The morning sunlight streamed through the penthouse's grand windows, golden and unforgiving. Noah stirred on the couch, his lashes fluttering. The first thing he noticed was the warm weight of a blanket draped over him. He blinked.
He didn't remember covering himself.
The scent clinging to the wool was unmistakable—Alessio's. Musky, clean, threaded with that same dominance that made Noah's stomach twist.
He sat up slowly, knees pulled to his chest, hair disheveled, still dressed in one of Alessio's oversized black shirts. The living room was empty. Cold. Silent.
He was gone.
Noah's lips pursed. Of course Alessio didn't wake him. Didn't say goodbye. Not even a note.
"Maybe he's bored already obviously he's we don't even do anything sexual…" Noah mumbled, voice cracked with sleep. "Maybe he regrets picking me…"
Before the thought could bury itself deeper, the front door opened.
Theo and Enzo strolled in with their usual loud energy.
"Knock, knock," Enzo called, tossing his sunglasses on the counter. "We brought breakfast—oh, look who's pouting again."
"I'm not pouting," Noah snapped, clutching the blanket tighter.
Theo gave him a knowing look. "Rough morning?"
"Shut up."
Enzo smirked and nudged Theo. "Bet he found out about last night."
Noah's head snapped up. "What about last night?"
Theo elbowed Enzo quickly. "Nothing. Just boring family stuff—"
Enzo, always the loose cannon, shrugged. "Alessio had dinner with his parents. You know, talk of marriage. Engagements. Empire stuff."
Noah froze.
Marriage?
His fingers clenched the edge of the blanket. "So he's… marrying someone?"
"No one said that," Theo said quickly. "Don't listen to this idiot."
"I didn't say he was. I said they talked about it," Enzo clarified, but the damage was done.
Noah stood abruptly and stomped toward the hallway.
"Where are you going?" Theo called.
"To make sure no one ever mentions 'engagement' again!"
They didn't expect him to actually go into Alessio's bedroom.
Ten minutes later, a sharp crash echoed from the master suite. Glass shattered. Something expensive.
---
By midnight, the penthouse lights were dimmed again.
Alessio stepped in, adjusting his cufflinks, face tired but still carved with power. He loosened his tie, took two steps toward the hallway—
—and saw it. The scent hit first. Then the scattered glass. His favorite cologne in pieces on the marble.
His jaw tightened.
He checked Noah's room. Empty.
A small frown formed as he opened the guestroom door.
Noah was curled on the bed, his back to the door, a pillow hugged to his chest. No tantrum. No sarcastic comments. Just… quiet.
That unsettled Alessio more than anger ever could.
He stepped closer. "You're quiet."
Noah didn't move.
"I don't like quiet."
Still nothing.
Alessio's tone sharpened. "What the hell's wrong with you?"
Finally, Noah sat up slowly. His voice was low, brittle. "Did you enjoy your dinner with your future wife?"
Alessio blinked.
Noah's eyes flashed. "Should I start packing?"
Silence stretched. Then—
A cold laugh.
"So, you do care."
Noah's eyes widened. "I don't—"
"Liar."
Alessio stepped closer, the shadows shifting across his sharp jaw. "Breaking perfume bottles, sleeping on couches, ignoring me for a day don't attend my call all day… tell me again how you don't care."
"I just don't like being lied to!" Noah barked. "I didn't ask to be here. I didn't ask for any of this! And now I hear you're being engaged like I'm just something temporary—"
His voice cracked.
"Am I?" he asked, softer this time. "Am I just… temporary?"
Alessio stared at him.
"You were never meant to be permanent," he said quietly. "But now… I'm not so sure."
Noah looked away, trying to stop the tears.
Alessio's voice softened again, barely above a whisper. "Why does that scare you?"
Noah shook his head. "It doesn't."
"Liar."
"I've heard that before," Noah muttered. "You know, my mother used to say no one would ever keep me. That I was a burden. I believed her. And now you… you bring me into this golden cage, and I hate it, Alessio. But I hate how I miss you when you're not here even more."
That broke something in the room.
Alessio sat beside him. Quiet. Then slowly, he reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind Noah's ear.
