All Chapters of More Than A Bet: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

ADINA Five minutes. That was all the time I had left to get to the East wing before professor Moretti closed the door. I rushed into Bocconi University, holding a stack of textbooks I had borrowed from one of the university libraries in my right hand, and in my left, a scorching cup of black coffee. My only fuel for the day, that I started at 04:00 AM doing a review on Professor Moretti's previous class. “Watch Where you are going, weirdo!” I jumped out of the way just as a sleek G-wagon drove past, sending a pool of dirty water spraying into the air. I wasn’t fast enough as the cold muddy water splashed across the arm of my white sweater and stained the text book I had borrowed from the library. “Fuck!” I muttered, whipping my backpack around frantically searching for a towel, I wiped off the stain but the grey smudge only spread deeper into the wool. “What was I thinking, wearing white on the first day of the semester?” I looked at the time, I had two minutes left b

Chapter 2

GIOVANNI I stood frozen in the middle of the Hallway, I could practically feel stares boring into me, and I could hear the whispers echoing around me. The bitter aroma of the coffee hit my nostrils, and the heat seeped through my shirt burning my skin but the physical sting was nothing compared to the emotional blow of her words. “Take your tantrums to mommy.” For the very first time. I, Giovanni Atticus Malvetti, heir to the malvetti empire was publicly ridiculed and it was by a mere scholarship student. A piercing snarl of laughter cut through the air. I didn’t have to turn around to know it was Nathan and Alessandro, stupid childhood friends. Alessandro, clutched his chest feigning a heart attack. “Oh, my God! Giovanni publicly humiliated by a scholarship student! Is the world about to end? “ My goodness,” Nathan wheezed. his face turning into a shade of red. “Did that actually happen? Or Am I dreaming? Did the scholarship girl just tell the heir to the Malvetti empire to

Chapter 3

ADINA The air in the hallway of Bocconi university carried a different charge today. It usually smelled like expensive perfumes and old money. But today it smelled like scandal. As I walked towards my locker, whispers followed me like a shadow I can’t out run. “Did you see the video?” A boy whispered as I passed. “ She looked at him dead in the eyes and told him to go cry to his mommy.” “ She’s so brave,” another replied. “ Or stupid. You don’t just humiliate a Malvetti and just… get away with it. I felt stares following me at every step I took to my locker. Aurora was already there, leaning against the metal door bedside hers, scrolling through her phone while waiting for me. “ Good Morning, celebrity,” she drawled looking up at me. “Adina, you’re the number one trending topic on the campus forum under the #CoffeeGate and # ScholarshipSavage.” She hissed her voice a mix of terror and awe. I exhaled through my nose. “ Fantastic.” My invisible amor; the quiet, scholarship st

Chapter 4

GIOVANNI I stood frozen in disbelief as I stared at the matte black Lora Piano bag and cashmere sweater now swallowed by empty water bottles and greasy napkins. She didn't even wait to see my reaction, she simply turned, grabbed her friend, then disappeared into the hallway not even sparing me a glance. “Ouch,” Nathan drawled, stepping out from the shadow of the hallway, his voice filled with amusement. “ Gio, it seems your charms are malfunctioning. You might want to get that checked out before midterms. Could be terminal” “ Shut up, Nate,” I hissed, my jaw tightened and my fists balled until my nails bit into my palms. “ She's a tough nut to crack, Gio.” Alessandro pushed off the wall, hands in his pockets, his expression caught between concern and amusement. “Oh well,that's Zero for one, brother. She ain't playing.” I ignored both of them, walking towards the east wings. My pulse hammered against my ears, I needed space to think properly and cool down. I shoveled through

