LOGINShare
42: A Line in the Dark
Last Updated:
2025-02-03 00:37:20
Related chapters
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 43: Unspoken Truths
POV: Beatrice"How are you feeling this morning?" Dr. Takagi asked, his fingers poised over his keyboard."Fine…" I hesitated. "I threw up again. Felt a little off-balance."The shift in the room was immediate. Neither Ryuu nor I had mentioned it before leaving. I hadn’t wanted to worry them. Now, it was unavoidable."Common with concussions," Dr. Takagi said, typing. "Still dizzy? What did you eat this morning?"My grip on my purse tightened, nails digging into the leather. The weight of their gazes pressed down on me. I just wanted this to be over. I wanted to forget last night, even though I knew I never would."I feel weak, but the headache only hurts if I touch it. No nausea now. I had fruit, granola, coffee. Got up too fast, that’s when I felt sick."The rhythmic click of keys filled the silence. Dr. Takagi nodded slightly, recording everything. Finally, he turned back to me, hands clasped, eyes flicking toward Fukui before settling on me again."You need rest. No screens, no st
Last Updated : 2025-02-03How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 44: A House of Betrayals
POV: BeatriceI woke to a weight pressing against my chest, familiar and suffocating. Next to me, Ryuu worked in silence, the dim glow of his screen flickering across his face. No words were exchanged. I couldn’t even look at him properly when I stepped out of the shower, dressed, and left the room with the sole purpose of avoiding him.The irony wasn’t lost on me. He had spent our entire marriage keeping me at a distance, and now, I was the one retreating. A cruel reversal, but necessary. Until I knew the truth—until I confirmed whether Ryuu had a hand in the lies surrounding my mother—I couldn’t stand being near him.The photographs I had found haunted me. My mother had not died in a hospital after my birth, as I had been told. No, she had died here, in the Morunaga estate. The weight of that revelation made my stomach churn. I needed answers. And I knew exactly where to get them.Downstairs, I found Fukui in the kitchen, his usual composed demeanor at odds with the storm inside me.
Last Updated : 2025-02-04How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 45: The Breaking Point
POV: BeatriceIt all made sense now. Every twisted, broken piece of the puzzle fell into place. My mother had taken her own life because of his betrayal. And me? I had been cast into the very family that had destroyed her, all to soothe the wounded pride of a man who deserved nothing but ruin."You… you’re disgusting," I spat, tears burning my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.He didn’t try to defend himself. He simply lowered his head in disgrace."I am many things," he admitted bitterly.My hands trembled with unspent rage, my nails digging into my palms. I looked at him then, and all I could feel was contempt."A father isn’t one of them. And neither is a husband."He stepped toward me, but the warning in my eyes kept him frozen in place. He wouldn’t dare.The shrill buzz of a phone sliced through the suffocating silence. He glanced at the device, relief flashing across his face as he reached for his jacket."I have to go," he muttered, not daring to meet my eyes.I nodded, unm
Last Updated : 2025-02-04How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 46: A Fragile Escape
POV: Beatrice Sophia didn’t bother with pleasantries."You look awful," she said, her gaze steady, sharp. "Problems with Ryuu?"I exhaled slowly, sinking into my seat at the small café. My fingers curled around the warmth of the teacup, grounding myself. Outside, the city hummed with life, indifferent to the storm brewing inside me."I hate that he’s always the first topic," I muttered, voice tight.It was inevitable. Every conversation circled back to Ryuu, to the Morunaga name that clung to me like chains. Even when I tried to escape, he was there, lurking in the shadows of my thoughts."Alright." Sophia leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, studying me. "So, what do you want to talk about?"I forced a smile, but even I could feel how brittle it was."How are your classes?" I asked, reaching for anything that wasn’t my life.Sophia’s expression darkened instantly, her fingers tightening around her coffee cup."Don’t get me started," she groaned. "I spent days on an essay, a
Last Updated : 2025-02-05How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 47: A Door Left Open
POV: BeatriceThe mansion was silent, but the weight of its presence pressed down on me, suffocating. Every breath felt stolen, every step a betrayal. I moved through the corridors with the precision of someone who knew the cost of getting caught. The cold marble beneath my feet sent a chill up my spine, grounding me in the reality of what I was doing. I was running. Escaping. Finally breaking free from the cage that had held me captive for too long.Each shadow felt like a threat, each flicker of movement a warning. My pulse hammered in my ears as I reached the grand entrance, fingers trembling against the cool brass of the door handle. The night air hit me like a slap, crisp and unforgiving, but I welcomed it. It was the first real breath I had taken in months.I didn’t have time to hesitate. The estate was crawling with guards, men who answered to Ryuu, men who wouldn’t hesitate to drag me back inside. My only advantage was that they never expected me to run. Not like this.Then, f
Last Updated : 2025-02-05How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 48: Not Even Distance Can Save Me
POV: Beatrice"Shit…" I muttered, pressing my face into the pillow, trying—failing—to smother the rising panic. "What have I done? How could I forget how powerful Ryuu is?"Sophia’s firm grip on my shoulder pulled me back. Her fingers squeezed lightly, grounding me until I finally lifted my eyes, the heat of my tears still burning my cheeks. Her gaze was steady, an anchor in the middle of my storm."Beatrice, look at me," she said, her voice softer now but no less certain. "Nothing bad is going to happen to you. My uncle won’t let it. We’re here for you. I’m here for you." She squeezed my hand, her warmth seeping into my skin, offering a comfort I hadn’t expected. "If you need to talk, I’m ready to listen. About that night… or whatever is going on between you and Ryuu. This stays between us."The tears kept falling, uncontrollable. I never imagined I’d have someone like Sophia, someone willing to fight for me. Before my marriage, support was scarce, limited to my aunt… and my cousins.
