HER ROYAL MAFIA

CAMILLA RYDERI stared blankly at the wall, exhaling slowly. From the outside, I had it all, is it wealth, beauty, a picture-perfect life? You name it all... But inside, I felt so empty. My three-year marriage felt more like a cage than a love story.Of course, there were moments of sweetness and warmth… but ever since I started sensing something off about Liam, the cracks in our perfect world began to split wider.Blame me all you want, but, I had married him despite my father opposing us, that was because I love Liam Ryder. He makes me happy. But... everything about him is starting to feel like something I wasn't used to... That feeling like he's physically with me but his heart is distant...“Mrs. Ryder?” Faith, my secretary's voice pulled me back to reality. I turned to her, she was wearing her usual contagious smile but I had no energy to return it.“You can drop that, Faith,” I murmured, my eyes settling on the sleek package in her hands. It was probably Liam’s gift for tonight’s

LIAM RYDERSEVEN YEARS LATERI adjusted my tie one last time in front of the mirror, making sure the knot sat perfectly. My hand hovered over my wristwatch when Karen stepped into the room.I didn’t need to look at her to know what expression she wore. I could feel it—the disapproval and the jealousy, seeing me dressed up in my favorite sleek black suit and black tie just for wife's anniversary, must have pissed her off.Actually, if a trophy is given to the most easily jealous woman in the world, I think Karen gets it ... As I tried to spray some perfume, she pressed in from behind, her arms wrapped gently around my waist.“So much effort for a death anniversary?” she muttered, her voice laced with jealousy... I totally guessed right...“I told you we shouldn’t go, Liam.” she finally said.I sighed, turning to face her. No matter what I needed to say at the moment I can neither give her more reasons to be jealous nor give her the satisfactions she wants right now. “Stop it, Karen,"

LIAM RYDERThis can’t be real…No, it couldn’t be Camilla. That was impossible.“She’s dead…”I’d told myself that a thousand times. A million. I couldn't count how many times those words rang in my head... But still, here I was, staring at a woman who looked exactly like her—standing right in front of me.My heart thudded like a warning drum.How could she possibly be Lorenzo Vincent’s wife? It made no sense.But no matter how surreal it felt, my eyes never left her.The way she laughed, the way she spoke, everything... were all different.The strangest part?She never once looked my way.Suddenly, my phone buzzed in my pocket, yanking me back to the moment. I pulled it out and saw Karen’s name. I answered it almost immediately.“Liam? Come down here now!” Her voice was sharp and urgent.My stomach dropped.“Is everything okay, babe?” I asked quietly, my heart already racing.Her shaky breathing crackled through the line and that itself made me more terrified than seeing a ghost.“Jus

CAMILLA RYDERMy heart slammed against my chest as Lorenzo stormed into the room.No. He wasn’t supposed to be back yet.He stopped right in front of me, and Vincenzo instinctively took few steps backwards, putting space between us.Lorenzo’s shoulder-length hair caught the breeze slipping through the still-open window. As always, his face was carved from stone—emotionless, unreadable. No smile. Just that signature, cold stare.Then, the corner of his mouth curled. A smirk.I looked away, trying to slip past him, but his hand shot out, grabbing my arm loosely."A pleasant surprise, isn't it?" he said, voice smooth and taunting.Surprise? Sure. Pleasant? Not even close. But really, why was I surprised? Lorenzo came and went like a ghost, always when it suited him. And he never missed a chance to be the center of attention."Let go of me, Lorenzo!" I snapped, yanking my arm.He scoffed but released me slowly, like he wanted me to know it was his choice."I thought you were having fun wi

LIAM RYDERThe moment I pulled into the driveway, I didn’t even wait for the engine to cool. I leapt out of the car and stormed into the house, my heart thudding wildly, my eyes scanning every corner like my life depended on what they might find."Karen!" I called out, my voice echoing through the house as I took the stairs two at a time. I don’t even remember my feet touching the steps—one second I was downstairs, the next I was throwing open our bedroom door.Nothing.The room was empty.Where was she?Where the hell was Karen?I’d never known fear could drive me this insane, never imagined I could spiral so fast because I was afraid of losing someone.My body felt disconnected, my brain trying to think, but my heart had taken the wheel, recklessly speeding toward panic. I dialed her number again, my hands trembling. No answer.The room became chaos. I tore through it like a man possessed, like maybe if I moved fast enough, she’d materialize from the mess.But I knew that wasn't hap