conversation with Architect Heleina."Heleina, huh? That's her name, and she's an architect.I observed Marco in silence, my gaze fixed upon him. Heleina approached us with a warm smile, seemingly ignorant of her earlier snub t
After bidding Marco farewell, our plans for dessert were abruptly halted when Penelope called him, notifying him of a 1:30 meeting. Wishing not to disrupt Marco's work, I hurriedly exchanged goodbyes.Seeking a moment to refresh, I retreated to the restroom. Renzo had already departed for the parking lot and planned to wait for me there. Fortunately, being in Marco's secure building instilled a sense of safety, even though I found myself alone.Candidly, I paid little attention to the door swinging open, assuming it was an unrecognizable individual passing through. However, a distinct voice penetrated the air, causing me to momentarily pause in my lipstick application."Madison Arellano, isn't it?" The woman I had encountered earlier addressed me, her voice embodying familiarity. Though I refrained from turning around immediately, instead, I observed her presence through the mirror's reflection.I anxiously awaited her next words, sensing an air of unease in her manner. The absence of
Once Renzo had left, leaving just the two of us, I couldn't resist playfully pinching my sister's side. Her gaze, once filled with longing for Renzo, was now directed at me."Ouch, Sis! That actually hurt!" she protested, rubbing her side.Deep down, I knew there was more to Violet's visit than just my company."What's the real reason you're here, Violet? I have a feeling it's not solely about me."Sniffling, she glanced around nervously before tugging me towards the living room where we settled onto the sofa."Sis, it's about Renzo..." Her voice trailed off.I closed my eyes briefly, already understanding what her gaze had meant earlier.I offered her an empathetic smile. "Do you think he might have a girlfriend? And even if he doesn't, the age gap between you two is quite significant. Don't get your hopes up, Violet. Renzo is even older than me. He and Marco are practically the same age, just a few years apart.""Age is irrelevant, Sis!" She playfully nudged me. "Come on, lend me a
In recent days, I bore witness to my sister's endless pursuit of Renzo, and it was a spectacle that left me suspicious. Often, I would simply shake my head, unable to understand her behavior, and there were moments when I wished I could just close my eyes and spare myself the embarrassment of watching it unfold. Have you ever experienced secondhand embarrassment? It's that weird sensation where you feel the humiliation of someone else's actions, even though you were not the one responsible. That's precisely what I felt whenever Violet engaged in her attention-seeking antics in Renzo's presence.On one particular day, as I returned home from work, I found Violet slumped on the sofa, her face filled with dejection. She had been persistently pestering Renzo earlier, but now she seemed utterly defeated. Concern washed over me, and I swiftly took a seat beside her.Regardless of her misguided actions, I couldn't bear to witness Violet in such despair. It was as if her sadness reached beyon
Lucille had been discharged from the hospital, but her recovery demanded more rest. Both Marco and I eagerly wished for Lucille's complete recovery before she went back from her duties, so I shared his sentiments. It was important to ensure her well-being.Now, I found myself at the mall, fulfilling shopping obligations. Though I could have easily given these errands to the housemaids, I took the opportunity to tackle them myself, especially tasks of this nature. Shopping gives me the peace that I need right now."Renzo," I called out, asking for his help. Marco wasn't by my side, as he was abroad attending to Marcello and engaging in business endeavors. Rumors circulated that they were forging an alliance with the Grimaldi family from the Sicilian Mafia, and I trusted they were negotiating diligently.I've gained a deep understanding of their organizational dynamics. Marco emphasized the strategic advantage of forging alliances with different countries. Although I'm aware of their al
As I searched for my staff, urgency tinged my every move. Failing to locate them promptly, I snatched the car keys, taking matters into my own hands. One of Marco's cars became my vehicle of choice.Observing my hurried driving, the house guard swiftly swung open the gate, his face a picture of astonishment. Yet, I brushed it off, too preoccupied for notice.With haste, I raced toward our residence, my heart pounding in sync with my accelerating car. Parking carelessly, I sprang out, eager to enter our house.The gate stood ajar, and an eerie calmness blanketed the surroundings. Ignoring any sense of sign, I swiftly crossed the threshold, ready to face whatever awaited me.The surroundings were dark, and there were no lights on. I called for helpers, but no one answered."Violet?" I called for my younger sister.I called her name several times until I heard Violet's voice."S-Sis, we're in the kitchen."Her voice was weak, and it was clear she was crying. I immediately went there, rea
