It was difficult; I thought Ivan would keep me and never allow me to leave, but I was willing to take that risk to see my son. However, he kicked me out, and his men took my vehicle and left us there. I tried to run back, but I collapsed on the road, crying out in pain. Lily stood there watching me; I knew there was nothing she could do anymore. Ivan had blackmailed me, and seeing the look in his eyes made me believe that everything said about him was true. It hurt to know he had taken me away from my life, got me pregnant, and stole my son, only to blackmail me with him. I felt lost and didn’t know what to do. “Clarissa, we need to go before Dominic realizes you’re missing,” Lily called out, but I didn’t feel like leaving; nothing felt right anymore. “How can I continue living knowing my life has been taken from me? My freedom has been stolen, and the things I held dear have been snatched away. How?” I cried, holding my stomach in tears. “I know it’s hard, but what more can we
I was unsure of my actions; I likely wouldn’t have said that if I had known better. However, since I got into trouble and he was aware of it, there was no point in lying. He stared at me in disbelief, and everyone else did too. I turned to see Aiden, Lily's brother, his eyes wide with horror as he looked at her in the same way. I didn’t know much, but I was aware they were pissed off.“What did you do?” Aiden shouted angrily as he pulled Lily toward him and yelled at her.“No, let her be! I was the one who asked her to take me; she didn’t want to. She never did, even when I begged her. But she understood how important it was to me, and she agreed,” I blurted out, and Dominic looked at me with betrayal in his eyes.“That doesn’t mean anything. You betrayed me by meeting him. What point were you trying to prove?” he snapped.“No, I didn’t betray you. I owe you no loyalty. We’ll see about that, and yes, it meant a lot because Ivan had my…” I froze as I realized what I was about to say.
I noticed him freeze, his eyes locked onto mine, and everyone else's eyes widened. From the corner of my vision, I saw Aiden pulling Lily away by her hand, while the men walked off, presumably to give us some privacy.“What?” he asked, looking confused as he approached me.“I… feel safe with you… I feel like I belong here, like you’re my home. I went there to tell him…” I stammered, suddenly realizing what I was doing.I was about to back the truth with a lie. What if he never forgave me for this? How long could I maintain this deception, knowing it would eventually be revealed?He reached out and lifted my chin. As he gazed into my eyes, I could sense how much it meant to him to hear those words. “I’m sorry I was hard on you. I’m scared of losing you,” he said softly, and I looked at him with deep affection.I was right about one thing: I was falling for him, and there was no denying it. I loved it.“I’m sorry for being so reckless. I’ve been with Ivan for as long as I can remember,
Three days went by, and Dominic fixed the date for Eve’s remembrance, according to him he wanted to forget everything about her and move on.But no matter what he did, I still didn’t trust him enough, I knew I felt something for him, but o also knew that he had caused me so much pain in the past.I haven’t come across Harper since our last confrontation, as I have been stuck in my room. Tomorrow was the remembrance when the Italian mafia would pay respect to Eve as they left Don’s wife.I haven’t seen her, since the day she was dragged away, though Dominic had told me that he would be keeping her away for a bow, as he didn’t trust her anymore, so I knew she was safe.I was currently in the Art Valley looking at some of the old works I had worked on, my paintings screamed loneliness and pain and I knew that I had poured out my emotions into these paintings, and my heart gripped as I looked at them.“There you are,” Dominic said as I the d to look at him while placing a smile on my face
The man’s eyes widened in shock, but he tried to argue. "Ma'am, I—"I cut him off, my gaze boring into him. Whatever he saw there must have convinced him, because he shut his mouth quickly, his horror plain on his face. "This way, ma'am," he muttered.Before he could lead me away, the doctor caught up, panting and red-faced. "Okay, time to go back to your room," he said, sounding far too pleased with himself as if this was some minor misunderstanding that could be easily solved.The man raised a hand to stop him. "Don’t worry, Doctor. I’m taking her home," he said, his tone final. The doctor hesitated, looking between us, but didn’t argue.I followed the mafia man out of the hospital, my bare feet slapping against the cold floor until we reached the garage. He stopped in front of a sleek black car and turned to me, a puzzled look on his face. "Aren’t you going to change?" he asked, gesturing vaguely at my hospital gown.I crossed my arms and glared at him. "No, I’m not. Take me back
Clarissa POV The room was softly illuminated, shadows flickering on the walls as the late afternoon sun streamed through the curtains I could hear a faint murmur from outside, but it felt far away, like a fleeting memory just out of reach. My body throbbed with pain, each pulse a reminder of the turmoil that had transpired. I inhaled deeply, attempting to regain my composure, but the burden of my choices weighed heavily on me, like a thick blanket. I could see Lily standing there staring at me, Lily’s eyes were wide, shimmering with unshed tears, and I noticed her hands trembling as she gripped the edge of the bed. “You don’t get it, do you?” she said, her voice quaking. “This isn’t just about you. You’ve endangered yourself What if you got yourself killed? “What if?” I cut in, my voice rising. “What if I had done nothing? What if he had kept hurting people? I couldn’t just stand by and let that happen. Not anymore.” Anger surged within me, a fierce flame igniting the rem
