Semua Bab A Crown Made of Scars: Bab 1 - Bab 8

Meanwhile, over at the Romano family's sprawling estate, the place was nothing like a swanky estate. Rather, it felt more like a fortress bristling with security.High walls were laced with live barbed wire, and armed guards were posted every 30 feet.The servants, clad in black, moved with heads down and without a sound, like ghosts drifting through the halls.Upstairs, in the master bedroom, the door was left ajar, letting out a heavy stench of blood that even overpowered the room's fancy cedar scent.A man sat in a wheelchair among the broken ceramics and bloodstains, fiddling with a scalpel still wet with blood.Next to him, a traitor shivered on his knees, his throat cut, twitching as death crept closer."Another one comes to meet their end?"His voice was gritty and dark, laced with a sinister delight for bloodshed.I shut the door with a flick of my wrist, turned the lock, and shut out the prying eyes."Don Romano, I'm Elena," I announced. "Here's a token from the Deluc

The news alerts came in a relentless barrage.[Deluca Group implicated in severe money laundering, currently under official investigation!][Marco, heir of the Conti Group, is accused of a rival's murder with solid evidence! Arrest warrant issued by the police!][Deluca Group stocks nosedive by 90%. Bankruptcy and liquidation imminent!]"This… this can't be happening…" Marco shook uncontrollably, his eyes snapping up to Wade. "You! You're behind this, aren't you?"Wade, unfazed and aloof, responded with a chill in his voice, "As the chill sets in, so does the end for the Deluca."His offhand comment was a death knell for the entire clan.Rosa was in utter disarray.She had latched onto Marco for his wealth and the prestige the Deluca name brought. Now, with Marco a fugitive and the Deluca empire crumbling, what was left for her?Desperate, she scurried over and stood before me, head bowed in defeat.She clutched at the fabric of my skirt, her face a mess of tears and snot as

Wade shook his head.He came up behind me, resting his hands on my shoulders, gazing out at the world beyond the panoramic window."I'm going to call a press conference. I want Gabriella to witness firsthand the truth about the daughter she's adored for two decades."The press conference was a spectacle, held in the grand lobby of the Romano Group building.The hook "mystery of the heiress' identity" had drawn a swarm of journalists, their cameras and mics forming an impenetrable wall.Rosa made her entrance, wheeling Gabriella in, both of them dressed up in a pitiful display for the crowd.Gabriella was a mess, her clothes ragged and her face gaunt. At the first flash of the cameras, she broke down, sobbing."Elena, that backstabber! She's hogging all the inheritance and trying to wipe us out!"Next to her, Rosa dabbed at her eyes, the picture of sorrow. "Elena, just own up to your mistake and give back what's rightfully the Deluca'. Then, we'll let bygones be bygones. We're f

The Romano family's basement was Wade's personal chamber of horrors, a place reserved for dealing with traitors. Torture devices adorned the walls, and the floor featured ominous channels stained with the dark hue of dried blood.Rosa and Marco were caged like animals, side by side. Rosa's wrist was crudely wrapped, still oozing blood, her face ashen.Marco was a mess of bruises and cuts.The moment I walked in, their eyes were wide with terror."Elena… Please, let me go… I'm your sister…"Rosa's plea was soaked in tears, her earlier bravado gone."Sister?"I had someone fetch a chair and sat down in front of their cage, a glass of red wine in my hand."Did you remember that I'm your sister earlier when you were thinking of blowing me up?"Wade was lounging next to me, a sleek scalpel in hand, casually grooming his nails."Darling, what's the game plan? Encase them in concrete? Or maybe turn them into dog chow?"Those words sent a shiver of horror through the two captives.