Episode 39 & 40 : The Calm Before the Storm
“Little lamb,” Finnian said, shocked to see Seraphina standing there. His once cold heart, which had seemingly stopped beating, immediately picked up as he stared at her, the girl he thought he would never see again.
Seraphina, seeing Finnian, felt as if her world was back in place. “Acacius,” she breathed out before rushing forward and hugging him tightly. She was crying, unable to contain her tears any longer. “I missed you,” she sobbed, clinging to him as if her life depended on it.
Finnian, still in shock, couldn’t believe his little lamb was there, in his arms. He didn’t know whether to feel happy or sad. No wonder Jasper, Rafferty, and Stellan had been so eager for him to go to his room.
As he was about to return Seraphina’s embrace, he stopped, remembering his father’s ominous words. “You will never see her again, and if I find out you do, I’ll kill her in your presence,” Alessandro had threatened the day they arrived in Italy.
Panic surged through Finnian. He immediately pushed Seraphina away, making her lose her balance and fall to the floor. Seraphina stared at him in shock.
“Get out,” he said, his voice cold and hard. Her eyes widened in disbelief. “I said get the fuck out,” he yelled, his tone laced with anger and fear. Seraphina stared at him, his eyes burning with anger that she couldn’t understand.
“Acacius,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
“It’s Finnian to you,” he snapped. Then, in a desperate attempt to protect her, he grabbed his gun and pointed it at her. His heart was breaking, but this was the only way he could keep her safe. If his father found out she was here, he would kill her without hesitation.
“I’m sorry,” he thought, his heart aching. He had to make her hate him. It was the only way to ensure her safety.
Seraphina stared at him, her heart breaking as she saw the man she loved pointing a gun at her. He wasn’t the same person anymore. She stood up, staring at him, her heart shattering into pieces.
“Acacius, you’re breaking my heart,” she said, her voice filled with sorrow.
Finnian felt like he was dying inside. He wanted so much to hug her, to tell her everything would be okay. But he couldn’t. “Get out, or I’ll fucking shoot you. You mean nothing to me. Like I said before, you’re just a plaything for my demon. Get lost. I have a fiancée,” he yelled, his voice full of bitterness and pain. Seraphina stumbled backward, unable to believe her ears.
“Why can’t you get the fact that I’ll never love you? I don’t love you, Seraphina,” he yelled again, trying to make her leave. Finnian stared at her, hoping she would see through his lies, but knowing she wouldn’t. This was for her own good.
Seraphina felt a sharp pain in her chest as if something was being ripped out of her. “Shoot me,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. Finnian’s eyes widened in shock.
“I have nothing to live for. I came here to see you after being so depressed. I couldn’t live a day without you. Jessica, Rose, and Mandy called me names, but I didn’t care. All I wanted was to see you. When I heard that your father ordered Rafferty, Stellan, and Jasper to kill me, I really wished they did rather than me staying alive without you,” Seraphina said, her voice breaking. Finnian’s eyes widened in shock.
“Father told them to kill you?” he whispered, horrified by the revelation.
Seraphina continued to sob, staring at Finnian with a mix of love and desperation. “Kill me, Acacius. Kill me,” she yelled, her voice filled with anguish.
But Finnian knew he couldn’t kill her. He didn’t have the right to take her life. She was the only girl he had ever loved. There was no way he was going to kill her. Feeling utterly defeated, he dropped his gun, the weight of his actions crashing down on him.
“Please just leave, Seraphina,” Finnian said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Seraphina took a step closer, her eyes never leaving his. “Do you love me?” she asked, her voice steady yet filled with hope. She could see the conflict in his eyes, the struggle between wanting to protect her and the deep love he felt for her. “Do you love me?” she repeated, more insistent this time.
Finnian’s heart ached. He wanted to shout that he loved her, that he loved her more than anything in this world. He wanted to hold her and never let go, to tell her that she was his everything. But he knew he couldn’t. If he confessed his love, she would never leave, and that would seal her fate.
“Go away, please,” he said, his voice breaking. He couldn’t bear to look at her, knowing that his words were hurting her. His love for her was a raging storm inside him, tearing him apart. “Please, just go.”
