Chapter Thirty

Elia

''Satisfied?'' I ask, clenching my jaw.

With a smirk on her face, she appears out from the shadows; the spot she has been hiding ever since Rose came. Her light green eyes stand out most and highlighting her every features, telling almost everyone that she's absolutely stunning—but a heartless bitch.

Her red coloured lips are curving up into a smile, showing how she's satisfied that her plans worked successfully. Then, she takes a few steps towards me before placing both of her hands on my chest—fixing my shirt, ''Not what I expected but you did well,'' She replies, placing her hand on the side of my face.

Her touch does not affect me. At all.

''Don't be so coldhearted, Elia. I just made you one of the richest man and settled all of your debts. You no longer have to worry about getting killed,'' She says, standing beside me before placing a cigarette in between her lips; inhaling the smoke.

I, on the other hand, continue to think about Rose. The way her eyes show the amount of pain; it kills me deeply inside—yet, I can never tell her the truth. It hurts me to accept the fact that I'll never have the chance to be with her, I'll never be able to live my life with her because we're never meant to be. Even if we try. I tried.

''Oh, don't worry about your amore, no one will be able to hurt her—as promised. She will be safe,'' She exhales the smoke as she looks deeply into my eyes. ''I'll keep my promise as long as you keep yours to stay away from her in any way possible,'' She adds.

For some reason, I am left without a choice. My whole life has never felt so useless and broken until now. Due to the troubles I've caused, I'll be repaying them by sacrificing my own happiness; my own amore. My soul weakens at the sight of her leaving and at the tears of her sadness, I am the cause of her pain.

I am the cause of her destruction.

''I won't hesitate to kill you, Elia.'' She mutters, glancing up at my face, ''You've caused so much trouble and chaos. You've disobeyed our laws. You may own half of Europe but most of it are your enemies. Thanks to me, I cleared up your name.''

''I'm doing this for the sake of her safety,'' I reply.

All of a sudden, she closes the distance between us, ''She's no longer your concern. She should've been dead but I'm not as cruel as you think, I'm letting her live her life. The life that you can never offer. Isn't that much better than a life like ours?'' She sighs, deeply before cupping onto my face; letting me face her.

Just like that, I lean in to fully meet her lips but from the kiss, it's far from love. Too far. Love can only be explained and showed with Rose—while I express hatred and disgust with this bitch. I'm only using her for my own satisfaction; she gave me the rights.

Alessia continues to pull me closer towards her body as I roughly kiss her lips; she doesn't seem to mind. She has both of her hands in my hair, pulling onto the ends and making me groan—through our kiss. I grab onto her bottom, purposely giving her pain by biting onto her lip, hardly and causing her to bleed.

It doesn't surprise me that she likes it.

I stop the kiss by pulling onto her hair and causing her head to move back a little bit as she looks straight into my eyes, ''Keep your promise or else.'' I breathe and she smirks, only trying to seduce me by pressing her chest against mine but I pay no attention.

She runs her fingers through her dark brown hair before glancing down at her men that I've killed, ''As long as you keep yours, sweetheart.'' Then, she starts to walk out of the restaurant after pecking onto my cheek, leaving me in disgust and anger.

Without me realising, I am already falling onto my knees after feeling the aching pain in my chest; my mind won't stop replaying the scene of her crying, of her hurting and of her leaving—it's giving me all sorts of difficulties. Why did we have to leave this way?

Tears are streaming down my cheeks without any sign of stopping but it does not bother me to look weak. For once, I want her to see me falling for her and pushing away my egos yet it's too late. It's too late for us to regain back where we left; she's gone for good.

''I loved you, loved.'' I remember the words I said.

It must've caused her an endless pain but it's far from the truth; I love her, I will always end up loving her. The thought of never loving her has never crossed my mind yet I had to lie—had to fake my heart. Deceive.

Give me strength.

I look down onto the ground, seeing my own cut that would've usually hurt but right now, at this moment, I feel nothing except for my aching heart and lifeless soul. It should've felt this way when I was with Danielle because she was my wife. I promised her an everlasting love but why does it hurts more with Rose? Is it because I love her truthfully?

''I'm sorry, Rose.'' I breathe out.

Weeks and months have passed and I've heard nothing about Rose—I've been living my life without a slight care about other people or myself; the reason why I'm still alive is because of her. Truth be told, I haven't fully kept my promise, I've been hiring people to look after Rose but this time it's different. They are hired to only take pictures of her when needed because I want to see how she's doing, I want to see her progress and I want to see her. Even through pictures. As long as she's healing—I'll heal.

