Chapter 9 Trapped In His Memories

• Carlo took Mía to his car, forcing her to get in. Before closing the door, he issued a warning.
• “You stay here. Be careful not to get out because I won't be responsible for what happens.”
• He got into the car, approached Mía, and fastened her seatbelt. He was furious, knowing he had to calm down, or things wouldn't end well.
• Thara and Caroline hurriedly left the club. They had to get home before Carlo arrived. If their mother found out she had gone out without permission, it wouldn't end well for her. One advantage was that Carlo hadn't seen her.
• Mía was lost in her thoughts. After a while, she snapped back to reality and looked out the window, realizing they were in an unfamiliar area.
• “Where are we?”
• “Bel Air.”
• “Why did you bring me here?”
• “This is where I live. You'll stay with me until the wedding to ensure you don't do anything crazy. The day after tomorrow, I'll take you back home. Don't worry about Sonia; I'll let her know you're with me.”
• Mía's nervousness escalated, and she chose to remain silent. Arguing with him seemed futile.
• Carlo stopped the car in front of a massive gate. As it opened, the car moved down a tree-lined path, leading to an impressive mansion. Mía was astonished, and Carlo noticed, smiling.
• “Do you like it? Soon, all of this will be yours too. After the wedding, we'll go to New York for a while before heading to Italy. We'll be living in the Todt Hill area.”
• “I don't like that area. It's known for its ties to the Italian mafia.”
• “I'm not aware of that information. Every time I've been there, it seemed like a very peaceful place."
• Carlo got out of the car, attempting to open the door for Mía, but she got out before he could do so.
• He took her by the arm and guided her inside. She tried to break free from his grip, but he wouldn't allow it. Inside, he called for the staff—several people who were at his service. Within moments, they were all standing in front of them.
• “She is Mía, and she will soon become my wife. From now on, you all are at her service. Her word holds the same weight as mine. Understood?”
• “Yes, sir” they replied in unison.
• Carlo led Mía up the grand staircase, and they walked down a long hallway to one of the rooms. Carlo opened the door and forced her inside. The room was spacious, with a restrained decoration, and luxury was evident in every detail.
• “This will be your room. There's a bell next to the bed; if you need anything, just ring it. You can use the intercom to request whatever you want, and it will be brought to you immediately. You are free to go wherever you please on the property.”
• “This is too much. I am your fiancée, not your prisoner.”
• “Take it as you wish. You've already shown me that I can't trust you. I won't risk you doing something crazy.”
• He stood in front of her, attempting to kiss her, but she rejected him. He thought about insisting but managed to control himself.
• “I won't insist for now, but that will change once we are married. Your rejections and defiance will end, that I can assure you.”
• He walked away visibly annoyed, entering his office where a young maid was cleaning. The girl smiled at him when he approached. He hadn't noticed before how pretty she was, with a beautiful face and a stunning body. Without a word, he kissed her.
• It was the first time the young woman had been with a man, and she found her boss enchanting, although he had never paid her any attention. Carlo, on the other hand, didn't care that it was her first time. Once he was satisfied, he got dressed, then looked at her before speaking cynically.
• “Collect your payment, I'll make sure you get double. You must leave the mansion immediately.”
• “But I thought…”
• “You thought nothing. Get out of here at once.”
• The girl dressed quickly and ran off, tears streaming down her cheeks.
• Carlo lit a cigarette. The foolish girl must have believed he wanted something more with her. She had only served to quell his desire for Mía. He went back to his room, resisting the temptation to know that she was sleeping just a few steps away.
• At ASTECH headquarters, Cambell was handling the day's meetings. For the past four years, Ahmed had been absent on this date. It was a difficult day for him, bringing back bitter memories.
• Ahmed locked himself in his children's room. On this day, no one could disturb him, so he gave his employees the day off. He lay on his young son's bed, hugging his favorite toy, closed his eyes, and couldn't help but begin to remember.
• Ahmed met Lyna nine years ago when he was twenty-three. She was on vacation in Dubai with her cousins, and he was the crown prince. On that day, he saved her after the current dragged her while snorkeling in Fujaira during an unexpected storm. The instant connection was formed. Lyna was nineteen at the time, and Ahmed thought she was a beautiful girl with her tall stature, fair skin, fiery hair, and enormous green eyes.
• Despite being from the royal family, Ahmed renounced his claim to the throne to marry Lyna, going against his family's wishes.
• They moved to the United States, where he established his own company and became a prominent CEO in New York City. However, over time, he became addicted to parties, fun, and women, neglecting his wife and children. Lyna forgave him for his infidelities multiple times until she caught him with his secretary.
• She finally gave him an ultimatum to change, but he failed, and she left with their children to Switzerland. Ahmed didn't follow her due to his pride, assuming she would come back as she had done before. Tragically, her plane never reached its destination and crashed in a wooded reserve near Zurich.
• The accident shattered Ahmed, and he isolated himself, living only for work, power, and trying to cope with the pain. Cambell was the only one who stood by his side during this difficult time, while the rest of his acquaintances distanced themselves from him, thinking he would fall into bankruptcy.
• He had to fight with Lyna's family to repatriate the bodies. Ahmed's grief turned him into a bitter man focused on seeking revenge against those who abandoned him in his darkest moments. He clawed his way back into the business world, determined to ruin those who had turned their backs on him, trying to benefit from his misfortune.