“Who is there?” Came Valentine’s harsh voice as Leonardo felt his feet freeze to the ground while the other man approached. For some reason, he couldn’t move, shocked by what was going on and the fact that he had been played.As the door flung open to reveal Valentine's harsh gaze, Leonardo swallowed, feeling completely dumb as the other man stared at him for a few seconds.“Leonardo,” he started with a smile, like the psychopath he was.“Have you been eavesdropping?” Valentine asked as he approached, his right hand behind his back as if hiding something. Leonardo was stunned for a second, but his survival instinct kicked in instantly.At this point, Valentine was very dangerous, and getting out of this house should be his main priority.“What did you hear?” Valentine asked, cutting into Leonardo’s thoughts, who forced a smile.“You are mistaken, Valentine,” Leonardo began, shaking his head.“I came here to talk,” he said again as both men's gazes remained intent on each other.“You a
"In five minutes, some people will come over to your place. Old friends of mine. I might call them," Damian said as he paced majestically in his study, feeling extremely proud of himself."You might be wondering what friends I have…" Damian paused, as if expecting a response."Or maybe you already know them?" Damian asked with a raised brow."The Tigers," Damian said in a grim tone. "They've been all over the city, looking for you, dear uncle," he said, folding his arms."You…" Valentine tried to steady his shaky hands as beads of sweat formed on his forehead."Don't," Damian interrupted. "It's just five minutes," he said again. "Are you sure you want to waste your precious time battling words with me, or is saving your life more important?""How would you know who The Tigers are? You bastard!" Valentine exclaimed."Hmmm… let me think. I did a small background research on you in the past, which didn't give me much result. But then, I do have some friends in the underworld, uncle," Dam
Damian closed the last file on his desk and stretched his arm to signify how tired he was. He checked his wristwatch; it was past 10. Shit! He had been so engrossed in work that he had overstayed. With that in mind, he silently prayed Ravenna wouldn't get mad as it was their wedding anniversary. He packed the important files into his office bag, walked quickly out of the building, and headed to the car park where the company car assigned to him as a Department leader was parked. He drove to the cake shop, praying they would still have the flavor of cake Ravenna loved."The cheesecake, please," Damian said to the attendant with a smile."Sure," she replied with a smile and turned to prepare his order. As Damian waited, he spoke up again. "Ughh… I'm sorry to trouble you, but it's my wedding anniversary, and I would like it if you could put some kind of decoration on it. Something a woman would like," Damian said nervously, unsure if the lady would oblige."No problem," the lady said pol
"Ugh?" Ravenna asked, seemingly unsure of what she had heard the first time."I will take the blame for Father," Damian reiterated."Bullshit!" Ravenna snapped."Ravenna, please. Let me do this. Okay?" Damian pleaded with his eyes, while her parents observed the exchange."You're okay with divorcing me?" Ravenna asked incredulously."It's not a must the divorce paper will be real. You know I can't live without you," Damian said."Oh, come on. I can't believe you'll agree to this madness. Do you know the kind of critics you'll receive from people?" She asked, desperately trying to change his mind.Damian sighed and shifted his gaze to his father-in-law. The expression on his face was unreadable, while Damian found himself caught between trying to please both Daughter and Father. He knew this wasn't solely about Ravenna; it was about proving to Lucian that he was worth something, that he could do anything..."It won't be solely about the shame and ridicule the King family will endure fr
Ravenna traced the strokes of scars on his belly as Damian winced. Some were still fresh, and others old. “Who did this to you?” Ravenna asked through gritted teeth, her eyes fixed on his stomach.“Ravenna….” Damian called calmly, aware of her anger. He needed to calm her down or she might do something drastic.“Those bastards….” she seethed and rushed towards the door, but Damian blocked her path.“Ravenna, please calm down,” Damian begged, his gaze fixed on her bloodshot eyes.“Calm down?” She chuckled incredulously. “They are treating you like a wild animal!” She shouted, tears streaming down her face. “Why? Why were you trying to hide it from me?”“Because I knew you'd react like this. I didn't want to see you hurt, Ravenna. It hurts me,” Damian said in frustration.Ravenna shook her head. “It’s my fault,” she muttered bitterly. “I let Dad do this to you.”“No, it’s not your fault. They just don't like me in here,” Damian defended Lucian once again.“Why do you keep defending Dad?
After a long moment of lovemaking on the couch, Ravenna lay on Carlos’s chest as she traced a tattoo on his skin."Like it?" Carlos asked as he rubbed her hair."It's..." she started and pressed her lips. She didn't know how to describe the tattoo on his chest. It looked like a serpent curling around the stalk of a flower."Phenomenal," Ravenna finally said. "What inspired it?" She asked, raising her head to meet his gaze."Just... a random drawing," Carlos shrugged. He knew this conversation wasn't what Ravenna wanted. Despite the satisfying hours of lovemaking, the tension remained, with many unresolved matters."Don't blame yourself," Carlos said."For what?" Ravenna feigned innocence.Carlos sighed and sat up, Ravenna watching him. "You...""I don't want to talk about him," she said, blinking.Carlos let out an incredulous chuckle. "Why?" He questioned, but she didn't reply immediately. "One moment, you're all angry about him being in jail, and now you're...""I've thought about i
Damian slowly opened one eye, despite the throbbing pain in his head. "Argh…," he winced while attempting to get up. A middle-aged man rushed to his side, worry in his eyes as he looked down at Damian. Confused, Damian realized he was in a hospital bed with his body aching like hell."What the hell?" Damian exclaimed. "Why am I here?" he asked, wincing again as talking seemed to intensify his pain. Then he remembered the warden."Young master, I'm glad you're finally awake. I've been looking for you since your father's passing," the man said with a smile.Damian blinked, trying to recall where he'd seen this man before. "Who are you?" Damian managed to ask."Don't you remember me?" the man blinked in return. "I'm Roberto, your father's butler," he said. Damian stared, not convinced."I'm an orphan," Damian retorted, his frustration evident. He felt betrayed by the kings and his wife, and he wasn't inclined to trust another unknown person claiming to know him."Why am I here instead of
"Wh-what?" Damian asked."Yes, sir," Roberto affirmed."Oh my God. No wonder you could get the head of the police to release him," Damian shook his head."The Santoro family holds immense power in Italy," Roberto offered without being asked. "I’m so sorry you had to go through what you went through while you lived as Damian... I am so sorry, Young Master," he bowed his head in apology as Damian stared at him in shock. No one has ever bowed to him before. Ever. And this right now felt surreal."No, no. Get up. I mean, don’t do that," Damian said quickly."No, Young Master. I deserved to be punished," he said and stood upright. "You have always been your father’s golden boy, his precious little boy…" he said in sobs as Damian held back the urge to laugh because of the funny look on his face. "When I found out how unfairly you were treated in jail, I almost killed myself for disappointing Sir," Roberto sniffed as Damian chuckled slightly."You are such a comedian, Roberto," Damian said,