"I am Ronan Lombardi, the last remaining heir of the Lombardi family—the one your husband annihilated. I am also the inheritor of the organization where your mother dedicated her life, and where you reluctantly pledged your service." He stooped down to my eye level, caressing my hair and coercing me to meet his gaze. "Maddie, your loyalty should rightfully belong to me, not your husband. I am the master, and your mother entrusted your life to our cause."My teeth clenched, confirming my instincts. Despite Marco's claims of wiping out the entire Lombardi clan, there was indeed one survivor—the heir, Ronan.Tightening my fist, I regretted not voicing my doubts to Marco that fateful night. Maybe, if I had, he would have taken precautions to ensure the annihilation of every last Lombardi, leaving no room for survivors.My thoughts came to a halt as Ronan slowly raised his hand towards the mask covering half of his face. He gently caressed it for a moment before slowly removing it.My eyes
I gave Violet a look. Really? Was now seriously the time for jokes?Renzo cleared his throat, probably trying to move past her comment. “We jumped into the river on purpose,” he said. “We knew the current would carry us. I can swim, so it wasn’t a big risk. Lucille and her crew just assumed we drowned. They never checked. That was part of the plan—to throw them off and keep them guessing. They weren’t even sure if we’d been taken out by the Morettis. Gabriele was waiting for us downstream. That’s how we made our final escape.”I glanced over at Caleb, expecting he’d want to chime in now that everyone else had spoken.“I didn’t do much,” he said with a grin. “Mostly just cursed a lot, Ma’am.”
Gabriele let out a quiet laugh at Marco’s compliment. “Wow, high praise coming from the great Marcantonio Moretti,” he said with a smirk. “But let’s not forget—it was my sister’s research that made this all possible. Her magical science stuff is what got us here. Honestly, Marco, we should turn this into a business. People would be lining up for it.”As we walked down the hallway, we finally stopped in front of a large, impressive-looking door. Gabriele opened it and gestured for Marco to go in first, followed by his guys. I hesitated a little, staying at the back, taking it all in with a mix of nerves and curiosity.“Marco, where are we?” I asked quietly, reaching for his hand without even thinking.We walked in a
“Mason,” I muttered under my breath, barely loud enough to hear myself. The name triggered a flood of memories—he was Violet’s new driver, the one involved in my kidnapping. Ronan had used him as a pawn. But now? Everything was flipping upside down.“You!” Lucille snapped, her voice sharp with rage. “Aren’t you one of Ronan’s goons?”Mason gave a tired but sly smile. “Yeah, I was. Ronan tested my loyalty by having me help capture Ma’am Maddie. That’s when Sir Marco stepped in.”We all froze. Marco? What was going on?Mason kept going, his tone more serious now. “Sir Marco suspected there was a traitor in your circle. He needed proof. So he sent me undercover into Violet’s house to keep an eye on things. But you, Lucille… You never let me get close enough. You always met with Violet in private, and I couldn’t figure out where your loyalty really stood.”The room went quiet, the air thick with tension. It was like the curtain had just been pulled back on a much bigger game than any of u
“Hold on a second,” I said, trying to wrap my head around everything. “You’re telling me the Morettis raised you, but your real parents were part of the Lombardi family—the same family they annihilate?”Lucille gave a slow nod, her eyes sharp but faraway. “Yeah. I was just a kid when it happened. They let me live, not realizing who I really was. They thought they could raise me as one of their own, but they didn’t know I carried Lombardi blood.”My stomach twisted. Lucille—someone I trusted—had been deceiving us all along. She knew everything about our movements. She’d been feeding info to Ronan right under our noses.“They made me believe my parents were evil, that they deserved to die. They brainwashed me, twisted everything. But when I met Ronan… everything changed. It triggered something. I remembered—really remembered—watching the Morettis kill my parents in cold blood. I was just a kid.”I stared at her, piecing it all together. She wasn’t talking about the Morettis as foster pa
