Semua Bab Love in lies: Bab 1 - Bab 7

I stepped out of the elevator, my heart fluttering with anticipation. It had been weeks since I last saw Jake, my fiancé, and the ache of missing him had grown into a sharp, constant pull. I clutched the bottle of his favorite whiskey tighter, a peace offering and a promise for the wild night I’d planned. The lacy black underwear he gave me on my birthday hugged every inch of my skin, a silent reminder of the way it made him look at me, hungry, possessive, and completely undone. I smiled as I imagined the surprise on his face when he saw me. Tonight was going to be perfect.The apartment was quiet as I unlocked the door. Jake’s cologne lingered in the air, rich and familiar. Everything was just as he liked it, neat, precise, sterile. The throw pillows were arranged perfectly, the coffee table spotless. I paused in the parlor, absorbing the stillness before heading upstairs. I wanted to surprise him, to slip into the bedroom and wrap myself around him like a gift he never saw co

I woke up with a start, the remnants of last night's tears drying on my cheeks. The room was still, sunlight leaking through the thick curtains of the mansion's guest suite. My body ached from the weight of everything, betrayal, fear and uncertainty.A knock at the door pulled me out of my thoughts.A maid stood there, her eyes low. “Mr. Martini would like you to join him in the dining room.”My stomach twisted. I hadn’t seen Marco Martini yet, only heard the stories, the man who moved through the criminal world like a king in a lion’s den. And now I was his bride-to-be.I followed the maid in silence, my palms clammy. When I stepped into the dining room, the air felt heavy. He was already seated, legs casually spread, shirt unbuttoned halfway down his chest like he hadn’t decided if this was dinner or foreplay. His dark hair was tousled like he’d just run his fingers through it, or someone else had. He exuded power without effort, every movement confident and unhurried.His gaze

My heart pounded as I felt the weight of Marco’s gaze settle on me. I had messed up, not just once, but twice, two rules broken in a single day.I knew exactly what was coming, I couldn’t stop the tremble in my hands or the tight knot of dread and anticipation twisting in my stomach. He stood in front of me, looking calm, collected, and deadly. His eyes were darker than I’d ever seen them. Without saying a word, he bent and raised the knife he had in his hands. He held it up, casually pointing it at me like it was an extension of his hand, a silent warning. Stay still and I did.I lay there, breath shallow, frozen in place, completely at his mercy. I hated this feeling of helplessness, the loss of control, but part of me… a part I didn’t want to acknowledge, burned under his stare. I hated it, hated that I wanted more than just forgiveness.He climbed the bed and pulled me closer to himself, his hand moving to my skirt, he lifted it slowly, his touch deliberate, calculated.The

The ride back from the wedding was awfully cold and silent. Marco barely looked in my direction, his fingers were tapping against the steering wheel while his phone kept buzzing nonstop. Something felt off, but I didn't dare ask, we got back to the estate, I was barely out of the car when he muttered, "I have to travel, there's something urgent I need to attend to.""Now?" I asked, still in my wedding dress.He didn’t answer, he just walked past me, his phone already pressed to his ear. Within minutes, a car came to pick him up, and I was left standing in the driveway.That night, I couldn't sleep, what I overheard Marco say earlier in the wedding kept echoing in my head. My father, who I had believed was just a retired businessman, now appeared to have been tangled in the same dark world Marco was immersed in, world of power, violence, and secrets.I stood up from my bed and searched everywhere for answers. I went to the library, I searched his office, drawers, files, his bedroo