A second encounter
Antonio watched as the police cruiser, climbed onto the road. He had been quiet for a while then he decided to speak up, maybe this time the policemen would hear him out. “I don’t know those men!” Antonio started. “You’ve got the wrong guy! I was just—” “Save it,” the cop in the passenger seat muttered without turning around. “We’ve heard it all before. You think you’re the first guy to claim innocence when we catch you with illegal goods?” “I’m telling you the truth,” Antonio insisted, his heart pounding. “I didn’t even know what was in that package. I was just following instructions. I don’t have anything to do with them.” The cop driving scoffed. “Yeah, and I’m the Pope. We’ll sort it out at the station.” Antonio’s stomach twisted into knots. He knew it didn’t matter what he said—they had already made up their minds. When they arrived at the station, Antonio was booked and processed without much ceremony. The metal cuffs bit into his wrists, leaving red marks as they were removed. A guard led him down a dimly lit corridor, the sound of his footsteps echoing off the concrete walls. They stopped in front of a small cell with rusted bars. “In you go,” the guard grunted, unlocking the door and shoving Antonio inside. The door clanged shut behind him, and Antonio collapsed onto the hard bench, his head in his hands. “Damn it,” he muttered under his breath, his fists clenched in frustration. He had hit rock bottom, and it seemed like there was no way out. No one was coming to save him. No one even cared. Antonio lay on the bench, staring at the ceiling, wondering how things had gone so wrong. Just as he was about to lose hope entirely, the sound of keys jingling broke the silence. He sat up, his pulse quickening. A guard appeared in front of his cell. “You’ve got bail.” Antonio blinked in disbelief. “What? Who—?” The guard shrugged as he unlocked the door. “Dunno. Someone paid it. You’re free to go.” Antonio stood. He walked out of the cell, confusion swirling in his mind. Who could have possibly bailed him out? The guard led him through the station and out the front doors. When he stepped outside, his eyes grew. Standing by a sleek black car, leaning casually against the hood, was the man from the party. The man who had claimed Antonio was the heir to the Matteo empire. Antonio’s eyes widened in shock. “You?” The man smiled. “Yes, me. You’re welcome, by the way.” Antonio approached him cautiously, his mind racing. “Why would you—how did you even know I was here?” The man chuckled. “Let’s just say I have my ways. Stop asking questions for now. There’s something much more important we need to discuss.” Antonio hesitated for a moment, then nodded. He was desperate for answers, and this man seemed to be the only one who could give them. “Alright. What do you want from me?” “Come with me,” the man said, gesturing to the car. “We’ll talk on the way to the Matteo empire.” Antonio’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of the name. He still didn’t fully believe this man’s words, but the promise of answers was enough to make him follow. He climbed into the passenger seat. As the car pulled away from the station, Antonio glanced over at the man. “Thank you,” he said quietly. “I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t bailed me out.” The man gave him a sidelong glance. “Don’t thank me yet. There’s a lot you still don’t know. But you will, soon enough.” Antonio frowned, frustration bubbling up inside him. “Why can’t you just tell me what’s going on? You show up at that party, say I’m the heir to some empire, and now you’re bailing me out of jail? What’s the deal?” The man sighed, clearly growing tired of Antonio’s questions. “You’ll get your answers when the time is right. For now, all you need to know is that your life is about to change—dramatically.” Before Antonio could press further, the man’s phone rang. He picked it up, his tone shifting from casual to business-like. “Yeah,” the man said into the phone. “I found him. I’m bringing him with me now.” Antonio’s stomach churned with nerves. Who was on the other end of that call? Who else was involved in this? After a moment, the man hung up and turned his attention back to the road. “We’re almost there,” he said, as the car weaved through the dark streets. “Once we arrive, you’ll meet the people who can give you the answers you’re looking for.” Antonio stared out the window, his thoughts a jumbled mess. He didn’t know whether to feel relieved, anxious, or terrified. All he knew was that he was caught in something much bigger than he had ever imagined. And there was no turning back now.
