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Chapter Nine
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2024-12-18 14:24:33
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A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter ten
A TIME FOR MYSELF.~LAUREN’S POV~The first rays of morning light filtered through the sheer curtains, golden and warm, but my thoughts were far from serene. I stared at the ceiling, trying to shake off the leftovers of last night—the dinner, the drama, and Alexandro’s maddening smirk. His touch, his words, even the way he had looked at me—it was too much. I sat up, groaning into my hands. This trip was supposed to be my escape, a chance to recover from heartbreak and find some clearness. Instead, it had turned into a stage for mind games and jealousy-fueled power plays. I swung my legs off the bed and grabbed my notebook from the nightstand. I had jotted down my plans the night before, determined to reclaim at least one day for myself. “Breakfast by the beach.” check “Morning yoga.” check, i said with a smile spreading across my lips.“Explore the resort.” “Call Mom and Emma.”“Book a yacht ride.” That sum it all, I said taking a good look at the notebook again, before writ
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-19A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Eleven
MY ANCHOR.~LAUREN POV~The sea breeze tangled through my hair as I brushed a few strands away from my face, trying to focus on anything but the chaos around me. My gaze drifted toward Alexandro, who stood talking to the captain with his typical air of authority. But my attention snapped back to Rosette and Patrick. She was leaning into him, her lips dangerously close to his, the two of them putting on a show as if they were in some private moment rather than on the deck of a yacht. A sick feeling churned in my stomach. How had today twisted so quickly from promising to unbearable? I should’ve stayed in my room, I thought bitterly. Alone and away from this soap opera. “You two,” Lilac said, her voice dripping with mock irritation, “get a room.” She rolled her eyes dramatically, though her smirk betrayed her amusement. It was obvious what they were doing. They were trying to get under my skin, and worse, it was working. I clenched my jaw, refusing to give them the satisfact
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-19A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Twelve
HIS PRESENCE.~LAUREN’S POV~The rest of the ride was quiet and uncomfortable, broken only by Rosette’s angry looks and Fatimah’s occasional laughter. Lilac sat quietly, avoiding eye contact, but her presence still added to my stress.I turned my attention to the water, leaning forward against the railing. The sea stretched out endlessly before me, shimmering under the golden sunlight. Despite the day spiraling from bad to worse, the view was stunning. The salty breeze kissed my skin, and for a moment, the anxiety in my chest eased. “You should be careful.” A voice startled me, deep and close, pulling me out of my brief reprieve. I turned to find Alexandro standing behind me. His phone, the obvious source of his earlier distraction, was nowhere in sight. He looked at me with a casual, unreadable expression that I was beginning to hate. Right. Him. I’d almost forgotten he was here, which was saying something, considering how impossible it usually was to ignore him. I should h
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-20A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Thirteen
GIVING HIM A SHOW.~ALEXANDRO’S POV~As soon as the boat docked, Rosette tried to seize control, her voice cutting through the air like nails on a chalkboard. “We should all stick together while we explore the city,” she suggested, glancing around as if waiting for unanimous agreement. The others murmured in halfhearted approval, but I wasn’t about to let her dictate my plans. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible,” I said smoothly, drawing everyone’s attention. “Lauren and I already have plans.” Rosette froze, her lips parting slightly as if she couldn’t quite process my words. “What plans?” she demanded, her tone sharper than she intended. I smiled. “Dinner. Just the two of us.” For a moment, silence reigned. Fatimah raised an eyebrow, clearly amused, while Rosette’s cheeks flushed red. Patrick, however, was the most satisfying to watch. His frown deepened, his jaw tightening. The subtle clench of his fists at his sides didn’t escape my notice. Good. It was too easy
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-20A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter fourteen
SCARED OF FEELING ~LAUREN’S POV~I could practically hear my heartbeat as I forced my gaze to stay fixed on the plate of food sitting in front of me. The mashed potatoes sat untouched, a smudge of gravy trailing down the side, but the rest of the dish looked foreign. Some kind of meat—roast, maybe?—and vegetables I couldn’t quite place. Was this even what I ordered?My brow furrowed as I poked at the food with my fork, lifting my eyes just slightly to catch Alexandro staring at me. He didn’t bother looking away when I met his gaze. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, suddenly too aware of the low murmurs floating around the restaurant. The hushed whispers, the stolen glances—especially from the women seated nearby. I cleared my throat and lifted my glass of wine, pretending not to notice. “Seems like you’re pretty well-known around here,” I said, letting the words roll off casually. Alexandro leaned back in his chair, that ever-present smirk tugging at the corner of his li
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-21A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter fifteen
