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67. Hospital Visit
Last Updated:
2023-11-25 21:59:54Related chapters
The Ruthless Mafia’s Contracted Bride 68. Home Sweet Home
The incident with Katya fades into a distant memory and I’m more than eager to put it behind me. I don’t know why I’m avoiding it so much. I realize that I should have been angrier about this, but something inside of me is stopping me. Is it because I feel bad for her? Because of how Igor left her for me? I’m not sure. I don’t think I’ll be finding the answer anytime soon. Being out of the hospital is a relief. I didn’t think that I would miss the penthouse, but I did. This place is slowly becoming more of a home to me, and honestly, I’m just glad that I have a place I can call that, especially since I lost my childhood one. Everyone is more confident that we will win this war. I really hope that’s the case because there’s nothing worse than being locked up at home out of fear of being attacked. I don’t even know if I’ll be able to lead a normal life after this. Will I always look over my shoulder when I’m out, even after all this is dead and buried?All I want is to live normally
Last Updated : 2023-11-26The Ruthless Mafia’s Contracted Bride 69. Approaching Date
Shockingly, there are only two days left before the wedding. Everyone is agitated and there’s a restless energy in the air, and I’m more nervous and anxious than everyone combined. There isn’t much to do—the whole wedding has been organized and invitations were sent out months ago anyway, so I’m not worried. Anyway, I won’t know more than 99% of the guests. I just tried the wedding dress for the first time and I’m in love with it. It’s not one I chose, as things were organized for me weeks before I even stepped into the picture, but it’s beautiful and I have no complaints. The sleeves are long and made of delicate lace, and the skirt is wide with a long train. Only a few adjustments are needed, but it’s perfectly alright and I felt beautiful in it. The stitches won’t be able to be removed yet, as I tore some of them a few days ago. It wasn’t my fault—Igor and I were in the act when it happened. He tugged at my hair a little too hard and now I’ll have to have them on during our wedd
Last Updated : 2023-11-27The Ruthless Mafia’s Contracted Bride 70. A Dropped Bomb
I blink back at him. “What? What are you talking about? What secrets is he keeping from me? I don’t…I don’t understand.”Leo turns away from me and pinches the bridge of his nose. I wish he would get on with it and tell me what’s wrong; take me out of my misery. If he knew how I was burning inside and disintegrating, perhaps he would have told me what he wanted to say faster. A lot faster. “I hate to be the one to do this,” he admits. “But I’m done. I’m tired of this.”He turns around, facing me fully. I’m still seated on my bed, pillows all around me. I feel like I’ll drown in them at any moment. “Like I said, he’s keeping secrets from you. Horrible ones. This whole operation—buying you at the auction and keeping you here, and making you sign a contract in blood—it isn’t for the reason you think it is.”“What’s it for then?”There’s silence from his end again, and this time, I become impatient. “Just tell me what it is!”“When we entered this operation, we were done for,” he inform
Last Updated : 2023-11-27The Ruthless Mafia’s Contracted Bride 71. Escapade
The worst part about all of this is the fact that I’m out of time. I don’t have too long to sit and absorb all of this horrible information that was just dumped on me. I have to act quickly—and move quickly—or I’ll find myself stuck in an unpleasant situation. In top of that, I don’t know how I’ll even make it to this address because I’m a damned prisoner here. I’m not allowed to go anywhere without Igor’s permission. As I try to think of a way to get out of here without him finding out, I’m putting all the pieces of my life together and it isn’t looking good. Things are starting to make a little too much sense and I’m terrified that this will all be true. Because although I want to go to this retirement home and speak to this person he claimed to be my uncle, I’m hoping that he’ll say something to discredit Leo, or prove to me that this is all one big joke. Igor couldn’t have betrayed me like this. I can’t believe that. The man I love wouldn’t have done this to me. He told me tha
Last Updated : 2023-11-27The Ruthless Mafia’s Contracted Bride 72. Determination
