‘He’s giving me his card to go shopping?! Why the heck would he do that?’ I gawked at the card in his hand. “I said this is for your shopping. You can spend as much money as you like.” Dante held it closer to my face, urging me to take it. “I know what you said but I’m sorry. I can’t accept this.” I refused and gently pushed his hand away. “Why?” He tilted his head to the side. “Do you want me to transfer the money to your account instead? How much do you need?” ‘No, I don’t want you to transfer anything to my account because I don’t want you to pay. You don’t just give anybody a card with unlimited money to go shopping for themselves. We might be friends, but this is just too much.’ I wanted to say. I swore the man just enjoyed lavishing his money on me. I couldn’t begin to count all the expensive gifts I had received from him. I thought those were bad, but this was just the peak of it all. “I have my own money to do my own shopping; that’s why.” My lips pressed into a thin line

“I suspected something like this would happen, and I hoped you would use your head, but I should have known better. Do you seriously think Dante would fall in love with you? Is that what the love talk was about? Because he asked you to be his date to the gala you think there might be a slight chance that he has a crush on you or something. Shi.t, you’re more delulu than I thought. He taking you as a mistress, or fu.ck buddy or friend with benefit is something I could see happening, but falling in love with you? Whatever you’re smoking is really strong.”Alice’s gaze were harsh and judgmental and I shrank into the soft leather chair. I felt like a silly, stupid girl who was scolded by her mother for acting like a fool in public. I just wanted to hide under my blanket, away from the conversation we were having.“Listen and listen well, Olivia. I’m talking to you as your best friend. He’s on a whole different level from you. You’re not worth a bit of his attention. So get your head out o

Time seemed to move in slow motion as panic exploded around like a bomb.There was screaming, there was running, there was fear. The whole packing lot was thrown into a frenzy; people scampered to hide themselves from being hit. I just stood, frozen in my spot despite the uproar; my breathing was ragged, as if I were afraid that even just breathing would cause another bullet to fly.My wide eyes lifted to the direction I thought I heard the gunshot from and met a tall, lanky man dressed in black from head to toe, standing in like an angel of death in the middle of the chaos, unfazed by it. His steel gaze was locked on me, as scary as the gun pointed my way.*Bang bang*Two more shots were fired, and I didn’t need to turn to know two bullets were racing towards me with only one intent: to kill me. The first time I was shot at my former apartment, Dante said my attacker had only meant to scare me, but deep down, I knew this time, the situation was different. They didn’t want to give me

“Um… so what’s the time?” I blurted, not knowing how to say the things on my mind. It was at the tip of my tongue, begging to go out but I felt like going straight to the point just didn’t seem right. I couldn’t just blurt out 'hey, sorry your driver almost got killed. It’s my fault because I didn’t tell you your ex-girl friend sent me threatening message about killing me and our sons.’ It sounded too cringy in my head and I was certain it would sound more cringy when I said it. “Four minutes past two,” Dante said, showing me his phone, and my lips curled into a small smile at his lock screen. It was a picture of us— our sons, he and me. A big, happy family that wouldn’t be that way for long if I kept keeping secrets. “So I blacked out for almost ten hours.” I thought aloud, starting at the shining chandelier hanging from the ceiling. “Yes, and I was so worried about you. Your skin was cold and pale, and your breathing was shallow. I was scared something had happened to you. The do

“Y-you love me?” I whispered, afraid that if I talked louder, I would faint. My brown eyes were as wide as the sun as I took in his dead serious expression. I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t fricken believe it.‘My ears are deceiving me. My ears are definitely deceiving because that’s the only way I could hear Dante say I love you, Olivia.’“Yes, I do. I love you, Olivia.” Dante nodded. There was not a single drop of doubt in his voice, which had turned gentle, or on his face, which had turned soft. He knew what he was saying, and he was bold and sure about it.“This can’t be happening. This can’t be fricken happening.” I mumbled to myself, breaking free from his hold—or rather, he let me go because I was looking confused as heck—and I stumbled away from him, creating a distance between us so I could think.“You’re joking, right? This is a really expensive prank, you know, Dante.” I forced a dry, high-pitched laugh and shook my head.