The Don's bargain
I stared at Stefano lying on the floor. "Hey, this may hurt a little," I spoke, trying my best to adopt a professional tone.
Stefano groaned softly, his lips curving into a faint, almost bitter smirk as he muttered, "Wouldn’t be the first time you’ve hurt me, Bella."
**
Forced to clear her sick father's debt to the italian Mafia and pay her father hospital bills, the 23-year-old nurse is forced to accept risky jobs like treating criminals in the dead of the night. On the day Bella Smith learns of the shocking news that her bedridden boyfriend, Robin, has been transferred to another hospital outside the country, she is heartbroken and decides to go for a drink. But when Bella is asked to treat a handsome stranger at the hotel room, she finds out the stranger is her ex-boyfriend from high school and now he wouldn't let her go. Stefano Carlo gets everything he wants, now he wants to make Bella suffer from leaving him in the past, but as they navigate a contract marriage, they find themselves rekindling old feelings and threading through the dark underworld of the mafia.
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Chapter: 110StefanoLost in my inebriates wall, I looked at the environment. I knew something was missing. Where had Bella fucking gone to? Was she mad at me or something?Sometimes she acted so irrational and I was going to talk to her about it the moment we got home but for now I had to look for her.Rosa was sitting by my side, smiling coyly as she placed her hands on my legs. A part of me enjoyed the feeling but I knew it was wrong. I pushed her hands away and rose to my feet. Before I rose to my feet, her shrugged and smiled.My face contorted into an angry expression. My fists balled. She knew what she doing… maybe she was among Robin's plan to get me to cheat on my wife. Being seperated from my wife was one of the fatest ways to make me weak and he must sensed and was willing to capitalize on it. He used Rosa instead, she should be ashamed of herself for letting Robin use her like this. I looked over my shoulders once more as I tried to search for my wife, instead I was met with Rosa's stu
Last Updated: 2025-05-04
Chapter: 109I could feel the bass pulsing through my chest before we even stepped inside. The club was packed—neon lights cutting across the room like strobe knives, bodies grinding, drinks spilling, laughter rising in waves. I didn’t want to be here. Not really. But Stefano said he needed a night to forget, to feel powerful again, to remind the city that he hadn’t fallen off the throne they all thought he’d abandoned.He looked sharp—raven black suit, no tie, top two buttons undone. The kind of look that made people turn. The kind that reminded you he owned the room even before he spoke.But me? I felt like a footnote tonight. A pretty shadow in heels.We walked in, his hand on the small of my back. The warmth of it used to make me feel chosen. Now it just felt... routine. Decorative. Like I was another piece of the wardrobe.The place was loud. Lights flickering like memories I didn’t want. We got a private table—of course we did. Everything in Stefano’s life came with exclusivity, even when it
Last Updated: 2025-04-30
Chapter: 108Standing at the archway between the kitchen and the living room, I sense Stefano’s tension the instant he steps through our front door. He closes the door a little too hard behind him, and the sound echoes through the quiet house. I stop what I’m doing and carefully slide the towel from my hands, my breathing catching at the weight of him. My husband’s shoulders droop under a burden I cannot see, and already I can feel the tight, anxious ache swirling in my chest.“It’s been a long day,” I whisper, though I don’t even have to say it. I know the weariness in the slump of his shoulders, in the way his tie is undone and his jacket hangs limply from his forearm. I reach out to brush a fingertip over the stubble on his cheek. He stands motionless in the hallway, eyes unfocused and distant. I imagine the ghosts of the day’s battles swirling in his mind. Even before he speaks, I know I need to reach him—now.Slowly, I close the distance between us. Before I can even think, my arms slide arou
Last Updated: 2025-04-30
Chapter: 107Stefano was back home and we had to talk about this.“What's wrong with you? You have been acting all distant and aloof and it's killing me slowly.” I said, holding his hands as he slowly looked back at me with his eyes lost."I'm fine. Stop worrying yourself about me, go to bed, I will join you later when I'm sleepy.” Stefano said, bringing up a fake smile..“No! I will not! You need to tell me what's wrong with you? You can't be suffering alone when you can tell me what's wrong and we can solve it together. Or do you think I'm dumb or not hit enough to be with you? Are you tired of me?" I asked, dreading his response.He snapped his head back like I had said the most ridiculous stuff he have ever heard. I got startled by his abrupt movements, I could see anger in his eyes, clouded with disbelief.Why?“How dare you say something like that? I can never be tired of you and I won't.I yearn for you and I would never want to live a second without the thought of you not being mine or
Last Updated: 2025-04-30
Chapter: 107Just after we got out, I glanced at Tomasso briefly as we stepped out the car. His face was hard to read, like he was trying not to show anything. My heart was beating fast, like I didn’t know what was about to happen even though I had prepared myself for it.“Just try your best to smile at him okay?” I said to him, resting my hand lightly on his arm.He didn’t respond right away. Just nodded a bit and looked down at his shoes. I could tell he was nervous. Even if he didn’t want to admit it.I turned to Marco, who was already getting out from the driver’s side. “Marco,” I called gently, stopping him before he could come around.“Yeah?” he asked.“Please, just stay in the car,” I told him. “I don’t want you to see all this. It’s messy… you know, family stuff. I just want to deal with it alone.”He looked like he wanted to argue but then sighed and nodded. “Alright. I’ll be right here.”“Thanks,” I whispered before turning back to the gate.Tomasso stood by the entrance, his arms crosse
Last Updated: 2025-04-30
Chapter: 106Marco drove quietly, both hands on the wheel, his eyes fixed on the road ahead like it was the only thing that mattered. I sat in the front seat while Tomasso was at the back, earphones plugged in, head resting on the window. He hadn’t said much since we got in the car. Just a quiet “morning” to Marco and nothing else.The road was calm, barely any traffic. The sun was already out but not too hot. Light poured through the trees lining both sides of the road, dancing on the windshield like soft glitter. It was peaceful in a way that made everything feel heavier somehow. Like silence was stretching itself too wide.I kept stealing glances at Tomasso through the side mirror. His eyes were open, staring out at the road like he was somewhere else. Maybe in his head, maybe in the past. I didn’t know. I could only imagine what was going through his mind.We passed a small lake, the kind people always stopped by to take pictures. The water looked still, untouched, like nothing ever happened t
Last Updated: 2025-04-30
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