Adeline Pov

I will sign it.

I couldn't move, the room felt impossibly still, my breath caught as my spine snapped straight.

I suddenly had the courage to move, my hands were trembling while I pressed them against my mouth. I felt numb—so numb that my tears refused to fall.

“Mom…” I whispered, then I collapsed on the bare ground.

“I—-I’m scared… stand up now,” I stammered.

But she didn't move. My eyes widened as I saw blood trickling from her hand, and a knife lying on the floor.

“No…no, please, mom,” I whispered, panic welled knotting in my throat. The tears finally came, streaming down my face.

“I'm sorry…I'm so selfish. I didn't think about you…all I cared about was me.” I said as I bit my lips, “Please…get up.”

I grabbed my phone with shaking hands and dialed the ambulance, I fell back, screaming, “Where is the fucking ambulance?”

My chest heaved, I kissed her hand, “Mom…don't give up. You are strong, I'll do whatever you want. Just…stay with me.”

The room was quiet except from my sobs, and my body shook uncontrollably, and my heart was pounding like it would burst.

‡

I sat down utterly still, emotionally shattered, What if…what if she didn't make it? The idea was unbearable. If she died… I would never forgive myself. Never.

I had always caused her pain. She was right—I was just another burden. A fucking burden.

I wiped my tears slowly, I knew what I had to do.

“I…I have to do this,” I muttered to myself, and walked out of the ward.

Before coming to the hospital, I had already grabbed the card that was on the table. I let out a shaky breath and dialed the number, but it didn't go through. I tried again—it kept ringing.

Just as I was about to give up, the idiot picked up.

“Uh,” he shrugged.

I rolled my eyes, I can't believe I'm doing this, “It's me…Ade….Adeline,” I muttered.

“Talk, I have a lot of things to do,” he said.

Why is he so arrogant? I muttered under my breath.

“About the contract… I will sign it.”

“Okay. I'll send someone to drop a document at your house, the rules are there. Then I'll tell you what to do.” He hung up before I could say a word.

I stared at my phone. What the fuck just happened? But there was no time to dwell. I had to get back.

I walked back into the ward, “When will you wake up, Mom? You're taking so long,” I whispered, resting my head on her hand.

Then, suddenly, her fingers twitched. My eyes snapped open.

“Mom…are you awake?” I questioned.

Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked at me in a way that I hadn't seen in a long time.

“Mom…why did you have to do this to me? You know how much I care about you! You could have died! What were you thinking?”

“Adeline….” she whimpered.

“I've always worried about you…about whether you'd be happy, whether you'd ever have someone to protect you.”

I shook my head, tears rolling down my cheeks, “Mom…you don't need to worry about anything. I will make you happy. I'm so sorry…for everything.”

I let out a shaky breath, “I've called him, and I have accepted to marry him.”

Her eyes widened, “Really? You would do this…for me?” She smiled, and it was like the sun had broken through the clouds.

I nodded, holding her hand tightly, “Yes, Mom. For you, I promise I'll be okay…I'll be happy.”

She squeezed my hand weakly, and a tear rolled down her cheek.

“You've made me so proud, Adeline,” she whispered. “I just want to see you smile…truly smile, my baby.”

“Mom, get well soon,” I uttered.

She nodded, and smiled.

Then suddenly, someone interrupted us.

“Get well soon,” he said, dropping a flower on the table.

My mom chuckled, and she almost tried to stand. I quickly placed a hand on her shoulder, “Mom, you're just getting better. Don't stress yourself.”

She smiled, “Alex Muretti came to visit me? My day can't get any better!”

Alex smirked, I rolled my eyes at him.

“Why the dead flowers?” I scoffed.

“Some reminders are more effective than words,” he said.

I grabbed his hand and dragged him out, “How did you know we're here?” I demanded.

He smirked, “I always know where you are…and where I'm needed.”

“You are not needed here. The papers—I will sign them. You don't have to keep showing up unannounced.”

He didn't say anything, he just stared at me.

“Everything is your fault,” I snapped. “If you hadn't come into my life…if you hadn't offered money to mom… she wouldn't be here. We wouldn't have argued, and none of this would have happened.”

It feels like there is a rage polluting my insides, my organs feel like they're waiting and rotting beneath it.