A chill ran down my spine as I watched Dominic enter the room. His expression was devoid of emotion, leaving me unable to decipher what was going on in his mind.Fear gripped me, and anger surged through my veins. Lily, sensing the tension, excused herself, clearly not wanting to be caught in the middle of our conflict.I got up from the bed, realizing for the first time that I was still in my hospital gown, but it didn’t matter to me.I noticed the confusion and anger in his eyes as he looked at me."I trusted you," he said slowly. I held back my emotions while scanning him, memories of our life from a year ago flooding my mind. I wanted to scream about how much I had trusted him, but something stopped me.Did I really want him to know I was Eve?I understood that revealing my identity would mean he would never let me go. He would keep me against my will, and now that my memories had returned, I wasn’t sure I wanted to stay anymore.The only thing that mattered was getting my son bac
I watched as his knees buckled, falling to the ground. His face twisted in horror, confusion, and fear as his wide eyes locked onto mine. I stood frozen, trembling as I felt the tears sting my eyes. My heart raced, my body shook, and I wept, the weight of everything I had been holding onto crashing over me. I couldn’t keep it together any longer. I couldn’t hold it all in. I collapsed to the ground, my body convulsing with sobs as I cried out loud, my voice raw and broken. There was no stopping it now, no holding it back.It hurt. It hurt so much."Eve?" His voice was small, trembling as he spoke. His eyes begged for answers as he watched me break down in front of him. But I couldn’t bear to look at him. I turned my face away, shaking my head violently."No!" I screamed, my voice echoing in the small room. "No, don’t call me that. Don’t you dare call me that. I can’t... I can’t be her anymore."I yelled out at himMy words hung heavy in the air as I sobbed, curling in on myself as if
I knew goodbye isn't forever but this time it felt like it.I sat in the same rom i had saw lily alive the last time we met as i looked out the window i didnt even still accept it, she was gone , gone , i was never going to see her again, hold her hands and laugh at her cruel jokes, no one comforted me like she did and i knew , i was going to be lost without her.I was lost in thought, staring out the window,looking at the moon, when the sound of a faint giggle snapped me back to the present. I turned my head and saw my son,Leo, crawling toward me on his chubby hands and knees. My heart swelled as I stretched out my arms toward him, encouraging him to come faster. “Come on, sweetheart!” I cooed, my voice soft yet playful. Leo's giggles filled the room as he made his way to me, determination painted on his little face. When he finally reached me, I scooped him up, cradling him in my arms. “Good boy,” I whispered, kissing his forehead as his laughter bubbled up again. It was hard
Dominic POvI had to ensure the safety of my family; I needed to stand up for them. Clarissa was the only woman I had in my life, and Leo was my sole son.Staying back in my mansion and hiding away would only lead to more complications for me, which is why I resolved it was time to take action against them.I received intel that Ivan was in the area, and I wanted to track him down before he could inflict any harm on me. Then there was Vincent, whom I wished nothing more than to see dead for all the suffering he had caused me.After speaking with Clarissa, I realized I had to protect her from Camilla and her mother. She agreed to move into Lily's mansion that day, even though I knew it was difficult for her, given the memories of her best friend and the losses she had endured over the past few weeks.Ethan was one of my most trusted associates, and I assigned him to watch over her until I returned. It was evident that I might not make it back, and that thought filled me with dread.I w
“She hit me! That woman had the audacity to hit me!” Camilla shouted, and I could see the fury in Dominic’s eyes.“I saw you hit her first; that’s why you’re going home,” he said, nodding at his men who were holding her.“What? She pushed me! Isn’t she going to pay for that? I’m your wife!” she screamed in anger as he turned to look at me.“Take her home,” Dominic ordered in a loud voice, prompting his men to drag her away to the car. She struggled against them,"i am your wife, you cant treat me like these"she screamed as the held her, it was inapproatiate but i knew that no one cared, she was really a pain in the ass, and i didnt care what happens i only wanted her away from me. but they were stronger, and soon I watched them get into the car and drive off quickly.“I’m so sorry. Are you hurt?” he asked as he touched me, and I nodded in response.“I'll be fine,” I replied, glancing back at the grave. My grief seemed to wash over me all at once.It was happening; I could see it befo
