Chapter 2

MAFIA KING

The room fell silent the moment Don Carlo stepped through the doors.

Kristen’s breath caught in her throat.

She had expected someone old, cruel looking, grizzled with age and soaked in violence. But the man standing before her wasn’t what she imagined. No, he was far worse. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a sharp jawline and piercing eyes that scanned the room with lethal calculation. His presence alone was enough to send a chill down her spine. He wore a black suit tailored to perfection, the kind that whispered money, power, and danger. There was no kindness in his expression, no warmth—just cold, brutal authority.

Kristen stiffened, fighting the urge to look away.

Carlo’s gaze landed on her like a blade, and it lingered. His eyes darkened slightly as he looked at her in the white dress, the painted lips, the trembling hands she tried so hard to hide. His expression didn’t change.

Don Carlo passed by her as if she were invisible, heading straight for her father.

“Welcome, Don Carlo. Please, have a seat while the maid prepares you a drink. Let’s discuss the deal,” Kristen’s father said, clearly shaken by the imposing figure before him.

Carlo looked up, regarding him with a dangerously dismissive gaze. “Can we skip the formalities, Mr. Wilson? I didn’t come here for small talk. “Let’s get this over with,” he said, breaking the moment. “I have business elsewhere.”

Carlo signed the papers with the same indifference one might use to finalize a deal on a new car. Kristen’s hands trembled as she added her signature. The ink barely dried before Madam Carolina clapped her hands, feigning joy.

“It’s done! You are now man and wife,” carolina said, her voice high and brittle.

A flicker of hesitation crossed Mr. Wilson's face as he grasped the full weight of what he was doing. He was trading his daughter’s future for his own mistakes, handing her over without a second thought. Realization hit hard—there was no turning back now. All he could do was hope that someday she would find it in her heart to forgive him.

Kristen watched in disbelief as her father gave her away to this stranger. Tears threatened to spill, but she fought them back; she wouldn’t let this man see her weakness, not for a moment!

The ride back to Carlo’s house was eerily quiet, leaving Kristen unnerved by the man’s deadly presence. Though she had never laid eyes on him, she had heard plenty about his ruthless reputation. Don Carlo, the dreaded mafia boss, is a billionaire, owning numerous casinos and businesses across the country. His actions instilled fear in many, a testament to how he dealt with anyone who dared to cross him. Knowing this, Kristen was acutely aware of the need to tread carefully and avoid saying or doing anything that might provoke him.

They arrived at what looked like an enormous mansion. As they walked inside, Kristen quietly followed Carlo, He was greeted by the staff, but he brushed past their greetings without a glance.

“Show her to her room and take her things with you,” Carlo instructed one of the maids.

Taking this cue, Kristen was ready to follow the maid, feeling exhausted after everything that had happened that day. Just as she was about to go, she felt a firm grip on her arm pulling her back.

“Just understand that this is strictly a business deal—nothing more. Don’t expect anything from me, not love or anything like that,” Carlo said in a low, intimidating voice that sent a shiver down Kristen’s spine.

“And you won’t be leaving this house without my permission unless you want to face serious consequences.”

“I’m not your prisoner!” Kristen blurted out, surprising herself. It felt like she had just escaped one hellhole only to find herself in another.

“How dare you speak to me like that?!” Carlo bellowed, fury blazing in his eyes. No one ever challenged him, but this pathetic girl before him dared to do so, now he was determined to teach her a lesson.

“ you are my prisoner, you belong to me!… let that sink in your head” Carlo yelled as he tightened the grip around her arm making her squirm in pain.

“ Please let go of my arm, you're hurting me” Kristen cried out

“This will teach you never to talk back at me,” he said, tightening his grip even more. “Get her out of my sight now.”

With that, he shoved her away, finally releasing his hold. Kristen winced in pain, rubbing her now-red arm as tears welled up in her eyes. Silently, she followed the maid to her room, afraid to utter a single word.

Once inside her room, Kristen locked the door and climbed onto her bed, burying her face in the pillow to muffle her sobs. It felt like a prison, and there was no way out. She cried until exhaustion took over and she eventually drifted off to sleep.

The morning sun streamed through the window, pulling Kristen from her restless slumber. As she opened her eyes, the swollen redness from a night of tears blurred her vision. The sight around her felt like a dagger to her chest: this was no dream—she had been married off to that cold-hearted man. She longed to fade back into sleep. But Just then, a knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.

“Come in,” she called out, her voice barely above a whisper.

A maid stepped into the room, her demeanor hesitant. “Good morning, madam. The boss requests your presence for breakfast,” she said, anxiety creeping into her tone. How dare he summon her after the ordeal of the night before?

“Tell him I'm not interested,” Kristen replied tersely, anger lacing her voice.

“But madam, the boss might be upset,” the maid urged, clearly distressed at the prospect of angering her employer.

“I said I’m not interested! Get out of my room!” Kristen snapped, her frustration boiling over. The maid, unsure of how to respond, quickly excused herself and hurried away.

The maid rushed to find Carlo, who was seated at the dining table, surrounded by a lavish spread of food. He waited impatiently for his new bride, despite having no intention of showing her any warmth, he wanted her company, After all, she had cost him a fortune.

“Sir, I’m afraid the madam said she wasn’t interested in joining you for breakfast,” the maid reported, bowing her head as she braced herself for his reaction.

Carlo’s anger boiled as he stood up, slamming his fist onto the table, and making the maid flinch in response. “That insolent girl! How dare she disrespect me like that, especially in front of my employees?” He took a deep breath, his mind racing with possibilities. “She’ll regret this,” he vowed, already envisioning how he would confront Kristen in her room. Carlo walked away in anger, his eyes blood red as he made his way to Kristen's room.