I manage to get a grip on my emotions by drinking tea. I don’t know what’s in it—chamomile, maybe—but I feel relaxed as soon as I drink about half of it. The man who so happens to be my uncle (I have no doubt of it now) watches me patiently, waiting for me to be ready for his story which I have no doubts will be tragic and devastating. He seems to be the kind of person who has gone through much in life. Yet he weathered through it all with a smile on his face. I drain the cup and he fills it for me again. This time, I drink it more slowly. He asks me, “Better?”I nod. “Yes. Thank you.”“I imagine that this kind of thing isn’t easy for anyone,” he states. “I can’t imagine myself in your situation right now. You’ve just discovered that your life was built on a lie.”I shake my head and swallow my tears. “There are moments when I can’t believe that this is happening to me and that I’m even here.”He nods slowly and then stands back up. I have a few more mouthfuls of tea, feeling more
Last Updated : 2023-11-28The Ruthless Mafia’s Contracted Bride 73. Emergency Call
I press my phone to my ear and wait for him to pick up. I don’t know why the idea occurred to me—Boris has always been on Igor’s side where I’m concerned—but for some reason, I feel like I should. He’s my only lifeline at this point. If he doesn’t help me, I’m lost. He picks up, but sounds confused when he says, “Yes?”“Boris, it’s me,” I say hurriedly, afraid that he’ll hang up. This is his personal number, after all. “It’s Clara.”“Clara?” he says in confusion. “What’s wrong?”“Can we talk?” I ask. “Can we meet?”“What for? Where’s Igor?”“He doesn’t know where I am,” I admit. “And where is that exactly?”I move closer to the wall when a young nurse walks past with an elderly woman. They both smile at me as they walk past and I do the same. “At a retirement home. Do you have any idea why I might be in one?”Boris sucks in a breath. I know that he knows about all of this, and technically, he lied to me too, but I don’t hold him responsible the way I do Igor, and that’s because he
Last Updated : 2023-11-29The Ruthless Mafia’s Contracted Bride 74. Interlude I
Igor I sit in my office, stroking my chin while trying to keep myself calm. Everyone keeps telling me that exploding isn’t going to get her back, but it’s been a week since Clara disappeared, so I think it’s right to say that this is the perfect time for me to freak out. A week. Seven whole days. We should have been married five days ago.I keep thinking back to that day. In the morning, things between us were perfect. I’ve been in a shitty mood for a while now, and it all started when things between Clara and I got serious.Every moment I spent with her made me feel incredibly guilty, and that was because I knew I was lying to her. About everything. Initially, she was just a solution to a long-standing problem I’d had since my father died, and that was covering my uncle’s debts. We were slowly sinking and no amount of hard work was helping us resurface. And then, the idea of her came along. Our marriage was supposed to bring us together, and what that meant for me was money. It
Last Updated : 2023-11-30The Ruthless Mafia’s Contracted Bride 75. Freedom
I pack the groceries in the paper bag and hand it to Mrs. Agatha. "Thank you, dear," she says to me, smiling. "Will you come to the festival tonight? They’re saying it’s going to be absolutely marvelous.”I wipe my sweaty hands on my jeans. “I’m not sure. I didn’t plan for it, actually. I might show up. I’ll have to see.”“Do make an effort,” she says encouragingly just as she walks out of the store. With a wink, she adds, “It’s not a festival just for adults, you know.”I can’t help but mirror her smile. I wasn’t lying—I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it. There’s so much to do and the work at home keeps piling up. In my defense, I never had any experience with housework and chores. I grew up in a place where these things were done for me. I would’ve benefited from knowing, that’s for sure. Then again, I would never have guessed that I would end up here, in this position. But even though I’m completely overwhelmed with work and grew up with privileges, I’m a hundred times happ
Last Updated : 2023-11-30
Latest chapter
The Ruthless Mafia’s Contracted Bride Epilogue