I stood there dressed in black, watching as the coffin was lowered into the grave. I tried to cry, but the tears just wouldn’t come as I stood there, witnessing the burial of someone I had known my entire life, someone who felt more like a sister to me. Lily had no immediate family left, just a distant cousin and an aunt with whom she had little connection. So, Dominic and I made the decision to bury her; there was no point in keeping her remains. She was laid to rest beside her brother, Aiden.It felt like only yesterday that we stood in this very spot, holding hands as we watched Aiden being lowered into the ground. Now, I found myself in the same heartbreaking situation, watching the same thing happen to her. I glanced to my right and saw Dominic with a frown etched on his face, and I couldn’t help but wonder how he must be feeling.Although Lily and Dominic weren’t as close as he was to Aiden, he had seen her grow up, and she was the closest person he could call a sister. I could
She was correct. I was his vulnerability; everything that transpired with Dominic stemmed from me. How had I failed to recognize it? His love for me nearly shattered him. He was a proud man, unwilling to acknowledge it, yet I had been the one to ruin him.The morning sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting soft rays across the room. I lingered in bed longer than usual, my body feeling heavy and reluctant to rise.Meanwhile, Dominic had spent the night in Camila’s room. I could hear her cries of ecstasy echoing through the walls, and all I could do was weep into my pillow.Leo nestled closely in my arms, his gentle breathing creating a soothing rhythm against my chest. The thought of leaving him alone in his room, fearing he might be taken from me again, was unbearable; I couldn't let him out of my sight.A sudden knock at the door jolted me. I sighed, shifting slightly without disturbing him."Come in," I called softly, pulling Leo closer.The door creaked open, re
I turned abruptly, my body instinctively orienting toward her.I wasn’t sure what I anticipated—surprise, anger, disgust—but what I received was far worse. Camila’s eyes widened, her pupils nearly engulfed by the intensity of what she was witnessing.Then the horror struck. Pure, visceral horror twisted her features as if she had been hit.Her voice sliced through the tension like a whip.“You… How could you do this?” she shouted.I stood frozen, my feet glued to the spot. Her voice echoed, and I could sense the pain lacing her words.Before I could respond, before I could even process what was happening, Dominic moved. In one smooth motion, he stepped in front of me, shielding me with his presence.“There’s no need to react or be dramatic,” he stated firmly. His tone was calm, yet the authority behind it made me flinch.Camila threw her head back and laughed, the sound sharp and piercing, as if ridiculing us both. Her laughter ceased abruptly, and when she turned to Dominic, her expr
There was no safety, no safety at all while Vincent and Ivan were out there.We worked tirelessly to find Vincent, but we weren't even close. Then, after three days, we received an unwelcome visitor.Harper just showed up at the mansion and wanted to talk. I didn't want to engage with her because of how she had treated and humiliated me countless times, but I couldn't turn her away.I walked into the courtyard where she sat, staring into space, and I could barely recognize her. Her hair was cut short, and she looked pale—too pale—and a bit thin.I stood there for more than a minute until her eyes fell on me. Then she smiled. I couldn't tell if it was genuine, but I knew she was trying to be friendly, which didn't sit well with me. I hadn't seen her for months, and honestly, I had never thought of her after all the harm she had caused me and our family.“Eve…” she stood up, calling me by my old name. I looked back at her with a poker face that revealed no emotions. I couldn't speak, no
Charissa povI followed him into his office, my heart pounding in my chest as I watched his broad shoulders tense. He didn’t say a word as he entered, leaving the door open just long enough for me to step through before he shut it firmly behind me. The sound of the latch clicking into place echoed in the silence, making me flinch.For a second, I stood frozen, unsure of what was about to happen. I thought he was going to yell at me. Maybe he would tell me how reckless I had been, how my actions had put us in even more danger. His silence only made it worse; the weight of it pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe.But then, before I could say a word, he turned and pulled me into his arms. His embrace caught me off guard. I stiffened, my body unsure how to respond, but his arms tightened around me, holding me close, and gradually, I melted into him. I could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my back, and it was strangely soothing. “Dominic,” I whispered, my voic
I felt a little oppressed, to be sincere but that didn't stop me, three people had died last night and one of them was more than a sister to me ,and i wanted to see their death avenge by the man that killed then , nad the least thing i wanted was camilla adding him get away.Vincent was a nightmare and monster and he has caused me a lot of pain and sorrow, and more than anything I wanted him to pay for what he had done.I clenched my fists at my sides, my jaw tight. “I don’t have proof,” I admitted. “But I know she did it. She left last night, Vincent disappeared, and now she’s back like nothing happened? It doesn’t add up.”i said looking right into valentina eyes even though she was glaring daggers at me, i didn't care.Valentina’s lips curled into a sneer. “And who are you to make such accusations, hmm? You’re no one,Clarissa. Just the ex-wife of the Don. You hold no rank here, no authority. You should count yourself lucky that Dominic even lets you stay under his roof.”she snapped