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Chapter 9
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2024-10-29 19:42:56“Jean?” My mother’s voice rings clear in my ears even as she strides toward me. “What are you doing here? You’re not supposed to be back!”
Looking around, the house seems to be in quite a fuss. Hired men are running back and forth lugging around suitcases and boxes, my father running with them. “What’s going on, Mom? Are we moving?”
My mom clasps my face in both of her hands, “God, my dear Jean. You shouldn’t be here.”
Confused and starting to get extremely annoyed that she won’t answer my questions, I ask. “What’s going on, Mom? You told me to come back, remember? I got your message.”
“No,” Her voice is barely above a whisper but I hear the pain in it. My mom sways and I reach out a hand just in time to cat
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“Are you serious?” Fucking ridiculous. I’ve been summoned early in the next day for this crap? “Why would you think I’m not?” But he can’t be. “You want me to marry you?” I ask as I wave the marriage registration papers he had handed to me when I walked in. From the corner of my eye, I see Luca standing beside Dante fighting a grin. It makes me want to walk over there and smack him across the face. “Simply put, yes. I’m cashing in the favor you owe me. Fo
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“Alright,” Dante seems pleased with how our signing went. But honestly, he would have gotten the same results one way or another because as things are, I’m completely his to do as he wants. This signing is a mere formality and a chance to explain his plan to me. At the very least, I feel grateful for that. Dante fishes for a black fountain pen from somewhere on his body. It looks fancy, with its gold linings and intricate design. It must cost a lot too. I assume it’s a gift or an heirloom. Using his fancy pen, he signs his name at the bottom of the page. “Who else knows?” I ask when he has handed the document to Luca, who puts it away together with
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“Good girl.” Dante’s words haven’t left my mind since he has spoken them. What the hell was that? And why am I blushing over it? I shake my head violently to get rid of the thought as I walk down the long hall back to my room. I haven’t been here long but after being in Dante’s cold office for that long, I miss the little comfort my room has provided. As I round the corner, I spot Hana and another woman waiting at the top of the stairs to the second floor. I smile at Hana, seeing a familiar face can indeed make someone feel better. After the talk with Dante and Luca, I’m spent. “Hana,” I call out, and she brightens up when she sees me. “What are you doing here?”
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“It seems the meeting has fried your brain if you managed to sleep the day away.” Someone’s deep voice wakes me from my slumber. Wait, something isn’t right. I sit up with a start, suddenly feeling nauseous with the sudden movement. It takes my eyes a few breathes to adjust, but sure enough, Dante is in my room, arms crossed, lazily leaning against the table directly opposite my bed. He’s starting right at me with those intense eyes, making me self-conscious. Was he watching me sleep? “Pervert,” I mutter, earning myself a raised eyebrow from him. “How long have you been standing there?” I clutch the blanket closer to my chest thankful that this time I’
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“Wait, what are you doing in here? Get out!” I all but throw my shoe in Dante’s direction to get him to leave. Holding the gown tightly to my body, I try very hard not to let the halter slip from my fingers. I was trying to fasten the halter around my neck when Dante suddenly poked his head in the walk-in closet. He seems unfazed and crosses the small space between us. “This is my closet too,” He says matter-of-factly. As Dante moves towards where his shoes are, I use to opportunity to hurry outside the dressing room and into the bedroom. Why is he even here? I remember staying up late a few nights ago, waiting for him to return and discuss our sleeping arrangements. Yes, I have been worried about sleeping in the same bed as him, but we never really got to talk about it because he never comes into this room. Each night, I’d stay
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The first moment I looked at him, I knew Ricci was a sleazebag. From the dilated pupils, down to the too-tight pants, he’s wearing. My best guess is that whatever drugs he’s on, it leaves him in a constant state of ‘horny.’ “It’s a pleasure to finally meet the new Mrs. D’Angelo.” He says reaching for my hand. A quick glance at Dante tells me that this man means business but he’s not in the least bit thrilled that Ricci is here. I extend my hand to his expecting a handshake, but I couldn’t fight the sharp inhale when he plants his wet lips on the back of my hand. I endure the shiver that runs down my spine and I have to fight not to yank my hand back immediately. “It’s a pleasure to meet you too,” I reply meekly, not wanting to sound rude, but neither wanting to encoura