Seraphina’s eyes filled with tears as she took another step toward him. “I can stand with you, Finnian, between the heavens and the earth. I don’t care about the danger, I don’t care about your father’s threats. I just want to be with you,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion. “You are my heart, my soul, my everything. Without you, there’s no light, no warmth, no life. We can face anything together, conquer any fear, as long as we have each other.”
Finnian felt his resolve crumbling. The love he had for her was overwhelming, a powerful force that consumed him entirely. He wanted to believe her, to take her in his arms and promise her everything. But he knew he couldn’t. His father was ruthless, and if he found out about them, he would kill her without hesitation.
“Seraphina, I can’t… I can’t do this,” he said, his voice barely audible. He could feel the tears welling up in his eyes. “I love you” Finnian said, his voice breaking and Seraphina couldn’t help but smile.
He loves her and that’s all that matters.
“I love you more than life itself, but if you stay, he’ll kill you. And I can’t live with that. I can’t live knowing that my love for you puts you in danger.”
Seraphina reached out and gently touched his face, her touch soft and tender. “Then let’s face it together. I’m not afraid, Finnian. I’d rather die with you than live without you. I’ll stand with you through every storm, every trial. Your battles are my battles. Your fears are my fears. We are one, and I will not abandon you. Not now, not ever,” she said, her voice full of conviction.
Finnian felt his heart shatter. Her words cut through him like a knife. He wanted to believe in a world where they could be together, but he knew it was impossible. He finally broke, the weight of his emotions too much to bear.
“I love you!” he screamed, his voice filled with anguish and desperation. “I love you more than anything. I can’t breathe without you. Every moment without you feels like an eternity of suffering. You are the reason my heart beats, the reason I wake up each day. My soul aches for you. Without you, there is only darkness and pain.
I have never known love until I met you, and now that I do, it consumes me. You are my light, my salvation, my everything. I can’t imagine a life where you are not by my side. Please, Seraphina, understand that I love you more than words can ever express. But I can’t keep you safe if you stay.”
Seraphina stared at him, her heart breaking. She could see the pain in his eyes, the agony of loving her and wanting to protect her. She knew he was trying to save her, but it didn’t make it hurt any less. She took a step back, her tears flowing freely.
As Finnian watched her leave, he felt a part of him die. He wanted to run after her, to tell her that everything would be okay, but he couldn’t. He stood there, his heart aching, knowing that he had made the hardest decision of his life. And as the door closed behind her, he sank to the floor, his tears finally falling.
“Please, Seraphina, go. I love you so much, but I can’t keep you. I’ll only put you in danger,” Finnian whispered, his voice trembling with pain.
Tears poured down Seraphina’s face. She didn’t know what to say to make Finnian trust that they could overcome this together. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
“Just go,” Finnian said, his heart aching. This was the only way. Sometimes the one you love the most is the one you have to let go, to save them from a fate they don’t deserve.
Seraphina, hearing that, sobbed loudly. “I’m going to count to three, Finnian. If you don’t call me back, I’m leaving for good,” she said, her voice shaking. She made her way toward the door.
“One,” she started, tears falling from her eyes, each drop making her cry even harder. But Finnian had it worse; every feeling Seraphina was experiencing was magnified tenfold within him. The only person he had ever loved, the only girl who had shown him what love truly was, was slipping away.
He felt an unbearable pain, as if his heart was being torn from his chest. He wasn’t the son of the mafia, the cold Alexsander Leonardo, to her. He lost all his aura and dangerous persona; he lost them all to her. And now he was losing her right in front of him for her safety. He felt like a man being buried alive, suffocating under the weight of his own emotions.
“Two,” Seraphina said, slowing her steps. She prayed that Finnian would stop her, but Finnian didn’t look back. He could only let his tears fall, suppressing his sobs so she wouldn’t hear.
“Three,” she said, her voice breaking completely as she sobbed. She turned to see Finnian hadn’t moved, all hope shattering into pieces.
