All Chapters of Mafia's Forced Bride: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Katherine’s Point of View.The next morning, the mansion seemed quieter than usual. Neither breakfast was eventful either—Kai was nowhere to be seen, and Lex went poof, in all of his signature disappearing acts. Mark, as always, stood by the door, but this time his expression seemed less animated than usual.I had classes today, which meant some semblance of normalcy—if I could even call it that. It was not unique in the arrival on campus aspect, the town beat and rhythm just the same . The thing that was truly odd was that the life outside my own house went on totally undisturbed even though there was drama unfolding inside my own house.However, as soon as I crossed the campus threshold, I felt a change in the atmosphere. Whispers followed me, accompanied by lingering stares. Students appeared to radiate curiosity, their eyes would flit to me whenever they thought I wasn't watching.“Is it true?” One of them finally asked as I passed by.I frowned, stopping in my tracks. “Is what t

Kai’s Point of ViewThe door to the east wing closed with a resounding finality, but my thoughts were anything but settled. I followed along the corridor and with every step its echo sounded like a bell of warning inside me.Katherine was too close. Too defiant. Too curious.Or she did not know the way she was dealing with the fire that she was messing with.I got to my office and slammed the door shut behind me, heavily leaning against it. My hands curled into fists at my sides, the tension coiled in my chest threatening to break free.Sofia. Her name was a wound I’d carried for years, one that never fully healed. Being confronted with Katherine and that folder, so near the truth, was like ripping the dressing off all over again.I moved to the desk, pouring a glass of whiskey with hands that were steadier than I felt. The amber liquid burned as it slid down my throat, but it wasn’t enough to dull the memories.Sofia's laughter rang in my ears, the timbre of the sound was so clear a

Kai’s Point of View.Logan Volkova's name was a source of annoyance that had gone unseen for far too long. Listening to it again, in association with her, brought a chill to the blood colder than the Siberian snows. I walked away back to Lex, taking a breath and into the doorway to my office but satisfied with no answers.With a slam of the door, I inhaled a bracing breath, the sort of breath that contained both anger and frustrated cries that I held back. Control was everything in my world. As soon as you lost it they attacked your throat with the wolves.Logan. Of all people.I picked up my desk and grabbed a shot of vodka, and the stinging sensation pulled me back to reality as I leaned against the side. Lex followed, his face tight with tension. He also knew, as did I, that it was not a coincidence. Logan’s sudden appearance in Katherine’s life wasn’t random. It never was with him.“You knew this was coming, Kai,” Lex said, breaking the silence. His voice was soft, controlled with

Kai’s Point of View. The journey home from the restaurant was quiet. Katherine sat beside me, her gaze fixed out the window, lost in thought. She hadn’t said much after we left, and while I appreciated the silence, I couldn’t ignore the tension radiating from her.Something had happened when I left to answer the phone call. I could see it in the way she carried herself—her posture slightly rigid, her expression more guarded than usual.“Something on your mind?” I asked, breaking the silence.She glanced at me briefly, her eyes unreadable. “No.”A blatant lie, but I didn’t push her. Not yet.When we returned to the mansion, however, the snow had begun falling, again, and covering the grounds in a soft light of white. Katherine left the car without waiting for me, the sound of her feet on the snow as she approached the front door.I went in after her, and watched her disappear up the main staircase, without even a look at my way. My jaw tightened. Whatever was bothering her, I’d find

Kai’s Point of ViewThe room was dimly lit by a candle, and the dull hum of the old fireplace echoed through the stillness as I sat in my armchair with my fingers crossed before me. Lex stood in the doorway, patiently waiting, as he always did.“She spoke to Logan again today,” Lex said, breaking the quiet.I made no outward reaction but the chill of fury raged beneath the surface. Logan Volkova has been pushing the limits for weeks and his determination was starting to thin.“How much do you know?” I asked, my voice calm but laced with steel.“He approached her during lunch,” Lex replied. “Their conversation didn’t seem casual. He’s planting seeds, trying to turn her against you.”Of course he was. Logan thrived on manipulation, and Katherine was his perfect target—new to this world, unsure of her place, and still searching for answers.“Do you think she believed him?”Lex hesitated, a rare show of uncertainty. “She seemed... conflicted. But she hasn’t acted against you.”Not yet. Bu