"Vexen, you know that I love you and I want the best of you, right?" he said. Even though I wondered what he was doing, I nodded. "You're already twenty-five and not getting any younger. And I'm old too. So I want to see you get married before I die." I swallowed. I don't think I'll like what Papà has to say to me. "And?" "I want you to marry the second son of the Mancini, he said, making my eyes widen. "I'm sorry, Papà. I must have heard wrong. Potrebbe ripetare per favore?" Can you please say that again? "Voglio che tu sposi il secondogenito dei Mancini." He repeated what he said, so I really stood up. "No! No, Papa. I won't marry him!" "Vexen! I already made a promise to Mr. Mancini that you would marry his second son!" I shook my head. What's the trick again? I will marry Mancini's slender son. Maybe instead of him protecting me, I will protect him! "No, Papa! I will not marry him!" "You will not embarrass me at the Mancini, Vexen!" I laughed. Why is it because he's making an agreement? He's not the one getting married! "All my life I've been following your orders, Papà! Even if it's dangerous for me! I followed your orders with no complaints, so please, just this once. Spare me just this once, Papà!" "No, Vexen! If you will not marry the second son of Mancini, then forget that you have a father! And I will forget you and treat you as a dead person if you say no again!" I couldn't believe I was looking at my father. I wanted to cry, but I was so surprised that he could tell me that. Just because I won't marry the Mancini family, will he forget that I'm his daughter? I laughed and shook my head, one after another. "No. I will not marry the Mancini, and if that's what you want, then I will forget that I have a father, too, I said before I left his office and went to my room.
Prologue
I cursed when I heard gunshots one after another. I moved so quickly that my footsteps ran noiselessly to hide. I caught my breath when I saw a door. I first positioned myself on the side and prepared the gun before I slowly opened the door.
I immediately pointed the gun in front of me when I entered the room. I was relieved to see that no one else was there. I closed the door and immediately hid behind the big boxes that were there when I heard a voice from outside.
"Find her! Find that bitch! Dead or alive!"
I took a deep breath. I guess I pissed off their ugly boss.
"Hey, V., are you still alive?"
I raised my eyebrows and adjusted my earpiece before answering. "Alive and kicking, Archer."
I heard his laugh, and I just got tired. Thanks to him, he is not inside this mansion; otherwise, I will make him a shield from the enemies.
"How many are left?" I asked.
"Five goons plus the ugly lord, so six."
I cursed. I only have three bullets left and a hunting knife. I shouldn't miss my shots. So that I only have two problems and will fight with a knife.
"You know, Archer. Why don't you come down here and help me? So you're useful." I said while fixing the handkerchief on my wounded arm. The bleeding stopped, and the pain is bearable, so I know that I can still do it even without his help. I'm just annoyed that he doesn't do anything while watching me through his sniper scope.
"I helped you already, V. I already killed five people for you."
"And I killed thirty, so thanks a lot." I said with a lot of sarcasm to him. He chuckled.
"I saw you rolling your eyes." he said, so I looked at the window of that room. I raised my middle finger, and that earned a laugh from him.
"Tracer, where are they?" I asked my other partner for that mission because Archer was not a sensible person to talk to.
"Three are on that floor, and the other two are with the boss on the third floor."
I nodded even though he couldn't see me. I took a deep breath before leaving the room I was hiding in.
I did a light run, so I couldn't make any sound. I made my way to the stairs, hoping to get to the drug lord first, but before I got to the stairs, I saw a man coming down there. He also seemed surprised to see me and was about to pull out a gun, but I moved faster and got ahead of him. I shot his head to make sure he was dead immediately.
It seems that the two men felt the commotion I made because I saw them approaching me. They immediately opened fire, so I quickly hid behind the stairs. I waited until they ran out of bullets before I went out and quickly fired one after the other.
And boom. Just like that, three men were already dead. And I'm out of bullets, so I took the gun from the man on the stairs. I smiled. Five bullets. Cool.
I quickly climbed the stairs and went to the office of the drug lord in this mansion. This is definitely where the broken one is hiding. And I also know that when I open this door, two of his men will rain bullets on me.
But oh well. Fuck it. Let's do this. Head on!
I kicked the door with all my might to open it. And I wasn't wrong. They immediately started shooting at me, so I hid behind the wall that was there. For sure, they'll run out of bullets very soon.
When the sound of gunshots stopped, I came out of my hiding place. I saw two of the drug lord's men who looked like they were going to change the magazine of their gun, but I didn't let them and immediately shot them in the head.
Boom. Head shot. Dead.
The ugly lord tried to point his gun at me, but I shot his hand, so he let go of the gun. He tried to run away, but I shot his leg this time. He knelt down and looked at me with pleading eyes.