FLICK OF PAIN.~LAUREN’S POV~The night began with warm moments but soon turned into confusion and frustration. As we left the restaurant, Alexandro lightly placed his hand on my back.I could feel the heat of it through the thin fabric of my dress, and it was unnervingly distracting. When he leaned closer to whisper in my ear, his breath brushing against my skin, it sent shivers down my spine. “You’ll have to get used to my touch,” he murmured, his voice low and edged with amusement. “I can’t have you flinching every time I lay a hand on you.” “It’s cold,” I lied, hoping to cover up the growing embarrassment from how acutely aware I was of his presence. Alexandro only smirked, pulling off his blazer without a word and draping it over my shoulders. The unexpected gesture left me stunned, my protest caught in my throat. “You… you didn’t have to,” I finally managed, my fingers clutching the lapels of the blazer. He didn’t listen to me. Instead, he looked at the street, as if
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-23A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter sixteen
UNEXPECTED WARM.~ALEXANDRO’S POV~ Lauren pulled away from me the moment we boarded the boat. She didn’t say a word, just wrapped her arms around herself and found a seat near the edge. Her gaze fixed on the dark waters, avoiding me entirely. She was angry. “You’re angry,” I said, keeping my voice low so the others wouldn’t hear. “Well, congratulations for noticing that,” she shot back, her tone sharp, her eyes still refusing to meet mine. A smirk tugged at the corner of my lips. Her frustration amused me more than I cared to admit. She reminded me of a child whose candy had been taken away—adorable, despite her clear annoyance. Before I could say more, my phone buzzed in my pocket, dragging my attention away. I pulled it out and glanced at the name flashing on the screen. Antonio. This late? It had better be important. I walked to the other side of the boat, away from the others, and answered. “This better be important for you to call me at this hour.” My tone was cal
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-24A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter seventeen
A PUZZLE OF FEELINGS.~LAUREN’S POV~ The days at the resort passed in a blur, each one feeling more exhausting than the last. Alexandro made it his mission to drag me to every event and occasion requiring his presence, while all I wanted was to stay indoors and avoid everyone—especially him. After my last encounter with Rosette, her venomous words still stayed in my mind. I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that she might be right about some things. I was beginning to have expectations about this fake relationship, and I hated myself for it. The idea of Alexandro using me just to pass the time filled me with anger I couldn’t quite understand. And now, here I sat at yet another social gathering, glaring at the women surrounding Alexandro. “Get a grip, Lauren,” I muttered to myself, gripping the stem of my champagne glass tightly. “Remember, this isn’t real.” But no matter how much I told myself that, it felt like a lie. If I truly believed it, why couldn’t I look away from
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-26
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A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Fifty Five
POWER SPEAKS~ALEXANDRO POV~My fingers tapped against the oak table in a slow, planned rhythm. It was the only thing keeping me grounded as my gaze swept over the polished, greedy faces of the Castello partners. Wolves in tailored suits, each one waiting for an opportunity to tear into flesh that didn’t belong to them. They pretended to be civilized. Men of honor. Businessmen.But I knew better.I could smell their desperation, their hunger, the festering need to take more than what was offered. It bled from their pores, thick and cloying, and I welcomed it.Let them feed on scraps while I carved out my empire, piece by ruthless piece.Mario sat beside me, comfortably stretched out in his chair like he had no care in the world, watching them devour each other with amusement dancing in his eyes. His fingers toyed with the unlit cigar between them, his smile sharp and cutting. The bastard was enjoying this.“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” I muttered, low enough that no one but hi
A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Fifty four
THE POINT OF NO RETURN ~LAUREN’S POV~I sat there, completely still, my legs curled underneath me as if they might give out if I tried to stand. The TV in front of me kept playing, but I wasn’t watching it anymore. I was watching him. Alexandro. His voice echoed in my head. Not the deep, smooth one he uses when he whispers things that make my cheeks flush, but the one he used on that stage. Calm. Commanding. Ruthless. “She is my future. And she’s off-limits.” My heart stuttered against my ribcage like it was fighting for space. Off-limits. Future. Me. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to laugh, cry, or crawl inside myself and hide. Because it’s a nice thing to say, isn’t it? It’s every girl’s dream to have a man like him claim her in front of the world like that. But when did we go from pretending to…whatever this was? When did I become his future? I don’t remember signing up for that part. My hand covered my mouth before I could make any more embarrassing sounds. “God,”
A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Fifty three
BURN WITH HER ~ALEXANDRO’S POV~Mario’s pacing was a steady rhythm against the ticking clock mounted on the wall. It grated on my already-thin patience, but I didn’t look up from the documents spread out in front of me. The ledgers were clean now—on paper, at least. The cargo had been accounted for. The Russians thought they were clever. Thought they could steal from me and walk away unscathed.Idiots.I had already made an example of the ones stupid enough to stay behind. Their blood was still fresh on my knuckles this morning. I’d washed it off, but I could still feel it. Still smell it.They keep trying to paint me as the devil.Maybe I am. But the devil doesn’t touch what’s his without consequence. And Lauren? She’s mine. Even if she doesn’t know what that means yet.I loosened the tie at my throat, my jaw clenching as my thoughts drifted back to last night. Her lips parted under mine. Her body was soft, and pliant, offering everything and asking for nothing in return. I should
A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Fifty Two
