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77. An Argument Over the Bottom Line
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
My Mafia Dominant Is Back 78. Carlo's Promises
"When I wanted to tell you yesterday, I just couldn’t,” Carlo began in a low, slightly raspy voice. “I’m not indifferent to my mother’s pain, you know. Quite the opposite—I’ve tried to find a way to get her out of here since I was very young. When I was six, my father sent for me to start school in the city. I poured everything into becoming the best at whatever I did. I thought that if I earned my father’s approval, he might finally bring my mother to live with us. I just wanted the three of us to be a real family.”“And did it work?” Lyla asked, her tone much softer now, no longer so accusatory.Carlo gave a bitter smile. “You can probably guess that my father’s wife and my half-brother didn’t welcome us. When I was sixteen, I killed two family traitors myself, and only then did my father finally agree to bring my mother into the U.S.”Lyla couldn’t hide her shock; she turned to Carlo, who continued to look out over the ocean, his face calm, as though he were retelling someone else’s
My Mafia Dominant Is Back 79. Hudson's Disdain
Amid the children's cheers and laughter, Carlo gently lifted Lyla into his arms, carrying her inland. After a few steps, a young man dressed in local attire zoomed over on a brand-new Harley, halting the bike precisely in front of them. He dismounted, retrieved two helmets from the back, and respectfully handed them to Carlo.Carlo set Lyla carefully on the back seat, fastening her helmet with a practiced touch before settling in the front. As he buckled his own helmet, he cast a playful glance over his shoulder and said, “Oh, right, I remember someone on the cruise saying she ‘doesn’t fight over scraps with dogs.’ So...was that your way of calling me a scrap?”Lyla paused, recollecting, and then let out a soft laugh—it was what she'd said during that heated exchange with the other women on the cruise. She wasn’t surprised Carlo knew about it; with his watchful eye, every moment on the ship was probably within his grasp. What amused her was his lingering irritation over the remark. Sm
My Mafia Dominant Is Back 80. The Calm Before the Storm
After that day, the South Americans disappeared, and even Hudson was nowhere to be seen. It seemed Carlo’s troubles were temporarily resolved, bringing a newfound lightness to his spirit. He settled down on the island with Lyla, savoring a fleeting peace.Island life was idyllic, unhurried, and lovely. Though the weather was hot and humid, the scenery was breathtaking. The locals were warm-hearted, the children full of life—some even cheekily called Carlo "Dad" and Lyla "Mom" when they grew especially playful.Lyla and Carlo would often stroll through the island’s market together, selecting fresh ingredients, then giving the staff the day off to prepare their meals themselves. Carlo, who’d inherited his mother’s talent for art, often sketched portraits of Lyla, capturing her expressions and beauty with delicate precision. Sometimes, he’d take her to hidden spots on the island, sharing stories from his childhood or taking her to explore his secret haunts. Their days passed like those of
My Mafia Dominant Is Back 81. The Accident
The cruise back moved swiftly, reaching the shore in just five days. Afterward, Lyla and Carlo took a flight to the nearest city to Westheaven.With the new semester just around the corner, Lyla's break was coming to an end, but she hadn’t come back for classes. She planned to hand in her resignation. Although the school had emailed her after her case was discharged, inviting her to stay on, Lyla couldn’t let go of the bitterness. The school’s cold reaction and swift suspension notice during the investigation had left her heartbroken. They had seemed eager to distance themselves, not even offering her legal assistance. She no longer felt she belonged there and intended to spend some time with her mother before deciding her next steps.Westheaven College was over a three-hour drive from the airport. Carlo, wanting to spend some time alone with Lyla, dismissed all the bodyguards and drove her to the school himself.As the car pulled up by the campus gate, Carlo insisted on going in with
My Mafia Dominant Is Back 82. Mother's Plan
When Carlo opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was an intense white light, stark and endless, as though he were suspended in a pure void—a sensation so surreal he almost thought he’d reached heaven. But the sharp, searing pain in his body quickly pulled him back to reality. His vision gradually focused, and he noticed his right leg bound tightly in plaster, suspended in mid-air, while a thick bandage wrapped around his head sent waves of heat and pressure. Any slight movement caused his head to throb as if it would split open.Nearby, he could hear Valentina’s soft sobs, as if she had been crying for hours. Her voice was weak, yet tinged with relentless sorrow. When she saw Carlo was awake, her quiet sobbing turned into relieved, almost frantic weeping as she clasped his hand, tears streaming down her face. “Son, you’re finally awake. I’m so sorry. I never thought things would turn out like this... I almost—almost lost you.”The meaning of her words eluded him, but Carlo gripped
My Mafia Dominant Is Back 83. Carlo's Compromise
"Hello, son." Leonardo's voice was stern over the phone, a tone that carried more authority than concern. "Your mother said you needed to speak with me. But I think your top priority now should be recovering. Wouldn’t you agree?"Carlo felt a faint warmth at his father’s rare display of concern, something that softened him, if only briefly. His voice trembled slightly as he replied, "Father, I'm alright now, I—"Leonardo quickly interrupted. "I disagree. You must understand just how dangerous that little street race of yours was. You may have survived this time, but luck won’t always be on your side. I hope you take this as a lesson if—""Father!" Carlo’s voice rose, cutting him off, frustration leaking through. "You know I didn’t call to discuss that. Lyla—Lyla was taken. Blake has her." His chest tightened in agony, forcing him to suppress the urge to cough, desperate not to miss a single word of his father’s response.There was a pause. Leonardo said nothing about who Lyla was but
My Mafia Dominant Is Back 84. Blake’s Evil Plan
When Lyla awoke from the darkness, she was still surrounded by pitch-black silence. She had no sense of time, nor how long she'd been held here. Wooden boards covered the windows, allowing only thin slivers of light to seep in, just enough to reveal the looming stacks of shipping containers around her. The air was thick and damp, and she could only guess she was trapped in some sort of abandoned warehouse.Her range of movement was severely limited—one hand was cuffed to a pillar, and her ankles were bound together. Though someone brought her food and water once through a small door, the rest of the time, an oppressive silence filled the room. She didn’t know exactly who had brought her here, but she was certain it was connected to the danger Carlo had warned her about.Lyla knew Carlo must be searching for a way to save her. Even though the conditions were harsh, her will remained calm. She neither cried out nor screamed; instead, she calmly had the leftovers from her previous meal.
My Mafia Dominant Is Back 85. Lyla Knows About Carlo's Marriage
A dozen men rushed in, immediately pulling away the three thugs and beating them into submission.A flicker of panic crossed Blake’s eyes, and he yelled toward the door, “Get in here!”His own men complied and entered—but each had their hands raised, guns pressed to the backs of their heads by Carlo’s men.And then, Carlo and Hudson entered. Carlo sat in a wheelchair, a blanket draped over his leg, hiding the heavy cast underneath. Though the bandages on his head had been removed, raw, healing scratches still marred his face. Despite everything, his expression held a cold, unyielding authority.Hudson pushed Carlo’s wheelchair toward Blake and then continued over to Lyla, removing his jacket and draping it over her trembling body before helping her to her feet.Lyla’s entire body shook uncontrollably; her sweat and tears had dampened her hair. She moved like a puppet in Hudson’s hold, stumbling over to Carlo. As soon as she saw him, it was as if she woke from a nightmare, springing fo
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My Mafia Dominant Is Back 94. Kill Her Baby
