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Chapter 31
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2024-08-30 19:12:08Related chapters
The Mafia's Contract Chapter 32
As soon as I heard the voice on the phone, I had a feeling something was wrong. Immediately, we got into Bea's car and she drove me all the way to the hospital. There was an feeling of dread in my chest as I rushed into the hospital and made my way towards the door to my mother’s room. My heart pounded loudly in my chest and my legs felt like they were moving through water. I pushed the door open and rushed in. There she was, my mother, looking so fragile, so small, plugged to machines and wires. Her chest rose and fell in a shallow manner, but it was the machines doing most of the work. I tried to catch and steady my breath, but it caught in my throat, leaving me on the edge of breaking down.The doctor stood by her bed with a serious expression. I hurried to my mother’s side, grabbing her hand, which felt cold and weak in mine.“Ms. Joan,” the doctor began "I’m afraid your mother’s condition has worsened. We’ve managed to stabilize her for now, but she needs surgery as soon as pos
Last Updated : 2024-09-04The Mafia's Contract Chapter 33
JOAN'S POVThe next morning, as soon as I arrived inside the mansion, Ms Sullivan approached me. Before I could greet her, she spoke. "You've been summoned by the family" she said "Report to the grand study immediately" A chill ran down my spine as soon as she said that. The grand study. I’d heard enough whispered stories from Emily and Sarah to know what happens in that room. People have been fired, blacklisted, and worse after meetings in that room, especially when the whole family was involved. Oh no. Were they going to fire me? My mind raced with all the possible reasons they could have for summoning me. With everything going on with my mother, the last thing I could afford was to lose my job. My stomach twisted at the thought.I made my way to the study with my heart beating loudly in my chest. When I got there, I knocked on the door. "Come in" I heard Madame Helen say. I took a deep breath before opening the door and stepping inside. I had never been here before but it wa
Last Updated : 2024-09-09The Mafia's Contract Chapter 34
As soon as the meeting was over, Irene took me to the new room where I would be staying. I stood in the doorway of my new room, hesitant to take a step inside. The room was enormous—larger than the room I was in before. It was also completely furnished with lavish decorations. The luxury around me felt like a different world, one I had no idea how to blend in. It had lovely red carpets, draped curtains, and expensive looking furniture. I did not belong here.I took a step forward, feeling the soft carpet beneath my feet. The room was so quiet that I could hear my own breath. The bed, a massive king sized bed with velvet hangings, seemed more like a throne than a place to sleep. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to walk further into the space. Everything here was new—too new. I was afraid to touch anything. The door opened softly behind me, and I flinched in fear. Irene stepped inside with a small smile.“Joan,” she said gently “How are you settling in?”I forced a smile. “It’s... it’
Last Updated : 2024-09-09The Mafia's Contract Chapter 35
JOAN'S POVI woke up to the sound of soft murmurs and the click of heels against the floor. My eyes fluttered open, and I was immediately greeted by a group of women surrounding my bed. It took a moment for my brain to catch up to what was happening. Was I still dreaming?"Good morning, Miss Joan," a voice said from the foot of my bed. I blinked, trying to make sense of the scene in front of me. Standing in the center was Miss Sullivan, who had a smile on her face. "Good morning, ma'am" I murmured. "Time to get up. We’ve got a lot to do today."“W-what?” I mumbled, still groggy. I looked at the women standing around me. All of them smiled as though they had been waiting for this moment their entire lives. These women were glamorous looking. With their lovely looks, designer dresses, perfectly styled hair, flawless make up- they looked like they had just stepped out of a magazine. Who are they? What are they they doing here? Ms Sullivan spoke up again "These ladies are your glam
Last Updated : 2024-09-15The Mafia's Contract Chapter 36
JOAN'S POVI shivered in the back seat of the limo, staring out at the blur of streetlights through my tears. My fingers trembled in my lap, and I could still feel the cameras flashing in my face, the shouts of the paparazzi hurling questions at me. I never imagined it would feel like this, being thrown into the public eye. The pressure, the eyes always watching, the fear of slipping up. It felt suffocating.The worst part? I just begun. This was just my first outing. Is this how it's going to be for the next few years? “Stop shaking. You’re acting like a child,” Sir Derrick scoffed. I snapped my head towards him. My eyes stung from the tears I’d been trying so hard to hold back. "How?" I asked him. His words made something inside me snap. "You're whining. You need to grow up" he muttered. "Acting like a child? I just got ambushed by a mob of reporters, Derrick. What do you expect me to do?" I whispered. He barely glanced at me. His hands gripped his phone tightly "This is you
Last Updated : 2024-09-17The Mafia's Contract Chapter 37
JONAS' POV (A NEW CHARACTER) I stared at the crumbling ceiling of our small apartment. The sound of my wife sobbing quietly from the bedroom pierced through the thin walls. My chest ached with a lot of emotions. The pressure of it all pressed down on me like a thousand bricks. Debt was suffocating us, and I could barely breathe under the pressure. Every day, I tried to convince myself that what I was doing—the pursuit of truth—was worth the struggle, but the bills didn’t care about integrity. Neither did the landlord.I heard her soft footsteps approaching, her sobs barely under control. Emily stood in the doorway, her hand resting on her growing belly. Her eyes were puffy, red from crying again, and it twisted something deep inside me. I hated seeing her like this, hated knowing that I was the cause."Jonas," she whispered "I need money for the doctor’s appointment next week. And the medicine... you know it’s not safe for the baby if I don’t get the vitamins they prescribed. I know