SCARED OF LOVE ~LAUREN’S POV~I was drowning in his kiss. The way his tongue claimed mine, slow at first, then deeper—demanding, consuming—like he had all the time in the world to ruin me. And God, I was letting him.My hands fisted his shirt, clutching the soft material like it was the only thing tethering me to this moment. To him. But I wasn’t tethered. I was free-falling.His mouth moved with a kind of hunger that made my knees weak, and when I swayed into him, he caught me without breaking the kiss. Strong hands slid down my sides, curving around my hips like he already knew every inch of me. Maybe he did. Maybe I was always meant for him to hold this way.I gasped into his mouth when his hands gripped my thighs and lifted me—effortlessly like I weighed nothing. It wasn’t even a question that I’d wrap my legs around him. But it wasn’t a question. I did. Without thinking. Without breathing. I felt his low groan vibrate through me as he turned, carrying me across the roo
A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Fifty One
RUINING LAUREN~ALEXANDRO’S POV~She’s quiet. Too quiet.Lauren sits beside me like she’s a stranger in my car, her body angled away, her gaze glued to the window as if the glass can shield her from the truth. From me. As if distance, even imagined, could protect her.It won’t.I grip the steering wheel tighter, the leather biting into my palm. The need to reach over, to pull her back into my space, is a sickness I’m fighting with every breath. But if I touch her now, I won’t stop. And if I don’t stop, I’ll ruin her in ways she’ll never come back from.My jaw ticks. I’m already ruining her.The silence between us is a battlefield. A war neither of us is willing to start because we both know it’ll end in blood. Maybe hers. Mine.I exhale through my nose. Controlled. Restrained. I’ve made an art out of restraint. But not with her.Never with her.She’s taking apart me in ways I never wanted. And now I’m sitting here in the wreckage, wondering when I stopped being the one in contro
A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Fifty
Unanswered Questions~LAUREN~He exhaled. A sharp, heavy breath that somehow felt like it sucked the air out of the entire room. His eyes locked with mine, but I wasn’t sure what I saw in them. Anger? Regret? Maybe both. Maybe neither. Maybe something I couldn’t even name.“Get ready,” he said. Just that. Two little words, like they weren’t going to tear me apart.And then he was gone.His door shut behind him with a dull thud, and the sound lingered in my chest. I stood there, still, staring at nothing. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to move or breathe or scream, so I did none of those things. I just stood there, letting the silence crawl over me.What just happened?My hand found its way to my chest, pressing against my heartbeat. It was frantic. Messy. A sharp contrast to the man who had just walked away as none of it mattered.But it did. It mattered. I knew it. I felt it in the way his lips had moved against mine. I saw it in the way his hands had trembled when he touched me
A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Forty Nine
TOO LATE FOR WHAT?~LAUREN'S POV~Sleep wasn't an option. It hadn't been for hours. I lay there in the dark, still as a corpse, staring at the ceiling with my heart beating out a frantic rhythm in my chest. The photographs were burned behind my eyelids. Every time I blinked, they were there. Patrick's hands on me. His face was too close. The twisted narrative of it all. The lies threaded so neatly between each image, so carefully crafted it made me sick. Someone was watching. Someone who wanted me afraid. And I was. But not frozen. Not helpless. I was angry. Anger was something I understood how to use. I pushed back the covers and swung my legs over the edge of the bed, grabbing the robe I'd tossed over the chair hours ago. My skin prickled with a mix of adrenaline and exhaustion. I was brittle, too sharp, and stretched thin. No matter how many explanations I tried to piece together, everything led to the same dead end. Alexandro. It was always him. Maybe thi
A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Forty Eight
The Mysterious Letter.~LAUREN’S POV~“Step away from her.” The voice sliced through the air like it had teeth. I froze. Because I knew that voice. Alexandro. I turned toward him, my stomach twisting in a way that had nothing to do with fear, and everything to do with *him.* He stood there, his green eyes burning with something sharp and dangerous. It was the kind of look that made you feel like the earth might split open beneath your feet. Patrick’s grip on my arm loosened. Only slightly. But I felt it. The shift. Like even he wasn’t sure if he should move. Nobody spoke. Not at first. The silence between us stretched long enough to feel heavy. Long enough to make me wonder which one of them was going to snap first. And then Alexandro did. One step forward. Slow. Measured. Like he had all the time in the world to ruin someone’s life. Like he’d already decided whose. “If you ever speak to her like that again, Sullivan…” His voice was quiet. Almost kind. But there wa
A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas Chapter Forty Seven
JEALOUSY ~PATRICK’S POV~A GLIMPSE IN PATRICK POV: The night carried on with laughter, music, and celebration, but I barely noticed any of it.I was seated at the high table, next to Rosette, forced to smile as we danced, as we accepted gifts, as people congratulated us. But none of it mattered.Because across the hall, wrapped in the arms of Alexandro fucking Castello, was Lauren.My fingers curled into a tight fist, the glass of whiskey in my hand trembling slightly.I never expected Lauren to move on. And not with a man like him.Lauren had always been predictable, soft, foolishly in love, a woman who would wait forever. That’s who she was. That’s who she had always been with me.Yet now, she was standing beside Castello, laughing.Smiling.Looking… untouched by our past.That realization clawed at my insides, turning the alcohol in my stomach into something bitter.She should have been miserable. Crying. She should have been broken, unable to even look at another man.Instead, s
