BLOODBOUND: HEIRESS OF THE MAFIA

As Isabella stepped into the living room, she immediately felt the weight of the atmosphere. Rihanna was sitting on the large leather couch, legs crossed, arms folded tightly across her chest. Her eyes lifted the moment Isabella entered as she glared coldly at her. “Just a simple errand,” Rihanna said slowly, her voice dripping with disgust, “and it took you the whole day?” Her hands were still slightly tired from carrying heavy grocery bags from the store. But she knew arguing would only make things worse so, she said nothing.She simply lowered her eyes and stood still. Rihanna scoffed loudly, clearly not satisfied with the silence. “Useless,” she muttered under her breath, but loud enough for Isabella to hear. Before the room could grow even more uncomfortable, the front door opened again. Both women turned as Isabella’s stepfather stepped in. Normally, Andrew walked into the house with confidence, even when he was tired. But now, his shoulders were slightly dropped. His tie w

Andrew pushed the door open and stepped into the house. The moment he entered, he saw Rihanna sitting on the large couch. As soon as she spotted him, she stood up and walked toward him, her eyes searching his face. “So,” she said, her voice tight with curiosity, “how did it go?” Andrew didn’t answer immediately. He walked past her and dropped onto the couch, leaning back heavily. “It worked,” he said at last. “He agreed.” Rihanna blinked, surprised. “Just like that?” she asked, moving closer and sitting beside him. Andrew turned his head to look at her. “Not without a price.” Something in his tone made her expression shift. “What kind of price?” she asked. Andrew held her gaze for a moment before speaking. “He wants our daughter,” he said. “He wants her to marry into his family.” For a second, Rihanna froze then, her reaction came quickly. “What?” she snapped, her voice rising. “No. No, that’s not happening. My daughter? Stella?” She shook her head firmly. “I won’t allow it. Not

After what felt like an endless drive, the black sedan finally slowed as it passed through the tall iron gates of the Crowne estate. The car moved smoothly along a long, quiet road before coming to a stop in front of the mansion. Isabella sat still, staring through the tinted window, trying to make out what stood before her. But the glass blurred most of the details, allowing only shapes and shadows to pass through. All she could tell was that it was… big. Bigger than anything she had ever seen. The car door opened. She blinked as the sudden brightness hit her eyes. It took her a second to adjust before she carefully stepped out. she widened her eyes in disbelief she stared at the building before her. This… this was not just a mansion. It looked more like a palace. The building stood tall and grand, its structure flawless and imposing. The walls were a soft cream color, lined with tall glass windows. The entrance was framed by towering pillars, giving the place a sense of authority t

Soft sunlight slipped through the narrow gap in the curtains, spreading slowly across the room. It crept over the floor, climbed the edge of the bed, and finally rested against Isabella’s face. A gentle knock followed as the door opened slightly, and a maid stepped in. Without making much noise, she walked toward the window and pulled the curtains wider. Light flooded the room instantly. “It’s time to wake up, ma’am,” she said softly. Isabella stirred. Her brows pulled together slightly as she shifted under the covers. The light felt too bright against her eyes. She raised her hand to shield her face, letting out a small yawn as she slowly pushed herself up into a sitting position. Her movements were sluggish, her body still heavy from sleep. For a moment, she just sat there, trying to gather herself. Then her eyes drifted to the large clock on the wall. She froze as her eyes widened. She stared at the time again, just to be sure she wasn’t mistaken. This late? Her heart sk

After finishing her lunch, Isabella leaned back in her chair and let out a careless belch. A small smile crept onto her lips; perhaps this situation wasn’t so bad after all. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten until she was full, let alone had the guts to belch so loudly. Shaking her head at the thought, she stood up and walked over to the king-sized bed. She laid back, staring at the ceiling with her hands tucked behind her head. She knew that staying idle in her room all day would create a bad impression—especially with that talkative old man. Maybe I should go out and help them, she thought. But as her gaze drifted toward the door, she changed her mind. "Maybe another time," she mumbled softly. She slowly closed her eyes and, in the blink of an eye, fell fast asleep. **************** In the same Crowne Mansion, a wheelchair glided into a bedroom drenched in every imaginable shade of pink. From the wallpaper to the decor, the room was a shrine to the color—clearly