Luca woke up the next morning feeling like a man drowning in silence. The air in Bianca’s room was stale, Cold and heavy. He blinked, trying to clear the fog from his head, then sat up slowly. The thin bedsheet fell from his chest. His boxers was wet and squeezed. Bianca lay beside him with her back turned, pretending to sleep, but her smile betrayed her. She stood by the edge of the bed, her towel clutched tightly against her damp skin, her eyes blazing with a storm she could no longer contain. "Was I not beautiful enough for you, Luca?" she asked, voice cracking under the weight of her frustration. "Before you married her, I was your favorite—your escape. You used to call me your sweetest sin… aside from the other side chicks, at least." Her lips curled with bitterness, it was the hurt in her voice that struck the room silent. "But since your wedding, you've treated me like filth, Like I disgust you. What does Alessia have that I don’t?"..... Her voice was so
The cold wind of Virenkai swirled around Donato's unconscious body like a snake curling for a final strike. Enzo stood tall, staring down at him. Unmoving, bleeding, and powerless. A slow, sinister smile formed on Enzo’s lips as he knelt beside Donato. His fingers reached out and brushed the blood-streaked shirt, then carefully slid the black book from under his chest. "Who's the master now?" Enzo said. He rose, flipping the book once in his hand, fingers tracing the forbidden emblem on the cover like it was a trophy. "Who's the most wanted now, huh?" His voice cracked with cruel excitement. “I’ll be the legend they never saw coming.” With a quick glance around the forest shadows, Enzo made a sharp U-turn, disappearing into the darkness like a coward running with the crown. ****** Luca’s car swerved briefly as pain stabbed sharply into his chest. He slammed the brake, pulling over near a quiet gas station under the pouring rain. His hand instinctively flew to his
Luca’s phone buzzed once again He picked it up casually, but what he saw next made his fingers tighten around the device. A video had been sent. No sender name. No number. Just a single media file. He tapped on it. The screen came alive with the image of a dimly lit room. A small boy, frail and frightened, stared straight into the camera. His eyes streamed with tears, lips trembling as he whispered one word that cleaved through Luca’s chest like a blade. “Papa… papa…” Then darkness. The video cut off in an instant, leaving only silence and the white-hot fury boiling beneath Luca’s skin. His jaw locked. Beside him, Bianca shifted. “So… Donato has a son?” Her voice was soft but edged with ill-timed curiosity, nosy and sharp. Luca didn’t answer. A second notification pinged. This time, a message. Short. Cold. Final. Come alone. Bring the black book. No weapons. No men. No cops. This is the only negotiation. Not cash. Not diamonds. Only the black book. Bianca leaned in, b
Donato dropped to one knee before the king, head bowed in respect. “Rise,” the king said, his voice deep and calm. “You have served us well, Donato Morano. Both with your loyalty and your discretion.” Donato stood, meeting the king’s gaze. “It was an honor.” The king nodded. “A man of few words. Just like your father.” Then, with a gesture, he called forth a servant who approached with a small wooden box, polished and heavy-looking. The king opened it and turned it towards Donato. “Gold,” he said simply. “A token of appreciation. Nothing compared to what lies ahead for you, but still earned.” Donato accepted the box with a slight bow. “Thank you, Your Majesty.” “Now,” the king added, a hint of seriousness returning to his tone, “follow me.” Donato’s heart raced, not from fear but anticipation. They walked through the ancient corridor of the castle until they reached a black iron door. No handles. No keyhole. Just a shimmering panel with numbers. The king stepped forwa
Alessia took a step back. Her heart pounded, not from longing but from disbelief. Lorenzo was standing right in front of her, looking as alive as ever. The man she had once loved. The man she believed had died… or tried to kill her. "Lorenzo..." she breathed, stunned. His lips spread into a relieved smile, as though just the sight of her revived something inside him. "Alessia. My God. I knew I wasn't hallucinating. It's really you..." He stepped forward, reaching for her, but Alessia tensed, frozen in place. "I have missed you and we have to leave now, your beast and his men shot me that day, I have been on coma and I'm just recovery. Alessia let's elope now" he whispered urgently, his voice trembling with suppressed emotion. "You don’t belong here with that beast. I’ll take you far away. Tonight. Let’s go now—before he finds you." Alessia blinked, her voice hardening. "No, Lorenzo. I’m married now. And my husband doesn’t tolerate such disrespect." Lorenzo paused
Donato Morano stepped into the hall with deliberate calm. His tailored suit blended into the elegance of the room, but his mind raced beneath the still exterior. Princess Elowen followed a few steps behind, her long gown whispering against the polished floor, Seated upon the crescent-shaped throne was The king -princess Elowen’s father, his silver eyes scanning Donato with the precision of a predator. Around them, high-ranking nobles sat quietly, cloaked in robes and silence. The king’s voice broke the hush. “You’ve been in Virenkai for nearly three weeks, Donato Morano. Tell us. What progress have you made?” Donato bowed slightly. “I’m close, Your Majesty. The corrupted security algorithms are being rebuilt. Your financial systems have been restructured, and artificial intelligence integration is stabilizing. Within a week, your economy will return to full strength.” Murmurs rippled across the chamber.The King leaned back, the ghost of a smile gracing his lips. “You have d