“I don’t know,” I said, hesitating. “Lately, I’ve felt like I’ve just been a distraction—like I’ve been holding you back. You used to be so focused before we got married, even before you told me how you felt. Sometimes it feels like I pulled you into my chaos.” I pulled back slightly from his embrace but still held him close. “But I don’t regret marrying you, Marco. Not for a second. I just hope you feel the same. And if there’s anything I can do to help, just say the word. I want to be someone you lean on, not someone you have to carry. A lot of people are counting on your decisions, and I’ll always have your back. I’m not that same Maddie who used to second-guess you. I get it now—what your life really entails. And if you ever feel like you need a little space because I’m stepping on your toes... well, I’ll try not to take it personally.” I gave a weak laugh, trying to lighten the mood, but it didn’t quite land.Marco just looked at me, and I ended up laughing a little at myself, try
“Don’t get me wrong—I don’t think you’re a bad influence on my cousin. Actually, I’m glad you bring him to life and help him feel things more deeply. But with that comes a downside: Marco gets distracted from his responsibilities. I get it—I go through the same thing with Elmira. Whenever someone brings her up, I lose focus. The difference is, I’m just his advisor. Marco’s the boss. He’s the one holding everything together. And when you’re in danger, he can’t think straight. You’re both his greatest strength and his biggest weakness. His whole world revolves around you. So if you’ve been feeling like he’s more distant lately, you’re not imagining it.”Marcello stood up, watching me closely to see how I’d react. I hadn’t said a word yet, still trying to process everything he’d told me. Was I too obviously upset about Marco trying to send me away before?“I just want you to understand how much pressure Marco’s under. Being married to him means living in a world full of danger. I hope you
Marco handed the gun to one of his men before walking in my direction. He paused briefly when he faced Caleb."Why did you bring her here?" Marco asked in a stern and chilling tone."She wanted to know where you were," Caleb replied casually.Marco walked directly toward me. He grasped my arm and pulled me out. He closed the door behind us, cutting off my view of the people they were tormenting. I looked at him and was met with the cold gaze of his eyes.It had been a while since he had looked at me this way, and seeing it again now made me feel uneasy."Go home, Maddie. I'll have someone take you back," he said."No," I regained my composure when I heard Marco's voice. His manner of looking at me hadn't changed. "I haven't seen you at home. I'm not even sure if you're still coming home. That's why I went to Caleb to find out where you were. Who are the men inside? What are you doing to them?"Marco hesitated, clearly restraining himself from saying something. Eventually, he closed hi
We arranged a proper burial for my sister and for Renzo, even though his body hadn't been found yet. It was extremely private, with only the three of us present. Aunt Mildred sobbed uncontrollably and couldn't accept Violet's fate. I, too, was running out of tears from all the crying while they were being laid to rest in the ground. I couldn't help but recall all the happy memories I had with her."Sis, I can't sleep. Can I stay here?""Sis, why does Dad hurt you like this? It shouldn't be like that. If I could take away the pain you're feeling right now, I would.""Sis, I'm happy that you're my sister. You're two in one, you know! I have a sister and a best friend in you.""You know, Sis, if I were given a choice of who I'd want as my sister, I'd choose you every time. I love you, Sis!"Tears flowed even more as I remembered those moments. I knew that their memories would stay with me, but I would never hear Violet's voice again.Half of my being felt like it died when Violet passed
Marco's embrace tightened, causing me to lift my gaze and meet his intense expression.At first, I believed Marco was indifferent to the situation, but now I see my assumptions were mistaken. He was undeniably affected by it all; he simply concealed his emotions.Eventually, we returned home, leaving Caleb behind to lead the squad in the search for the Lombardis. I overheard Marco conversing with his father, entrusting him with the responsibility of managing the company during his absence.We reached our home, where the household staff kindly assisted me in freshening up since I was physically unable to do it myself. Once I was left alone, I found it impossible to function, overwhelmed by a deep sense of weakness. The realization that Violet was no longer part of our lives seemed incomprehensible, refusing to fully register in my mind.I lay on the bed, silently sobbing. No matter how desperately I wished to stop, every recollection of Violet's last words brought forth uncontrollable t