CHAPTER 23 MARK'S POV I shook my head, dismissing the idea. "No, Damien. I don't think Sofia would be a good fit." Damien's expression turned quizzical. "Why not, Boss? She's qualified, and—" "I said no, Damien." My tone was firm, cutting off further discussion. The truth was, I couldn't shake off the feeling that Damian's suggestion was motivated by ulterior reasons. Their lunch together still lingered in my mind. Was Damien using this job offer as an excuse to spend more time with Sofia? The thought sent a pang of unease through me. I knew I had something to protect but was it my ego or my relationship with Sofia? Damien is good-looking and his charm and charisma made him a magnet for attention, and I couldn't help but wonder if Sofia was immune to it. "Find someone else, Damien," I said, my voice firm. "Sofia is not the right person for this role." Damian's eyes narrowed slightly, but he nodded. "Understood, Boss." As the day wore on, my mind wandered back to the conversa
CHAPTER 24 AUTHOR'S POV Mark's anxiety escalated as the driver expertly navigated the evening traffic, racing toward St. Michael's Hospital. He clutched his phone, Sofia's panicked voice still echoing in his mind. "St. Michael's, right?" Mark confirmed with the driver, double-checking the destination. "Yes, sir," the driver replied, his eyes meeting Mark's in the rearview mirror. "We're almost there." As they pulled up to the hospital entrance, Mark's impatience grew. He burst out of the car, slamming the door behind him. The automatic doors of the emergency room swooshed open, and Mark rushed inside. His eyes scanned the crowded waiting area, frantically searching for Sofia. He spotted a nurse station and hastened toward it. "Excuse me," Mark said, his voice urgent. "I'm looking for a woman. She's with my daughter, Joey Carvajal. They were brought in –" The nurse's sympathetic expression calmed Mark slightly. "Can you describe her to me, sir?" Mark rattled off Sofia's feature
Chapter 25 Mark's Pov I wanted to come home early for a change when Damian rushed to my office, I was surprised at first because I gave him strict orders to follow my wife today. "Boss you need to see this" He panted stretching his phone towards me and I took the phone from him puzzled by his behavior, then my eyes caught the pictures on the screen. My wife was sitting with a man in a cafe, this must be the friend she talked about but unfortunately, his face wasn't visible. She was stupid enough to go to such an open place, "There is more" Damian interjected and I slid on the next, he was holding her hand at such close proximity. I clenched my fist and my grip on the phone tightened, "Where did you get this?" I asked and he hesitated before replying. "The Internet is trending at the moment" I sighed and loosened my tie so I could breathe properly, how could she be so stupid to go to that cafe it's like a spot for many reporters, this seemed like some sort of trap and s
Chapter 26 Sofia's Pov I can't believe we were being followed and now Mark is looking for Damon, this isn't good I need to fix it and leave my friend out of this mess. I headed for the kid's room and found out they were already asleep, both were in their beds all curled up and sound asleep. That put my mind at ease and I picked up Lois toys that were lying around and kept them inside one of the shelves, I left for my room after that to freshen up. While taking off my clothes I thought about how to turn this whole situation around, without involving Damon and if he is now being targeted by Mark that means he is in danger. He didn't do anything wrong and he was only trying to cheer me up after he saw me crying, since when did I become such a paparazzi magnet I'm not even that famous. I put on a bathrobe and pick up my phone to check the comments about me, maybe I will find something useful there to use it my advantage. My hand tightens on the phone as I read each comment
Chapter 27 Sofia's Pov I was able to manage to get to the bathroom and I recalled asking one of the maids to get me painkillers the other day, I reached for the shelves and opened it taking the bottle of pills. I dry swallowed two pills and leaned on the wall waiting for the pain to subside first before moving, after twenty minutes I was sweating profusely but the pain was getting less and I was able to stand up straight. This isn't cramps and I have no idea of what is going on with me, it's as if my insides were being shredded and sewed back together, I decided to put it behind me for now I need to get my shit together and dress up before his mother arrival. I remembered what they did to me that day and sighed, the pain stopped and I straightened my posture. I can do this and whatever his mother says today I will just ignore her and apologize for the humiliation I was causing, I know she wouldn't fall to rub it in my face that I'm unfit for her perfect son and grandchild
Chapter 28 Mark's Pov Sofia's scream made my men pause and I held my hand out for them to stop, she looked so pale I walked over to her side and she lifted her gaze. Her whole body was trembling and she was on the verge of crying, "You want me to let her live?" I asked and she nodded as tears streamed down her pretty face, I reached out and wiped the tears with my thumb. I hate seeing her cry and to think I'm the cause of her tears made me feel guilty, I forgot she was too fragile and what happened at our wedding must have traumatized her, and she isn't a fan of violence from what I noticed, "But she humiliated you and she refused to apologize at you" I reminded her in case she forgot how they treated her at the party. "But you can't just kill someone because of that, she's your cousin, right? I will be fine" She said in a low voice, and I didn't think before pulling her into my arms. She was still shaking and I patted her back until she relaxed in my arms, I turned to face
Chapter 29 Sofia Pov I smiled as he walked out of the house it was a relief that he didn't kill anyone because of me, his family would have hated me forever and his mother would have made it her life purpose to throw me out of the house. I headed for the kid's room and Joey was fast asleep while Lois was playing with his toys as usual, I exhaled in relief they would have heard the gunshot and I kind of didn't want them to see their father like that, after all, they are still kids and it might affect them. Protecting Carl from my abusive father has made me realize how important it is to keep kids out of any violent environment, it's my job to shield them from these things as their mother. I went downstairs for breakfast and took my phone along with me, I found out I wasn't trending as much as before and most of the articles were deleted. But that doesn't solve anything because people would know that my husband is responsible for it, I need to do something and Mark didn't men