With that, she turned around. “Goodbye, Acacius,” she whispered, walking towards the door.
Finnian’s heart finally shattered, the pieces falling into a void of despair. He collapsed to the floor, his tears streaming down, his cries silent but filled with the agony of a man who had lost everything that mattered.
Episode 41 & 42 : Finnian’s Vow
As Seraphina walked out the door, Finnian broke down. He collapsed to his knees, his body wracked with uncontrollable sobs. He cried like a baby who had just been torn away from the only source of comfort they had ever known, the one thing that made life bearable.
His breath came in ragged gasps, each inhalation a battle as if the very air was fighting to stay out of his lungs. The room felt like it was closing in on him, the walls pressing down as his heart shattered into a thousand irreparable pieces. The weight of his sorrow crushed him, making every movement feel impossible.
He clutched at his chest, feeling the physical pain of his heartbreak as if his heart was literally being torn apart. The love he had for Seraphina was a raging storm inside him, tearing at his soul with a ferocity he had never known. His tears fell freely, each one a testament to the depth of his agony.
Memories of her smile, her touch, her voice flooded his mind, each one a dagger that twisted deeper into his heart. He could still feel the warmth of her embrace, the softness of her skin against his, and it made the emptiness that much more unbearable. He had never felt so hollow, so utterly consumed by grief.
Finnian’s sobs grew louder, the sound echoing through the room, a raw, guttural cry of a man who had lost everything. His body shook with the intensity of his emotions, each sob ripping through him like a tidal wave. He felt as if he were drowning in his own sorrow, unable to find a way to the surface.
He wanted to scream, to shout her name and beg her to come back, but he couldn’t. His voice was lost in the torrent of his tears, his throat raw from the force of his cries. The anguish he felt was overwhelming, an all-consuming darkness that threatened to swallow him whole.
Finnian lay there on the floor, his body convulsing with grief, feeling utterly defeated. He had lost the one person who made him feel alive, who had shown him what it meant to love and be loved. And now, without her, he felt like a shell of a man, broken and irreparably damaged.
His mind was a whirlwind of pain and regret, each thought more torturous than the last. He had pushed her away to protect her, but in doing so, he had destroyed himself. The realization that he might never see her again, never hold her or tell her how much he loved her, was a torment beyond anything he had ever experienced.
Finnian’s tears continued to flow, a river of sorrow that seemed endless. His heart, once filled with love and hope, was now a desolate wasteland, a barren expanse of nothingness. He had lost his light, his reason for living, and in that moment, he felt as if he would never be whole again.
As Seraphina walked out of the room, her legs gave way beneath her, and she collapsed onto the floor. Stella, who had been waiting anxiously outside, immediately rushed to her side.
“It hurts,” Seraphina whispered, her voice barely audible. Stella could feel the depth of her pain, the anguish of loving someone so deeply even when it felt like it was tearing her apart.
“He is protecting me, but why can’t he see that we can figure it out together?” Seraphina stuttered, her heart shattering into pieces. The weight of her love and the hopelessness of the situation overwhelmed her. Every breath felt like a struggle, every beat of her heart a painful reminder of what she had lost. Her chest felt tight, as if it was being squeezed by an invisible force. The tears flowed uncontrollably, each one carrying a piece of her broken heart.
All Stella could do was pull her into a hug, trying to offer some semblance of comfort as Seraphina sobbed uncontrollably. The pain in her chest was unbearable, a hollow ache that spread through her entire body. She felt like she was falling into an abyss, and no matter how hard she tried to hold on, she kept slipping further away.
After what felt like an eternity, Stella gently guided Seraphina to the nearest bathroom. She helped her wash her face and fix her hair, giving her time to gather herself. But even as she looked in the mirror, Seraphina felt like a shadow of herself, the pain and heartbreak reflected in her eyes.
As they walked out, Seraphina noticed Jasper rushing toward her, followed closely by Rafferty and Stellan. She told them what had happened, her voice trembling as she recounted the painful encounter. Blue wanted to hug his stepsister, to offer her some comfort, but he knew this wasn’t the place.
