Am I the Mafia Don's Sugar Baby?

“Elara! Why is the dining room floor still dirty?!”

The sharp voice shattered the quiet morning like a siren. Elara flinched, her hand almost dropping the spoon into the pan. Her heart hammered against her ribs, not just from fear, but from the sheer exhaustion of being yelled at every single day. Yet, it still rattled her to her core.

Audrey stood in the kitchen doorway. The middle-aged woman’s face was sour, her sharp eyes scanning the room to find any mistake she could pick on.

“I just mopped it, Mother,” Elara said softly.

“Don’t make excuses!” Audrey cut her off sharply. “And why is breakfast taking so long? Are you trying to make your husband and his sisters late for work and college?”

Elara looked down. “I-it’s almost ready...”

Without another word, her hands moved faster. Scooping scrambled eggs, flipping bacon in the skillet, checking the toast. Everything was done in a rush, her breath coming in shallow gasps.

She hadn't stopped moving since dawn. Sweeping, doing laundry, preparing breakfast. And now, she was being scolded as if she had been sitting idle all morning.

She was only twenty-three, but her youth felt entirely stolen by endless demands and relentless yelling.

Four years ago, Elara had agreed to an arranged marriage organized by Audrey, the mother of Garrett, the man who was now her husband. Back then, she was completely alone in the world. Until a tiny set of fingers reached out to grab hers. Ollie. A helpless baby crying in her arms, as if begging her not to leave him.

Elara’s heart melted. She thought marrying Garrett would be a way to stay by the child's side, a motherless boy from Garrett's first marriage who needed love.

However, marrying Garrett turned out not to be her salvation. Instead, it was like throwing herself straight into hell.

At five to six, Elara carried the food to the dining table. Her face was pale, her hands trembling slightly.

Garrett was already sitting in his chair. He didn’t look up, didn’t say good morning. It was as if Elara didn't even exist in the room.

Her mother-in-law and two sisters-in-law sat down and began eating without waiting. There was no thank you, not even a simple glance of appreciation.

Elara hurried to the bedroom to wake Ollie.

“Ollie, sweetie... wake up. It’s morning, time for school,” she whispered gently, stroking the little boy's back. “If we’re late, Daddy will be mad.”

Ollie groaned softly before opening his eyes. Using whatever energy she had left, Elara carried him to the bathroom. She moved quickly, washing his face, dressing him, and combing his hair. Everything was done in silence so as not to stir up any more noise.

When they returned to the dining room, Garrett was almost finished with his meal.

Elara didn't even get to sit down. She picked up a spoon, blowing gently on Ollie's bowl of warm oatmeal, and began feeding him bite by bite.

“What’s taking so long with him? I’m going to be late for work because of you!” Garrett snapped suddenly.

Elara’s heart sank. She quickly set the spoon down. “I’m sorry, Garrett...”

“You know Ollie is hard to wake up, why didn’t you get him up earlier?” Sienna sneered coldly, grabbing her bag from the chair.

Elara swallowed hard, unable to say a word back.

“Ollie, finish up quickly. We’re leaving now!” Garrett barked.

Ollie looked at Elara, confused and scared. Elara held her breath and forced a reassuring smile. She slipped a small wrapped sandwich into his tiny hand. “Eat this in the car, okay?” she whispered gently.

Garrett didn't wait. He strode toward the front door without looking back once. Elara hurried to guide Ollie, making sure the little boy kept up with his father's fast steps.

Once Garrett’s car pulled away and disappeared down the street, Elara turned back into the house.

“Elara! Where’s my blouse? I left it for you to iron!” Hailey’s voice greeted her from the living room. Her tone was sharp and demanding.

“It’s in Sienna’s closet,” Elara replied quietly.

“Ugh! I told you not to mix my clothes with hers! Is that really so hard to understand?!” Hailey scoffed in annoyance and stomped off to her room.

Elara stood in silence. She swallowed her pride. There was nothing she could do except keep her head down and take the harsh words.

Every day in this house felt like an endless punishment.

A cruel mother-in-law. Sisters-in-law who constantly looked down on her. And her husband...

Garrett never saw her as a wife. Let alone as a human being.

To Garrett, Elara was nothing more than an unpaid maid.

The one who had to wake up first and go to sleep last.

The one who had to listen to every insult without talking back.

The one who was expected to be grateful, even though she was given nothing in return.

“A wife’s duty is to serve her husband without complaint. Your husband's approval is your gateway to heaven.” That was what Garrett always told her.

Every time she wanted to complain, every time she felt exhausted, every time she simply wanted to be heard, those words acted like tape over her mouth, keeping her silent.

♡♡♡

The next morning followed the exact same loud, chaotic routine. Preparing breakfast, waking Ollie, getting scolded by Audrey, and heading out to the market. Not the grocery store near the house, but one further away because the produce was cheaper there.

Today, her mother-in-law was hosting a family gathering. Elara had to cook for over a dozen people. All by herself.

After navigating the busy aisles and finishing her shopping list, she loaded the heavy bags onto her scooter. The weight made her back ache, but she didn't complain. She never complained.

On her way home, while stopped at a red light, her eyes caught something across the street. A sleek black car had pulled up at the intersection.

Elara’s heart missed a beat.

That’s... Garrett’s car, she whispered to herself.

She squinted, trying to make sure.

It really was her husband's car. She knew the license plate by heart.

But that wasn't what made a sudden wave of nausea hit her stomach.

In the passenger seat sat a young woman. Her long hair was styled perfectly, and her shoulder leaned closely toward Garrett. They were both laughing, looking intimate.

Far too intimate.