"You misled me! My perception of you has been altered by you alone and not by anyone's fault. You made me believe that you are true to me and that I can trust you. You've made me think that you're really in love with me. You even made me a fucking proposal. Oh, gracious! And for what, exactly? All in the name of retaliatory action? Why did you involve my family in this at all? What have they ever done to you and your family?" She doesn't want to break out, but when each pain returns to her, she can barely contain herself. "I was never a part of the gang, Ari. I was only in the shadows, kept by my father for future use. And then that time came when my father chose to give me that command to go on a mission. You are the one that is the subject of the job that I will be carrying out. I'm telling the whole truth when I say that I don't want any of this. My mind is just being corrupted by my father to loathe you and your family. I believed him when he made a claim that your family betrayed
"And where are they? Where's Ethan and my father? Why aren't they here?" Ari demanded from the men behind her who had been following her since she got out of the torture room. "I haven't been seeing them here most of the time." The capo responded to her, without giving her even the fullest explanation of where they were. "Both are in a closed-door meeting outside the estate." Her awareness of Ethan's involvement in this is profound. She knows that the reason that they didn't have the meeting here is so she wouldn't have the chance to know what was going on. Ethan specifically requested that she refrain from participating in the Wilsons' operation. Which, of course, she did not agree with, no matter how hard Ethan tried. "Where?" Ari indignantly demanded once more. "You know well enough that I can have an earful on this from your brother, right?" The capo said, heaving out a heavy sigh as he proceeded to reply to her. "Please don't ask any more questions that I am not fond of answeri
As soon as Ari and Markus emerged from the warehouse, there was a commotion in the driveway. She is also certain that the people she has been looking and waiting for may have already arrived because Ethan's loud, raspy voice has already filled the air before she even has an opportunity to try to hide. "And where the hell have you been again, Ariella? I told you not to go into the warehouse. What strings did you have to pull to get my men to follow you?" He asked sharply, his piercing stare making Ari nervous. In an effort to calm herself in front of her brother, she replied with as much enthusiasm as she could afford, "And hello to you too, Ethan." Her father looked her up and down with creased brows as he continued to say, "Ari, what is all this again? What is going on?" How could he not ask Ari those questions? Ari was donning this particular style of mafia attire for the very first time. She pretty damn decided to embrace her involvement in a mafia family and even changed her o
"Many things have been withheld from you by us. And don't ever think that I did what I did because I merely wanted to. You are our princess, Ari, and your life matters to us more than anything. I thought it was more important for you to enjoy a normal, carefree life, so I kept you in the dark for so long. I have such a stupid mind to even think that we can lead normal lives, because we can't. The fact will always remain that we can never live normally. As we are unable to, we will always be haunted by our past and our connections. This horrible life we are experiencing cannot be abandoned. This is our destiny and fate has decided on this for us." Ari drew a deep breath and gazed affectionately at her father while holding his hands. She no longer hates him. And she wants him to know that she will stand by him regardless of any other truth there is to it. "Dad, I'm here. I'm with you right now, facing this life. I'm slowly learning how to deal with just about everything. A step-by-step
A few days after my talk with my father, here I am now, a part of the life that I had tried to run away from. Life here is not as complicated as I thought it to be. Well, at this point, all I have to do is basically check the shipment documents and manage the finances. This is still a far cry from what I used to do as an architect, but hey, this still works for me. "Hey, Ari, how are the shipments coming along? Is everything good?" Ethan began to question me as soon as he walked into the meeting room. I tried to look up from the pile of papers I was concentrating on at the moment to see my brother, who showed up to somehow be geared for action. Seeing him like this made my heart start beating fast again. "What is actually happening, Ethan? Why else are you wearing that outfit?" I started pressing him. "I asked you a question, Ari," he replied, narrowing his eyes at me. "Try responding to my question with nothing but an answer rather than just another question." "Every shipment for