"Who the hell do you think you are to order me around?" Lucas stormed forward, grabbing Carlo by the collar, his voice shaking with fury. "I warned you—if you hurt her again, I’ll never forgive you.""What the hell does this have to do with you?!" Carlo snapped, shoving Lucas's hand away. He didn’t even know who he was truly angry with, but the storm of emotions raging inside him demanded release. "She’s carrying my baby! Of course, I’ll protect her and the baby. This is none of your fucking business!""Enough!" Lyla’s voice cut through the tension, low but sharp. She clutched her still-flat stomach, her eyes brimming with pain and despair. "This isn’t your baby, Carlo. And I will never let you see it. You don’t deserve to be a husband, a father, or to be loved!"Though she spoke quietly, afraid of being overheard, her words were like daggers. The raspy, restrained anguish in her tone sliced through the night, hitting Carlo like a blow to the chest. His voice trembled as he tried to p
My Mafia Dominant Is Back 93. Caught by Isabella
"Who is this woman?!" Isabella quickly approached Carlo, her eyes sharp with suspicion as she examined the disheveled, tear-streaked woman before her. The stranger's casual attire was out of place for the elegant engagement party, and she clearly wasn’t one of the household staff either.Carlo clenched his fists tightly, avoiding Lyla's gaze and refusing to meet Isabella's eyes either. His voice was cold and detached as he replied, "I don’t know. Just some crazy woman. I found her acting suspicious, so I followed her out to check. No big deal. I'll call Hudson to handle this. Come on, babe, let’s head back. We shouldn’t keep the guests waiting."He grabbed Isabella’s arm, attempting to lead her away, but she jerked free. "A crazy woman?" she snapped, clearly irritated. "I won’t allow anyone to ruin our engagement party. There’s no need to bother Hudson over this."With a sharp snap of her fingers, two burly men stepped out from the shadows at her beckon. Speaking in Italian, one asked
My Mafia Dominant Is Back 92. "You don’t deserve to be his father. Never!”
The mansion was enormous, filled with laughter and brightly lit from corner to corner. Lyla fought back tears and nausea as she tried to navigate her way out, relying on her memory of how she had arrived. She was aware that Carlo was silently following her, but he dared not call out to her in front of the crowd, and she dared not stop. They weaved through the bustling throng of guests, Lyla quickening her pace with each step, until she finally reached the dark, desolate vineyard.“Stop following me!” Lyla couldn’t hold it in any longer. The emotions she had been suppressing erupted as she turned to Carlo and screamed, her voice raw and miserable. “Don’t you have more important things to do? Go back! Be a happy fiancé! Why should you care if I live or die? I don’t need you anymore! I never will!”Her screams were filled with such pain and despair that she seemed like a porcelain doll, covered in cracks and on the verge of shattering at any moment. Carlo’s instinct was to rush forward a
My Mafia Dominant Is Back 91. Lyla Witnesses The Engagement
Lyla sat quietly at a secluded table, her gaze fixed on the center of the grand ballroom. There, Carlo, impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, was recounting the story of how he and Isabella met and fell in love.Just minutes ago, Blake had escorted her to this dimly lit corner. He had placed her at an inconspicuous table, posted two men to keep an eye on her, and then disappeared.When she arrived, she caught the tail end of Leonardo’s announcement—Carlo being granted the family name and partial control of its power. Carlo stood proudly beside his father, with his mother on the other side, her arm looped around Leonardo’s, her smile radiant. They looked like the perfect family, united and unshakable. Carlo’s expression was brimming with triumph, his striking green eyes gleaming with ambition and a hunger for power—something Lyla had never seen in him before. In that moment, he felt like a stranger to her.Now, the spotlight had shifted to Carlo and Isabella. The stunning, confident
My Mafia Dominant Is Back 90. Carlo's Ambition
The mansion on the seaside cliff was unusually lively today. The engagement party of Carlo Ferretti and Isabella Cavalieri wasn’t just a union of two powerful Mafia families; it symbolized their collective expansion into international territories. The Cavalieri family had flown in hundreds of members from Europe, while the Ferretti family made an equally impressive show of force, gathering nearly all their key figures. Adding to the grandeur were representatives from other factions hoping to curry favor with the two Mafia dynasties.The whole thing felt like a royal wedding—lavish and over the top.For Carlo, this wasn’t just another party—it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He had spent over two decades fighting for recognition within his family. While his initial agreement to marry Isabella had been a strategy to save Lyla, recent developments had shifted his perspective. Just before the engagement, his father, Leonardo, had visited him in the hospital despite his failing hea
