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Terakhir Diperbarui:
2024-12-25 06:08:43
Bab terkait
The Mafia's Hidden Obsession 10
ALMA’S POV It had been a long painful week after the event that occurred in the dining hall. Mrs. Riccardo made sure to punish the staff and I ignored all the evil eyes sent in my direction. It was the only way to make it through the day without bursting into tears. All kinds of relationships were frowned upon in the Riccardo's estate. I had seen one too many couples sent packing after being discovered by the all seeing eye of the estate; Mrs. Riccardo. There had also been a few whose contracts had been terminated due to a blossoming friendship. It made the huge house dull and cold, but Mrs. Riccardo loved misery; and it always needed company. I stopped scrubbing the kitchen for a minute, wiggling my toes and wincing when I felt a painful tingle. I had been on my knees for hours, doing the chore no one wanted to do. It was a unanimous opinion that I was the cause of Mrs. Riccardo’s raging mood. I didn’t argue; there was no use. Letting out a silent breath I moved my body back t
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-26The Mafia's Hidden Obsession 11
ZAVERIO’S POV “Ple-ease, sir” The man tied to the chair in one of my many empty warehouses pleaded for his life. His eyes bounced around wildly from me to the several men standing around him. “You stole from me.” My voice sounded tired to my eyes and I squared my shoulders and snapped myself out of my momentary weakness. “Do you know what happens to people who steal from me?” “I swear, Mr. Zaverio I didn’t steal from you.” He shivered, licking his dry lips that had been cracked open with a couple fists. “You can look at the books-” I laughed, holding up several books. “You mean these ones? Yes my accountant took a look at it and it was clean.” His shoulders sagged in relief, but the terror returned to his eyes when I spoke. “But, they were too clean Damien. My father was not a fool and he didn’t raise a fool. I can smell a rat from a mile away and you smell very much like a rat.” He shook his head. “I have a family, my wife cann-” I gripped his cheeks, abruptly ending his speech
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-26The Mafia's Hidden Obsession 12
AlmaWhen I walked out of the Riccardo's building for what I knew would be the last time, the morning air was clear and calm. The black of the sprawling building behind was barely visible in the golden light of the rising sun. The soft rustle of leaves and the distant chirp of birds rising to a new day were the only sounds to break the heavy silence. It would have been peaceful but every step I took pulled me farther away from the area where I had left so much of my heart. My chest felt crushed.The weight of the burden in my chest was heavier than the little suitcase I was holding. Naturally, my fingers touched my stomach, a silent reassurance of the life that was growing inside of me. It seemed unreal to consider that I would be gone by the time the sun rose. Doubt and the hope of a new beginning would replace a whole lot which I had recognised."Alma, are you sure about this?" The silence become damaged by the voice of Maria, one of the maids who had assisted me with packing. Her
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-26The Mafia's Hidden Obsession 13
ZaverioMy open curtains let in morning light, which painted the walls a delicate shade of gold. With my mind still blurry from the last of my sleep, I stretched leisurely. The day went on, with yet more meetings and conversations that I didn't want to be a part of. I was already thinking about Alma and how she had appeared the previous evening, with her eyes far away and her lips pressed into a thin line. She had struck me as unusual, but I had chosen to ignore it. She would come to me when she was ready, I promised myself.I hoped her leaving the mansion was a dream. Yet, the typical murmur of the house felt... different when I entered the hall. Alma's gentle presence, her hurried steps, and the faint hum of her voice as she went about her duties were all gone. As I made my way to the east wing, my chest clenched with anxiety.Her door was open, letting a tiny bit of light into the hallway through the slightest crack. I opened it, hoping to see her organizing her belongings or cl
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-26The Mafia's Hidden Obsession 1
“Zaverio,” his name echoed in my head, and happiness surged through my veins as heat spread up my neck, setting my cheeks on fire. It had been years since I saw him, and I wondered what he would look like, but I didn’t care. I had loved him and would love him forever. News had gotten out that he was returning to town. I had heard the other house helps gossip about it, but I hadn’t dared to hope until I heard Mrs. Riccardo say so herself, ordering them to decorate the house and make the mansion beautiful. I scrubbed the plate subconsciously, my hands working by themselves out of years of experience and practice. Lady Riccardo walked in, stern as ever she scowled."Better hurry, Alma," Mrs. Riccardo's voice cracked like a whip, sending a shiver down my spine. "We don't have much time. My son will be home any moment from now. Do your job." I nodded, my lips sealed, knowing better than to utter a word. Mrs. Riccardo's grip on the household had tightened like a noose since Don Riccard
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-12The Mafia's Hidden Obsession 2