She has changed a bit from the last time I saw her. Her previously light coloured hair is now slightly darker with a little bit of her natural blonde highlights which enhances her skin tone even more. Honestly, she looks beautiful; she was beautiful before but she's more than just beautiful now. She's perfect.

I look down at the picture of her; she was on her way out—I did not investigate any further because I know that I no longer have the rights or permission

I look down at the picture of her; she was on her way out—I did not investigate any further because I know that I no longer have the rights or permission. Even though I try to let her go and try to let her live her life, I can't. Yes, I must admit, Elis has been helping her a lot on starting fresh; ever since she left.

While I, be the fucked up me and watch.

It's not a shocker that Elis has feelings for Rose. The way he looks at her and the way he acts around her, it proves too much; he cares about her. It pains me to say but Elis will always be a better person than me. He will take good care of her and he will make her realise how he's the one for her instead of me.

Elis and I barely even talk anymore, he refuses to meet me because he said I've ruined enough of everything. Apparently, Elliot feels the same. They both are busy with their life without even glancing back at me; somehow putting the blame on me.

As for mother, I refuse to see her.

Sometimes, it makes me wonder how she fell for him. Even though he was ruthless and cruel, he has killed a lot of men—intentionally or not but she stayed until the end of his life; and up till now, she still loves him.

I found that with Rose but I always end up pushing her away and hurting her. Why can't I just leave everything behind and keep her in my arms? Right, too much risk. I shouldn't have caused so much trouble in the past with my enemies if I had known I'll be meeting the woman who would change my life; because then, our lives would've been easier.

Then again, father was brutally murdered.

''You've been in your office for the whole day,'' Alessia says as she enters my office, her long legs are revealing due to the short dress that she's wearing—she has been doing this a lot, seducing me. All of the time we spent together are filled with lusts and temptation even if she tried to make me love or even like her, it never worked. She keeps on trying up till now.

I let out a deep sigh but I waste no time on respond before looking down at my laptop; trying to look for any work that I should do—but there's nothing.

Yes, Alessia is the one who helped clear out my name from any death lists. She also helped clear out Rose's name due to the deal we've made; and because of that, I'm stuck with her. Apparently, she's capable of doing sorts because of her father's position. I can fall and crumble with death if it wasn't for her—she practically helped her father believe me for something in return.

''There's nothing else I should do,'' I reply.

She sways her hips to the side before slowly approaching me and leaning forward; revealing her cleavage but with a glance, I look back up at her face. True, I can never refuse the temptation and seduction that she has been giving me but no strings attached.

''You can always do me,'' She runs her finger on my lips as she smirks down at me. Then, she leans back before looking down at her wrist watch, ''That can wait. Let's go out for lunch,'' She says.

Did I forget to mention that her father owns most of the industry which leaves her just as powerful; no one dared to bother her father or her and now me.

''Sure,'' I force a smile.

We walk side by side as we step out of from my office with her hand on my arm, purposely grabbing everyone's attention—at her father's building. I've been warned by him to stop killing and just let my men do it because if I continue killing people, it'll leave me more enemies. Now, he wants me to make allies. The more, the better.

I turn to look at Alessia. Honestly, there's nothing wrong with her; she's not a blonde bimbo. She's just trying hard to attract me and yes at times, it does work but it leaves nothing behind—usually, men would be falling head over heels for her but I feel nothing. Maybe because someone have stollen my heart and I wouldn't want to take it back.

It's a surprise that she has been clinging onto me without even flirting or seducing other men; it appears that she sees us more than just using each other.

When we step out of the elevator, someone manage to catch my attention which causes my eyes to widen slightly and stop my steps. The woman has dark blonde hair; which reminds of someone and she has the same posture, same body and same height. My eyes remain focusing on her as she continues to talk with the receptionist—leaving Alessia impatient.

As soon as she turns around, my face shows clear disappointment, causing me to continue my steps. For once, I thought it was Rose but why would she be here? She wouldn't know where I am or what I'm doing because in her head, I was only toying her.

When I was dead serious.

To my surprise, Alessia is currently standing in front of me before grabbing lightly onto my face, making me look at her at once; straight into her eyes. I would be lying if I say that her light green eyes always fail to attract me but that's it, it's just the colour of her eyes.

''You're with me now, why bother looking at other women?'' She asks, pouting her red coloured lips.

''I'm looking at you now, that's all that matters.'' I answer before slowly leaning in and placing a soft yet meaningless kiss on her cheek; only to make sure that she's calmed down. If only she understand or know me better, she would've seen the emptiness in my eyes.

Both of her green eyes are squinting before leaning in near my ear, ''Remember our deal, Dominic.'' She whispers, causing me to tense up immediately.

How can I forget?