Chapter 1 Prologue

• Alex Spanos
• Today is not a day I feel like leaving the house. My concern for my mother, who is still recovering from the accident my parents suffered, makes me want to stay home.
• "My son, you need to go..." my father, Marius, said as he entered the office
• I keep swirling the glass, staring at the amber liquid I'm drinking in an attempt to forget the sadness in my heart. Carolina is more beautiful every day, and seeing her happy with Bruno is something that comforts me and soothes my soul.
• "I must not have been chosen by God to be loved!" I said as I looked at my father.
• I saw his brows knit together with the growing concern my parents always have when it comes to my feelings for Carolina. How I can't overcome the attraction I feel for her, and how much I'm suffering watching the woman I love be happy with another man.
• "Nonsense, what's happening is that you just haven't found someone who returns what you're feeling." I sighed as I listened.
• "Has Demétrius arrived?"
• "Not that I'm aware of." I felt relieved.
• If Collalto came, it's because he wants to negotiate, and I needed to do that before my friend gets back home.
• I drank the last sip of whiskey while looking at my father, who was waiting for a reaction from me. Right then, that night, I decided to set aside the passion I feel for Carolina and embrace my responsibility to my family, to become the Spanos my father expects me to be for everyone under my command.
• I placed the glass on the table and stood up to go to the nightclub where Collalto was. I need to fix the mess I caused and ensure everyone's safety, especially my brother’s. He doesn't deserve the fate he was headed toward.
• A few minutes later, I was seated in the VIP area of the nightclub. We were celebrating Murilo’s birthday, he's one of the team members who handles the marketing for my legitimate businesses. I planned to congratulate him for another year of life after finishing my conversation with Giorgio.
• I glanced again toward the party organized by some friends and saw several prostitutes dancing on the table. I know he's in love with Paula the same way my father is in love with my mother.
• I smiled at the memory of all the times the couple came to the mansion and spent the afternoons with my parents. If I’m ever worthy of a romance like theirs, I’m sure I’ll care for that woman the way I see them caring for their wives.
• "How are you, Alex?" I greeted the man I’m sure will give me plenty of headaches for the rest of my life.
• A not-so-friendly conversation between him and me was all that was possible at that moment, even though I wanted to kill him right there. I swallowed hard at the offer he made in exchange for his silence.
• "I want to unite our families through your daughter. I know your father’s been insisting that you get married..." he said calmly. "You give your daughter to my son, and in return, I will never go after my nephew."
• I thought about it for a moment. I need to buy time and prevent him from looking for Demétrius. My brother doesn’t deserve to be raised as a Collalto.
• "I have no plans to marry, and if that ever changes, I can’t see myself giving a daughter to marry your son. In other words, this is not a viable option." I said dryly, clenching my teeth. "How do you want to proceed with this? As far as I know, you don’t even have a son."
• "Simple. My son is on the way, my wife is four months pregnant." I looked at Saulo, who seemed as distressed as I was. "In case you didn’t know, this is my second marriage."
• I looked at the glass in my hand and decided to protect my best friend. I decided to bluff and buy time, since I had no intention of getting married anytime soon, let alone having a child.
• "If I were to accept, what would my daughter’s life be like?" I asked out of curiosity.
• "Like any other woman in the Collalto family, submissive," he said with a touch of pride.
• He gave me a week to think about it, then left, God knows where, but I hope it’s back to the hell I should’ve never pulled him out of. Saulo sat beside me in silence, and knowing that everything could fall apart on my head was giving me a massive headache.
• As I raised my eyes toward my father’s best friend, I saw one of the prostitutes dancing near Dimou. I was sure that if Paula saw that, he’d definitely be sleeping in the doghouse.
• "Are we staying here or going to join the party?" Saulo asked.
• I kept watching the woman who looked far too young to be one of the girls who provide pleasure to some of our most important clients.
• The first thing that caught my attention was her red hair. Then, I noticed she was wearing a white dress that highlighted every one of her curves, clearly showcasing the young woman’s stunning beauty.
• "Let’s go over there..."
• That was the moment my obsession began.