Chapter 1
Valeria POV
"You're mine," Brandon murmured against her lips. "And if anyone dares to touch you, I'll burn him alive."
Julia gasped softly. "Oh, Brandon..."
He kissed her again, deeper this time, pushing her back onto the bed. His hands explored her waist, sliding higher, teasing, promising-
I bit my lower lip, my heart racing.
Finally. Chapter 162. After all this tension, they were finally about to-
I flipped the page eagerly.
God, I loved dark romance.
Maybe too much.
I mean... if I ever got kidnapped by a dangerously handsome mafia boss like Brandon, I wouldn't even resist. I'd probably thank him. Maybe ask for snacks. Or wine.
Okay, definitely wine.
I chuckled to myself and went back to reading, completely absorbed.
He slowly removed-
Doom.
The door to my bedroom burst open.
I jumped so hard I nearly dropped my book.
"Victoria!" I shouted. "Do you know how to knock, or should I teach you?"
My younger sister stood in the doorway, arms crossed, a knowing smile on her lips. "Good morning to you too, Val. Are you coming to the company today or should I cancel all meetings in your honor?"
I groaned dramatically. "You're the CEO, not me. And you know I hate work."
She rolled her eyes. "You're only two years older than me, stop acting like a retired grandma."
"Excuse you," I muttered. "I prefer the term princess in early retirement."
Victoria laughed. "Dad's waiting for breakfast. Come."
That caught my attention.
"Since when do we eat breakfast together?" I blinked. "You two usually inhale coffee and disappear into meetings."
She shrugged. "Special day."
My eyes lit up. I jumped off the bed, my long blonde hair flying everywhere, and wrapped my arms around her. "Then I'm coming!"
Physically, Victoria and I looked like twins - same blonde hair, same blue eyes, same delicate features. The difference? She was tall, sharp, CEO-coded perfection. I was shorter, softer, and clearly designed to live a luxurious, stress-free life.
We walked downstairs hand in hand.
Our father, Hector Hartmann, was already seated, reading something on his tablet. When he saw me, his face softened instantly.
"Good morning, my darling Valeria."
"Good morning, Daddy." I kissed his cheek and took my seat.
The table was overflowing: fresh croissants, pancakes, berries, golden honey, imported cheese, eggs, delicate pastries, espresso, fresh juice - the kind of breakfast that screamed obnoxiously rich family.
And honestly?
I loved it.
I took a bite immediately. "This is amazing."
Victoria and Dad chuckled.
"So," Dad said, watching me carefully, "have you thought more about joining the company?"
I froze mid-chew.
"Dad. I hate working."
Victoria sighed. "You love spending money though."
"That's a totally different skill set."
She shot me a look. "You can't live like a princess forever, Val."
"I absolutely can," I muttered.
But she was right.
Dad smiled gently. "One day, everything here will belong to you and your sister. You need to learn how to protect it."
I hesitated, then nodded. "Fine. I'll try."
Dad looked pleased. Victoria looked shocked.
Inside, I was already mourning my peaceful, lazy life.
Right now, all I wanted was to go back upstairs, finish my book, and dream about fictional mafia men.
Little did I know...
My fantasy was about to become terrifyingly real.
Author Note :
"Thanks for reading! đź’• Every vote, comment, or even a simple 'can't wait for the next chapter!' keeps me going and helps me continue this story. Your support really means the world."