Chapter 46

Adriano

I knew everything. Every lie, every move, and every intention Leo had toward Azalea. He thought he was playing a clever game, slipping into her life with a false name and feeding her stories laced with charm and manipulation. “Cassian,” he called himself. How laughable.

He wanted to use her to get to me. He just didn’t realize I was already ten steps ahead.

I’d introduced Azalea at the party as my wife on purpose. Not out of affection but as a calculated move. I needed a bait, something beautiful, believable, and with just enough fire in her eyes to draw the wolves out. And she was perfect for it.

When I’d placed my hand on Azalea’s waist and announced her as my wife, I’d watched the room’s reaction like a hawk. The surprise, the envy, and the immediate plans running behind powerful eyes. Most importantly, I’d seen Leo’s face across the crowded ballroom.

Letting her slip away was no mistake. She was the bait to draw every enemy out.

I didn’t send guards after her. I didn’t put out a search. Because I knew she wouldn’t get far without being noticed—not with that face, not after I branded her mine in front of the city’s most dangerous men. She had become the spark, and my enemies were the dry forest.

The irony wasn’t lost on me. Azalea thought she was escaping, fighting for her freedom. But every step she took away from me was still part of my design.

Like a chess master, I’d already seen twenty moves ahead while she was still trying to understand the rules of the game.

Leo had taken the bait like a starved animal. Of course he did. He was too proud, stupid, and easily got emotional. And now he had exposed his intentions.

The moment he revealed himself to her under that false name, I knew he was in play. And that meant I could finally move against him without drawing suspicion.

My network of informants had been tracking his every move since he’d approached Azalea. The fake identity he’d crafted, the apartment he’d rented under a false name, even the way he’d studied her routines before making contact.

Leo thought he was being clever, but he was dancing to my tune without even knowing the music had started.

Before the party, I’d arranged everything. Amira was no longer in the hospital—at least, not in this country.

She was already on a private jet under my orders, flown to a secure facility where no one could reach her. Not Leo. Not even Azalea, if she tried.

The facility was one of my private medical centers in Switzerland, hidden away in the mountains where privacy was guaranteed and questions were never asked. Amira would receive the best care money could buy.

“Sir,” Matteo called behind me. I slowly turned my head to meet his gaze.

“Do you need something?” I questioned as my eyes roamed all over him.

Matteo stood at attention. “I am here to report the information the spy just informed me,” he spoke.

“Begin,” I responded, taking my seat before adjusting my tie. “I’m all ears.”

This was the moment I’d been waiting for—confirmation that Leo was moving exactly as I’d predicted.

“After leaving Azalea’s home, he went back to the hotel,” Matteo informed. “I’m sure he is going to spend the night there.”

“With Chiara,” I replied, making him nod his head.

The pieces were falling into place beautifully. Chiara Bellandi—Leo’s wealthy fiancée. She was passionate, possessive, and had a temper that could rival a wildfire when provoked.

She was also completely unaware that her beloved fiancé was playing a dangerous game with another woman.

“Yes, sir.”

“Good,” I responded, a small smile plastered on my face. “I want you to send a private message to Chiara tomorrow morning and inform her about her fiancé’s affair.”

“But sir, won’t that spoil your plan?”

I breathed out. “I don’t want him getting his hands on Azalea before I do. I need to end this before he could sleep with her for real.”

The thought of Leo touching what was mine sent a dark rage coursing through my veins. It wasn’t just about the plan anymore—though I’d never admit that aloud.

The image of his hands on her skin, of her believing his lies while he used her body, made my jaw clench with barely controlled rage.

Matteo stared at me for a bit before talking. “Sir, are you sure you aren’t in love with her?”

Love. Such a simple word that complicated everything it touched.

“And what makes you say that?” I snapped.

“This is unlike you, sir. You can sacrifice anything just to see your plan work,” he added. “So Leo sleeping with her—I don’t think you should be bothered about it.”

Matteo’s observation was accurate, which made it all the more irritating. I’d ordered executions without blinking, destroyed families for business advantage, and watched enemies suffer without a trace of remorse. Yet the thought of Azalea in Leo’s bed made me want to burn the world down.

“Do I look like someone bothered, Matteo?”

The challenge in my voice was clear. I leaned forward slightly, my eyes fixed on his face, daring him to contradict me.

He didn’t talk. He could only stare at me. After some minutes, he finally found his voice. “No, sir.”

Perfect. This was the answer I wanted. Ever since Azalea left my life, everything seemed boring and out of place. I didn’t know someone that I only saw as prey could affect me this much.