A lump grew in my throat, and my eyes widened in both fear and shock. “You will apologize to me at once, and you must be as quiet as a mouse,” he whispered with severity in his tone. “Got it?”I nodded, gripping my towel tight, hating the way my heart galloped because of the close proximity between our bodies. He let go of my mouth, and I pressed my lips together, tilting my head to stare at the floor. “I'm sorry, sir,” I apologized, and my stomach clenched in fear. Zaverio had never been this stern with me. His alcoholic breath fanned my face, and I pressed my back harder against the wall, wishing it would open up and take me. “You've grown so beautiful,” he said in a roguish voice, gripping a handful of my hair. “Damn, I missed you.”I gulped, trembling. Who had Zaverio become? He wasn't the sweet teenager I used to sneak out to the waterfall with. His hand drifted to my neck, sending electric shocks down my spine. “Why aren't you saying anything? Didn't you miss me?”“You're
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-12The Mafia's Hidden Obsession 3
The next morning, I stood in the kitchen, getting my work for the day done. My heart was heavy, and I couldn't stop the flashes of their naked bodies from flooding my head. The door to the kitchen opened, and I looked up from the breakfast I was preparing to see Zaverio standing there with a smile on his handsome face. I turned away, unable to bear the sight of him.I felt a venomous rage coursing through my veins, and it took everything in me not to lash out at him. How could he forget what we had as teenagers, when I gave myself to him completely? He had promised to come back for me, to marry me. But it was all a lie. His betrayal was like the sharp edges of a sword piercing through my heart. I couldn't look at him, couldn't stand the sight of his smile, his eyes, his face. Everything about him felt like a lie.“Please, don't come close, please don't,” I thought, but my prayers were unanswered as a huge hand landed on my shoulder and spun me around. "Don't touch me," I snarled,
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-12The Mafia's Hidden Obsession 4
My heart raced when the sound of the black sedan's engine dying outside signaled Zaverio's arrival. I gazed up from the novel I was reading and walked to the window. I watched him step out of the car, his hair disheveled. His eyes were tired, but his gaze was still piercing. Lifting his head, his gaze met mine, but I walked away from the window and returned to my seat. I didn't want to think about him, but my mind betrayed me. It conjured memories of our past encounters. Mrs. Riccardo's shrill voice yelling at a house help to get Zaverio something to drink followed. I rolled my eyes at how protective Mrs. Riccardo was of her son, considering how much of a rogue he had become. I tossed my book aside, my throat parched, and my belly craving a drink. I made my way to the kitchen, and downed myself a glass of juice.As I tiptoed back with the glass, my body collided with another, and I felt a jolt of electricity run through me, and a familiar scent rushed into my nostrils. Glancing up
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-12
Bab terbaru
The Mafia's Hidden Obsession 13
ZaverioMy open curtains let in morning light, which painted the walls a delicate shade of gold. With my mind still blurry from the last of my sleep, I stretched leisurely. The day went on, with yet more meetings and conversations that I didn't want to be a part of. I was already thinking about Alma and how she had appeared the previous evening, with her eyes far away and her lips pressed into a thin line. She had struck me as unusual, but I had chosen to ignore it. She would come to me when she was ready, I promised myself.I hoped her leaving the mansion was a dream. Yet, the typical murmur of the house felt... different when I entered the hall. Alma's gentle presence, her hurried steps, and the faint hum of her voice as she went about her duties were all gone. As I made my way to the east wing, my chest clenched with anxiety.Her door was open, letting a tiny bit of light into the hallway through the slightest crack. I opened it, hoping to see her organizing her belongings or cl
The Mafia's Hidden Obsession 12
AlmaWhen I walked out of the Riccardo's building for what I knew would be the last time, the morning air was clear and calm. The black of the sprawling building behind was barely visible in the golden light of the rising sun. The soft rustle of leaves and the distant chirp of birds rising to a new day were the only sounds to break the heavy silence. It would have been peaceful but every step I took pulled me farther away from the area where I had left so much of my heart. My chest felt crushed.The weight of the burden in my chest was heavier than the little suitcase I was holding. Naturally, my fingers touched my stomach, a silent reassurance of the life that was growing inside of me. It seemed unreal to consider that I would be gone by the time the sun rose. Doubt and the hope of a new beginning would replace a whole lot which I had recognised."Alma, are you sure about this?" The silence become damaged by the voice of Maria, one of the maids who had assisted me with packing. Her
The Mafia's Hidden Obsession 11
ZAVERIO’S POV “Ple-ease, sir” The man tied to the chair in one of my many empty warehouses pleaded for his life. His eyes bounced around wildly from me to the several men standing around him. “You stole from me.” My voice sounded tired to my eyes and I squared my shoulders and snapped myself out of my momentary weakness. “Do you know what happens to people who steal from me?” “I swear, Mr. Zaverio I didn’t steal from you.” He shivered, licking his dry lips that had been cracked open with a couple fists. “You can look at the books-” I laughed, holding up several books. “You mean these ones? Yes my accountant took a look at it and it was clean.” His shoulders sagged in relief, but the terror returned to his eyes when I spoke. “But, they were too clean Damien. My father was not a fool and he didn’t raise a fool. I can smell a rat from a mile away and you smell very much like a rat.” He shook his head. “I have a family, my wife cann-” I gripped his cheeks, abruptly ending his speech
The Mafia's Hidden Obsession 10