"I know, Ari, and just like you, I am just scared for you as you are for us. Don't worry, we will find him, get him and make him pay. We still have several of Allister’s men with us, who have pledged to support us." As I heard Ethan mention the name Allister, I felt numb once again. It has been weeks since the day that we lost him. Weeks that I have been slowly trying to make something of the life I am living. At first, I just wanted to die along with him, but after that conversation with Kyle, a renewed spirit in me emerged. I need to live so that Elliot’s sacrifices will really be worthwhile. "And we will find him. We will find Dimitri Wilison and make him pay." I said with conviction. "Still you haven’t answered my question, Ethan. Where are you going?" I asked him again. If Ethan thinks he can get away with my questioning, he is dead wrong. "Surely you won't let this slip, right?" I gave him a good head shake in response to his question. I don't consider for a second that I'll
"Are you ready, Ari?" Markus shows up in the meeting room and wants to know. After my earlier talk with Ethan, I informed him that I would meet with Matt before the transfer. "Give me five, and then I'll be out with you." I started out by saying, looking up to glance at him while nodding my head. "Do not even take a lot of time. The sotto capo wants to get this request of yours done and over with. They are hurrying the transfer." He sort of reminded me that Ethan was hurrying to complete this move, which I already knew, and then closed the door. After I've figured out how to deal with living a mafia life, Markus is my go-to person. He was chosen to make certain I was safe and protected and had to always be with me by both my father and Ethan. Thanks to the fact that we are pretty much the same age and also that he does not at all seem as restrictive to me as the capo does, it was not even difficult to feel at ease with him. I started to gather the documents I was perusing and organ
One after the other, the men left the room after throwing Markus a shrug and turning to just go. Markus was scowling, and his only response to me was, "No, Ari." He said with conviction, "I'm sorry, but I'll have to refuse that request at this time. This is not part of the agreement." Markus is just as hard-headed as I am, which in itself is probably why my father and Ethan opted to have him around my side all the time. Markus is not intimidated nor easily terrified of me, unlike all the other men here, and most of the time, it really is me who has been following him instead of the other way around. I stared daggers at him, brows arched and arms over my chest in defiance. "No, Ari. You can continually ask me to leave, but I won't do that. And for you to know, I am not afraid that he'll do something to you. What I am terrified of is you doing another spectacle to him, which will earn me another ire from the sotto capo. Therefore, we can go on and on about this banter, and your five mi
Finally, the story has come to an end. Apologies, as it took longer than I had expected because of a lot of circumstances and my busy schedule. This is not perfect as well, and I know that, but I really want to thank you all so much for the support and for giving this book a chance. I deeply appreciate all the readers and followers who are supporting my stories in GN. Please support and keep reading my other stories in GN: English: (On-going) The Dragster's Mafia Heiress The Runaways' Second Chance Mate Taglish: The Invisible Love of Billionaire (completed) Married to the Runaway Bride (completed) Falling for the Replacement Mistress (On-going) The Rise of the Fallen Ex-Wife (On-going) Entangled to the Hidden Mafia (On-going)
Two men could be seen discreetly bickering over something in the stillness of the night. And although what was happening was visible to the rest of the men on the ground with them, they all chose not to interfere at this moment. They know better than to meddle with something that is not their concern. No one can genuinely understand what the verbal hubbub that is occurring between the two is all about as well. But whatever it is, it begins to appear to be about something big and important for the two to face off on the grounds just like that. The two men exchanged dirty, mean looks as they awaited each other's next move. And it also seemed as if they were about to each draw their firearms and end this ordeal between them, but both of them subsequently changed their minds and thought better of their situation. It really shouldn't reach such an extent once more. They now behave more calmly and rationally with each other than they used to in the past as a result of the changes in their
The wedding ceremony is happening in a blur for both of them. They are just too focused on each other all the time, as they are both holding each other's hands. The couple is so overjoyed about everything that is happening that they were smiling all throughout. And why wouldn't they? They are getting married! "Now that you can, Elliot, you may now recite your vows." The priest directed him. Elliot wasn't accustomed to these situations, of course. He's never been kind to express how he really feels, especially about love topics, and most of all not in front of other people. Kyle and Brit are the only people who could possibly know everything about what his heart desires. Nevertheless, today, he is willing to voice his opinion openly about Ariella and take away all his inhibitions because he wants Ari to understand how important she is to him. Before actually beginning to say his vows, he even took a deep breath to compose himself. "Hey, you know how hard this is for me, Ari, sweetie.
