《Four Parting Gifts, Don Falcone》全部章節：第 1 章 - 第 10 章

The line went silent.I could hear muffled voices in Orion's office, the scrape of a chair. He was clearly in a meeting. My call had interrupted something important."Meeting's over," Orion’s voice cut through, low and commanding. "Everyone out."Footsteps faded. A door closed. Now, it was just the two of us."Three years, Aurelia," Orion's voice went ice-cold. "Three years since you made an enemy of the Morettis to protect that bastard. And now you call? You only remember my name when the world is burning down around you?"I closed my eyes, the memories flooding back.We grew up together. Orion was always trailing behind me, a loyal knight protecting his princess. He even turned down Harvard Business School to follow me to the same university.But all I wanted then was to escape my family, to escape a fate that had already been written for me. I fell for Vittorio, the man who made my heart race.The night we graduated, Orion confessed his love."Aurelia, marry me. You know it's all I'

"She did this to you," Vittorio said, his voice dangerously low. "As her husband, it's my debt to pay."His words hit me like lightning.He was really going to "help" Carina?I couldn't believe it. The man I loved, the man I called my husband, was saying something so degrading, so humiliating.My voice trembled. "So you think I drugged her... just to watch you fuck her?""Enough!" Vittorio roared. "Don't use that filthy language!"On the bed, Carina reached out a trembling hand and touched Vittorio's chest. His body tensed at her touch."Vittorio... please don't... I can't let you betray your family," Carina's voice was weak but seductive. "You should go... I can get through this alone..."Her fingers trailed down his chest. Vittorio's breathing grew ragged."No. I'm not leaving you," Vittorio said, grabbing her hand, his eyes full of pity. "This is her fault. She should face the consequences."Carina pretended to push him away, but her body instinctively moved closer."Aurelia... I'm

Vittorio stared at me, his eyes empty of any warmth."Do it."Before I could react, a rough rope was wrapped around my wrists, and I was dragged to the backyard."Vittorio!" I struggled. "You'll regret this!"But he had already turned away, holding Carina as he walked back inside, never looking back.The whip cracked. The first lash split the skin on my back open. I bit down on my lip, hard, tasting blood. I refused to scream. The second lash landed. Then the third.Blood ran down my back, soaking my white shirt.By the tenth lash, I was numb. After the thirteenth, my back was a shredded mess of flesh and blood. My legs gave out. I collapsed in a pool of my own making.Right before I passed out, I saw Carina standing at a window on the second floor, a triumphant smile on her face.She had won.Three days later, the sharp ring of my phone woke me. I struggled to sit up, my back screaming in protest."Aurelia?" Orion's voice was worried. "Are you okay? I couldn't reach you for three days

Vittorio's POVOn the very top was a letter.Aurelia’s elegant handwriting was on the envelope: "A Farewell Letter for Vittorio."A farewell letter?I scoffed. Aurelia and her goddamn theatrics.I ripped open the envelope. My eyes scanned the first line, and the smile on my face vanished."By the time you read this, I'm probably already dead."What?My hand started to shake. I kept reading."Tonight, three months ago, I took thirteen bullets at the docks. The doctors said it was a miracle I survived. But lying on that operating table, I wasn't thinking about death. I was thinking about you.""I thought about that night, three years ago. Vittorio, I wasn't the one who drugged you. I was just a stupid woman who got a message that you were in danger. I rushed to save you without a second thought."The words hit me like a physical blow.Three years ago... she didn't drug me?"When I saw you, poisoned, when I saw the desire in your eyes, I thought it was love. I thought giving you my body w

Aurelia’s POVOrion followed my father to the side. I could feel the serious tone of their conversation."As soon as Aurelia's divorce is finalized, we'll have the wedding," Orion's voice was low and firm. "I've waited seven years for her. A few more months is nothing."My father nodded, a look of approval in his eyes."Good. But I want to know what happened to her at the Falcone house." My father's voice turned dangerous. "My daughter comes home looking like a ghost, with whip marks on her back."I saw Orion's expression darken.He glanced at me, hesitating."Tell me." My father's tone left no room for argument. "As her father, I have a right to know."Orion took a deep breath."Vittorio had her subjected to the family's justice. Thirteen lashes."The air in the living room froze.My mother gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.The blood drained from my father's face, replaced by a cold, terrifying rage. A deadly fire ignited in his eyes."What?" His voice was a low growl, like a beas