They all felt for Seraphina, understanding the impossible position Finnian was in. He was trapped, unable to act without endangering her further.
Suddenly, the doors to the hall swung open, and Finnian walked in. The room fell silent, all eyes turning towards him. Seraphina’s heart skipped a beat as she saw him, her emotions swirling inside her like a tempest. Without thinking, she started running towards him, her eyes locked on his.
As Seraphina stood in the hall, her eyes were fixed on Finnian. His cold gaze had returned, the warmth and love he had shown her just moments before now replaced by an icy demeanor. Her heart shattered as she watched him, hoping against hope that he would look her way, but he didn’t.
Alessandro, standing on a raised platform, commanded the room’s attention. “Attention, everyone! I have an important announcement to make,” he declared, his voice booming through the hall. “We are gathered here to celebrate the engagement of my son, Alexander, and Rina.”
The words hit Seraphina like a physical blow. She felt as if the ground had opened up beneath her, swallowing her whole. Her chest tightened, and it was hard to breathe as the reality of the situation sank in. She kept her gaze on Finnian, praying for a sign, any sign that he still cared. But he remained stoic, his face a mask of indifference.
Rina, who was happy, reached up to kiss Finnian ,but before her lips could touch his, Finnian pushed her away. The force of his push was enough to make her stumble, and a collective gasp echoed through the hall. The whispers and murmurs of the guests filled the air, but Finnian paid them no mind.
Clutching his chest in pain, Finnian turned and walked out of the hall. Each step felt like a struggle as the weight of his emotions bore down on him. The more he saw Seraphina’s broken state, the more his heart ached. He couldn’t bear to see her like this, knowing he was the cause of her pain.
Seraphina watched him go, her heart breaking with every step he took. She wanted to call out to him, to run after him, but she couldn’t move. She stood there, frozen in place, tears streaming down her face. The love she felt for him was like a fire consuming her from the inside, and now, all she could do was watch as the man she loved walked away, leaving her to pick up the pieces of her shattered heart.
FOUR DAYS LATER
After the incident where Finnian pushed Rina, causing her to lose her balance, things did not end well. His father, Alessandro, was ruthless in his punishment. Finnian was subjected to severe beatings and locked in a cold, damp cell beneath the mansion for three days without food or water. The physical pain was excruciating, but it paled in comparison to the ache in his chest.
Today, Alessandro had invited Marco and his daughter Rina to the mansion so that Finnian could apologize. Finnian felt lost and broken. The pain inflicted by his father wasn’t even a fraction of what he felt in his heart.
His brothers had been trying to reach him, their calls persistent, but he ignored them, knowing they would try to change his mind. Today they were leaving Italy and returning to New York. All Finnian could do was let Seraphina go. It was time, and soon Marco and Rina would be arriving.
Feeling suffocated, he decided to take a walk. As he returned to his room, he decided to take a shower, his mind still consumed with thoughts of Seraphina. The hot water did little to wash away his turmoil, but it offered a brief respite. He stepped out of the shower, water glistening on his sculpted muscles, a towel wrapped low around his waist, revealing his chiseled abs and strong physique.
As he looked up, his eyes widened in shock at what he saw.
“Se-Seraphina?” he said, his voice full of disbelief.
Seraphina stood there, looking at him with a determined expression. “What are you doing here?” he asked, confused, wondering if he was dreaming. He pinched himself, but this was reality.
“Finnian,” Seraphina said, walking towards him. “I said I can’t live without you and I love you. When you love someone, you become a fighter. A love without a fight, what kind of love is that?”
Her words flowed like poetry as she moved closer to him:
“When love’s true, we must stand strong,
For in each heart, we do belong.
Through pain and fear, we take the fight,
For love’s pure flame, our guiding light.”
She stopped in front of him, Finnian still in shock.
“You have two options, Acacius,” she said, her voice firm. “You either want me and let’s be together and face that monster of a father of yours, or you watch me walk out of this room to find your father, even if it gets me killed.”
“The choice is yours, Finnian. You either want me and love me, or you watch me die today by the hands of your father,” Seraphina declared, her voice unwavering.