Last Updated : 2025-02-07How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 49: If You Let Go, Do You Lose Me?
POV: BeatriceHis hold tightened for a moment before he pulled back just enough to scan my face, his eyes running over every inch of me like he needed to memorize my existence, to confirm I was real. There was no mistaking the raw emotion in his expression—a mix of fury, fear, and something darker, something unspoken."Come home," he said, his voice both a command and a plea.I shook my head, my resolve solidifying even as my body ached from his warmth. "I can’t. I won’t."His brows furrowed, his grip tightening just slightly. "Why not?""That house..." I swallowed hard, my throat tight. "It suffocates me. I shouldn’t be afraid to exist just because it doesn’t fit your idea of safety.""It’s for your protection!" he snapped, his desperation cutting through the anger.I met his gaze head-on, forcing him to see the truth in my eyes. "This isn’t about protection, Ryuu. It’s about control. And I can’t live like that. The more you try to trap me, the harder I’ll fight to escape."His nostr
Last Updated : 2025-02-07How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 50: A House Without Her
POV: RyuuI had been restless since leaving Vincenzo’s estate. The drive back felt like a slow suffocation, each mile stretching the unbearable silence pressing against my skull. The second we pulled into the garage, I tossed the keys aside and sank into the passenger seat, my knuckles aching from how tightly I had gripped the wheel. I couldn’t bring myself to go inside. Not yet.Leaving Beatrice there had been the right decision. That’s what I told myself, over and over. But the gnawing unease in my gut told a different story.I had woken early that morning, ready to force the conversation we kept avoiding. I wouldn’t allow this distance to stretch any further. I wouldn’t let her slip through my fingers. But instead of finding her in bed, still curled in sleep, I found empty sheets.She was gone.The panic had been instant, raw. A vice around my ribs. Every worst-case scenario slammed into me at once. The house wasn’t impenetrable—someone had already gotten to her once. If they had c
Last Updated : 2025-02-09
Latest chapter
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 86: Nowhere Left to Run
Beatrice’s POVMy breath hitched again, the weight of this nightmare pressing down on me, suffocating. Every choice felt like a trap, each second slipping away too fast. The room was empty, but death was circling, waiting, a predator in the dark.With trembling fingers, I typed the message: THERE ARE MEN IN THE HOUSE. I DON’T KNOW WHERE RYUU IS. I NEED HELP.The words glowed against the screen, sharp with panic. Pressing **send** felt like throwing an anchor into a storm, like clinging to something solid in a sea of terror. I tossed the phone onto the bed, my body stiff with fear, ears straining against the muffled footsteps outside. Time was slipping through my fingers. I couldn’t speak. One sound, one wrong move, and I was dead.I moved toward the c
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 85: A Ghost in His Own Home
Ryuu’s POV I never planned on going back to the bedroom that night. The only thing running through my mind was that Beatrice was safer without me. The past few weeks had dragged me into a pit I couldn’t climb out of. The anonymous threat against her, the pregnancy—everything weighed on me like lead, pressing down harder with every passing day. And today, after the appointment with Dr. Takagi, the reality finally hit me like a punch to the gut. That ultrasound image in my hands… I was going to be a father. The thought terrified me. How the hell was I—someone built from violence, shaped by control—supposed to be anything other than a disaster for this child? My father had failed me at every turn. What made me think I’d be any different? I shouldn’t have poured that first glass of whiskey in the dark silence of my office. But I didn’t stop at one. Or two. Or three. Or four. Now, all that was left was the bitter aftertaste and the emptiness growing with every sip
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 84: Shattered Reflections
Beatrice’s POVI didn’t know what to say.The words stuck in my throat as I watched Sophia, her pain hidden behind that forced smile. A part of me felt like a terrible friend for unloading my own burdens on her, completely oblivious to the fact that hers might be far heavier.“I…” She hesitated, fidgeting with her fingers. “I didn’t handle it well afterward. I broke up with Fukui right after… and we never talked about it. I’ve never talked about it with anyone, actually.”Silence settled between us, thick and suffocating.“Are you…” My tongue felt dry as I searched for the right words. “Are you okay?&rd
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 83: A Choice I Never Made
Beatrice’s POVTwo weeks. That’s how long we’d been back in America.And yet, as I stared out the window of the black car, I still felt like I was in limbo. My reflection in the glass was pale, tense—just another ghost trapped in this endless cycle of uncertainty. Ryuu sat beside me, silent, his presence looming but unreadable.We were on our way to Dr. Takagi’s office.Today was my first ultrasound.The weight of that reality felt suffocating.Ryuu had arranged everything, just like he always did. And, to my surprise, he had kept his promise—staying by my side almost every day while I recovered.
