Chapter 31
“I must say, Miranda, I didn’t know you had this much power, Rafael mused.!!
She flicked her hair over her shoulder, amusement lacing her tone. “Oh, darling, there’s a lot you don’t know about me.”
Rafael hummed, as if intrigued. “So? Who’s backing you up?”
Miranda’s fingers tapped against the leather of the steering wheel. The Hexagon East
Silence stretched between them before Rafael let out a low whistle. “Impressive
“I know she purred. “With them behind me, taking down Darius is just a matter of time.”
Rafael let out a short laugh “Let’s not kill him. Let’s take his empire instead–pulverize it to the ground until there’s nothing left. Until he has to watch everything he built burn.”
A wicked thrill shot through Miranda’s veins. That was exactly the kind of destruction she enjoyed.
“Now that” she murmured, is a plan I can get behind.
“Meet me at my favorite bar–Toscano Lounge. You remember the place.
Miranda’s smirk widened, “Of course. See you there, love.”
She hung up, sighing in satisfaction.
The pieces were falling into place.
Valeria was about to lose everything. Darius would wake up to ruins. And soon, she would have her fun.
Her gaze snapped back to the rearview mirror. Penelope was still hugging herself, her small body trembling from crying too much. Miranda exhaled in irritation.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” she snopped. “Enough with the tears, girl!”
The girl flinched, but Miranda was far from done.
“Didn’t Valeria teach you to toughen up? Or did she make you as weak as she is?”
Penelope stayed silent, biting her lip hard
Miranda rolled her eyes. “You think she loves you? That woman? She only kept you because she thought you were hers. If she knew the truth, she would’ve thrown you away without a second thought.”
Penelope’s breath hitched.X
Miranda grinned.
“That’s right, sweetheart,” she cooed. “You were just a replacement for her dead baby. That’s all you ever were.”
Penelope sniffled, her hands gripping her armis tightly.
Miranda’s smirk widened as she pressed harder.
“Face it, little one. You belong to me.“”
-VALERIA-
Darius’s hand was warm in mine, but the steady beeping of the monitors reminded me that he wasn’t awake. He was here, yet at the same time, he wasn’t. Not really.
Outside, Ronan and the rest of Darius’s men stood guard, turning his hospital room into a fortress. After what happened, they weren’t taking any risks. But none of that mattered to me right now
I looked down at him, my fingers tightening around his. My voice came out hoarse, strained from exhaustion and the weight of unspoken
fears.
to wake up
“You need to
Nothing.
“Danus…” My throat tightened, my vision blurring. “You once told me you don’t fear death. That nothing scares you.”
I let out a shaky breath, forcing the words out. “But you should be scared right now. Because if you die, I’ll never forgive you.”
Sull no response. No twitch of his fingers, no flicker of movement beneath his closed eyelids. Just the rhythmic beeping of the machines keeping him stable.
Clenching my jaw, I moved my free hand to my stomach, pressing gently against the barely noticeable curve. My pulse pounded in my ears as I whispered,
“You have a reason to wake up now.”
I inhaled sharply, forcing myself to say it. “I’m pregnant, Darius.”
I waited, my heart hammering, desperate for anything–any sign that he heard me.!
But there was nothing
A lump formed in my throat as I brushed my fingers over his knuckles “You always said you wanted a family. Well, here it is
Still no reaction.
Tears burned my eyes as frustration and helplessness clawed at my chest. “Wake up, damn it””
But there was nothing.
A lump formed in my throat as I brushed my fingers over his knuckles. “You always said you wanted a family. Well, here it is! Still no reaction
Tears burned my eyes as frustration and helplessness clawed at my chest. “Wake up, damn it”
I leaned forward, resting my forehead against his hand, feeling its warmth but no trace of life beyond that. The exhaustion weighed down on me, and at some point, sleep pulled me under
When I woke up, Ronan was standing by the door, his face unreadable &
“Lorenzo is here.
I sat up instantly, my body stiffening at the name
“Tell him to leave, I said, my voice cold.
Ronan didn’t move “He says he knows who’s behind the accident
The air tumed frigid around me.
My heartbeat slammed against my ribs as I stood. “Where is he?
I found Lorenzo in the hospital cafeteria, sitting in a quiet, secluded comer. He looked better than the last time I saw him–less pale, more composed–but when our eyes met, there was something cautious in his gaze.!!!
“Valeria,” he greeted, his tone unreadable.
I ignored the coffee he slid toward me and sat across from him, hands flat on the table. “Who did it?“”
Lorenzo exhaled slowly, as if expecting my impatience. “You never change. No small talk, straight to the point 2
I had no patience for games. “Tell me who tried to kill Darius.”
His expression darkened. “My brother”
The blood in my veins turned to ice.
“Rafael.”
Lorenzo gave a slow nod. “He’s the one pulling the strings”
A storm of rage surged through me, raw and consuming. My fingers curled into fists. “Where is he?”
“Looking for his next move, I assume, Lorenzo said, his voice laced with quiet bitterness.
“When I see him, I will kill him.“2
A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, but there was no amusement in his eyes. “You always were ruthless.” “Give me his location.”
He studied me for a long moment before shaking his head 2
