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51: The Wrong Message, The Right Person
Last Updated:
2025-02-10 00:54:41
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How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 52: Possessiveness in a Whiskey Glass
POV: BeatriceI hesitated before answering, pressing the device to my ear. "Didn’t think you’d respond so fast."A pause. His silence was thick, suffocating."You’re drunk."How the hell could he tell? I had barely spoken. I blinked, trying to remember how many drinks I’d had. My mind blurred around the number."Where are you?" His voice sharpened, all warmth stripped away.I frowned, glancing at Caleb, who was still watching me with interest. "Where are we again?""The Alchemist," Caleb answered, smirking. "You really can’t hold your liquor, huh?""Did you hear that?" I asked, ignoring Caleb entirely. "Ryuu?"Silence. Then, a sharp, clipped response."Who are you with?""Sophia and some of her friends."The line went dead.I stared at the screen, dumbfounded."Everything okay?" Caleb asked, resting a casual hand on my shoulder. I shrugged him off, irritation flaring hot in my veins.What a bastard. He called just to hang up? It was the first time I had heard his voice in two weeks, a
Last Updated : 2025-02-11How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 1: Sold to the Devil
Point of View: BeatriceLeaving my cozy little house in Palermo wasn’t something I wanted, but my father had other plans. With my twenty-first birthday looming, he organized a family trip to the Bahamas. A celebration, he called it, though I had a sinking feeling there was more to it. My father didn’t do simple. ***“Dad?” I called, my voice soft as I wandered barefoot through the hall of the rented villa. The place was beautiful, all sleek wood floors and breezy blue walls, but the tension in the air made it feel stifling. I followed the trail of muted voices and faint cigar smoke to the office—his sanctuary, even on vacation. Knocking sharply, I pushed the door open without waiting. He was seated behind a massive desk, head bowed, hands pressed to his temples. “Bea,” he said, looking up, his usual sharpness dulled by exhaustion. I crossed the room in seconds, throwing my arms around him. He held me close, his hand brushing through my hair, but there was a stiffness to his
Last Updated : 2024-12-13How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 2: Under the Watchful Eyes
Point of View: BeatriceI lay sprawled on the hot sand, a book in hand, sunglasses shielding my eyes, and a scowl planted firmly on my face. My black bikini and yellow sarong said “relaxed,” but nothing about this felt like a tropical vacation. My hair, braided back, was a mess of loose curls that refused to cooperate—much like my mood. Trapped on this island with my father and the Morunagas, I had no idea how to process any of it. Pretending to be okay with an arranged marriage to a man I’d never met was exhausting. Unfortunately, solitude in a house full of alpha males was harder to find than a peaceful family dinner. “I finally get to meet the infamous bride,” a smug voice interrupted, cutting through the sound of the waves. I didn’t even bother hiding my annoyance as I looked up. Nitta Morunaga, Ryuu’s youngest brother, stood over me, smirking like he owned the beach. He dropped onto the sand without waiting for an invitation, his tattooed chest and arms on full display in n
Last Updated : 2024-12-15How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 3: The Bride’s Defiance
Point of View: RyuuThe conversation in the sitting room buzzed around me, but I barely registered it. My father, my brothers, and the Carbone patriarch were talking business or something close to it, the laughter and clinking glasses grating on my nerves. Small talk had never been my strength. Beatrice’s absence was glaring. She’d pulled back during dinner, her discomfort radiating like heat. I didn’t blame her. No one would be thrilled about being handed over to a man like me, especially with so little warning. Her unease wasn’t personal. It wasn’t even surprising. This arrangement wasn’t ideal for either of us, but it wasn’t about what we wanted. It was about the families. The business. The sharp flick of a finger against the back of my neck yanked me out of my thoughts. I turned, already irritated, and found my father standing there, his expression stern.“We were talking to you,” he said, his tone low but loaded with warning. Before I could respond, Nitta chimed in, gri
Last Updated : 2024-12-15How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 4: Acting the Part
Point of View: RyuuAfter Beatrice stormed out earlier, I tried to bury myself in work, but my focus was shot. She lingered in my mind, an infuriating distraction I couldn’t afford. I didn’t want to think about her—the sharpness in her tone, the defiance in her eyes. Yet, every time I closed my laptop or looked away from the screen, there she was. With a frustrated sigh, I shoved my laptop aside and pinched the bridge of my nose. The work piling up was nothing compared to the mess this marriage had become, consuming my thoughts like a fire I couldn’t extinguish. “You’re slipping, big brother.” Nitta’s voice sliced through the silence, followed by the sound of his footsteps crossing the room. Without looking up, I knew he was smirking. “What do you want, Nitta?” I muttered, not bothering to hide my irritation. He dropped into a chair across from me, lounging like he owned the place. “You should’ve heard her,” he said, his grin widening. “Beatrice called you an idiot—to her
Last Updated : 2024-12-16How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 5: Lines in the Sand
Point of View: BeatriceDario, the second eldest of my cousins, had always been the quiet, brooding type—the kind of man whose presence alone carried weight. It made me uneasy sometimes, but today, his stoic calm was a relief. Anton and Lex, still teenagers at nineteen and seventeen, felt more like brothers, full of youthful energy and sharp opinions. “A pleasure to finally meet you,” Ryuu said, extending a hand to Bion, the eldest of my cousins. Bion clasped his hand firmly, his silence speaking volumes. The low grunt that followed made his disapproval abundantly clear. To my surprise, Ryuu didn’t rise to the bait. His unreadable expression barely wavered as he gently took my hand. The touch was brief but purposeful, his lean into my space deliberate. His lips hovered closer than necessary to my ear, a gesture calculated to make me feel trapped. “I’ll leave you with your family,” Ryuu murmured, his tone smooth but distant. Then he straightened and walked away, his retreat as
Last Updated : 2024-12-17How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 6: A Seat at the Morunaga Table
Point of View: BeatriceI’d been hiding in the kitchen, stealing a rare moment of peace, when Gojou Morunaga found me. His sharp gaze swept the room before landing on me, and the disapproval in his expression was clear before he even spoke. “Leave the food to your aunt and the others,” he said, his tone clipped. “You should check on Ryuu. He looks like an angry bull trapped with those idiots. If he doesn’t escape my nephews soon, they might not survive until the wedding.” I froze mid-motion, fingers fumbling with the apron tied around my waist. Was he joking? I glanced at my aunt, but she avoided my eyes, her focus fixed on the vegetables she was chopping. No one else in the kitchen dared to look up either, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. With a shaky breath, I removed the apron and left the kitchen, Gojou’s words trailing me like a shadow. I found Ryuu exactly where he’d been earlier—on the veranda, surrounded by his brothers and a cluster of cousins. The air w
Last Updated : 2024-12-17How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 7: A Toast to Control
Point of View: BeatriceThe dinner was winding down, the tables nearly empty, when a slurred voice cut through the low hum of conversation. “So, Beatrice,” one of the Morunaga cousins drawled, his tone soaked in liquor and brimming with misplaced confidence. “What’s a charming young woman like you doing with a recluse like this guy?” He leaned forward, his glass teetering precariously in his hand. I didn’t know his name—just that he was one of Ryuu’s cousins, loud and irritatingly hard to miss. I forced a pleasant smile, the kind sharp enough to draw blood. “Don’t you think your cousin is a fine match?” I said sweetly, letting my gaze linger on the cousin just long enough to make him squirm. Then, with deliberate slowness, I reached across the table, placing my hand over Ryuu’s. My voice took on a lilting tone, honeyed with mockery. “I prefer the company of men who know how to behave themselves.” The cousin’s glass froze halfway to his lips. Around the table, muffled lau
Last Updated : 2024-12-18
Latest chapter
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 52: Possessiveness in a Whiskey Glass
POV: BeatriceI hesitated before answering, pressing the device to my ear. "Didn’t think you’d respond so fast."A pause. His silence was thick, suffocating."You’re drunk."How the hell could he tell? I had barely spoken. I blinked, trying to remember how many drinks I’d had. My mind blurred around the number."Where are you?" His voice sharpened, all warmth stripped away.I frowned, glancing at Caleb, who was still watching me with interest. "Where are we again?""The Alchemist," Caleb answered, smirking. "You really can’t hold your liquor, huh?""Did you hear that?" I asked, ignoring Caleb entirely. "Ryuu?"Silence. Then, a sharp, clipped response."Who are you with?""Sophia and some of her friends."The line went dead.I stared at the screen, dumbfounded."Everything okay?" Caleb asked, resting a casual hand on my shoulder. I shrugged him off, irritation flaring hot in my veins.What a bastard. He called just to hang up? It was the first time I had heard his voice in two weeks, a
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 51: The Wrong Message, The Right Person
POV: BeatriceIt gnawed at me, an ache I couldn’t ignore. My family had let me go too easily. The realization cut deep, deeper than I wanted to admit. They had fought when I was married off, but now? Nothing. I had been ripped from them, and in the void they left behind, all that remained were my father’s lies and betrayals.I swallowed hard, fingers twitching over my phone. Where was Dario? Had the Morunagas done something to him? Had he returned to Italy without telling me? Why wasn’t he answering my calls?I could dial Ryuu, demand answers—but what would I even say? If he had hurt Dario, he wouldn’t admit it. And if he hadn’t, would I even believe him?Maybe I should reach out to my other cousins. But if Ryuu was involved, and they found out, I’d be the one who set everything ablaze. A war would break out, and I would be trapped in the center of it. No matter how distant I felt from them, my loyalties were now bound to Ryuu. If a battle ignited between our families, I wouldn’t have
How 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
How 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
How 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.
How 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
How 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
How 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
How 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.