Finnian stood there frozen, torn between his love for her and the fear of what his father would do.
Episode 43 & 44 : The Wedding Day
“The choice is yours, Finnian. You either want me and love me, or you watch me die today by the hands of your father,” Seraphina declared, her voice unwavering.
Finnian stood there frozen, torn between his love for her and the fear of what his father would do.
He stared at Seraphina. But she looked determined, and she wasn’t going back on her words.
He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Seraphina was still staring at him.
“I guess you’ve made your choice,” Seraphina said. She began to walk towards the door, and Finnian remained frozen.
Within a split second, he ran towards Seraphina, grabbing her hand and pulling her into his chest.
“Are you fucking nuts?” he yelled. “Do you have any idea how broken I would be if you got killed? Are you crazy?” He stared at her, his eyes wild with fear and desperation.
“Yes, Finnian, I’m crazy. I’m so fucking crazy for you,” Seraphina replied, her voice trembling with emotion. “I’m crazy because I can’t imagine my life without you. I’m crazy because every time I think of you, my heart feels like it’s going to burst. I’m crazy because I’d rather face death with you than live without you. I’m crazy because I love you more than anything in this world, and I will fight for that love no matter what.”
Tears were streaming down her face, and Finnian felt a pang of guilt, knowing he was the cause of her pain. He slowly pulled her into a hug, his heart aching with the depth of his love for her.
“I love you, Seraphina. I fucking love you. But if we’re going to face my father together, please promise me that when things go wrong, you’ll leave,” he said, his voice breaking.
Seraphina stared at him, her eyes filled with love and determination. She sighed, feeling an overwhelming sense of relief and happiness. He had finally picked her. She nodded her head, tears still falling from her eyes.
Then she kissed him. The kiss was filled with all the pent-up emotions of the past months, the longing, the pain, the love. It was a kiss that spoke of desperation and hope, of a love that refused to be extinguished.
Seraphina broke the kiss to catch her breath. She moved back, staring at Finnian with love in her eyes, while Finnian was hungry for her. He wanted to devour her, to lose himself in her. He had missed her lips on his, missed the feel of her body against his.
He wanted more, more and more. His demon Damon, who had been silent for the past three months, was already awake, wanting every inch of Seraphina’s body.
Seraphina slowly looked at Finnian before she started taking off her clothes in front of him. Finnian’s eyes darkened as he saw how beautiful she was.
“Acacius, make love to me,” she whispered. That was all Finnian needed to hear before he gave in to his desire. He pulled her close, their bodies pressing against each other, and kissed her with a fierce, unrelenting passion.
Their kiss deepened, filled with the intensity of their emotions and the months of separation. It was a kiss that spoke of love, need, and desperation. Finnian’s hands roamed over her body, memorizing every curve, every inch of her skin. He wanted to consume her, to make her his in every possible way.
Seraphina’s hands were equally fervent, tracing the muscles of his back, feeling the strength and warmth of him. She had missed this, missed him, and now she wanted to lose herself in his embrace.
As they moved towards the bed, the world outside ceased to exist. It was just the two of them, lost in each other, their love burning brighter than ever. And in that moment, nothing else mattered but their love and the promise of facing whatever came their way together.
AT THE HOTEL
“Where the fuck is my sister?” Blue yelled, his voice echoing through the room. Jasper, Rafferty, Stellan, and Stella remained silent. Seraphina must have run away.
“Maybe she’s with Finnian,” Jasper suggested, certain that she had gone to him.
“What if something happens to her? What if Alessandro fucking gets her?” Blue yelled, his worry escalating. They were supposed to depart from Italy tonight, but Seraphina was nowhere to be found.
“I’ve tried calling Finnian, but he isn’t picking up,” Rafferty said, his fatigue showing. “I’ll be in bed,” he added, heading to his room and leaving Blue even more frustrated.
“I’m going back to the mansion,” Blue declared, but Stellan grabbed his arm, stopping him.
“Are you nuts? It’s like you want to get yourself killed. If Seraphina is with Finnian, you going there will only alert Alessandro that she’s in his mansion. Better sit here and wait until we can figure things out,” Stellan said firmly.