"You are a storm," he murmured. "You think you're protecting yourself, but all you're doing is drowning."
Noah's voice cracked. "And you think locking me in a cage helps?"
"No," Alessio whispered. "But I'm in the cage too."
Their faces were inches apart. A heartbeat passed. Two.
Alessio leaned in.
Then stopped.
His breath fanned over Noah's lips. "Go to sleep, kitten."
Noah stood obediently and walked out, leaving Alessio staring at his back..
Noah's footsteps faded down the hallway, soft and uncertain.
The scent of his presence lingered, that subtle mix of honey and firewood, a scent Alessio never liked before… until now.
He stood alone in the dim corridor, one hand still resting on the doorknob, the other sliding into his pocket. His lips curved slowly—not in affection, not in amusement.
But in triumph.
A smirk carved its way across his face. Cold. Dangerous. Satisfied.
He walked back into the room, slowly, every step echoing like a beat in a war drum.
The shattered perfume glass on the floor still glittered faintly in the moonlight.
His gaze swept over it once—then moved to the folded blanket on the couch, the one he'd placed over Noah the night before without a word.
He chuckled low, deep in his throat.
"You're folding faster than I thought, little kitten."
He poured himself a drink at the bar, swirling the amber liquid slowly, eyes fixed on the hallway where Noah had disappeared.
"Defiant. Sharp-tongued. But too tender for your own good."
He downed the drink in one swallow, letting the burn match the quiet fire in his chest.
"The moment you stepped inside this house, I already knew everything."
He moved toward his desk, pulling open a drawer.
Inside—folders.
Names. Reports. Photos.
Noah's past. His broken records. His mother's death certificate. Foster homes. Abuse logs.
And… his scent profile.
"I dug through your past like a blade through silk. Every fear, every scar, every place you thought no one could reach…"
He caressed the top page with a gloved finger.
"I knew you'd never be tamed with force. You'd break if I pulled too hard. So I sweet-talked. Fed your pride. Nursed your wounds. Let you believe I was something you could lean on."
He turned toward the massive glass window, looking out at the city below, lips curling again.
"And now you cling, little by little. Your anger? Just a cover. Your tantrums? Cries for my attention."
He set the glass down.
"I'll give it to you. Every drop of it. Until you depend on me so much that you forget who you were before me."
A pause.
Then:
"I'll marry you."
A beat.
"Force you to sign the contract."
Another pause. A slow exhale, like a predator pacing before the final strike.
"Get the heir."
And then, that smirk widened into something colder. Emptier.
"And when I've taken everything I need…"
A whisper.
"I'll break you. Slowly. Beautifully."
He turned away from the city lights, darkness swallowing the sharp gleam in his eyes.
"After all... you were never meant to stay."
___________________________________
Author's Note:
Hey sweethearts,
I just wanted to share something from the heart today. As a writer, every chapter I pour out is a piece of me—my time, emotions, and thoughts. And honestly, your comments are the fuel that keeps me going. When you comment, even just a few words, it tells me, "Hey, someone's out there reading. Someone cares." And that feeling? It's priceless. It inspires me to update with so much more love and energy.
But when there are no comments… it's hard. It makes me question, "Is anyone even reading? Does this story matter?" And that silence can be really disheartening. Because support isn't just about numbers—it's about connection. About knowing my words meant something to someone.
I know my story may not be perfect right now. Maybe not everyone finds it interesting. But I believe in it. I believe in the world I'm building. And I believe it'll only get better. I'm learning, growing, and I promise to keep trying harder.
Before I end this note, I want to take a moment to thank four precious readers who made my day more than once:
🌸 Rochelle_kashy – You've been with me since Day One, and your loyalty means the world.
🌸 Glorious_7 – Your support has truly warmed my heart.
🌸 Audranassa – Thank you for always taking the time to read and show love.
🌸 Charo_3272 – Thank you too
Today's update… it's only for you four. A small token of my gratitude. I hope you know how deeply I appreciate you. 🥺🫶
So please, dear readers—if you're reading, let me know. One comment can change an author's whole day.
With all my love,
– Your Author
(Sorry for a long boring note)