Last Updated : 2024-09-23The Mafia's Contract Chapter 38
HENRY'S POVI stood by the window of my office, staring out at the city below. I should’ve felt satisfaction. After all, I was filthy rich, and I had built an empire most men would kill for. But the satisfaction never came. It never did when I thought about Derrick.Derrick.The name alone made my blood boil. He’d always been a step ahead, always managed to take what I wanted. And now, he was about to become the Mafia Don for the district. Not because he deserved it, but because he was marrying that maid, Joan. The arrangement was fake, I knew it. It had to be. Derrick wasn’t capable of love, and certainly not with a maid.My hands clenched into fists, my nails digging into my palms. It wasn’t about the money for me. No, I had more than enough of that. It was about power, and the respect that came with it. All my life, I’d been second to Derrick. No matter what I achieved, no matter how high I climbed, it was never enough to escape his shadow. I was always known as the Mafia Don's ba
Last Updated : 2024-10-02The Mafia's Contract Chapter 39
JOAN'S POVThe sound of the needle piercing through fabric was soothing to me. It was a soft, calming noise that filled my room. A lot of people couldn't hear it but I could. I noticed the small things. I could hear how the needle went through the clothes, forming something out of nothing. I sat by the window, looking outside as I knitted. I had always loved to sew.the quiet work of knitting or stitching allowed my thoughts to wander and unravel, just like the fabric I held in my hands. But it had been a long time since I’d had the luxury to do this—since my mother had fallen ill, I’d been forced to stop, to focus on finding work, on making enough money to care for her. The small sewing business I once had was gone, and with it, a piece of myself went as well. Still, sitting here now, knitting a simple top, I felt a small sensation of that old happiness. I allowed my hands to move, each stitch soothing me. I could almost forget everything else—almost.But my thoughts were not so ea
Last Updated : 2024-10-03
Latest chapter
The Mafia's Contract Chapter 54
JOAN’S POVThe next day, I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at my phone. Notifications flooded the screen. My phone buzzed so much I thought it might actually explode. My name was plastered across every news article, headline, and gossip column: The mysterious Joan Hathaway—The Cinderella Bride of Derrick Stonewood.It felt surreal. A part of me wanted to smile, to feel special, but the amount of hate pouring into my inbox shattered any feeling of happiness I wanted to have. I got a lot of hate messages in my Instagram message box. Don’t even get me started on the comments.“You don’t deserve him.”“Gold digger.”“He could do so much better.”And the worst—death threats.I sighed and opened Instagram, immediately setting my page to private again. The comments there were worse. I received a lot of rage from strangers who thought they knew me.A knock on the door startled me.“Come in,” I called, quickly putting my phone down.The door opened and Emily popped her head in. Her face lit
The Mafia's Contract Chapter 54
JOAN’S POVThe kiss lingered on my mind, stealing every ounce of focus I had. Derrick’s lips against mine, so unexpected, so electric—it was all I could think about as he led me by the hand into the hall. His grip was firm yet gentle, like he didn’t want to let go. My heart raced, not just from the memory of the kiss but from the interioe of the hall we stepped into.The room was breathtaking. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their crystals scattering light like tiny stars. The elites were all here—politicians, business associates, and socialites. Women wore shimmering dresses adorned with jewels, and men were well dressed in tailored suits that screamed wealth and power. It looked like a scene straight out of a movie.Derrick stopped to speak with the governor, a man I had only ever seen on television. My awe must have been obvious because Derrick leaned in and whispered, “Breathe, Joan.”The governor turned his attention to me, and brought out his hand for me to shake.“It’s a ple
The Mafia's Contract Chapter 53
JOAN’S POVThe room was filled with activity as my glam team moved around me with their palettes and brushes in hand. My makeup artist, Sophie, leaned in to add the final touch of shimmer to my cheekbones, and I tried to hold still, but my hands were trembling in my lap. It wasn’t nerves from being in the spotlight—I should have been used to that by now. I’d walked countless red carpets, smiled for cameras, and played my part in the perfect image Derrick and I had been carefully crafting.But tonight was different. Tonight, Derrick was going to propose.The audience wouldn’t know it was fake, of course. This wasn’t just any event; it was the beginning of our contract marriage. I tried to focus on the strokes of the makeup brush, but my mind kept drifting to what tonight meant.I always dreamed of getting married—falling in love with someone who looked at me like I was their entire world. The kind of love that made my mom’s eyes light up when she talked about my dad. But that wasn’t wh
The Mafia's Contract Chapter 52
