Chapter Seventy One: Who Was Lucas Then?

ElenaThe car drove on for what felt like hours. The city lights faded behind us and the darkness of the countryside swallowed us whole. I sat in the back seat, pressed against the leather, my hands trembling in my lap. The men around me were silent, their faces hard and unreadable.I turned to the bulky scary looking guy beside me. He had a scar running down his cheek and his eyes were cold and empty. "Where are you taking me?" I asked, my voice shaking.He looked at me and his expression softened slightly. "To a safe place, miss. Somewhere no one will find you.""A safe place? Whose safe place?""You will see when we get there."I wanted to ask more questions but the words died in my throat. I was too tired, too scared, too confused to think clearly. I leaned my head against the window and watched the world blur past.I still found it strange. The respect they gave me. The way they bowed their heads when they spoke to me. The way they called me "miss" like I was someone important. I

Chapter Seventy Two: I Saw You!

AlessandroIn the midst of my chaos, I saw Lucas's lips curl into a smirk.The sight of it made my blood boil. I had just ordered my men to turn Italy upside down. I had just threatened to kill anyone who stood in my way. And Lucas, my brother, my right hand, my most trusted man, was smirking at me.I didn't call him. I didn't speak. I just moved.My hand shot out and grabbed the back of his neck. My fingers dug into his flesh as I dragged him across the room. He didn't resist. He never did. He never questioned whatever I did to him. That was what made it worse. That was what made me want to break his face.I shoved him through the door of my study and slammed it shut behind us. The sound echoed through the room like a gunshot.Then I grabbed him by the collar and threw him against the wall.His back hit the plaster with a sickening crack. Pictures rattled and fell. A vase shattered on the floor. The sound of breaking glass filled the air."Why?" I roared, my face inches from his. My

Chapter Seventy Three: Who Are You?

ElenaWeeks passed. I was being taken care of. I lacked nothing. The maids brought me food three times a day, delicious meals that I could never finish. The guards respected me, bowing their heads whenever I walked past. I had clothes and books and everything I could possibly need.But strangely, I didn't feel comfortable.I sat by the window every day, looking out at the endless lake, and I thought about Lucas. How did he have so much wealth? How did he own a villa like this, a palace that rivaled Alessandro's? And why had he reduced himself to being Alessandro's right hand man, taking orders and getting beaten, if he had all of this?I didn't think Lucas was up to something. He was too good to be into something shady. Maybe because of the oath, he was loyal to Alessandro. Maybe he was just biding his time. Maybe he had his reasons.I trusted him. I had to trust him. He was the only one who had ever shown me kindness. He was the only one who had ever treated me like a human being.I

Chapter Seventy Four: And I Didn't Care

AlessandroWith each passing day, my rage intensified. It was no longer about finding her. It was now about my ego and my name. The news was already spreading. People were already talking, mocking me, saying a maid had escaped from me and I couldn't find her. Saying I was incompetent. Saying I was no longer the Devil of Vercelli whom nothing escaped, not even an ant.The whispers followed me everywhere. At my casinos. At my meetings. At my own dinner table. My men looked at me with pity in their eyes. My enemies looked at me with glee. The Devil had fallen. The Devil had lost his touch.And I, I was no longer in a stable mental health. I couldn't eat. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't think of anything except her. The ordinary slave who had gotten under my skin this much. The girl who had made me feel something I had never felt before. The wife who had run away from me.I swore if I found her, I would make her an example. I would lock her in a dungeon for the rest of her life. I would make

Chapter Seventy Five: I need Some Air

ElenaI did not respond. I wanted to, but I couldn't. The words were stuck in my throat, choked by the shock of her presence.The woman walked closer to me. Her heels clicked on the marble floor, each step deliberate and confident. She stopped in front of me, her sharp eyes scanning my face, my dress, my bare feet. I felt like I was being measured. Judged. Found wanting."Who are you?" she asked again. Her voice was cold and sharp, like a blade.I opened my mouth. Nothing came out.Who could have thought that a person's presence could make you stunned? I had faced Alessandro De Vercelli at his worst. I had stood in front of the Devil himself and survived. But this woman, this beautiful, elegant, terrifying woman, had rendered me speechless.The woman turned to the guards. They had been standing at attention, their heads bowed, their faces respectful."Who is she?" she demanded.The guard with the scarred face stepped forward. "She is Don Lucas's guest, Signora Bianchi."The woman's ey

Chapter Seventy Six: Leave

AlessandroWeeks had passed. Months. And still no sign of her.My men had searched every corner of Italy. They had turned over every stone. They had questioned everyone who might have seen anything. But nothing. She had vanished like smoke.My men advised me to give up. They came to me one by one, their faces tired and defeated, and they told me it was hopeless."Pakhan," one of them said, "we have searched everywhere. She is gone. We cannot find her.""Then search harder," I said."There is nowhere left to search.""Then find somewhere!"They left with their tails between their legs.Even Lucas advised me to give up. He came to my study, his face calm, his eyes steady. "Alessandro," he said, "you need to stop.""I need to find her.""She does not want to be found. She ran for a reason. Let her go."I slammed my fist on the desk. "I cannot let her go! She is my wife! She is my property! She is mine!""She was never yours, Alessandro. You bought her body, but you never had her heart. A