Lahat ng Kabanata ng From Betrayed Wife to Nobel Queen: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

Tonight, my husband burned hot again.His grip locked on my waist, whispers spilling against my skin, sinful enough to set my cheeks on fire.After, I sank into Giovanni's arms, tracing lazy circles across his chest."Gio..." My voice was raw, worn from the heat.A quiet "Mm." Eyes shut, arms pulling me tighter.I smiled anyway.Three years in, and he finally showed me passion.Two months straight, our nights burned with it.I stole a glance.Under the dim lamp, Giovanni's face cut sharp, his throat branded with the bite I'd left. Nothing like the cold man I married.He was the Don—untouchable, unstoppable. My fate was sealed before I even breathed my first, promised to him by his mother.For as long as I can remember, I knew I'd end up his wife.On our wedding night, he lifted my veil with dead eyes."Liliana, this is just an alliance." Even as he claimed me, his tone was pure business. "I'll handle my duties as a husband. Don't expect anything more."He took what tradit

After Helena moved in, the house turned into my personal hell.One night, I went for water and froze—Giovanni had her pressed against the fridge, kissing her like she was his world, his hand already under her nightgown."Oh, Lili!" Helena shoved him off, face flushed. "He was just helping me reach the top shelf."Giovanni didn't even flinch. He slid his hand back like nothing happened, irritation flickering in his eyes. "Her back's bad. I was just steadying her. You look pale—couldn't sleep?"My stomach flipped. I didn't answer. I just turned and walked away.At lunch, Helena "accidentally" dumped boiling soup across my hand."Oh no! Lili, I'm so sorry!" Her voice played sweet, but her eyes were stone cold.The burn made me gasp, and Giovanni just scowled. "She didn't mean it. Stop overreacting—it's just a little burn." Then he turned soft for her. "You okay, Mother? Next time, let the servants handle it."Something inside me snapped. I yanked the tablecloth, sent every dish cr

Two weeks slipped by.Giovanni stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows, shadows carved into his face.He'd sent out half the crew, yet not a whisper of Liliana. Not even a trace.It didn't add up.She'd been sheltered her whole life—no street smarts, no money, still weak from the miscarriage.So where the hell could she have vanished to?That night, Helena slipped in, dressed hotter than usual."Gio, still up?"She leaned in for a kiss. He didn't stop her, and that was all the green light she needed.Since Liliana's escape, Giovanni hadn't quit the hunt, and it gnawed at Helena.But his weakness for her body kept the door cracked.She smiled soft, hand sliding for his belt. "I know you're worried about the kid. It's fine... I can give you an heir."Giovanni's eyes snapped open, ice-cold."What did you just say?"Helena flinched, then forced a shaky smile. "I mean... we love each other. Wouldn't it be perfect to have a child? I'm still young, so why don't we—"He shoved her

I held Bella's hand as we stepped off the stage, flashes popping all around us."Ms. Bettini! What does winning the Nobel Prize mean to you?""It means sci-fi finally gets respect," I said with a grin. "And it means women who were underestimated can rewrite their lives."Bella stood next to me in her leather jacket and ripped jeans—zero interest in playing the perfect society kid. Her chin was up, eyes sharp, like a baby leopard about to pounce.When someone asked if she felt bad about not having a dad, she rolled her eyes."My mom's a Nobel Prize winner. What's there to regret?" Her voice was ice. "Maybe worry about asking better questions."I laughed, light and easy.I'd never dumped my past on Bella. She was wild and free, exactly how she wanted to be.We slid into our seats in the front row—too close to Giovanni.He raked a hand through his hair, then stood and strutted over with that fake confident smile."Lili." He stopped in front of me, hand out. "Drink later?"I bli

In the days after, Giovanni kicked off his so-called "pursuit."No clue where he got that kind of confidence, but my cold shoulder didn't even scratch him.At my book signing, 9,999 roses showed up with a card: [Come home, Lili.]I told the staff to dump them.Weird thing? The more I brushed him off, the more hyped he got.When Bella walked out of school, a limited-edition Ferrari was waiting. Giovanni stood there in a suit, holding an ice cream cone.She rolled her eyes and yanked her friend the other way.When that bombed, he switched to threats.He tried to strong-arm my publisher into canceling my release, thinking he could cut me off financially.Bad move. The guy picking me up that day was Lorenzo—CEO of the biggest publishing group in the world.I didn't even have to speak. Lorenzo instantly cut every media and business tie with Giovanni's Family.Giovanni stormed in, furious, eyes black as night."Liliana, what the hell do you want from me? We're not even divorced!"