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“It’s yours. From now on, whatever you want, whatever you wish for, it shall be yours.” The events of last night’s party are a blur. When I woke up this morning, my head is still reeling around the fact that I’m now a gallery owner. Since I graduated with my fine arts degree and have worked for great artists and museums, I dreamed of displaying my work at my own gallery. I’ve never voiced that dream to anyone in my life because I knew that once my father retired, he would hand over the Atwood tobacco business. A business I never supported but was willing to accept anyway. It’s the business that put the Atwood name on the map, and my father was stern that the eldest would inherit and continue
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12 YEARS LATER. “Come on! We’re going to miss it! Hurry, Papa!” “Okay, okay. Slow down, sweetheart.” The man hastens after his daughter, weaving through a small crowd of people that had just arrived, same as them. The young girl complains, “We promised Lily we’d be on time—there!” she points to the entrance of the auditorium. “Lily!” Lily waves back frantically at her sister. “You made it, Rose!” Lily replies running up the remainder of the distance between them. “You missed the opening ceremony but the displays are out. Come on!” The twins leave their father behind, opting to rush inside the auditorium that was converted into a small gallery to display the artworks created by the students of the summer art program. The auditorium is large for a school with a population of only a few hundred, but the family decided that a private school was best for their kids. “Ah, you’ve finally arrived,” Jean greets her husband as he strides toward her. She looks as beautiful as ever with her
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Jean“Is there somewhere we can talk privately?” he asks when he notices the tear that escapes my eye. “I won’t have tears for our reunion, love.”I quickly wipe away the tears that managed to stain my cheeks and pull away from the man I used to call my husband.With my head still spinning, I manage to get out of work immediately with the promise that I would close the deal with the mysterious art donor.Dante—or rather, Gavin and I find ourselves behind the safety of my apartment doors soon enough.“Now,” I order just as the doors close behind us. “Explain yourself.”Gavin quirks an eyebrow at me, “Quite a warm welcome, love.” I sense the sarcasm in his voice which makes me roll my eyes at him.“When you explain yourself, I might reconsider.”“Why are you mad at me?” he asks almost in disbelief. “When everything I did, I did for you.”“For me?” I scoff loudly, returning the same energy and disbelief. “You left me alone for two years! Even when I asked you to come—” then shaking my he
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JeanI think it’s been three days since I learned about Dante’s death. Three days that I’ve stayed home, calling in sick for work because there’s no way I can hold myself together in public when I burst into tears every hour or so.It’s been three days since my world shattered.The television has been playing on the same news channel the whole time with me waiting for any developments. I dove into the deeper parts of the internet, looking for any information but there is none to be found.“This is it, huh?” I whisper to myself, clinging onto the fleece blanket wrapped around me as I stare out the window. The heavy rain doesn’t help my mood at all, but it gives me comfort that the sky weeps for my loss too.I go to sleep that night feeling a blackhole-sized void in my heart.~~~The next morning, I woke up with several texts from the gallery asking me to come back to work. I’ve informed them that I couldn’t come but it must be an emergency if even my head supervisor is leaving me voic
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JeanI don’t remember the bar being this stuffy, but I somehow find myself suffocating in the middle of a conversation with my colleagues. And suddenly the black dress I’m wearing is too short and too tight on my body.I shouldn’t have come tonight. It’s a full night at the club, and it doesn’t take long before I request to move to a private room. I’m met with various curious and lust-filled looks but I ignore them. Parisians know how to party, and oftentimes those parties involve more than just drinking and dancing, there’s always something more.I’m sure my colleagues assumed I was asking for more, but I simply needed to get away from the crowd.Lara invited way too many strangers, but I figured this party was more for them than it was for my work anniversary. But I go along with it. I’ll just have to find an excuse to leave a bit earlier than the rest of them.“Jean, why aren’t you dancing?” Lara pipes up hugging me from behind. I chuckle softly, she’s already buzzed. “Ditch these
