CHAPTER 628. RED PROMISE. HOW BAD IS IT?TEN YEARS LATER.Everything had changed for Mauro in the last ten years: his university, his friends, and anything that could remind him that his first love had only been a prostitute bought for him by a couple of idiots.First, it had been England—Cambridge, of course. Then long stays in Italy and France, until he finally settled permanently in Lucerne with his grandparents.Rarely did he need to go to Zurich to see his parents. However, they had moved there in recent years, and with Loan Keller’s heavy workload, his father had practically demanded that Mauro spend his birthday with him.“It’s getting harder and harder to see you!” his father grumbled, feigning irritation, though it was clear he felt nostalgic. “You never want to come!”“And you visit Lucerne less and less!” Mauro shot back.“That’s because I’m drowning in work, all because my eldest son prefers running his uncle’s company over taking charge of his father’s!” Loan complained,
CHAPTER 629. RED PROMISE: AFTER SO MUCH TIME…Silent. Stunned. His heart hung by a thread, threatening to snap and shatter into pieces on the ground. It was strange how, after so much time, after a decade of forgetting her (because hatred had been far too generous a sentiment for her), the news of Ainara Jáuregui’s impending death could have such an effect on him.“Excuse me…? What do you mean dying?” he whispered hoarsely. The hospital director motioned for him to step aside.“The young woman was in a severe car accident,” the director explained. “They barely managed to pull her out, and by the time they did, she was rushed into emergency surgery. Her liver was perforated, and they did their best—they removed part of it—but they didn’t realize she was still bleeding internally. That’s quite common with liver injuries because the organ has large blood vessels.”“Okay, but when… when did this happen?”“Three days ago. They only discovered the hemorrhaging today. The senator had her tra
CHAPTER 630. RED PROMISE. CONDITIONS“Do you want to survive?”It was a cruel question, and though Ainara was fully aware of the coldness and contempt in Mauro’s tone, her answer was still “Yes.”“To me...” she repeated, her gaze drifting to the ceiling of the room. “And what could Mr. Keller possibly want from a dying woman?”They hadn’t seen each other in ten years, but she had followed his career every step of the way. Perhaps out of spite, perhaps because she still couldn’t understand how someone who had seemed like the perfect guy—kind and sweet—had broken every promise he made to her by sleeping with another woman. Unfortunately, Mauro’s history only confirmed what she already knew: he was still a bad boy, occasionally seen surrounded by women but never committing to any, including his darling Charmaine.“What I want is simple,” Mauro murmured. “I want you. I need a full-time mistress, and it’s not like I can’t afford to pay you... though I doubt you’re worth as much anymore. Th
CHAPTER 631. RED PROMISE. A Strange NightmareBetween Mauro Keller's determined gaze and Senator Russo's bewildered one, it was clear who held the upper hand. No matter how much Loan tried to steer the situation toward a reasonable outcome, it was evident that his son would relent and that the senator was genuinely invested in Ainara's survival."Why are you doing this?" he asked. Before Mauro could respond with a curt, "That's none of your business," Loan widened his eyes just enough to make him rein it in a little."I’ve known her for many years. She’s a smart woman; she knows what’s best for her. So, you can be sure she’ll be fine," Mauro stated firmly.No one dared say anything more. The only thing left was the senator’s nod as he walked away."Do you want to make our lives miserable?" Loan exclaimed as soon as they were alone. "What are you doing, Mauro?! Are you really going to donate half your liver? Just like that?! Do you want your mother to kill me?!"Mauro took a deep brea
CHAPTER 632. RED PROMISE. A ProfessionalAinara was dazed. Maybe it was just a pleasant dream induced by the anesthesia. Perhaps the way Mauro was holding her hand was nothing more than one of those alternate universes where he hadn’t turned out to be the complete jerk who cheated on her and called her a “prostitute” without even giving her a chance to explain.Because unfortunately, if anything was seared into her memory even after ten years, it was the image of Charmaine naked on her bed.“You’re not dead,” she whispered, and Mauro leaned in with concern, thinking she was rambling. “You’re not dead. I’d be your damned paradise, and you don’t deserve that.”And in that instant, any romantic illusion shattered. Mauro’s smile turned sarcastic and dangerous, and Ainara took as deep a breath as she could, knowing she was stepping into her new reality as this man’s captive.“I’m glad to see you haven’t lost your sense of humor,” he said, releasing her hand and leaning back in the chair.
CHAPTER 633. RED PROMISE. A Difficult WomanHe had met her on the street—one of those streets in Zurich where rich kids went to race their expensive cars. Traffic was minimal, and the police patrolling the city’s grittier areas were easily bribed.Mauro had seen her—uncomfortable, nervous, even curt. She didn’t let boys her age approach her. Although she was stunningly beautiful, her sharp, defiant demeanor revealed a deep mistrust or perhaps a lack of refinement.Later, he found out more about her after following her to a building not far from there. Ainara Jáuregui was the daughter of immigrants, at least on her mother’s side. She had never known her father and attended a public school where kids were practically frisked to ensure they weren’t carrying weapons.Abrasive, distrustful, always ready for a fight. But even so, she had the kindest heart in the world, and that was what made Mauro fall for her completely. It took six months and all his willpower to win her over because she
CHAPTER 634. RED PROMISE. The Same SceneMauro clenched his teeth in frustration as he stared into the deep, dark eyes of that woman. Twenty-six years old, with the eyes of a general and the temperament of a mercenary. She had always been tough, but over the past decade, she seemed to have grown less emotional, colder—like nothing could unbalance her."Did you also demand lab tests from Senator Rosso?" he asked sarcastically, convinced that the relationship that had started when she was just a girl had persisted for years."No, I didn’t have to demand them from him," Ainara retorted, pulling free of his grasp and flashing him a sarcastic smile. "But you know my conditions. Now, master, may I go rest, or do you need anything else?"The new magnate of sports medicine let out a low growl of anger and turned toward the door. But before he could grasp the handle, the soft voice of the woman behind him stopped him in his tracks."Mauro!" she called from the large glass window overlooking t
CHAPTER 635. RED PROMISE. A High-Standard ServiceSaying his breath hitched in one sharp jolt was an understatement. Ainara’s body had changed significantly in ten years—her curves had filled out, her skin was taut and warm over soft muscle. She was solid, a woman. Mauro couldn’t quite define it, but maybe that was the word: she had become a woman. And in her eyes, there wasn’t a shred of the innocence he once believed he had fallen in love with.She wore a small red nightgown that didn’t aim to seduce, but even so, Mauro couldn’t stop that damned image from surfacing in his mind—the photo of the prostitute in red from the website…“Damn it!” he growled, taking slow steps toward her with a silent denial. A second later, his mouth crashed onto Ainara’s, tearing her nightgown apart without hesitation.She was sweet and bitter at once. The memories hurt, and yet the desire was stronger than him. Ainara’s skin burned against his, and Mauro’s hands gripped her hips possessively as he plun