Chapter 5

GIOVANNI The sun had barely risen over Riverside Park, the fog clung low to the path. I watched as Adina jogged through the park, her sneakers hitting the pavement in a steady rhythm. A few joggers blurred as they jogged past me. “Of course, you're the type who likes to run at dawn.” I said cutting in beside her. She glanced sideways, annoyed by my presence. “ Do you ever appear normally or is sneaking up on people a hobby for you?” “ I don’t sneak up on people, Adina, I just choose the right moment to appear. Thought you might need these,” I said, holding out a bottle of water. “ Thanks, but I'm good,” she replied, her voice clipped, as she put on her headphones, blocking me out and quickening her pace. “ Come, Ice Queen! Just a little chat ? I promise not to slow you down!.” I shouted, refusing to back down. “ Wow. Not even a good morning?” I said, matching her pace easily. “ Now that's cold, Ice Queen even for you.” “ Come on, Ice Queen. Three words. That's all I'm asking

Author’s Note

Hi everyone, I wanted to take a moment to let you know that the previous chapters have been updated and revised. If you’ve read the previous chapters before, you might notice some changes in the dialogue, pacing, and character interactions. These edits were made to improve the flow of the story, strengthen the emotional tension, and better reflect the personalities and dynamics of the characters.As a writer, I’m constantly learning and growing, and sometimes that means going back to earlier chapters to refine them so they align more closely with how the story is developing. This update focuses especially on making the scenes feel more natural and engaging, particularly in terms of dialogue. I wanted the conversations to feel more realistic, sharper, and more reflective of the underlying conflict and attraction between the characters.Some scenes were expanded with additional dialogue to give more depth to the characters’ emotions and motivations. Rather than simply telling you how th

Chapter 6

ADINA “There has to be some kind of mistake right? Giovanni cannot possibly be my partner.” I muttered to myself staring at the projected screen. “Why does the universe hate me so much? Of all the people taking Professor Moretti's class, why did Giovanni have to be my project partner?” I scanned the projector carefully hoping the words would magically rearrange themselves but they did not. He was really my partner. “See even the universe works in favour of me” Giovanni’s deep yet smooth voice teased beside me, his grin widening.“Looks like we would be seeing more of each other, Ice Queen,” he drawled.My expression shifted from shock to annoyance. “You wish! I’d rather be locked up in the library basement with no WI-Fi and access to other people than to spend a single day with you.” I snapped.“Well that can be arranged too.” He chuckled beside me. I ignored him walking straight to professor Moretti office.“ Professor, please, there has to be some kind of mistake because I

Chapter 7

GIOVANNI"Get away from her!" my voice cracked through the alley.The guy turned away from her, startled. “Who the hell…”The guy barely had time to react before I slammed into him, my fist connected with his jaw, he stumbled backwards and the pocketknife in his hand clattered against the bricks. He tried to lunge at me but l was faster, I shoved him down hard and he scrambled reaching for the knife but I kicked it away before his fingers could reach it and I stepped on his fingers with my shoes, the sound of metal skidding across the wall and his screams echoed across the alley.I leaned down towards him, gripped his shirt, and his body completely froze, “ You don't get any weapons.” I grabbed him again and slammed him into the dumpster, the impact knocked the breath out him.I held him by his throat, slammed him against the brick wall and drove my knee into his stomach, the air whooshed out with him in a bloody cough."You have two seconds to disappear," I hissed, my face a few in

Chapter 8

ADINAI shut the door and leaned back against it, eyes closed, breath uneven. My apartment felt too quiet, as Aurora wasn't at home, she'd gone out to visit her boyfriend. I walked towards the window without turning on the light, I peeked through the half-open curtains, Giovanni's car was still parked outside the curb. “Why is he still here?” I whispered to myself.Seconds passed and his car was still parked there. I turned away and walked into the bathroom.The shower knob squeaked as I cranked it to hot, steam rose fast and I stripped mechanically, stepping under the spray, and I let the water pound my shoulders until it hurt.I kept my eyes shut for some second, and I saw the alley incident again. The cold wall at my back, Lucas sour breath against my neck, the knife, my screams and Giovanni's appearance.What would have happened to me, if he hadn't followed me… If he hadn't heard…My knees folded, I sank to the tiles, under the shower, arms wrapped around myself, water streamin

SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP