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หน้าหลัก / Mafia / BETROTHED TO THE CRAZY DON / chapter 5

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chapter 5

ผู้เขียน: Lumi
last update วันที่เผยแพร่: 2026-07-02 17:32:14

The Promise

Rain drummed steadily against the leaves.

The beam of the flashlight remained fixed at Valentina's feet.

She didn't move.

Neither did the man standing beneath the black umbrella.

Don Alessandro De Luca watched her as though this meeting had been arranged hours ago.

Perhaps it had.

The thought sent a chill through her.

"You've been waiting for me."

His mouth curved slightly.

"I have."

"For how long?"

He glanced at his watch.

"Twenty-three minutes."

Her stomach tightened.

"You knew I'd try to escape."

"I was counting on it."

The words struck harder than she expected.

She folded her arms, lifting her chin.

"So what now?"

"You come inside."

"No."

A corner of his coat fluttered in the wind.

"You've made your point."

"I haven't started making my point."

The guards shifted behind him.

No one spoke.

No one dared interrupt.

Valentina took another step backward.

"I'm not marrying you."

"I know."

"I'm leaving."

"No."

She laughed.

"You don't own me."

His gray eyes remained steady.

"Not yet."

Her temper snapped.

She turned and ran.

Wet grass slipped beneath her shoes.

Branches whipped against her face as she sprinted toward the stone wall.

Ten feet.

Eight.

Five.

Her fingers caught the top of the wall.

She pulled herself upward.

A gloved hand wrapped gently—but firmly—around her ankle.

She kicked hard.

The grip never loosened.

Another guard caught her before she hit the ground.

She twisted, elbowing him in the ribs.

He grunted.

She shoved him away and broke free.

For two glorious seconds...

She was running again.

Then Alessandro stepped into her path.

She crashed into his chest.

Strong hands caught her before she fell.

She pushed against him with all her strength.

He didn't move.

She shoved again.

Nothing.

"Let me go!"

His hands fell away immediately.

She stumbled back, surprised.

"You were never in my arms because I wanted to keep you there," he said quietly.

"You were there because you ran into me."

Her cheeks burned.

She hated that he was right.

"I'd rather die than marry you."

The words hung in the rain.

Every guard stiffened.

One reached instinctively toward the pistol beneath his jacket.

Alessandro raised a single finger.

The guard stopped instantly.

Silence returned.

Alessandro looked at Valentina for a long moment.

"I've heard many threats."

His voice was calm.

"That one..."

He took one slow step closer.

"...don't repeat unless you mean it."

Lightning flashed across the sky.

For a heartbeat, his face was illuminated.

Not angry.

Not amused.

Something older.

Something tired.

Valentina refused to look away.

"You think you can frighten me."

"No."

"Then what?"

"I think you're frightened already."

Her breathing caught.

"I'm not afraid of you."

"Good."

His answer came too quickly.

"I'd hate to marry a coward."

She stared at him.

"What is wrong with you?"

A faint smile appeared.

"That's the question everyone asks."

The smile vanished as quickly as it came.

He turned toward one of his men.

"Nico."

"Yes, Don."

"Bring the car."

The guard hurried away.

Valentina took another step back.

"I'm not getting in."

Alessandro looked at her.

"I know."

"So stop acting like I will."

The black Rolls-Royce rolled to a stop beside them.

Its rear door opened.

She stayed exactly where she was.

Rain soaked through her sweater.

Cold drops slid down her face.

She didn't care.

Alessandro removed his umbrella.

Without a word, he held it over her instead.

Within seconds, rain soaked his own suit.

Valentina blinked.

"What are you doing?"

"You'll catch a cold."

She stared at him.

"You've practically kidnapped me."

"And yet I'd still prefer you healthy."

She slapped the umbrella from his hand.

It landed in the mud.

Water drenched them both.

Several guards inhaled sharply.

No one...

No one...

Touched the Don.

The umbrella rolled across the grass.

Alessandro looked at it.

Then back at her.

He didn't react.

Didn't shout.

Didn't even frown.

Instead, he bent, picked it up, shook the rain from the fabric, and handed it to one of his guards.

"Go inside," he said to Valentina.

She laughed bitterly.

"Or what?"

He studied her face.

When he finally spoke, his voice was almost gentle.

"Or tomorrow won't be a conversation."

The words settled heavily between them.

He walked past her.

Not waiting.

Not forcing.

Certain she would follow.

Valentina looked toward the estate gates.

Locked.

Toward the wall.

Guarded.

Toward the woods.

Floodlights swept across every path.

Marco appeared on the mansion steps, his face pale.

"Val..."

She closed her eyes.

For the first time...

She realized this wasn't a battle she could win by running.

Not tonight.

She walked toward the mansion.

One step behind the man she refused to call her future husband.

Behind them, Alessandro spoke without turning around.

"You have until sunset tomorrow."

His footsteps never slowed.

"After that..."

He opened the front door.

"...I'll stop asking."