Chapter 30 Mark's Pov I had never been so scared as I was when I got here and the doctor recommended we do the surgery, and I was shocked how can she have fibroid at such a young age. It must have been hard for her and her mother died when she was still a teenager, then her father is the most stupid shitty father I have ever seen. I should kill that sick fuck for neglecting his children like this, she might have noticed the changes in her body but she was too busy taking care of the family. I called him yesterday but he didn't pick up, I already sent one of my men to pay him a visit and I found out he wasn't staying at his house and he only came to change his clothes. That man will soon be in jail for the amount of debts he owes at the casino, he doesn't even pay attention to his son at home although I made sure the little boy was alright he still lacks a parent figure. Sofia filled the gap and now that she is gone, he is all alone. I called Damian before heading to her
Chapter 50Mark's Pov I received a call that one of my warehouses was also attacked all in one night, that wasn't the worst part they left a message for me. I rushed to my room to get dressed and left for my warehouse downtown, I didn't want to bother Sofia with the details it was better she stayed clueless. Emily used to say we are in this together but look at where she ended up all because of me, I don't want the same thing to happen to Sofia even if she is smart and can take care of herself I still needs to protect her. Getting to the warehouse some of my men who received the news had already rushed down there trying to keep the flames under control, I got out of the car and headed inside to have a look at things over there. "Boss" One of them greeted and I spotted Enzo among them, "Did any see anything?" I asked. "No boss, the guards here were killed before we came and many of them were injured, they left this gift box" Enzo handed it over to me and I opened it to find a sin
Chapter 49 Sofia's Pov We got home and a surprise was waiting for us, Damian was pacing with a pretty lady standing in our living room looking around. "What happened?" Mark asked and let go of my hand he was holding, the lady turned when she heard his voice and I was sure I had seen her somewhere before. "The shipment is gone, I don't know how they got the information about it but it was hijacked and all the goods are gone," Damian said with a sullen expression on his face, whatever they were talking about made my husband angry and his jaw clenched as he walked towards the minibar. He took a bottle of vodka and poured it into a glass cup, after taking a sip he flung the cup on the wall and it shattered into pieces sending shards of glass everywhere and I flinched in shock. "How the hell did this happen?!" He bellowed and I decided it was time to go check up on the kids, but I paused when I saw the lady staring at my husband with hearty eyes. "I swear I checked everything,
Chapter 48Sofia's Pov I was scrolling through my phone checking for the best colleges I could find, I needed one close to the house so I looked up the ones in town. Mark's car drove into the manor and I watched from the balcony as he got out of the car, he looked angry so I decided not to wave at him but the moment he turned his eyes caught mine and he arched his brows. I awkwardly waved with a small smile but he didn't return my gesture, he just ignored me and headed inside. Did I do something wrong? I asked myself, so I left for the kid's rooms and headed downstairs when I couldn't find them there. It wasn't a surprise that Carl was playing with them when I got downstairs, Mark wasn't in sight and I was starting to consider going to his room to ask what was going on. I didn't see any of the maids and Joey was sleeping in Carl's arms, "Did Mark say anything to you?" I asked my little brother and he shook his head negatively."No he only waved at me and left for his room" He r
Chapter 47 Mark's Pov I must have gone overboard after destroying three warehouses the Alabanians owned and destroying the wedding of the Italian capo's son, my message was loud and clear they should fuck with my family and they were wrong to think I had become sloppy since Emily's death. I intend to visit her tomorrow like I always do every month, I have so much to tell her about Sofia. Sometimes I feel like she is there listening whenever I visit her graveside, just like with Sofia our marriage was arranged but we fell in love shortly after. She was fierce and bold, I was drawn to her and I think Sofia is very similar to her. They both had this pure spirit and I feel like a monster compared to them, when Emily died she left a void no one could fill but Sofia came in with her warmth and lit up my dark world. "The shipment will arrive tonight, I will go with Enzo to secure it," Damian said sitting opposite me and I nodded still deep in thought. "Have you found a way to loca
Chapter 46Sofia's POV I woke up in my bed and I didn't remember how I got there but I think I passed out when Mark played with my clit again and tongue fucked me until I could no longer breathe. One of the best orgasms of my life and I will never forget it, except I was too weak to return the favor and I was exhausted before he could finish with me. I felt embarrassed about my inexperience, it made me look naive and immature. But I intend to fix that I don't mind going to his room without his consent to prove my point, I'm not a child or that young fickle girl he sees me for. I rolled out of the bed to take a shower then I put on jean shorts and a tube top I found from my old clothes before leaving my room. One thing I noticed last night was he held back on me, I might just have to seduce him to give in so he will start looking at me differently. The kids were still asleep and Carl was in their room too playing with Lois' toys, "Look at this cool train, it's freaking expensive!
