บททั้งหมดของ A Violent Kind of Grace: บทที่ 1 - บทที่ 10

My fist connected with a solid thud against my opponent's jaw, sending him crashing to the mat. The referee started the countdown, his voice echoing in the charged silence."Ten, nine, eight..."I peeled off my gloves, feeling the sweat slide down my skin."Three, two, one–"Victory was mine as the referee hoisted my arm high. The crowd went wild, chanting my name."Rossi! Rossi!"Cash rained down into the cage, fluttering around me like a blizzard of green.I stepped out of the ring and into the quiet of the locker room, the door muffling the roar of the fans. I splashed cold water on my face, staring at the woman in the mirror. Below my collarbone was the black ink of a rose wrapped in thorns, the Rossi family crest.The door swung open, and Marco stepped in, his face serious. "The last payment's in," he said, nodding at the screen.I glanced at the digits, then back at him."The warehouse rent's due next Friday," Marco added, his voice tense. "Old Nick's not messing around

Alice's smile finally crumbled, and she fell silent.The air was thick with tension.Just then, Edward's deep voice cut through, as he turned to head for the main house."Alright. You're back, and that's what matters. Let's head inside."It carried a strong sense of protectiveness.I was not about to make a big deal out of the earlier incident, just a gentle nudge to remind them I was there.I left the group behind and caught up with the others.The foyer of the mansion was cavernous, which could easily fit two cars, and had a crystal chandelier that shone blindingly bright.A servant nodded me toward a seat, and I settled in without hesitation.The aroma of the soup was inviting, and I reached for the spoon."Elvira," Edward's voice cut through the silence. "In this house," he intoned, "the elders begin the meal."Reluctantly, I set the spoon back down, shrugged to show I understood.Dad always said family should not be bogged down by too many rules. Those high-society rit

As I walked away from the garden, Edward's voice reached me. "Alice, to my study, please."Later that afternoon, a servant rapped on my door. "Miss Elvira, Mr. LaRosa requests your presence in the study."Edward sat, a photograph in hand, behind his desk.Alice was absent."Take a seat."I took a seat across from him as he presented an old photograph to me: a newborn baby, my name etched in the corner."Your very first picture," he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "You were born with a powerful cry, and with one mighty kick, you sent the midwife reeling with a bloody nose. Right then, I knew you'd grow up strong."I kept silent. His trip down memory lane did not seem to be just for nostalgia's sake."Sadly, right after Catherine had you, a fire broke out at the hospital. In the chaos, we lost you.""Did you search for me for eighteen years?""We searched for the first ten." Edward's face flushed with a rare hint of regret. "Then... We had Alice."An icy laugh esc

The knock on the door jolted me awake in the early morning.Anna, Catherine's maid, stood there, her face ghostly white. "Mrs. LaRosa's diamond necklace is gone."I threw on my coat, eyeing her."It belonged to Mrs. LaRosa's mother, worth a cool three million."Anna's voice shook, a clear edge of panic in it as she said, "Mr. LaRosa's ordered a search of all the rooms, miss."I swung the door wide, stepping aside to let them in.Anna was followed by two servants who started tossing the room.Five minutes in, one found a black velvet box in the nightstand drawer. Opened, the diamond dazzled in the morning light.Anna fixed me with a look, her eyes a mix of emotions."Go report it."I stood my ground, not a hint of guilt.She was dumber than I had thought.If she could not keep her cool, she had only herself to blame.10 minutes later, we were all in the living room.Victoria was on me like a hawk, pointing and shouting, "Thief! I always knew you gutter rats had sticky fing

The wedding was scheduled for one week later.Alice had been unusually quiet since then. She did not cause any scenes, and on the rare occasions we crossed paths in the hallway, she would even nod a greeting my way, as if she had come to terms with the inevitable.The night before the wedding, Marco's voice came through the phone."Alice has been in touch with some mercenaries, planning to strike on the way to the church tomorrow. I've got proof of her meeting with them at Blue Jazz Bar."I glanced at the wedding dress hanging before me, a smirk creeping onto my face."Do we need to take care of them now?" asked Marco.I pondered for a moment. "No, let them come.""But it's too risky.""I said, let them.""Understood, boss."...At 7 a.m., the makeup artist set to work.The woman who stared back at me from the mirror was my own reflection. I was wearing a wedding dress, yet my eyes lacked any bridal softness. The gown was a work of art, tailored to perfection, a stark contr