"No, please. Spare me." he begged. I just laughed.
"I heard you calling me a bitch earlier, and you won't get away easily because of that." I said, and I immediately put the hunting knife I had on his leg without hitting it. He groaned in pain and started to call me by my name again.
"You bitch! I will fucking kill you!" he said angrily to me. I was so annoyed that I pulled out the knife from his leg and was about to stab it again when I heard Tracer's voice.
"The El Ordre wanted him alive, V." He said that I stopped. I tsked before I cleaned my knife with the ugly Lord's shirt.
"Clean up this mess. I'll see you in our place." I said to Tracer and Archer before I left the mansion and got on my MV Agusta. I heard Archer's whistle in my earpiece.
"Damn that sexy motorcycle." he said when he saw me riding the MV Agusta. I just laughed and put on the helmet before driving away from that mansion.
When I arrived at the condo where we were staying for that mission, Violet immediately met me to clean my arm wound.
"You're here, so I'm guessing that the mission was a success." she said, and I just laughed. She doesn't seem to need an answer.
Half an hour had passed, and Violet had already finished dressing my wound when Tracer and Archer arrived. They immediately sat next to me on the sofa I was sitting on. Tracer immediately opened his laptop, while Archer took the sniper out of the bag to clean it.
"How's your wound?" Archer asked.
"Far from the intestine," I said. I saw Violet raise her eyebrows because she didn't understand what I said, but she didn't ask anymore.
"They already wired the money to our account." Tracer said, His face still focused on the laptop but turning to me as well. "The mission is a success."
I immediately noticed Tracer's eyes were grey. His stare was so intense and brooding that I wouldn't be surprised if many women chased after him. That's it. Tracer also seems to be chasing a girl.
"Alright. I'll go home now," I said before standing up. They just nodded at me, so I quickly left that room.
It was dark in the mansion when I arrived. What else do I expect at three o'clock in the morning? Because that ugly lord is skinny. There were so many people that it took us a while to complete the mission.
I immediately took a shower to remove the smell of blood and gun powder from my body. I let my hair dry before I put on my underwear and lay down on the bed. I'm used to just wearing a bra and pants when I sleep. Comfortable and without hindrance to the body.
When I woke up, the maid said Papa was calling me to his office. Even though I knew it was important, I managed to take a shower and eat breakfast before going to his office in our mansion.
"You want to talk to me, Dad?" I asked. He pointed to the chair in front of his table, so I sat there. He sighed. He propped his two elbows on the table and stared at me seriously.
"Vexen, you know that I love you and I want the best of you, right?" he said. Even though I wondered what he was doing, I nodded. "You're already twenty-five and not getting any younger. And I'm old too. So I want to see you get married before I die."
I swallowed. I don't think I'll like what Papà has to say to me. "And?"
"I want you to marry the second son of the Mancini." he said, making my eyes widen.
"I'm sorry, Papà. I must have heard wrong. Potrebbe ripetare per favore?" (Can you please say that again?)
"Voglio che tu sposi il secondogenito dei Mancini." He repeated what he said, so I really stood up.
"No! No, Papa. I won't marry him!"
"Vexen! I already made a promise to Mr. Mancini that you would marry his second son!"
I shook my head. What's the trick again? I will marry Mancini's slender son. Maybe instead of him protecting me, I will protect him!
"No, Papa! I will not marry him!"
"You will not embarrass me at the Mancini, Vexen!"
I laughed. Why is it because he's making an agreement? He's not the one getting married!
"All my life I've been following your orders, Papà! Even if it's dangerous for me! I followed your orders with no complaints, so please, just this once. Spare me just this once, Papà!"
"No, Vexen! If you will not marry the second son of Mancini, then forget that you have a father! And I will forget you and treat you as a dead person if you say no again!"
I couldn't believe I was looking at my father. I wanted to cry, but I was so surprised that he could tell me that. Just because I won't marry the Mancini family, will he forget that I'm his daughter? I laughed and shook my head, one after another.
"No. I will not marry the Mancini, and if that's what you want, then I will forget that I have a father, too." I said before I left his office and went to my room.
I took out my suitcase and started packing. I know that Papa will still force me to get married until I'm here in his house, so it's better if I leave. It's better that he doesn't find me. I know he will find a way to make the marriage work.
I know my father too well. He's cunning and manipulative. and I will not let him control me for the rest of my life.
"Tracer, make me a fake passport and book me a flight to the England."
"Give me an hour." He said before hanging up on me.
I quickly finished packing and left the mansion I grew up in. I felt sad, but the desire to be free prevailed over me. If even my marriage is controlled by Papa, I know I will never be free.