As I stood beside Kyle, my heartbeat was thumping frantically in my chest. I am anxious and excited, and I can tell that every person in the hall is feeling the same way as I am. This is where it all ends now. This is the culmination of everything that we've worked so hard to achieve. Today is a very special day for me and Ari, and everyone present here today is going to celebrate this momentous occasion with us. And I've honestly been eagerly awaiting this moment as well for a very long time now. But, in addition to that, I am currently experiencing a wide range of emotions. And for the very first time in my life, I can feel my hands and legs trembling at the same time at just the thought of Ariella Gregory. A distinct kind of nervousness is what I am starting to experience because, even though I'm anxious as I stand here with my best man, my excitement for what today will bring outweighs my nervousness by a long shot. Today is my most anticipated day. I'm going to get married tod
"There may still be time for you to make up your mind and change the decisions that you made, so are you sure that this is exactly what you intended to be doing?" Markus is acting like an a-hole as usual at this moment. "Sure, everything else with the villains of your lives is done and over with, but are you absolutely able to say that you wanted to marry him, that douche? Just tell me, Ariella, and I am willing to save you from this misery that you are about to get yourself into." I scowled at him as I crossed my arms in front of my chest to just let him know that he was not in the least amusing me and that I was beginning to get upset and clearly annoyed with him. "Markus, are you done grating on my nerves? If you are, can you shut the hell up now?" "What the heck, pumpkin? Why are you being so rude and surly? I'm merely trying to provide some clarity to your muddled and disorganized thinking. And I just want to let you know there is still enough time to back out." "Shut the heck
"It’s alright, dear. It's actually a very sweet gesture from you. And it just shows how much you really love my daughter." "I really do love her." He said proudly. Ari is too pleased, and she can feel the butterflies in her stomach again just hearing Elliot's words of affection for her in front of her mother. "And I love him too, so much, mom." She said proudly as well, then turning her attention to her fiance she said. "And yeah, I'm actually making your breakfast, but I thought that something must have happened because you kept calling and shouting my name that I have to see you. Are you seriously missing me all that much?" He replied confidently, "I certainly do." Then he lowers his voice and whispers to Ari, "Let's go back up into our room and I'll show you how much I miss you and how much I love you." "I like that." Ari answered grinning. She then turned to face her mother asking her, "Mom, will you be an angel and take over in the kitchen? Elliot and I just need to discuss s
Elliot immediately woke up from his sleep when he dreamed about Ariella not being beside him. He tried to reach for her but was surprised to find out that she was really no longer lying next to him. "Ari!" He exclaimed in an instant. He's been so protective of her since the recent incident that the prospect of losing her again fills him with dread. He has lost her so many times in the past that he will not allow it to happen again. He jumped out of bed and briskly walked into the bathroom to look for her. "Baby?" He called out to her again but still got no response. He then tried looking for her in the walk-in closet, but still, she was nowhere to be seen. "Baby, where are you?" He says to himself. Instantly, he began to feel uneasy. How could she have gone anywhere without him? Did she abandon him? But why? What did he do to merit that from her? He tried reaching out to her all the time, but Ari is still finding it hard to get through the events of last time, and as he and Ethan d
It is extremely simple to fool this young man who thinks so highly of himself, and as Mattias nods his head in agreement with Lucio, the elderly man feels he has done an outstanding job. With that being said, he has to leave immediately before Mattias poses a lot of questions that he wouldn't be able to answer. After concluding his report, he said, "With all of that information revealed to you, I will put it to rest at that for the time being." He then grabbed the money and, having to put it in his bag, rose up from his seat and proceeded to go. "I need to leave right now because I have somewhere I need to be. Call me if your big boss has another assignment for me." He declared, turning to leave without waiting for Mattias to respond. "The Allisters—what's up with them then?" The moment Mattias posed that query, Lucio halted in his tracks. "What? What about the Allisters?" "Isn't it that you told me you have information concerning both Gregory and Allister?" Mattias inquired as he
Lucio was so excited about this meet-up that he greeted Mattias as soon as he came through the door, saying, "Mattias, it's been quite some time since I last heard from you. What surprises do you have in store for me now? Did the boss seem to like everything that I had to say about the Gregory and Allister families? I need details about what went through with your plans." The most recent incidents involving the Wilsons, Gregorys, and Allisters are still unknown to Lucio. He still doesn't know that Mattias and his men have been captured and are under direct orders from Elliot, nor does he know that Matthew is already dead. He made the decision to maintain a low profile after receiving numerous threats from an anonymous gang, and since he doesn't have anyone to back him up solidly, he decided to stay put and keep silent for a little while. And now he's overjoyed that Mattias has summoned him. He may not have information now, but Mattias won't know that, so it will be easy money for