Semua Bab How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster: Bab 11 - Bab 20

POV: BeatriceThe stems of my bouquet bent beneath my grip, each step down the aisle tightening my hold until the fragile blooms threatened to break. The sight before me was every bit as pristine as the planners had intended: white chairs perfectly aligned, delicate flowers swaying in the ocean breeze, and a makeshift altar framed by the endless horizon. Yet, for all its beauty, the scene felt hollow, each detail mocking me with its cheerful façade. My eyes locked on my father, stationed near the altar beside my aunt. His presence felt like an intrusion. I’d refused his offer to walk me down the aisle—one small victory in a war I was otherwise losing. He didn’t deserve the honor of giving me away, not after dragging me into this arrangement. The music swelled, and all at once, dozens of faces turned toward me. Strangers, most of them, their gazes curious, expectant. I ignored them, keeping my focus fixed ahead. My cousins, seated in the front row, stood out among the crowd. Their

POV: Beatrice“I lived with my aunt for the past four years,” I began, my voice dragging as though each word weighed more than the last. If Ryuu wanted to know about me, I’d give him only what was necessary—enough to satisfy his curiosity but nothing more. “I worked at her restaurant while finishing high school. Afterward, I stayed on full-time for two years. I considered going back to school, helping expand the family business. It’s more than just a front for us; it’s my aunt’s livelihood.”I let my gaze drift, focusing on the horizon where the ocean seemed to swallow the sky. I couldn’t bring myself to look at Ryuu, not while a knot tightened in my stomach, threatening to steal my composure. My voice wavered slightly as I added, “I suppose I won’t have that luxury anymore.”The weight of my own words crushed down on me, the reality of my abandoned future unfurling like a shadow creeping over my chest. If I were alone, I might have cried. But pride wouldn’t allow me to show that kin

POV: Beatrice The broad stone steps stretched toward the imposing front doors of the mansion, bordered by sharp, manicured hedges and symmetrical bursts of flowering shrubs. Behind me, the expansive lawn seemed to unfurl endlessly, a lush but stifling reminder of the life I’d just been thrust into. “What do you think of your new home?” Gojou’s voice broke through my thoughts as his heavy hand landed on my shoulder. I stiffened, fighting the urge to pull away, and offered him nothing more than a tight, hollow smile. Satisfied or indifferent—probably the latter—he disappeared inside without another word. I lingered at the steps, my feet rooted to the ground as hesitation gripped me. I wasn’t sure why I didn’t follow him. I knew there was no escape, no way to avoid what lay ahead. Still, I stood there, the weight of inevitability pressing down like a stone. “Are you going in or not?” Ryuu’s sharp voice startled me. He stood a few steps away, his expression impatient, as though my

POV: Beatrice It would be a mistake. I knew it, felt it deep in my bones. And yet, the thought of kissing Ryuu again burned in my mind, vivid and relentless, like a fire I couldn’t extinguish. He stepped away, the distance between us growing with each deliberate stride. His dark eyes, so often unreadable, reflected something sharper now—irritation, maybe, or frustration. But whatever it was, it cut through the tense silence. “I won’t be staying here tonight,” he said, his voice like the edge of a blade. I blinked, caught off guard, my mouth parting as if to respond, though no words came. Heat rose to my face, an unwelcome flush of shame chasing away the dangerous spark of desire that had flickered moments before. He paused briefly at the doorway, as though reconsidering, then left without another glance. The emptiness of the room settled over me like a suffocating fog. The faint scent of his cologne lingered, an unwelcome reminder of his presence, and of the fact that I’d le

POV: Beatrice "Let’s see," I muttered, bitterness thick in my voice. "I can wander the gardens for the thousandth time, stay locked inside like a prisoner, or maybe… just maybe… stay locked inside. What do you think?" Nitta nudged me lightly, his grin as infuriating as ever. "Ah, Bel, don’t be like that," he said, his voice dripping with mock charm. "Don’t you enjoy my company?" I sighed, my frustration bubbling dangerously close to the surface. "I want to get out, Nitta," I groaned, nearly stamping my foot like a child denied dessert. "There’s nothing to do here. It’s like I’m being punished, and I don’t even know what for! Is this my life now? Sitting in a gilded cage while everyone else gets to do whatever the hell they want?" "I know it’s a little boring—” "A little boring?" I snapped, cutting him off. "It’s unbearable! I’m used to working, talking to people, actually doing something with my time—not wasting away in a house under constant watch like some criminal. An