His eyes darkened, and his upper lips threatened to curl, “Blame me if that makes you feel better,” he said in a low voice.” “But understand this—every choice I make, it's always…about you.”

He stared at me with plexing pale blue eyes nestled beneath his dark brows.

Dread formed in the pit of my stomach, “About me? You—”

He stepped closer, close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from him, and I could see the pulse throbbing in my veins.

“Stay out of my life,” I scoffed, but my voice wavered.

He tilted his head, a smile curled in the corner of his lips, “I don't stay out of what I want,” he said. “And right now… I want you.”

A strand of sweat trickled down my back, betraying the anxiety I was trying to hide, I opened my mouth, my voice trembling, “I…hate—”

He glanced at me, and leaned in, “Be careful how you finish that sentence,” he whispered to my ear.

My leg trembled as I staggered back until my back hit the wall, and I attempted to hold my breath on the onset of nausea.

He leaned in again, “I don't choose you because it made sense…I chose you because you haunt me and I want only you.”

Alex Pov

Alliances and Favor

The mansion didn't simply stand; it commanded. Its doors were shoulders squared, and carved with swirling vines. An enormous leather sofa sagged in the centre, while a crystal chandelier hung above.

My father sat down on the couch, fingers steepled, his gaze fixed directly on me. Most people called him Sebastian Moretti, but to me he'd always been Dad-a title that felt smaller than the man wearing it.

"I can't marry Vivian, Dad. I just can't."

"Listen, Alex," he said. "She's your childhood friend. You two are close, What's so bad about marrying her now? I know you're not seeing anyone, so marrying Vivian isn't a problem. You're getting married to her. That's final."

"Dad, who told you I have no one?" I snapped back. "I have a girlfriend. Since you're pushing me to get married so soon, I'll bring her to you."

My father raised his brow, "A girlfriend? I know you, Alex. What game are you playing?"

He was right. In the past I'd played games, had one-night stands with girls whose names I barely remembered. But thinking about Adeline was different. I'd never fantasized about a girl this way, never actually loved anyone. Sex had been easy, and she wasn't.

"It's not a game, Dad," I said. "I have a girlfriend."

He sighed, leaning back, "If that's what you want, fine by me. Bring her tomorrow." Then he stood and walked away.

My father was the kind of man who never forced me to do what I didn't want to do. Or at least I used to believe that. Right now it felt as if there was something between him and Vivian's family I didn't understand. Even when he'd wanted me to take over Moretti's Empire we'd argued, and in the end he'd let it go. I'd refused because I didn't want to live off my father's wealth.

My phone blinked.

"I'm at your gate, I think there is something wrong with your guard."

I scoffed, and headed for the door, "Hey, let him in," I told the guard. Then I went back to the sofa.

Xavier walked in, "Alex Moretti," he said, glancing at me.

I scoffed, "Xavier Falcone."

He was fond of calling me by my full name; I'd learned to throw it back at him when I was too tired to respond any other way.

Xavier's expression turned stern, "Let's talk about business."

I raised an eyebrow, "Is it about the new resorts we are handling?"

Xavier shook his head, "The restaurant owner in Queens. Owes my father's men fifty thousand dollars. He's about to disappear. My father, what's to know if your trucks can move his kitchen equipment and some gadget before the cops show up."

I rubbed my temples, "Xavier, I told you. I don't mix my company with your father's loan business."

He grinned, "Relax, it's just storage space. You have warehouses, we both make money."

I glanced at him, "And when someone gets shot over that? Whose name is on the trucks?"

"Yours," he said. "You're Moretti, you can get past it."

"I'm not interested," I shrugged.

"You think I like this? I'm not part of my father's world. I've never touched his loan business. But he's threatening me, Alex. If I don't do this one job, he will drag me through his mess, I'm stuck."

I let out a breath, "You should've told me sooner."

"I didn't want to drag you into it," he said. "But I can't handle this alone."

I studied him, he wasn't the type of man trying to pull me into the mud; this was my close friend.

"You're not your father," I said. "You've kept clean all these years. I know that."

He gave a shaky laugh, "Try telling him that."

I walked around the desk and clasped his shoulder, "Alright, I'll help you. But we do it my way. I'm not letting him use you like this.

