His Auctioned Bride: Mafia's Ruthless Obsession

ISABELLA"To Isabella and Caspian!" My father, Victor Sterling's voice boomed as he raised his glass of champagne. "May your future be as bright as your present."I don't know if today is the best day of my life, but I'm thrilled. I'm engaged to the man I've admired since grade school, and now, in our twenties, our families have arranged a marriage. It was intended as a business arrangement, but for me, it's everything I've ever wanted—to marry Caspian Thorne.Everything seemed perfect.I smiled at Caspian, but his eyes were distant. Following his gaze, I saw him staring at my cousin, Danica. Danica, with her pretty, luscious face and perpetually haughty attitude, had always been distant from me. However, I’d seen her at every family event like this. Her mother is my mother’s sister. But since my mother died, her mother has been rumored to be my dad’s mistress for a decade. I’ve chosen to remain blind to it; as long as my father is happy, what can I do?Danica is Caspian’s newly hire

ISABELLA"Where am I?"The nurse checked my IV fluids and replied, "You're in the hospital, Miss Sterling."A flashback flooded my mind. I held my head and asked, "Where's the man who saved me?" I took a deep breath, trying to recall his face, but it was so blurry. I could only remember his voice."A man?" the nurse smiled. "Miss Sterling, you were brought in by your driver."I grasped the sheet tightly, fighting back tears. There was no man.The door opened, and Caspian entered, this time with Danica. Danica clung to his arm, a sweet smile on her face. She looked me up and down, her gaze lingering on the bruises on my arm. "I'm so sorry for what happened, dear cousin. We did our best to find the person who did this to you, right, Caspian?" And I glared at her, my stare piercing her very soul. But she just laughed. "Look at her," she said, "look at how she's staring at me, as if I was the one who tried to kill her."Caspian walked towards me and snatched my chin. "Isabella, you've be

ISABELLADanica smirked at me, a nasty disgust twisting her lips. “Do you think you’re finally free from everything? Not yet, Isabella. Do you know who bought you?” She chuckled. “Well, rumors say he’s the new, youngest mafia boss. And do you know what they do to a girl like you? Oops, I can’t even imagine.”Caspian glanced at me and ordered his guard, “Take her to Mr. Belluci.” "Shame on you, Caspian!" I exclaimed, then turned my gaze to Danica. "And you too, Danica! I'm going to come back strong, and you two are going to pay for this!"And they just laughed at me.In the corner were my so-called friends, just watching me without uttering a single word of comfort. They were too scared to speak, too cowardly even to say hi.Keira sighed; Ashley just lowered her gaze while fidgeting with her fingers, and then Sophia bit her lower lip, turned away, grabbed her purse, and walked away without even glancing at me.A bitter laugh escaped my lips, a sound devoid of humor. "Damn you," I whis

DANTEA year ago, within the opulent confines of the Belluci Hotel, I was locked in a critical meeting with a high-net-worth client. Then, she walked by. Not just walked, but drifted, leaving a trail of a scent I couldn't quite place—something intoxicating, lingering. I watched her walking away, each step a slow, fucking torture. The urge to break away was almost overwhelming, but Raphael Woods, my client, sat directly across from me, his eyes sharp.He cleared his throat, a subtle intrusion. "That was the Sterling heiress, in case you were curious."I responded with a silent, sharp glance, pushing the contract towards him. He picked up a pen, his gaze sweeping the room. "This hotel restaurant is impressive, Dante. Your father must be pleased. Though, I imagine he'd be even more so if you'd finally secured that elusive wife you've been searching for."He knew far too much about my father. My father's dying wish was to continue the legacy, marry, and produce an heir—the expected path.

ISABELLA"Why? Am I banned?" I asked, my voice soft, though a hint of annoyance crept in as I looked at Danica and Caspian. They really do deserve each other, I thought.How could I have fallen for such a repulsive man? I'd convinced myself he was perfect, but it was a lie. I'd been so focused on him that I'd fallen in love with the idea of marrying him, not with him as a person.Danica chuckled. "You're with Mr. Belluci? Did you really satisfy him enough for him to bring you somewhere like this?"I sighed. Dante was still in his car, talking on his phone with his capo. It must have been something important, because he'd told me to go in ahead of him. And then I'd run into these two leeches.I raised an eyebrow. "Danica, I'm not like you. I don't need to climb over people to get what I want."Caspian’s eyes shot on me, glaring at me like I hurt his little doll. “You have no right to insult, Danica!” "So, she has the right to insult me?" I retorted. "How ironic." I paused, glancing at