Latest Chapter
Chapter 60
Epilogue: Antonio's mindset, It was a stark contrast to the chaotic life he had once lived, and yet it held a familiarity that grounded him. He stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, his silhouette bathed in the golden glow of the rising sun. The city sprawled beneath him, vibrant and alive, much like his new beginning.The months following his rise to power had been transformative. Antonio De Luca was no longer the underdog who had been dismissed by society or the contract husband tethered to someone else's ambitions. He was now a man in control of his destiny, a king of his own making.But kings, he had learned, could not rule without mercy.A Clean SlateLisa sat across from him in his spacious office one evening, her fingers nervously tracing the edge of her teacup. Gone was the confident, calculating woman who had once entrapped him with a contract. In her place was someone humbled by her mistakes, someone who had learned that power was not a birthright but a privilege.“I want t
Chapter 59
The Rise of a KingThe grand boardroom of the newly rebranded De Luca Holdings was a testament to Antonio’s ascension. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the city skyline, reflecting the empire he had built with relentless determination. The long mahogany table was filled with executives, their faces a mixture of awe and reverence as they awaited his decision on a pivotal merger.Antonio De Luca sat at the head of the table, a position he had fought tooth and nail to claim. He wore a tailored suit that screamed power, his presence commanding the room without the need for raised voices or dramatic gestures."Mr. De Luca," one of the executives ventured cautiously, "your approval on this deal would solidify our market dominance in Europe."Antonio leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers as he considered the proposal. "Send me a detailed analysis by the end of the day. I don’t sign off on anything without understanding every detail," he said, his voice measured
Chapter 58
The Fall of TitansLisa’s parents, had once commanded the upper echelons of society. Their name was synonymous with power, their wealth an impenetrable fortress that ensured their dominance. But now, that fortress had crumbled, leaving behind nothing but ruins.The mansion they had once proudly called home was sold off to cover debts. The family’s sprawling estate, which had hosted countless soirées and charity galas, now sat empty, its silence a haunting reminder of their downfall. Margaret and Charles, once larger than life, were now mere shadows of their former selves.The Catalyst for CollapseThe unraveling of the Langfords’ empire began with Antonio’s divorce from Lisa. Antonio had been the key to their survival, the anchor that had held their fragile financial stability together. His resources, influence, and growing empire had propped up their failing fortunes for years. But the moment Antonio ended the contract marriage, the support system they had come to rely on disappeared
Chapter 57
The End of the ContractAntonio paced the length of his own study, his mind racing as he prepared for what had to be done. The office room—a symbol of his reclaimed legacy—did little to soothe the turmoil in his heart. The polished desk, the intricate overhead, the commanding view of the city—all of it felt meaningless compared to the raging within him.For years, the marriage contract had bound him and Lisa together, an arrangement born out of convenience and necessity rather than love. But now, with his father’s legacy restored and his own empire thriving, Antonio knew he could no longer live in this farce.He had to end it.The DecisionAntonio picked up the divorce papers he had prepared days ago, running his fingers along the edges of the document. It wasn’t an impulsive decision. He had thought it through carefully, weighing the consequences and the freedom it would bring.Lisa deserved to move on as much as he did. She had been cruel, yes, but in her own way, she had suffered
Chapter 56
The Past CallsAntonio leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the outside of his towering office. The lights, once a symbol of his ambition, now seemed to mock him, reminding him of all he had sacrificed to reach the top. Lisa’s words lingered in his mind, cutting deeper with each passing moment. She had been right—he had become consumed by power and vengeance, forgetting the boy he once was, the man she had once believed in.But with her letter came memories he had buried deep, memories of the humiliations and condemnations he had endured, not just from strangers but from Lisa herself and her circle of high society elites. The past came flooding back, a torrent of pain that he could no longer ignore.The Early Days of the ContractAntonio remembered the day Lisa first proposed the marriage contract. He had been sitting on the cold steps of a rundown apartment complex, clutching his growling stomach as rain poured down around him. Lisa had approached him like a savior, her des
Chapter 55
The Cost of VictoryAntonio had always thought that achieving success would be enough to fill the void. He had dreamed of wealth, power, and recognition for so long that he believed they were the ultimate antidote to the pain of his past. But now, as he sat in the silence, the grandeur of his empire surrounding him, the realization struck him—success alone wasn’t enough. The taste of vengeance had been sweet at first, but now it felt hollow, like a fleeting victory that had no substance behind it.The lights of the city twinkled in the distance, like the stars he had once dreamed of reaching. But now, even as he stood at the top, the view felt empty. The ghosts of his past, the memories of those he had wronged, seemed to haunt him more than the people he had sought revenge against.He had made them all pay—the bullies from his past, his family who had dismissed him, the people who had made him feel small. They had all been humbled, broken in one way or another. And yet, in the after
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