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 82: What Comes Next?
Beatrice’s POVDespite his obvious irritation, Nitta listened. His lips pressed together in something that almost resembled a smirk, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. As he walked toward the door, he shot me one last look, as if asking if I was okay. I barely managed to return it before he was gone, the door clicking shut behind him.“Are you alright?” Ryuu asked, his tone unreadable.“You keep asking me that,” I muttered, my voice hoarse. The letter slipped from my fingers, drifting to the carpet between us.“Am I not allowed to worry?” His exhale was heavy. “You’re crying.”I wiped my face quickly, feeling stupid. Of
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 81: The Gift Left Behind
Beatrice’s POV“Things were weird last time we spoke,” I admitted, watching his face carefully.“I was an idiot,” Nitta sighed, his shoulders relaxing. Behind me, I heard Fukui greet Ryuu, but I didn’t turn.“What’s new?” Fukui coughed, and Nitta shot him a glare but didn’t rise to the bait.“Whatever you have with Ryuu isn’t my business. I know I already apologized, but after our last conversation”—he hesitated, something unspoken passing between us—“I was defensive. I wasn’t sure where we stood. I’m sorry for being short with you. And as for you and Ryuu… I was selfish. It was my pride talking.”“You are a child,” Fukui cut in with a laugh.
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 80: The Future We Didn’t Plan
Beatrice’s POV“My aunt Loretta suspected. She took me to see her doctor.” A chill ran down my spine at the memory. I wet my lips before continuing. “At first, I wasn’t sure. We took tests at home—one was negative, the other positive. I felt like my world was caving in. Espósito walked in right after. I hadn’t planned to tell him, but I was so lost… I needed someone to talk to.”“And that someone couldn’t have been me?” Ryuu’s voice was low, but the quiet impact of his words made my heart stutter.It could have been. But in that moment, it hadn’t felt like an option.“I needed to be sure first,” I admitted. “I wanted the test to be wrong
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 79: Lost in the Silence
Beatrice’s POVSilence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating. My fingers moved through Ryuu’s dark hair, the motion almost instinctive, desperate to soothe him even as my own heart pounded erratically. With every stroke, I felt his pain as if it were my own.Without thinking, I cradled his head against my stomach, holding him close in a futile attempt to shield him from the weight of everything crashing down around us. My hands trembled as they tangled in his hair, my stomach twisting at the realization of just how fragile this moment was. He still hadn’t spoken. I wanted to shake him, force him to snap out of whatever storm was raging inside him, but I knew he needed time. Too much had happened, too fast.Tears streaked his face, his bloodstained vest soaking up the moisture as he pressed agains
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 78: His Reaction, My Fear
Beatrice's POV"And you didn’t take him to a hospital?" Her incredulous gaze snapped to me."I’m not going to a hospital," Ryuu muttered, his voice firm."That’s why you’re here," Anton added like it was some great relief."This isn’t as simple as stitching up a knife wound. You need imaging to determine if surgery is required. I can’t assess the damage or tell where the bullet is just by looking. Clearly, it didn’t hit a major artery or vein, given the blood loss, but the bullet is still inside you, and I can’t tell if it needs to come out.""Can it wait?" Ryuu tensed as she started cleaning the wound, the antiseptic stinging against raw flesh. Without the blood covering it, the injury looked worse.
