Chapter 71

MelanieDante’s eyes only stayed on mine for a few minutes when he looked away and a smile was plastered across his face.I found it odd, but I was a bit relieved. My fast beating heart had come to a halt and my world wasn’t spinning. I kept watching the five of them waiting for the moment everything would go kaboom but that moment never came. Eventually Juan and his father left. I kept wondering why Juan didn’t tell Federico Dante’s plans like he said he would . Maybe he wanted to deal with it himself? Or maybe he was waiting for the perfect “I told you so” moment. My brain started running in circles, trying to guess his reasons, until I gave up. I’d burned too many calories overthinking that boy’s mysterious silence.Before I could spiral further, the designer arrived with my mom’s dress. The moment I saw her step out in it, I felt my throat tighten. She looked beautiful—like the kind of woman who had survived a hundred storms and was still standing tall. I rushed to hug her

Last Updated : 2025-10-14

Chapter 72

MelanieJuan was the last person I expected to see tonight. Especially not in this part of town. All I could think was the fact that he might have followed me here. But why? “You and Dante are really easy to follow.” Juan spoke before I could his eyes; dragging me into this dark oasis.My jaw dropped. “Excuse me? Are you stalking us now?”“I needed evidence,” he said, voice calm like he was trying to stop a newborn from crying.“Evidence?” I frowned. “Evidence of what, Juan? You sound like an undercover agent.”He didn’t answer. Instead, he leaned forward. “Remember what you told me earlier. I had to find a way to present the truth.”I blinked. Once. Twice. My brain glitched. “What the actually fuck. So you're the reason some random lunatic almost yanked my arm off?”“Yes,” he said. “I had to get your phone. It’s the only way I can expose Dante’s plans,”I didn’t know what to say, as I watched Juan straighten himself. “By tomorrow morning, after I get my team to hack into you

Last Updated : 2025-11-02

Chapter 73

MelanieDante was growing impatient. I could see it in his eyes. “Melanie,” he called my name again but this time. It was filled with a roughness that can’t be forgotten.“I need to know what you mean by 'I'm the reason?” He frowned, confusion written all over his face.I knew I couldn’t keep quiet for so long and even if I tried, Dante would find a way to force the truth out of me. “I didn’t hurt you.” He continued, his voice sounding like he was trying to remember if he did. “I know,” I said softly, my throat tightening. “But… you’re about to.”That caught him off guard. “What the hell do you mean by that?”I froze. My mind went blank, words choking in my throat. I could see it—the shift in his eyes from confusion to suspicion.“Melanie, talk to me,” he demanded, his tone sharp, and dangerous.I took a shaky breath. “Juan saw you meeting with the Vladimir family’s assistant.”Dante’s body went rigid. His jaw clenched. “Go on,” he said, voice icy.“He approached me telling me all

Last Updated : 2025-11-05

Chapter 74

Melanie I had been sitting in that same position since Dante left, staring at the box beside me like it could bite. Eventually I had to summon the courage to open it. So I slid my fingers against the lock that sealed it shut. “A book!” I repeated to myself. That was the last thing I expected to see. Out of curiosity I ended up opening the small book which looked quite old. The first page caught my eyes and I noticed the date written on it. It was 10 years ago Dante was probably a teenager then. My eyes kept moving, leaving the date and landing on the first words written on the page. “The day I lost my mother. 28/09. I can never forget that day because it happened right in front of me. Federico had told those men to take her from behind. I watched them, stripe my mother naked while they raped her. Each of them taking turns. At some point it wasn’t with their bodies but with objects shoved inside her like she was an animal. I watched her scream until she was rendered breathless.”

Last Updated : 2025-11-10

Chapter 75

Melanie I woke up at midnight. The truth was I couldn’t sleep I had spent the entire night crying, thinking about; the time of destruction which was tomorrow. I tried to look at the brighter side of things but I couldn't. I had lost my sense of humor or anything that made me feel alive. After staring at the ceiling for what felt like eternity . I decided to head downstairs for a glass of water. The trip down the stairs was kind of nostalgic. This will probably be the last time I will be walking down this hallway. Surprisingly, that hurt. “You’re awake,” I heard a voice say the minute I walked into the kitchen. It was Leonardo and he was perched beside the counter wearing a catty smile. That made him look a bit sinister. “I needed water,” I told him, then I opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle from it. “Why do I feel like you need more than that?” He was right but did I admit it—no “Just thirsty,” I said, taking another swing. “I can see that troubled look in your eyes,” he

Last Updated : 2025-11-11

Chapter 76

Dante The minute my head touched my pillow Melanie’s voice tortured me. Endlessly. It fucked with every thought in my mind. “Goodbye,” those words weren’t supposed to mean anything. But my mind had a way of making it seem like more. Like the finalization of something. In this case, it was the finalization of our time together. She would be free and so will I. A part of me didn’t want the finale to be so soon. I didn’t want to think of the whys because I wasn’t ready to face the damn truth. So, I let that single word continue to torment me until it didn’t, until it was replaced by Juan’s voice. A visual representation of my visit to Juan played in my mind. I was watching it all happen; the moment I had arrived at his house, demanding for where he was and down to the moment I was being pointed to the little building where his father said he spent most of his time. I had taken him by surprise, and pointed my gun at his skull. “Kill me,” he was pleading. “I have been waiting for

Last Updated : 2025-11-12