All Chapters of The Mafia Princess: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Jasmine/Hope “James.” I said as I greeted my brother.“Jasmine, long time no see.” He says to me.“What are you doing here?” I asked him.“What do mean, I still live in Los Angeles you know.” He tells me. “I should be the one asking you that question?”I stared at him curiously, waiting for him to tell me more. I wonder what lies our father told him about me.“Dad says you went to Massachusetts  to study.” He continued.Of course, Dad would come up with some sort of excuse once James started asking. Lying is as easy as breathing to him. I wonder why he said Massachusetts of all places. Maybe it was the first thing that came to mind or because it has the best public school system in the U.S. Or maybe because it was too far away from California. But funny how he’s not too far from the truth, seeing that I was living just on it’s neighb

Jasmine/Hope “Where do you want to go now?” Nikolai asked after spending a whole day at the hotel. He asked me earlier if there was anywhere I wanted to go while we were in the city but I preferred to stay indoors so he can get some rest. He’s done more than enough for me and there was no one else I would like to see. I do wonder how my mom was doing but I’m not ready to face her yet.“I’m sure you don’t want to go back to the hospital.” He continues. Well I never really liked hospitals but I guess he didn’t want to go back either because of Xavier. “We can go back to Clyde, Doctor Fernandez and our other doctors should be able to treat you there with our facilities.”Yeah, right. We do have a hospital there just like the VIP wing of Xavier’s family’s hospital where I stayed.I laughed at him. “Nikolai I’m not sick. I just had a hole in my shoulder.&rdq

Jasmine / Hope“Are you surprised?” I ask Nikolai once we got into the car.“I’m not sure.” Nikolai says. “Same as Xavier, I was also wondering why you never left even after you regained your memories. I wanted to believe what you said. That the reason you stayed with me was because you treated me as your family. It did not really make sense to me that you would choose me over your own real family, but I did not say anything because whatever the reason was, I prefer having you by my side.”“Is that so?” I say, looking outside the window. I don’t know where we are going but I just let Ivan drive in silence. “When did you know?”“A long time ago.” Nikolai says. “The report came when we were in Clyde. And I never wanted you to know about it, because I know you will only get hurt if you learn about the truth. So I burned it myself, and made sure you never see it.”

Jasmine / Hope The hospital is like a dreamlike landscape: you will be forgotten as if you have never been between two visits, but you are immediately familiar the moment you return. As if they were always there, waiting for you when you were away. The endless branching corridors and circular nursing stations look like the endless labyrinth. Remember that it takes a day or two to get from the corridor to the room. In order not to impress the human brain, they cut themselves into your long-term memory. When you go through the door, you sometimes see a pile of Mylar balloons or a few pale and withered legs. Hospital beds are now in line with the predictions of science fiction, and patients’ vital signs are digitally displayed on the ceiling. Nurses no longer wear white stockings and hats with red crosses in cartoons and pornography, but dresses with very interesting patterns: hearts, teddy bears, sun, flowers, and peace signs, which seem to be some kind of F

Jasmine / Hope “Oh, wow.” Mom says as she stared at the private jet waiting for us. I can’t blame her, dad barely gave us the bare minimum. Yet here comes Nikolai more than ready to offer me the world at my feet.“Yeah, mom. Get used to it.” I tell her as we boarded the plane.“Hope, dear.” Natasha greeted me at the entrance. It’s obvious she’s been waiting for me all this time.“Natasha!” I cried, rushing towards her to envelope her in a hug. “ya skuchayu po tebe (I missed you)”“Me too, Nadia.” She says, kissing the top of my head. “Tol'ko predstav'te moy uzhas, kogda mne skazali, chto vy sbezhali iz bol'nitsy. (Just imagine my horror when they told me you ran away from the hospital.)”“I’m sorry.” I tell her. “I didn’t mean to worry you.”“It’s okay, dear.” She tel