“Wait? My sister is in danger!” Blue yelled back.
“The same sister you shot and pushed down the mountain?” Stellan retorted angrily.
Stella sat on the couch, her mind elsewhere. She was more focused on the pain in her stomach. Her period had started, and she was too scared to stand up, fearing she might have stained her clothes. She decided to wait until everyone had gone to their rooms before moving.
“Both of you shut up,” Jasper commanded, making Blue and Stellan turn to him. “Who the fuck are you telling to–” Blue began, but stopped mid-sentence when he saw Jasper’s intense glare.
Jasper, the reaper, emitted the same formidable aura as Finnian, the devil incarnate.
“We’ll just have to wait for Finnian’s call. If Seraphina was in danger, he would have contacted us immediately. I’m sure she made it to Finnian without getting caught. We’ll just have to wait,” Jasper concluded.
Stellan smirked at Blue before walking off. Blue stormed to his room, slamming the door hard behind him, leaving Stella and Jasper alone.
Stella prayed Jasper would leave quickly. As Jasper stood up, he noticed Stella’s unusual silence.
“Are you okay?” he asked, sensing something was wrong.
Stella was about to respond when another wave of pain hit her, making her hiss in discomfort. Jasper, seeing this, rushed to her side.
“You’re not okay. I’ll call the doctor,” he said, but before Stella could protest, Jasper scooped her into his arms and carried her to his room. Stella looked at him in shock, but couldn’t help blushing.
ALESSANDRO’S MANSION
Finnian looked at every inch of Seraphina, his eyes filled with admiration. “You are exquisite,” he began, his voice full of reverence. “Your beauty is unparalleled, captivating in every sense. You have a radiance that outshines the sun and a grace that could bring kings to their knees. When I look at you, I see the most stunning creation the world has ever known.”
Seraphina couldn’t help but smile, feeling the depth of his words. Finnian kissed her again, their connection deepening with every touch.
He then said, “Pick a number from 1 to 20.”
Seraphina stared at him, confused. “10,” she said hesitantly.
Finnian smirked. “That’s how many times I’ll be fucking you tonight. Get ready, little lamb; you won’t be able to walk for days.”
Seraphina gasped as Finnian removed his towel, revealing his impressive physique. “Oh my god, so huge,” she whispered in awe.
“I know, baby, but once it’s inside you, you’ll be begging for more,” Finnian declared confidently.
Before Seraphina could fully process his words, he entered her swiftly, causing her to scream in pain.
“Out, out, out!” Seraphina cried out.
Finnian immediately withdrew, his heart breaking at the sight of her tears. He pulled her into his chest, whispering apologies. “Baby, I’m sorry.”
“Take it easy, I’m still a virgin,” Seraphina said, her voice trembling.
Finnian stared at her in shock but then smiled gently. “So I’m your first?”
Seraphina nodded. “My first kiss too,” she smiled.
Finnian smiled back. “Same, you’re my first too.”
He then entered her again, this time moving slowly and tenderly. At first, Seraphina screamed in pain, but soon she began moaning his name, her pleasure building.
“Moan for me, baby,” Finnian urged.
“Fuck me hard,” Seraphina moaned, overwhelmed by the pleasure.
“Your wish is my command,” Finnian replied, increasing his pace.
Downstairs, Rina and her father had arrived an hour ago and were already at the dining table, waiting for Finnian, who was one hour late. Alessandro was barely containing his anger. He called one of the servants. “Get Alexander here,” he ordered.
The servant nodded, but as he was about to move, Rina stopped him. “I’ll go get him. Show me the way,” she said, and Alessandro agreed, knowing that the marriage was a business arrangement. Once Finnian was married to her, he planned to kill Marco and take over the Russian Mafia business. He didn’t care about love, only power.
Rina made her way to Finnian’s room. “This is his room,” the servant said before bowing and walking away.
Rina smiled to herself, imagining all the things Finnian would do to her. She was already wet with anticipation. She placed her hand on the doorknob, slowly turning it as she opened the door…