I watch the waves crash into the shore while the ocean breeze rustles my hair. I take a deep breath, drawing the salty air into my lungs and holding it in hopes that it’ll become a part of me. There’s nothing as therapeutic as this. The sun is deliciously warm today. Most days, it’s burning hot, but today, it’s just perfect. I’m lounging in the hammock in the porch of our beach house. I do this every morning as soon as I wake up because it helps me dispel my troubled thoughts. Whenever I think about all those traumatic events of the last couple of months, I feel like I’ll never truly move on from them, but when I come out here, my hope is renewed. Things will get better at some point. As long as I’m seeking help and am surrounded by my loved ones, I’ll be perfectly fine. I close my eyes, take another deep breath, and then reopen them when I hear someone approaching. I turn my head to look at the door and see Igor leaning against the door with a cup of tea in his hand. It’s for me
The Ruthless Mafia’s Contracted Bride 106. Interlude V
IgorGetting home is my only priority at the moment, and as soon as I step through the elevator, I feel relieved. The first person I see is Anastasia. She rushes toward me with tear stained cheeks. “Igor. For the love of God. Don’t do anything stupid.”“Where is she?” I demand. “Where’s Clara?”“You can’t kill Leo,” she says, following me all the way up the stairs. “Remember the promise your father made you make. You’re supposed to stick together no matter what. You’re supposed to forgive each other.”I ignore her and start opening doors while calling her name desperately. I have to see her. Fuck, I have to hold her. I have to make sure she’s okay before I go looking for that traitorous fucker. “Igor!” Anastasia exclaims, trying to get my attention. A door on the other end of the corridor opens, and she peers out. I race toward her, and when she sees me, she rushes toward me. I drop my bag and gather her in my arms. “Clara,” I say her name. Like a prayer. “My love.”She’s sobbing.
The Ruthless Mafia’s Contracted Bride 105. Sacrifice
There were more endless hours of waiting. At this point, I've started losing hope. I've already cried and screamed, and now there's nothing left of me to pour out into the world.I’m missing Alex and Dimitri like crazy. I fear I’ll never see them again. I’m starting to actually acknowledge the fact that I’ve been beyond stupid for not having told anyone in the family about my suspicions. Yes, Boris knows, but has news of my disappearance gotten out yet?What’s even going on out there? What’s being said?It’s impossible to know what Leo made up. He could’ve said that he never saw me, and then I’d be screwed. I didn’t encounter anyone when I reached the penthouse; it was just him. I’m hungry and thirsty. My back is killing me, and the pain behind my eyes hasn’t subsided yet. I close my eyes for a few minutes each time, but I open them when I feel myself falling asleep. I don’t want to be caught off guard. I want to see whatever it is that he’ll do to me. The door opens, and I sit upr
The Ruthless Mafia’s Contracted Bride 104. Interlude IV
IgorI grip my phone tightly in my fist. “What do you mean she’s gone? Gone where?”“That’s what we’re trying to figure out,” Ivan replies, flustered. “Ivan,” I say through my teeth. “You’re not making any sense here. You’re telling me that the driver dropped her off in the garage, and she went up. But nobody saw her in the apartment. And it’s like she’s vanished into thin air?”“Yes, that’s about it.”I sag against the couch, then decide that there’s no way I can sit when this is happening. I run my fingers through my hair, feeling more frustrated than ever. “Is it possible that she stepped out for a bit without telling anyone?”This is reminding me of when she first went missing all those years ago. I was so lost, and hopeful, too. I kept imagining her walking through the door, saying that she just went shopping or something. I had no idea that she’d already found out about everything and left me, feeling betrayed. This is reminding me of that day, that’s for sure, but this time,
The Ruthless Mafia’s Contracted Bride 103. Taken
To my immense surprise, a smile curves Leo’s lips instead of the opposite. He’s supposed to be terrified that I know his secret, but instead, he’s smiling at me. “Have you lost your mind?” he asks in the most unconvincing voice that I’ve ever heard in all my life. “Is that it?”“You won’t fool me,” I announce. “I know it’s you. You’re behind every single bad thing that’s happened to this family for some time now. You’re not a friend, Leo. You’re a foe. You’re an enemy. You’re the one who ordered someone to hit Igor’s car, and then, you shot Luke in hopes to clean your tracks. And then, when Igor survived the crash, you paid that shooter. And just when we were going to look into, he shows up dead in his apartment. How’s all of this supposed to be a coincidence?”There’s that smile again. Honestly, it scares me. I know what he’s capable of. There’s no reason why I shouldn’t be afraid. “Those are some really filthy accusations, Clara. I’ve sacrificed a lot for this family. I’ve risked