ALMA’S POV It had been a long painful week after the event that occurred in the dining hall. Mrs. Riccardo made sure to punish the staff and I ignored all the evil eyes sent in my direction. It was the only way to make it through the day without bursting into tears. All kinds of relationships were frowned upon in the Riccardo's estate. I had seen one too many couples sent packing after being discovered by the all seeing eye of the estate; Mrs. Riccardo. There had also been a few whose contracts had been terminated due to a blossoming friendship. It made the huge house dull and cold, but Mrs. Riccardo loved misery; and it always needed company. I stopped scrubbing the kitchen for a minute, wiggling my toes and wincing when I felt a painful tingle. I had been on my knees for hours, doing the chore no one wanted to do. It was a unanimous opinion that I was the cause of Mrs. Riccardo’s raging mood. I didn’t argue; there was no use. Letting out a silent breath I moved my body back t
The Mafia's Hidden Obsession 9
Alma’s PoV I sneezed into my elbow and sniffled, rubbing a finger under my cold nose. Walking under the rain was a wrong decision but there was no use thinking about the past, what I was reaping now was the consequence of my action. Sneezing once more, I took deep breaths praying this was all to it. Mrs. Riccardo would probably kill me if I sneezed around her and I couldn’t afford any pay cut from my salary. Falling sick was also not an option; nothing except doing my job perfectly was an option. I worked my nose every which way until I was sure it was safe for me to step out of my room, I slapped my face as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My cheeks stung but they had a healthy red color instead of the deathly pale one that had been sitting there. I winced with every step I took, favoring my right leg to ease the burn from the cuts I had sustained on my left foot. Luckily, when she was sane enough to take stock of her body, the wound had been cleared; there was no debris s
The Mafia's Hidden Obsession 8
Alma’s PoV The party was still in full swing by the time I returned and I accepted the tray a fellow maid handed to me. My face stung but I didn’t dare touch my face and lose concentration or god forbid bump into anyone. I also didn’t look past anyone’s shoulders; my eyes were pinned to the ground to avoid any distractions. I felt a couple of eyes on my back and my body heated up and cooled when I realized the second pair was Mrs. Riccardo’s. Her eyes thinned when I looked at her, and I snapped my head forward, scolding myself for moving contrary to the promise I had made to myself. The unknown woman who had slapped my hand away was still hanging on Zaverio’s arm like a monkey. I refused to break another rule so I strengthened the walls around my heart, weaving through the crowd like a ballerina. At a point my body began to move on its own, while the rest of me disconnected. My feet were killing me but I had gotten one strike this evening and had managed to escape by chance or lu
The Mafia's Hidden Obsession 7
Alma’s PoV I wandered from my room to the kitchen in a blind daze. My heart beat was steady in my chest but every strong pound was accompanied with a searing pain that left my mind numb. Did I hear Zaverio well yesterday? Maybe my ears were playing tricks on me. I shook my head, cursing myself under my breath was being weak and vulnerable. I was the one who laid myself bare to him, I practically confessed my undying love whenever he was close to me. But to him I was nothing but a… mere maid. I closed my eyes and placed a palm on my chest, why did it hurt? It was the truth and maybe if I started living it, my daydreams would fizzle and die out. “What are you doing?” I jumped, holding back a frail squeak. “Nothing, I was trying to catch my bearing- I have a silly headache.” I shut my mouth when I realized I was rambling off. The taskmaster didn’t look worried, he simply didn’t care. “You need to pick up the dress Mrs. Riccardo is going to use for the party.” I nodded as I walked
The Mafia's Hidden Obsession 6
Zaverio's PoV I walked to the table, where my body lotion was situated, and I felt my mother's prying and inquisitive eyes on me. "What could you possibly be doing with a maid?" She asked, and I stood in front of my mirror, applying some lotion on my arm. "You tell me, Zaverio." I gritted my teeth, disliking my mother's persistent nature. "Answer me," She probbed, and I refrained from growling at her because she was my mother. I heaved a sigh, saying, "Nothing." "If you say nothing, then why do you talk to her?" Mother asked, and before I could answer, she threw another question at me, "Why do you look at her with an intensity in your eyes?" I spun to look at her with disbelief glinting in my eyes. A chuckle slipped out of my lips, and my shoulders shook in rhythm. "Mamma, are you for real?" I asked, and my brows knitted into a frown. "Alma is a good maid, and she is just my friend." Mother narrowed her eyes into slivers with her arms akimbo. "You can't be frien
The Mafia's Hidden Obsession 5
My eyes fluttered open, and I caught sight of Zaverio dressing up, his broad back and shoulders a vivid reminder of the passion we'd shared just hours before. I pulled the sheets around me, my brows into a frown of confusion as I called out to him in a voice still laced with sleep. "Zaverio?" He paused, his movements suspended as he turned to face me with his chiseled jaw clenched and brows cocked up. "Where are you going?" I asked, my eyes narrowing slightly as I tried to read his expression. For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of uncertainty, of an emotion I couldn't quite decipher, but it was quickly replaced by his usual confidence, his eyes turning cold. "Out," he said curtly, his voice low and husky. "I have business to attend to." I stared at him, my eyes locked on his orbs, searching for the truth behind his words. I didn't believe him, not entirely. There was something he wasn't telling me, but I didn't press the issue, not yet. Instead, I simply watched him, my hea
