LOGINShock flickered across her face. She looked at her parents, then at Vittorio. His brows knitted into a frown as he intervened, “Can’t you see that his hand is injured?”Carina nodded stiffly and slipped the ring onto her own finger.Then she picked up the man’s ring and held it out to him.Cristiano extended his palm without looking at her. “I’ll wear it later.”Carina stared at him, disbelief tightening her expression, before she slowly placed the ring into his blood-smeared hand.“That’s enough,” Cristiano said, his voice cold and final. “The engagement is over. Everyone can leave.”And with that, he turned and walked out of the hall—authoritative, unyielding—leaving behind stunned faces and a room thick with confusion.Vittorio quickly stepped in, forcing a composed smile. “His mood is… unstable today. He’ll be fine later.”Soraya gasped as Cristiano passed her. Anger still burned in her chest over what he had done to Siena—but seeing blood streaking down her son’s knuckles pier
Despite everything—despite the lies, the manipulation, the cruelty—she could feel nothing from him but love and longing.And he kept denying it.Her strength finally gave out.“Please… end this,” she pleaded, exhaustion seeping into every word. “I’m tired. I can’t bear it anymore.”Cristiano exhaled slowly, a quiet sigh heavy with restraint.“Doll,” he said, his voice edged with steel, though his hand lingered on her back, trying to steady her trembling. “I’ll admit… I’ve grown used to you. But habits can be broken.” His gaze darkened, sharp and unyielding. “And people… they can be replaced. Easily,” he said, his tone expertly cold, practiced.“So accept it,” he continued. “I only love power. I don’t want you anymore.”Yet no matter how cold his voice sounded, his hand wiped her tears from her cheeks and smoothed her hair. He couldn’t bear her pain.He was supposed to hurt her, to maintain the act—but she was right. He couldn’t bear to see her in pain. The dilemma he carried—the war
Cristiano stiffened. Just for a fraction of a second—but she saw it. The sharp clench of his jaw. The flash of fear that crossed his eyes before he could bury it beneath indifference.Siena smiled weakly.Such a liar.He claimed he didn’t love her, yet here he was—afraid. Afraid of losing her.A bitter satisfaction mixed with the ache in her chest. If he could lie to her so easily, make her cry like this, then he deserved to feel this fear. She just closed her eyes as her finger tightened slowly on the trigger.Cristiano moved before the shot could ever happen.The gun was ripped from her hand in one swift, violent motion, now trapped in his steely grip as if he would never release it. He crushed her against his chest, his arms locking around her like iron, leaving her no space to move.“What do you think you’re doing, doll?” he snarled, fury reverberating through his voice as he held her tight.“Let me go!” she sobbed, thrashing against him, fists pounding uselessly against his chest
“No,” she said instantly, without hesitation. “I won’t leave you.”Cristiano’s gaze hardened further, his jaw tightening.“It’s you and me,” she continued, her gaze remaining locked onto his face the whole time, her voice trembling yet unyielding. “We’ll leave all of this behind—everything. Just take me away from here.”Tears slipped down her cheeks as she stepped closer, her hands clutching his jacket as though letting go would break her completely. “I don’t care where we go. I don’t care how we live—as long as I’m with you.”Her breath hitched. “Let’s run away. Leave this world of blood and revenge behind.”She looked up at him, eyes shining with fragile hope. “Just… just you and me.”For a moment, there was silence. Then his voice cut through her hope like a blade.“Enough,” he said flatly. “I’m not leaving this. This is everything I’ve ever wanted, and now I’m claiming it all. I don’t want you. If you can’t accept that, that’s your problem.”He leaned closer, his eyes devoid of
Siena stood frozen, breathing heavily, her eyes locked on her husband. Cristiano remained unmoved—cold, distant—never sparing her even a single glance.The rings were presented to Cristiano and Carina. Carina turned deliberately toward Siena, a smug smile curving her lips.Something inside Siena burned. It felt as though everything she had—her love, her marriage, her very existence—was being ripped away from her in front of the world.Cristiano picked up the ring from the tray. He reached for Carina’s hand and began to slide it onto her finger.“No!” Siena cried out, shaking her head violently.She yanked her hand free from Elena’s grasp and rushed toward the center. Pushing Carina away from her husband, she broke the moment apart. The ring—only halfway on—slipped from Cristiano’s fingers and clattered to the floor.“Siena!” Vittorio barked angrily. “Stay where you are and stand quietly!”“No, I won’t!” she shouted back, her voice trembling with fury and heartbreak. She turned to Cris
Today felt different from the others. The mansion was unusually busy—servants moving quickly, voices echoing through the halls, everyone dressed in their finest. Siena, too, was told to get ready. Elena personally made sure her hair was done and her makeup flawless.No matter how many times Siena asked, Elena refused to explain the occasion. “Just a party,” was all she said.Siena felt a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation. She hadn’t stepped outside the mansion for two weeks—confined there on Cristiano’s orders—and the thought of finally leaving those walls made her heart flutter.She hadn’t seen Riya or Anna in so long. They had called her a few times, but each time Siena made excuses, claiming something urgent had come up at home and that she wouldn’t be attending college for a while. She avoided telling them the truth. It was too twisted, too complicated. Her marriage, the reasons behind it, and everything unfolding in her life were far from normal. She didn’t know how to