Chapter 45 Sofia's Pov I paced around the living room waiting and calling my husband but he didn't pick up, did something happen to him? He told me not to wait but I couldn't help it, I tried calling Damian and he picked up after the second ring. "Yes ma'am?" "Is my husband still with you? I have been trying to reach him but he isn't picking up, did something happen to him?" I panicked. "No, He is on his way home now he just left a few minutes ago" Damian explained and I sighed in relief then I heard footsteps behind me so I veered. There is was looking ruffled and drained with tousled hair and this was the first time I had seen him in a tank top, "Thank you, Damian, he is here already" I said and hung up while he just stood at the door watching me. "I told you not to wait up, are you that stubborn?" He tilted his head and smirked at me, seriously he was going to act like that after we were almost killed. "Did you catch them?" I asked as he walked towards me, "Yes, I h
Chapter 44 Sofia's Pov I was completely lost in a distant memory of my father yelling and that day my mom passed away, my vision was getting blurry and I felt a grip on my shoulder. "Sofia!" Someone shook my shoulders violently and I snapped it seeing the perplexed look on my husband's face, "Let's get you out of here" He said and brought out a gun from his suit, I wasn't shocked that he was carrying that around all these while after all the rumors about him being a mafia don are true. "You are going to make a run for the door on the count of three, now listen to me you run and don't look back until you get to the car" He ordered and I shook my head. "What about you? Come with me please" I pleaded but he took my hand. "At my count, you run okay? Don't worry about it I already sent for Damian and three other of my men are here, I will be fine just go without me I need to know who was behind this attack, they knew we were coming here today" He explained and I was so scared b
Chapter 43 Sofia's Pov I stared at Damon blankly as he smiled at me, I secretly hoped Mark wasn't watching cause this might end up in chaos. "Hey, what are you doing here?" I asked and he raised an eyebrow at me, "I'm out with friends and what are you doing here? Are you here with your brother?" He asked looking around and I was tempted to say yes. But that would be complicated and he might want to meet up with my brother, "No I'm here with my husband" I replied and he looked stunned. "Oh- oh alright, I guess you have forgiven him for using your condition for publicity" He uttered and I rolled my eyes. "It's all in the past now and he had his reasons, I'm sorry for yelling at you the other day" I apologized. "No need, you had every right to be angry and I shouldn't have crossed the line" He dismissed but I knew I said some mean words to him the other day. "Do you realize we are holding the line?" I teased and he chuckled, I bought two clones of ice cream. One was strawber
Chapter 42 Sofia's Pov I never expected him to react this way when I confessed about my teenage fantasy, I have always thought he saw me as a child but now I'm convinced that he doesn't. I buried my fingers inside his dark hair and he moaned inside my mouth, I didn't want him to stop so reached for his jacket and helped him take it off. I pulled away catching my breath as he leaned in and started pouring kisses on my neck and I felt his hands grabbing my ass, then he suddenly paused. "What?" I asked noticing how tensed he was, "I shouldn't be doing this, I'm sorry" He apologized and I almost lost it. "You need to stop treating me like that" I glared at him furiously, "Like what?" He raised an eyebrow. "Like I'm a child! I'm twenty for crying out loud! You keep acting like I'm fifteen" I lashed out and his hand tightened on my waist. "You don't understand" He looked away hesitating and I have never been so curious, I wanted to know what was going on inside his head. "Make me u