The Ruthless Mafia’s Contracted Bride 102. Unanticipated Confrontation
I exit Boris’ building with my heart in my throat. The situation is getting out of control. If Leo truly is behind all of this, then I have my work cut out for me. I’m supposed to be working with him (and Ivan, of course) to find out who is behind all of this. Now, I’ll have to work against him. The five security guards are all around me, forming a half-moon shape. Technically, I’m protected from anyone who might want to attack me, but I don’t feel safe. How can I, when I’m living in the same house as the person who wants to destroy Igor? It’s him who’s behind all of this, and the faster I come to terms with this, the more sense everything makes. We’re just stepping outside when a car screeches to a halt in front of the building. Before I can even register what’s happening, they’re pushing me back, trying to shield me from what’s happening. They draw their weapons, and I realize that my head is spinning, and things are happening in slow motion right before my eyes. “Take her bac
The Ruthless Mafia’s Contracted Bride 101. No More Doubts
“I wouldn’t recommend seeing him,” Ivan tells me. “He’s bad news, and we all know what his intentions with you are. He’ll probably ask you to marry him.”“He’d receive no for an answer,” I state firmly. “He says he might have some information for us. Wouldn’t it be wise to hear him out?”“‘Might’ isn’t a good enough word. He ‘might’ve have nothing valuable to tell us.”“But what if he does?” I ask. “I know he would never hurt me.”“You’re the Head now,” he says with a sigh. “You’re free to make whatever decision you please. For us, that’s sacred, and we don’t take it for granted. Not going is only my advice, but if you wish to go, you’re free to do so.”I sit back, and put my fork down. I think deeply of what he’s saying. Should I go? Would Boris be helpful? I think he will, so I say, “I think I’ll go.”“I’ll arrange a car and a group of security to accompany you, then,” he concedes. “In the meantime, I’m going to start looking into—”We hear the elevator, and soon enough, Leo joins u
The Ruthless Mafia’s Contracted Bride 100. Suspicious Conversation
I wake up in the middle of the night, sweating, and with Luke’s voice echoing in my ears. This is the first time I’ve dreamt of him since that thing happened. I keep hearing the gunshot, too, and it echoes in my mind. I wipe my eyes, and then sit up. My mouth is parched, so I have to get some water. I don’t have any in the room. I should probably bring a bottle with me from the kitchen so that I don’t have to go downstairs again. I open the door as quietly as possible, not wanting to wake anyone up. Before I head downstairs, I check on the boys first. They’re just next door, so it’s easier for me to keep an eye on them. They’re both sleeping peacefully, so I close the door carefully and then creep downstairs. I step into the kitchen and open the fridge. After finding a glass, I pour water in it, and tip my head back as I down all of it. I immediately feel better; more refreshed and awake. The noise in my head is a lot less, and I feel I can sleep again if I tried. It’s only two in
The Ruthless Mafia’s Contracted Bride 99. Function
The boys love Hubert. Then again, if I have to be completely honest, I don’t know who wouldn’t. He’s the most caring person in the world. I’ve told him that I don’t want the boys to know about Igor’s ‘death’ just yet. He isn’t dead, so to tell them something and then have to admit to them that it had all been a lie would be too much. They’re only five years old. This is a matter that would have even adults spiraling. Hubert doesn’t know the truth yet, though. I really feel bad. I can tell that he’s having a hard time coping, but he’s too much of a professional to ever let it show. After dinner, the boys were filled with restless energy, and they were curious about this new place that we would call home. Hubert showed them around, and told them everything he felt they needed to know about the place. It was just the four of us, along with the cook and the maid, both whom I hadn’t seen yet. That was last night. This morning, it’s honestly pretty much the same; the only difference is