I took a taxi and was immediately taken to the mental institution there. I told the nurse the name of the person I was going to visit, and she immediately took me to where he was. I saw him sitting alone in the garden and looking up. I came and sat next to him.
"I'm leaving," I said. I looked at him and felt hurt when he remained that way. "I'm so sorry. I just don't want Papà to control me anymore."
I couldn't stop my tears. I can't really let Dad control my life anymore. All my life, I did everything that he told me to do. To make him proud. to make him proud of me, but it still looks like it's not enough.
"I promised that I'd stay by your side, but it seems that I can't do it anymore. I want to be free. I really can't do it anymore. I'm really suffocating."
My lips parted as he slowly looked down at me. I immediately noticed the scar under his left eye, down to his jaw. But even so, he is still handsome to me. At first, his eyes had no emotions. But later, he also smiled at me. A sad smile.
"I'm sorry, Vexen. I should be the one taking care of you, but I can't because I'm here. I'm useless, brother." he said, which made me cry even more. I shook my head. He held both of my cheeks and wiped my tears.
"Don't say that. You're the best big brother for me." I saw him smile at what I said and hug me tightly.
"Just go, Vexen. Be free. I'll get better and be able to come out here to take care of you. That's a promise."
I also hugged him and cried on his shoulders. When I calmed down, I let go of his hug and smiled at him.
"Guarisci presto. Till we meet again, Brother Vander."
After I left the hospital, I immediately saw Tracer waiting for me there. He handed me the envelope containing the fake passport, fake IDs, and my plane ticket.
"You have two hours left before your flight. Are you really sure about this?" he asked, and I nodded.
"I don't want to be imprisoned forever, Tracer. This is for my freedom."
He stared at me. Maybe it's to find the certainty in my face. When he saw that, he nodded.
"I will follow. Besides, my goddess is in the England." he said, making me laugh.
"Are you sure it's safe to tell me that?" I will ask. He just gave me his smirk before letting me get into his car, and he drove me to the airport.
When I got on the plane, I breathed a sigh of relief. I felt better and smiled. I feel like I'm about to be free.
I know that Papa will never think of me hiding in the England. I know that he will think that I will not risk my own life. Because of that, I have many enemies. Many people want to kill me in that country.
but I'd rather die fighting the enemy than be imprisoned in a life I don't know I'll ever be happy with.
She was the star football player at her school. Extremely beautiful, popular, a prankster, yet not bitchy. She is also very friendly, unless you get on her bad side. Never had any relationships in high school? There is a reason for that; read on to find out. She disappeared ten years ago, literally. She left no notes—nothing to get an idea of where she went. Sure, her father gave the school the excuse that, due to the family's difficult times, they were moving. But where? She also has the most unusual relationship with a guy named Nate (Nathaniel). They may know almost everything about each other; they may be the greatest friends, yet they were enemies. They were known to throw the ultimate type of prank on one another. NATHANIEL (NATE) MAISIE WILLIAMS He was the quarterback for his team. Every girl worshipped him for everything. The school's most popular boy changed girls' clothes. swoon-worthy body, perfect hair, and unusually beautiful eyes. You get it, don't you? Knew Sydney since he was four years old. Ultimate prankster. When Sid (Sydney) disappeared, he tried to search for her. His father was the highest-ranking employee at Williams Industries, so he had the power. But she was nowhere to be found. Fast forward ten years and he is now the CEO of the still highest earning/ranking Williams Industries, a no-strings type of guy who still manages to attract the most girls.
She's his guilty pleasure. She is his forbidden fruit. And she is the wife of his brother. But fuck him to hell and back; he will have her in his bed, naked, sweating, and moaning his name. But how is he going to do that?
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
After three loveless years, Neil's betrayal deeply wounded Katelyn. She wasted no time in getting rid of that scoundrel! After the divorce, she devoted herself to career pursuits. Rising to prominence as a top designer, skilled doctor, and brilliant hacker, she became a revered icon. Neil, realizing his grave mistake, tried in vain to win her back, only to witness her magnificent wedding to another. As their vows were broadcast on the world's largest billboard, Vincent slid a ring onto Katelyn's finger and declared, "Katelyn is now my wife, a priceless treasure. Let all who covet her beware!"
Anabel found out she was pregnant and dialed her husband's number to share the good news to him. They have been married for two years without a child. Desmond's mother had been accusing her of being barren and unproductive. When the call was picked, she was flabbergasted and broken. She was hearing a loud moan of feminine voice. "Ohh! Yeah! Don't stop fucking me! Fuck me harder baby!" accompanied with sound of skins slapping against the other. She went home to confront her husband and end up receiving a divorce paper. Desmond divorced him for a lady his mother was rooting. Few months later when he found out that his ex-wife is a billionaire heiress and she is pregnant with twins, he went crazy!
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.