My Mafia Dominant Is Back 89. Take Her to the Scene
Lyla felt like she’d been hit over the head, her mind foggy and spinning. Stumbling, she grabbed onto the table for support, picking up the invitation and staring at it as if she didn’t recognize the words. She flipped it over, studying it again and again.“No… I don’t believe it,” she murmured, her voice trembling as if she were trying to convince herself. “He told me Isabella was only six. They… they can’t be getting engaged.”“Oh, so that’s what he told you?” Blake sneered. “No wonder. When you heard it yourself that day, I thought your temper would have you walking out on him for good. But looks like even a stupid lie like that was enough to fool you. Ah, poor girl. I almost feel sorry for you.”Lyla shook her head, unsure if she was rejecting Blake’s words or denying that Carlo had lied. Her eyes filled with tears, but she bit them back. “No, you’re lying. You’re just using me to hurt him!”Blake clicked his tongue, his expression laced with fake sympathy and disdain. “Why don’t
My Mafia Dominant Is Back 88. Carlo Is Engaged
At Lucas’s suggestion, Lyla went to the hospital’s OB department, and the results confirmed it—she was almost two months pregnant.Overjoyed, she planned to call Carlo right away, but Lucas stopped her.“Better hold off on telling him,” he advised, looking uneasy. “You know him well, right? He’s still in the hospital, if he finds out you’re pregnant, he’ll check himself out just to be by your side.” Seeing Lyla’s hesitation, he added, “Besides, pregnancy isn’t very stable in the first three months. Why not wait until then? It would crush him if anything happened.”Reluctantly, Lyla agreed. She knew now wasn’t the best time. She decided to keep this a surprise, waiting until both Carlo and her mother were fully healed before sharing the news.For the next month, Lyla stayed by her mother’s side. Every weekend, Lucas would fly over from Westheaven, nearly convincing Camilla that he was Lyla’s mysterious boyfriend. To keep the truth from her mother, Lyla would only call Carlo late at ni
My Mafia Dominant Is Back 87. Lyla Is Pregnant
"Here you go Mom, have some orange." Lyla handed her mother a peeled slice of orange. Camilla Sinclair took it, her eyes drifting to the black-suited men standing outside the ward, her expression uneasy. She had lived a quiet and peaceful life, never imagining she’d one day see her once sweet, obedient daughter surrounded by bodyguards.It had been days now, and Lyla still hadn’t offered an explanation. Every time Camilla asked, Lyla would dodge with some excuse. But today, when one of the guards eyed a nurse suspiciously as she entered, Camilla couldn’t hold back any longer."Lyla, enough! Who are these people, and why are they here?"Lyla sighed. "Mom, I’ve told you—you need to focus on recovering. That’s what’s most important. They’re here to keep us safe. I promise, they’re good people."Camilla’s tone sharpened, “What kind of normal person needs this kind of protection?” Her voice raised, straining her already weakened body. Lyla quickly reached out to calm her mother, but Camil
My Mafia Dominant Is Back 86. The Cheats and the Deal
The ward, a woman's soft, half-amused, half-irritated voice broke the silence."So, you're telling me there was never an Isabella Cavalieri?!" Lyla stood by Carlo’s bed, arms crossed, still a bit red-eyed from the earlier panic. Her face showed a mix of frustration and slight embarrassment after listening to Carlo’s full explanation.According to Carlo, Isabella was merely a fabrication, a lie he’d told to mislead Blake and rescue her. At first, Lyla wasn’t fully convinced. But when Carlo reminded her of the promises he’d made to her on the island, her last doubts melted away.A playful glint sparkled in Carlo's eyes as he grinned. "Oh, but Isabella does exist. And yes, she really is a Cavalieri."Lyla's gaze immediately turned suspicious until Carlo quickly clarified, "Though, she’s only six years old."Realizing how close she came to falling for another of his jokes, Lyla clenched her fist and gave him a light punch on the shoulder. Before she could pull her hand back, Carlo caught