No one had ever affected me like this, and I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to cherish that feeling or destroy it.

Well, maybe it’s because she is my wife. I shoved that thought from my mind as I focused back on Matteo.

“Good. I am only saying this because she is my wife,” I announced, and he agreed with whatever I said. “I won’t allow anyone to touch what is mine.”

“I understand, sir.”

“As I was saying, Matteo. I want you to inform Chiara about her fiancé engaging in another affair.”

I could already picture Chiara’s reaction. Her olive skin would flush with rage, her dark eyes would spark with betrayal, and her carefully maintained composure would shatter like glass.

She’d loved Leo with the intensity of someone who’d never been denied anything in her privileged life.

“Just that? We don’t need to tell her who the other woman is?”

“No need,” I replied, rising to my feet. “I know how she is—so protective of her things. She will dig and find out who that woman is.”

I moved to the window, gazing out at the city lights.

Chiara was predictably possessive. She would use every resource at her disposal: private investigators, social connections, even her family’s influence to uncover the identity of her rival.

“And if she does? Miss Bellandi seems to be fond of Azalea. She won’t do anything to hurt her, given she knows she’s your wife.”

Matteo’s concern was valid but misplaced. He underestimated the power of a woman scorned, especially one with Chiara’s temperament and resources.

“You think so?” I said, letting out a chuckle. “Don’t underestimate a woman who is in love.”

“Hmm,” Matteo breathed out. “Are you just gonna watch?”

“No. I will be the hero saving the beauty,” I responded, pouring myself a drink. “I will watch Chiara deal with her before saving her.”

I paused, drinking the wine and savoring the taste. “Azalea will come to hate Leo after finding out how well he deceived her and Chiara giving her a hard time. She will be broken, and by that time—”

I watched as the wine stirred in the glass cup. “I will be the hero. I will have her back in my arms after getting rid of Leo.”

The wine was a vintage Bordeaux, smooth and complex, much like the plan I was weaving. Azalea would experience betrayal from Leo, persecution from Chiara, and just when all hope seemed lost, I would appear. Not as the monster who’d forced her into marriage, but as her salvation.

People bonded strongest with those who saved them from their darkest moments. By orchestrating both her downfall and rescue, I would position myself as her protector rather than her captor.

“And…”

Before Matteo could complete his statement, I cut him off. I knew what he wanted to say. And what if it doesn’t work? Uh, when it comes to me, nothing is impossible.

Even the impossible things, I will make them work. I’d built an empire by refusing to accept failure as an option.

Every obstacle was simply another puzzle to solve, every enemy another chess piece to remove from the board. Azalea would be no different, I would find a way to make her mine, completely and willingly.

“She will be relieved, and by the time she knows Amira was with me and that I saved her sister’s life, she could love me with her soul and heart. She could be forever grateful, and I could give her all the love she wanted. She is mine, Matteo. And if I must break her to rebuild her into someone who’ll love me, so be it.”

When Azalea discovered that I’d not only rescued her from Leo and Chiara’s wrath but had also secretly arranged for her sister’s life-saving surgery, her gratitude would transform into something deeper. Debt, loyalty, and perhaps even affection, all would work in my favor.

“Plaything?” he gasped.

Matteo’s shock was evident in his tone. He’d seen me be ruthless, but perhaps he’d never heard me speak of another person in quite such possessive terms.

“Yes. What else will she be?”

“Nothing, sir. I will take my leave now.”

“Okay.”

He was about to open the door when I stopped him.

“What about the girl?”

“Amira,” he muttered. “She is doing well. Responding well to treatment.”

Relief flooded through me, though I kept my expression neutral. Amira’s wellbeing was crucial to the success of my plan, but more than that, her recovery would give Azalea peace of mind. Despite everything, I didn’t want her to suffer the loss of her sister.

The medical facility in Switzerland was equipped with the most advanced technology available. I’d handpicked the team of specialists, ensuring that money was no object in providing Amira with the best possible care.

“What about the surgery?”

“They will carry it out a week from now,” he responded.

A week’s time. The timeline was perfect. By then, Leo’s deception would be exposed, Chiara would have confronted Azalea, and my wife would be at her lowest point.

The news of her sister’s successful surgery would come at exactly the right moment, when she needed hope most.

“Good. Tell them no mistakes or they are going to pay with their lives.”

“Yes, sir,” he said before opening the door and leaving.

Right now, she is safe. I hired the best doctor to perform the surgery on her, and after this, she could live the rest of her life in peace, and Azalea could forever be in my debt.

I raised the glass to my lips, savoring both the wine and the taste of impending victory. The game was far from over, but I’d already won.