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Jean I fumble with my coat as I reach for my phone in my purse. The rain hasn’t let up once since December rolled in. I would have preferred to stay in the office today, but the statement for Bianca’s tuition came in my email last night.I tried to call her, but Bianca’s phone seems to be turned off and I went straight to voice mail.“Hey, Bub. I’m on my way to the bank now to pay for your tuition and other fees. Let me know if you need anything else— Oh! And as usual, do you want me to release your trust yet or not? That’s all bye! Call me back!”The answer has always been the same. Bianca doesn’t want to touch the money our parents left us until she was making her own. And I took it upon myself to pay for her education despite her protests.But I still figured I’d ask her every four months or so. Bianca was sustaining herself by working part-time and getting free lessons by volunteering for every camp and workshop. But she grew up sheltered and pampered. As her big sister, I still
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DanteIn the end, Jean leaves like a thief in the night. She left no note except for the signed divorce papers on top of the living room center table. I watch from the balcony as Jean shoulders a small carry-on bag with only her essentials. Despite the thundering protests I feel stirring in my chest, I know that tonight is the night I lose her. From the corner of my eye, I spot a few men with guns trained at her, ready to fire at my command. Their previous orders were to not allow Jean out of their sight, which includes having to injure her if she gets taken away by enemies again. But this time is different.Luca stands beside me, watching the same scene unfold. “Dante, are you sure about letting her get away?”I understand his sentiments. The amount of time, money, and effort I’d put into making her mine, only to watch her walk away in the end.And I was sure. But as I watch her walk away, I find out that letting her go is the single hardest thing I’ve done in my life.“Yes, tell m
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DanteI let Jean cry in my arms. The contract was a way to keep us both tethered to each other, and now that it’s gone, there’s nothing officially tying us together. In a way, we both lost someone tonight.“What happens now?” Jean asks with the softest voice. She sniffles a bit before sitting up, but she doesn’t leave my lap.With us finally being at eye level, I can see how red Jean’s nose is, her cheeks are tinted pink as well. She’s beautiful, and I make sure to tell her just that.“Will you stay?” I ask instead, even though I know full well that Jean’s already made up her mind about this long ago.Her eyes soften as she takes me in fully. One of Jean’s hands comes up to cup my cheek, and she smiles ever so softly as she whispers my name.“Dante… I love you,” Jean starts and it’s the saddest I’ve ever heard her utter those words. I know there’s a but coming up. “I never asked for this life, and I—I don’t want any part of it.”Jean finishes talking, shaking her head from side to sid
Fallen From Grace [Married to the Mafia Novel] Chapter 131
DanteThe day I’ve been dreading has finally come. The day that I let her go.I watch Jean silently as she stares out of the wall windows. With the rain softly pattering outside, it reflects my mood perfectly. Jean looks stunning even in sleep shorts and a pullover she stole from my closet. She looks so perfect in my clothes, in my penthouse… and in my life.Suddenly the folder in my hand feels heavier than it should be.I ground myself before approaching Jean, needing to be a hundred percent sure I can handle this conversation. Because once I start, there’s no going back.“Hey,” I whisper in her ear as I wrap my arms around her from behind. Jean leans into my touch, resting her head against my shoulder.“What is it?” she asks, a frown on her face as she turns in my arms to face me. She must have noticed my agitation. “Is everything okay?” Jean reaches forward and cups my cheek.“Yeah,” I reply simply, offering her a reassuring smile—at least I tried to. “Come here for a sec.”“Dante,
Fallen From Grace [Married to the Mafia Novel] Chapter 130
JeanUpon hearing those words, I notice that Dante had made himself scarce. Now that I think about it, he didn’t enter the living room with me and Bianca. He most likely left the penthouse to talk to Noah. How do I know that? Because there is no way in hell that Dante would have allowed Bianca to travel alone right when the investigation for the Regis family is about to start.But there’s something in the air that doesn’t quite feel like home.The woman in front of me may look like my little sister, Bianca, but she’s different. The last time I saw her she still had her baby cheeks and that wanderlust look in her eyes, but now that’s all gone.Her eyes no longer hold wonder in them but wisdom that only hardship and experience can mold. Her features look more angled, more mature.It makes me wonder if I somehow look the same to her or if I’ve changed in her eyes as she has changed in mine.I smile at my sister, albeit a little sad that I missed out on an entire year of her life. My baby