He smiled, "Thank you Alex."

I scoffed, "Whatever."

Xavier leaned back in his chair, "So, about the resort. We can't just slap a name on it and expect people to come. We need the experience to be as exclusive as our clients."

I nodded, tapping my fingers on the desk, "Agreed. I've been thinking about villas. Private pools, it shouldn't be that flashy, but luxurious in a subtle way. I think people pay for privacy, not gold-plated chandeliers. What do you think?"

He grinned, "Exactly."

"Come to think of it, Alex."

"Your dad texted me," he said. "Who's that girl?"

I arched my brow, "Girl?"

"Don't play dumb. You claimed to have a girlfriend."

"I lied, there's no girl," I said, standing up. I already knew my father wouldn't believe me and would run a background check. I'd prepared fake scenarios just in case.

Xavier followed me down the stairs. He was on my back and there was no shaking him today. I halted and faced him.

"That girl..." he said, arcing a brow. "The same girl you kept denying you were obsessed with?"

I shrugged and opened my room door.

"Tell me," he purred. "Why aren't you talking?"

I ignored him.

He grinned cheekily, "I knew it. It's been over two years, hasn't it? You came to meet my father and did what you've never done in your life. I knew something was wrong but you just kept denying it."

He would taunt me with this now that he'd pieced it together. My father has ruined it for me.

The first time I saw her photo with Giovanni Falcone. Xavier's father, the man who owned half the city's debts, I thought she was the one who borrowed money, then I had a plan...but I had a change of plan after finding out that it was her mother.

My muscles tightened, I couldn't stop thinking about her, it wasn't love, not the way people write songs about it. I wanted to know everything about her; where she lives, who she talked to, what she liked.

I've never been the kind of man who cared about anything that wasn't my business. I only cared about my company but Adeline....I went further, paid people, pulled strings.

I hate admitting it, even in my own head, but for a year and a half that's what I became. Whether her mother accepted my money or not, I knew a hundred ways to make Adeline mine.

Adeline Pov

Dinner

I glanced at Alex as he drove, and then I closed my eyes and tried to breathe. Okay, Adeline...you can do this. You're going to meet his dad, and you'll have to...I thought about acting all lovey-dovey, pretending to be the perfect girlfriend, Gosh I hate this.

Why does this feel like I'm walking into a battlefield? I muttered. He caught my face in the rearview mirror, and he raised an eyebrow. He knows I'm over thinking, doesn't he?

I bit my lips slowly, Adeline you've done crazier things before... haven't you?

"My dad won't bite you," he said, without even glancing at me.

"What do you mean?" I shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant, though my heart was pounding so fast.

He didn't reply, his eyes stayed on the road.

I tried to focus on my breathing. In all honesty, I really don't understand why I am this nervous.

He drove quietly for a few more minutes until a black car pulled over in front of us. Alex slowed down and parked behind it.

I gulped down nothing, glancing at him.

He got down from the car, "Get the fuck away from the road."

A lady stepped out from the black vehicle and walked toward us.

The moment Alex saw her, his expression changed instantly, and his eyes narrowed, leaning slightly against the car.

"Vivian, what's this about?" he questioned.

Vivian smiled, "What's this about?" she repeated, glancing at me. "So it's true...you really have a girlfriend."

Alex's expression didn't change, "Is that a problem?"

She grinned...and then suddenly snapped, "Yes, it's a problem! You can't just bring a random, cheap whore and say you want to marry her after everything I did for you!"

My eyes widened, staring at them both. My heart stirs in my chest, I knew Alex was a psycho, but I didn't want to be the villain in anyone's love story. And right now, that's exactly how it looked.

Instantly, Alex pinned her against the car, his eyes darkened, "Say any other word about her, and you will know that I don't joke with what is mine! If you weren't a lady...if you weren't my friend...I know where you would be right now."

He released her, "Take that fucking vehicle out of the way before I lose it."

Vivian moved back, and then she glared at me, then turned and walked away, her heels made some kind of noise.

I wanted to ask questions, but I brushed them off. I wasn't ready to start any conversation with the man sitting next to me, so I turned my face towards the window.

Some minutes later, we finally arrived. My eyes widened, though I forced myself to hide my surprise. The mansion before me was breathtaking-elegantly designed, with sprawling gardens and different employees.

