All Chapters of Elegantly Wasted: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

EdwinaA couple of months have passed since that fateful night at the club, the night where I almost lost my life. Since then, things have only grown more intense. Raffaele has tightened security around the compound, limiting my interactions with the outside world. My movements are now dictated by a team of guards, and any protests I might have are swiftly dismissed.I don't argue with him, at least not openly. Deep down, though, I hate the suffocating restrictions. I understand why he’s doing it—his need to protect me outweighs everything—but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. Raffaele has always been a man of control, but now, his demeanour is colder and more calculated. I see it in his eyes, feel it in the way he watches me. He’s a man afraid of losing the one thing he can’t afford to—me.The only solace I’ve found is that Alexxis and Krys are still allowed into the compound. Despite being outsiders to the mafia, Raffaele understands that I need them to maintain my sanity. Telling

RaffaeleRaffaele The moment Edwina leaves the gym, the air in the room thickens with tension. Angelo steps forward, his expression grim, and hands me his iPad. The screen displays a series of grainy images—one of my men attempting to steal from my warehouse here in America."Explain," I growl, my voice low and dangerous. My blood simmers with rage as I glance at Angelo, whose face remains emotionless, his jaw tight."We caught one of our men last night trying to smuggle out a stash of cocaine," Angelo states flatly. "He was acting under orders from someone we don’t know yet." My grip tightens around the iPad, my knuckles turning white. "Where is he?" I bark, my patience already worn thin."Waiting for you in the chamber," Alessandro answers from beside me.I inhale sharply, suppressing the fury boiling beneath my skin. My father always taught me that fear is the foundation of respect. My men seem to have forgotten who holds power here—who runs this empire."Do we know if he was wo

EdwinaImmediately after Raffaele leaves the room, I hurl a glass at the door with all the strength I have left. Shattering fills the silence, but it is nothing compared to the wreckage inside me. A scream rips from my chest, raw and unrestrained, as my body crumples under the weight of my grief. My sobs come violently, tearing through me, leaving no space to breathe. I press my trembling hands against my face as if trying to hold myself together, but it is useless. I am already in pieces.I do not know how long I stay in this position, curled up on the floor, drowning in heartbreak. Time becomes meaningless when pain this deep settles in. Hours, maybe, or just endless minutes of agony. My body shakes with the force of my tears, my throat raw from crying. Eventually, I push myself up, exhaustion making my movements sluggish. My eyes burn, and my head pounds, but I make my way to the bed, collapsing beneath the covers without bothering to change out of my clothes.His scent lingers on t

EdwinaTaming the BeastOne and a half weeks have passed, and I have drowned myself in work, barely allowing my mind the space to dwell on how Raffaele and I left things. I have returned to the office, slipping back into old routines, much to Alexxis’s relief. She was glad to see me and even more understanding after I explained everything that happened.As promised, Raffaele has kept his men at a distance, allowing me to carry on as if nothing had changed. Krys continues to check in, making sure I am okay, while Gen and I slowly mend our strained sisterly bond. These past few days, we have grown closer, though she still refuses to meet her abuela, insisting she needs more time before reconnecting with the rest of the family. I have chosen to respect her decision, spending time with her whenever I can.Alessandro has called frequently throughout the week, each time asking when I will return. He claims the house is unraveling, that things have grown tense, that Raffaele has completely lo

EdwinaAs I step into Raffaele’s office, I find him sitting behind his desk, his piercing green eyes trailing up my body before locking onto mine. A shiver runs through me, but I force myself to ignore it. The office is immaculate, the havoc from last night erased as if it never happened. No lingering scent of alcohol. No trace of the chaos. Everything is back to its pristine order—everything except the storm raging inside me."How are you feeling?" His deep, velvety voice washes over me, but I remain frozen at the threshold, unwilling to move closer."Much better, thanks," I say, awkwardly shifting my weight.Raffaele leans back in his chair, a scowl settling onto his face. "I do not bite, Tesoro. You can come closer. I do not like you being so far away from me when we’re speaking."I take a slow step forward, then another, stopping just in front of his desk. My gaze remains fixed on a point over his shoulder, unwilling to meet his."Come here," he murmurs, softer this time.I shake m