JOAN’S POVI hummed as I stitched the hem of a simple dress. Sewing always brought me a sense of peace. It was a way to center myself when the world outside felt overwhelming.A sudden knock on the door broke my concentration, and I set the dress aside.“Come in,” I called, pushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear.The door opened to reveal Emily. When she saw me, her face lit up with excitement.“Joan!” she exclaimed, stepping inside.“Emily!” I got to my feet, crossing the room to hug her. “What are you doing here?”She pulled back with a huge smile “I have the most amazing news. You’ll never believe it.”I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What is it?”Emily glanced over her shoulder, as if checking for eavesdroppers, before turning back to me. “There’s someone here to see you. A fashion designer.”I blinked in surprise. “A designer? What kind of designer?”Emily grinned, practically bouncing on her heels. “Not just any designer. Hart Couture.”I froze. The name sent a jolt through
The Mafia's Contract Chapter 51
DERRICK’S POVI sat at my desk, staring at the stack of papers I wasn’t reading. Santi and Ace were talking from across me but I barely heard them. My mind was elsewhere—on her.Joan.It had been days since I’d seen her. She hadn’t crossed my path in the mansion, and as much as I hated to admit it, I missed her. The way she glanced at me when she thought I wasn’t looking, her quietness, and, dammit, even the way she seemed to avoid me sometimes.Why the hell was I thinking about her?I’d never let a woman occupy my thoughts like this before. Women came and went. They were mere distractions in my world of deals and power. But Joan wasn’t like the others. She was innocent, beautiful and …different. I couldn’t put my finger on it. And the way she’d stormed out of the dining room that night when the stripper danced on me…A feeling of guilt tightened my chest. I hadn’t cared then, but now? Now, it irritated me to know I might’ve been the cause of that flicker of hurt in her eyes. What the
The Mafia's Contract Chapter 50
JOAN’S POVFor days, I hid myself in my room, avoiding everyone and everything. I didn’t want to see anyone and neither was I in the mood to do anything.I focused on the fabric in my hand as I sewed. My fingers worked mechanically, weaving the thread into the fabric, but my mind was far from focused.Derrick.His name alone sent an ache through my chest. I hated how much space he took up in my thoughts. I shouldn’t have felt anything for him. He was cold, detached, and utterly infuriating. And yet, every time I closed my eyes, I saw him.I saw him with her. The way his hand lingered on her waist. A stripper. He acted like I wasn’t even there, like I didn’t exist. Well, to him I didn’t. I was just a pawn in the grand scheme of things.Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them away. I couldn’t do this to myself anymore. Derrick didn’t care about me. Our marriage, if it could even be called that, was a contract, plain and simple.So, why did it hurt so much?I stabbed the needle through t
The Mafia's Contract Chapter 49
JOAN'S POVIt was well past midnight when I slipped downstairs to the kitchen. I couldn't sleep so I decided to get a glass of milk to calm myself down. Just as I got the milk I needed, the muffled sound of voices caught my attention. I could hear a low argument coming from down the hallway. Curiosity got the better of me as it always did and I found myself walking closer. I stayed behind a pillar, straining my ears to catch every word.It was Derrick and Henry. They were both arguing about something. "You're hiding something, Derrick." Henry said "How long do you think you can keep it a secret?"Derrick’s response was calm "You have no idea what you're talking about, Henry. Stay out of my affairs, or you’ll regret it."I held my breath as I pieced together what little I could from their exchange. It was clear there was a rift between them. Just then, the sound of footsteps approaching shocked me. I ran back to the staircase, making my way up as silently as possible. Once I was in
The Mafia's Contract Chapter 48
JOAN’S POVIrene and I planned to spend the day getting our hair and nails done. I wasn’t the type to do this often. Hell, before I got engaged to Derrick, I couldn’t remember the last time I got my hair done. I usually did it myself. But Irene kept pleading for us to have a girl’s day out together. And how on earth could I say no to Irene?As soon as I stepped through the doors of the salon with Irene, my jaw nearly dropped. I’d never seen anything like this place before. The walls gleamed with soft pink wallpapers and crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling. Everything here screamed luxury, from the fluffy chairs, to the bright vanity mirrors, the marble counters and even the stylists. Women walked around wearing robes with glasses of champagnes in their hands. They talked quietly as they were pampered by the workers. Irene noticed my awestruck expression and grinned. “I told you, Joan, this place is worth the hype. Nothing but the best for us.”“I can see that”“Don’t be too su
The Mafia's Contract Chapter 47
JOAN'S POVOne night, I accompanied Derrick to a dinner with the governor. The governor’s mansion was breathtaking. Everything here was sophisticated - the paintings, the chandeliers, the high ceilings, the wide hallway and the house itself. As we stepped through the entrance, the chandeliers sparkled above us on the marble floors. I tried not to gape but it was hard not to. I was in awe of thewhole place. It looked like something straight out a movie. Beside me, Derrick walked with confidence. His posture was straight and his expression was unreadable as always. He hadn’t spoken much on the drive over. Not like he ever spoke to me anyway. But now, as we walked through the crowd of high-profile guests, he seemed even colder. The dining room was already half-full by the time we reached our seats. As I took a look around, I couldn’t help but notice the familiar faces scattered around the room. The governor, several senators, and even the President of the United States who was seated