I stepped out of the car, my gaze lingered on the exterior, trying to process the scenarios playing on my head.

Alex's voice snapped me out of my thoughts, "Are you okay?"

I turned toward him, "Yes....I'm fine," I managed to say.

He didn't reply, but tilting his lips suggested he knew I wasn't being completely honest.

‡

The dining room was massive, elegantly decorated, with a long table set for at least a dozen guests. At the head was his father I glanced at him and smiled, "Hello...I'm Adeline, I have heard so much about you."

If that's the right thing to say...I mean, I haven't even heard a thing about him. Taking a deep breath.

Alex's father raised an eyebrow, I felt a tiny bead of sweat form at my temple, wishing I'd said something smarter, maybe more impressive.

He glanced at me, "Sebastian Moretti. Nice to meet you," he said suddenly, and I was relieved that he had responded.

God, this is insane, I thought, sipping my water. I'm literally playing the role of a girlfriend in front of his family...and the man I'm with makes everything ten times more intense.

He glanced at me, "Is this some kind of game you two are playing?"

I hesitated, his dad knows what exactly his son his capable of.

Sebastian raised an eyebrow, "Pardon?"

I shook my head quietly, placing my hand gently over Alex's, "It's not a game. We...love each other so much."

Alex gaze met mine, I could tell he hadn't expected me to say that, but after a moment, he shook it off with a smile.

"Dad, I told you before... it's real this time," Alex said.

His father set down his cutlery and wiped his mouth with his napkin, "I don't know much about you," he said. "But the little I do know...I don't know what's in my son's head. Before any engagement can happen, you'll have to prove to me once that you truly love him."

I raised an eyebrow, "What?"

He nodded, "Yes, you heard me right."

Alex nudged me lightly with his leg under the table, then he cleared his throat, giving me some kind of look.

I forced a smile, "It's fine by me," I said, immediately dropping my gaze, feeling my heart pound.

Of course...this is exactly what life with rich people looks like, everything here screams control, power.. and rules I don't even know existed.

"Excuse me," his dad said and walked away.

I let out a breath that I didn't even know that I was holding, and yanked my hand out of Alex's grip, "You could at least told me that your father was this hard," I said.

"He is not always like this, I will talk to him," he said looking directly at his phone.

I made my lips twitch, "I hate this. You know I don't even like you, can you just stop making me do this."

"And yet you are, sitting beside me and holding my hand," he replies and goosebumps scatter across my flesh.

I shot him a glare, "Don't flatter yourself. This is a contract, Alex. I'm only here because of my Mom."

He tilted his head, "Good girl. You remember the rules, wifey."

I pushed my chair back, and pulse quickened.

Don't say it, Adeline. Don't say what's on your tongue. I knew exactly what I was about to do, blow up this fucking arrangement with one angry sentence, and I bit my lips trying to hold back my words, gripping the edge of the table until my knuckles whitened.

"Don't call me that, I am not your wife yet," I snapped.

"Sooner or later, you will be my wife," he replied.

"I am leaving," I fixated my gaze towards the door, trying to avoid his gaze, and then I walked away immediately.

‡

It wasn't long after Alex dropped me at home that a knock echoed on the door. Mom was in her room, so I groggily stood up and went to open it.

My eyes widened, "Vivian?"

She wrinkled her nose, "Gosh, I can't believe you live in this filty place."

I smirked, "I didn't know you were so obsessed with me that you'd stalk me to my house. Now tell me, who's filty?"

Her jaw clenched and she pushed me aside, "Do you even know who I am? How dare you talk to Vivian like that?" she jabbed a finger toward me.

"I won't accept disrespect either," I snapped back.

"I don't care who you are, you might think you're above me, but we're still breathing the same air, got it?"

Her eyes darkened, and she glanced at me with fury, "Mark my words-read my lips, bitch...I will make you regret ever coming near Alex."

I rolled my eyes and gripped the door, "Watch this same bitch marry him right in your face. You know what? Alex wants me, not you. That's another reason to remind you that you're nothing to him and your money means nothing. Got it? I'll send my wedding invitation."

I slammed the door in her face and leaned back against it, breathing hard, I'll let her know that even a snake can choke on it's own venom.