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  • BETROTHED TO THE CRAZY DON   Chapter 54

    The Hidden VaultThe rain followed them all the way back to the estate.By the time Alessandro stepped through the front doors, the house was already awake.Guards moved quietly through the corridors. Phones rang in distant rooms. Doors opened and closed as Alessandro's men began preparing for what everyone now understood was coming.War.But Alessandro barely noticed any of it.His mind was still inside that meeting.Lorenzo's death.The photograph.His father's name.And the voice on the phone.Your father lied to all of you.Alessandro removed his coat.“Where's Valentina?”“The library, Don.”He nodded.Then looked toward Luca.“Come with me.”Luca followed without asking questions.They found Valentina standing beside the library window.She turned the moment they entered.Her eyes searched Alessandro's face.“What happened?”Alessandro stopped in front of her.For a moment, he said nothing.Then....“Your mother is alive.”"I know she's alive,but where?....".The room seemed to

  • BETROTHED TO THE CRAZY DON   Chapter 53

    War DeclaredThe bells were still ringing when Alessandro left the church.Lorenzo's funeral had ended.But the grief had barely begun.Rain slid down the black windows of the waiting cars, blurring the city into streaks of gray and silver.Valentina stood beside Alessandro beneath the church steps.Neither of them spoke.She could still feel the weight of his hand around hers.Still see the emptiness in his eyes when he had looked at Lorenzo's coffin.Then his phone vibrated.He glanced at the screen.The families are gathering.His jaw tightened.He slipped the phone into his pocket.“Where are you going?” Valentina asked.“To end this.”She caught his arm.“Alessandro.”He turned.“You said this ends now.”“It does.”“Then don't go alone.”His expression softened.“You're not coming.”“I wasn't asking.”A tired smile touched his lips.“You're becoming very difficult.”“You married me.”“That may have been my first mistake.”She raised an eyebrow.He leaned closer.“But definitely

  • BETROTHED TO THE CRAZY DON   Chapter 52

    The FuneralThe church bells began before sunrise.One slow note.Then another.Then another.Valentina stood before the bedroom window, watching the dark morning slowly surrender to gray.She hadn't slept.Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Alessandro leaving the estate.She heard his voice again.I'll come back.But he hadn't come back.Not yet.The bedroom door opened.Valentina turned.Alessandro stood there.He looked different.His black suit was perfectly pressed, his collar straight, his expression controlled.But his eyes told her everything.They were empty.Tired.Broken somewhere deep beneath the surface.Valentina's heart tightened.She crossed the room.“Alessandro…”He didn't answer.She stopped in front of him.“Is it Lorenzo?”His jaw tightened.Then he nodded.Valentina's hand rose to her mouth.For a moment, she couldn't breathe.“No…”“He's gone.”The words were quiet.Almost emotionless.That made them worse.Valentina's eyes filled.She stepped forward and

  • BETROTHED TO THE CRAZY DON   Chapter 51

    The Last MissionShe had entered the marriage because other people had written the contract.But this moment belonged to her.And so did the man standing in front of her.Not because he owned her.Not because the contract demanded it.But because, for the first time...she had chosen him.Valentina's smile slowly faded as Alessandro's phone vibrated on the desk.Once.Then again.He glanced at the screen.Lorenzo.Alessandro answered.“Tell me.”Lorenzo's voice came through low and hurried.“We found something.”Alessandro's expression changed.“What?”“A warehouse connected to one of the Ravens' financial accounts.”Valentina watched him carefully.“Are you certain?”“Yes. The address matches one of the old properties connected to Gabriel.”Alessandro grabbed his coat.“I'll be there.”“No, Don.”Lorenzo's voice sharpened.“You stay with Valentina.”Alessandro stopped.“Why?”“Because if this is connected to the people who took her, you're exactly who they'll expect to come.”A paus

  • BETROTHED TO THE CRAZY DON   chapter 50

    A KissThe door closed behind Marco.The soft click seemed strangely loud in the silence that followed.Valentina remained beside the desk, her eyes fixed on the marriage contract.For years, she had hated that piece of paper.She had hated the signatures.Hated the numbers.Hated the idea that her future had been decided before she had even understood what marriage meant.Most of all, she had hated Alessandro for being the man standing at the other end of it.Now everything felt different.Not easier.Just different.She slowly turned another page.The protection clause stared back at her.Her fingers traced the faded ink.“So it wasn't a debt.”Alessandro stood several feet away.“No.”“My father didn't sell me.”“No.”“And you didn't marry me because you wanted control over my family's assets.”“No.”She looked up.“Then why didn't you tell me?”Alessandro's expression tightened.“Because I believed the less you knew, the safer you would be.”Valentina shook her head.“You always

  • BETROTHED TO THE CRAZY DON   Chapter 49

    The Truth About the ContractMarco stared at the photograph.His mother's face stared back at him from the old hospital corridor.Alive.The thought refused to settle in his mind.For twenty-four years, the Russo family had believed she was gone.Now he had proof that someone had walked her through those hospital doors.And someone had erased every record afterward.His phone vibrated.A message appeared.You want the truth about your sister? Ask about the contract.Marco's brow furrowed.The contract.Valentina's marriage contract.The one everyone had always believed was the reason she had been forced into Alessandro's world.He immediately called Valentina.She answered after several rings.“Marco?”“Where are you?”“At the estate.”His voice lowered.“Don't discuss this over the phone.”A pause.“What happened?”“I found something.”“What?”“I think the marriage contract isn't what we thought it was.”---Hours later, Marco stood across from Alessandro in the library.Valentina st

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