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Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-02-07 23:42:59
Bab terkait
The Don's bargain 30
“I won't.” I answered, my lips curling into a smile. “Why do you suddenly need some sort of reassurance. Remember I can't leave, I'm bound to you.”Of course I was bound to him by virtue of a contfact Marriage and he knew that.He smirked. “I love the sound of that.” Also boy, I'd love the sound of your footsteps if you'd let me be. But I couldn't say that outloud.“So?” He asked, still holding my hands. “I think I'm kinda shy to say what's on my mind.” He confessed, smiling and looking away. With Stefano, each day was different. Each day I got to see different versions of him, the distinctness pulled me closer made my heart flutter and I couldn't resist the pull.I didn't know when I started smiling and holding his hands tighter. Now it felt like we were teenagers again as we fondled our palms, unsure of whether to take the next step.“What do you wanna say?” “Lately I've been thinking us as teenagers and I wondered the separation was bound to happen so we could appreciate the time
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-08The Don's bargain 31
Even while I agreed to go with them, what I didn't tell stefano was that I was going to try my best to bribe them. Hopefully it worked.“Good, Tomasso and Marco will be there with you, watching your every move.” He stated, training his eyes on me. “Okay with you?”I shrugged. “Even if I say it's not okay by me, nothing will change and moreover we've been going back and forth longer than I'd like to admit.”“I just care about you, Bella.” He replied, moving closer to me.I held up a finger to him. “I'm dressing up, Stefano.”He regarded me with a glance. “You're still in your scrubs, don't fucking kid me.” He chuckled.“I'm about to take a shower.” I replied, my chest tightening with anticipation for tonight. I wondered why I even burdened myself in all of this but something in me sought to hear the truth from Robin's mouth.“Do you mind if i go on with you?” Stefano smirked and winked at me.“I mind.” I shook my head. “Please Stefano.”He raised his hands in mock surrender. “Okay whil
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-09The Don's bargain 32
“So what are you gonna do?” He asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes.Truthfully, I was taken aback by his boldness, rather defiance. But I didn't let that show in my facial expressions. I scanned my brain for things to say to scare him off, but I wasn't used to all this. Instead I started walking away.“Ou wait.” The kid called out and I turned back. “Okay?”“I don't want to take anything from you.” He started, maintaining a serious expression. “But I'm willing to keep my mouth shut about all of this.”A sense of relief washed over me. But a bigger question was posed in front of us. “How are you going to do that?”He rolled up his sleeves, scratching his hair. My eyes followed him, landing on his wrist. In his wrist, laid a small mark that pulled something in me. I couldn't stop staring at the mark. There was something in there that pulled me closer to the mark. I held my hands in the air, almost touching the mark but I stopped myself.“I was thinking-” his voice called me back
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-11The Don's bargain 33
“What was her name?” I asked him trying to sought for more information. I made a mental note to google her when I get out of here.“Rosa Martinez.” Robin hesitated for a while before responding, then he fondled the bracelet in his hands. His eyes looked sunken as though Rosa was not just a random person to him.“Did you know her?”He sighed and looked away, “She was my fjrst love but we splitted when I left to America because I didn't want my father to drag me into the Mafia activities. Rosa was too into it and our values were clashing.”My mouth was wide open, oh wow. So Stefanos's ex-wife was Robin's first love? This was too much.He reached out to hold my hands. “You can see that's why I'm protecting you, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if anything happens to you. I let Rosa die and I won't let you die.” His voice was thick with emotions that I began to feel different emotions all at once. Did he just say death? He feared that Stefano would kill me? The Stefano I know wouldn'
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-12The Don's bargain 34
As the page loaded, my heart pounded with anticipation and I shook my legs to steady my heartbeat. I didn't know what else to do so I just stayed there letting the page load. My mind scanned around for multiple scenarios of what I could see but I couldn't come up with anything. My hands were shaky as I grabbed my phone to check. The first thing that captured my eye was an image of her on the beach. She wore a blue loosed floral gown that complimented her olive skin, dark shades that covered her eyes with a wide smile plastered on her face as she did the peace sign posing for the camera. She jutted her left hip, putting all her weight on one foot. Rosa was damn beautiful. Apart from this Rosa bore an uncanny resemblance to me, we had the same big bright eyes, puckered lips, similar dentition and even up to our physiques. I couldn't make sense of that. I read about her about her bsaic information about where she was born and what school she attended.Now I was moving over what happened
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-13The Don's bargain 35
Stefano was out there banging the door and begging me to open up for him but I couldn't bring my legs to walk towards the door. A part of me wanted him to leave me alone but another part of me wanted him to hold my face and stare into my eyes and tell me that everything was just an attempt to destroy our love. That the whole world was trying its best to conspire against our union.“I know you can hear me, please let's talk about whatever the issue might be,” I heard Stefano begging, his voice holding concern.I shook my head on the pillow as though he could see me. Nah, I wasn't doing that. There was no way on earth I would stand up to have him feel me with lies in this vulnerable moment.“Did Robin feel your head with lies?” He asked and after a minute he replied himself. “I fucking knew it, I fucking knew it. He's just as cunny as his father…”Then Stefanos's voice held urgency. “Bella, listen up. Let's just talk about it rather than letting someone from your past come between us.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-14The Don's bargain 36
“You mean what?” “Exactly what you heard, she's alive but she didn't want her parents to be aware but eventually she told them.” “Then why are her fans not aware of it all?” “She wanted to start all over with her life without public scrutiny. She enjoyed the celebrity life but she got tired of it after a while. My only regret was that I didn't get to understand her on time. I thought she had a say in ending our marriage but she was just as tied as I was in it. She wanted to leave badly and get married to her true love Robin but her father forbade her from it and when she finally had the chance she discovered that Robin had moved on with you so she ran away but she told me all of it before she did.” His voice held this raw sincerity that I couldn't shake off. I couldn't sit and process everything. I felt like my head was exploding and I needed to go to the beach and sit there to process everything. “So if you didn't hit her, what were the eyebags all about?” “She was fucking
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-15The Don's bargain 37
I slumped on the bed and covered myself with duvet. It wasn't that I was cold or anything. I was simpy tired, exhausted buried itself deep into my bone and the duvet served as source of comfort that I lack. As I tightened the duvet around me, an image of Rosa made its way into my thoughts. I wanted to scream out loud, why was she haunting me? I hated the fact that she looked like me in an uncanny manner. It messed with my head as I constantly thought about why she looked like me. I pressed my hand to my head as I willed the thoughts away. I figured that I had to get out bed to stop the thoughts from pulling me in with an iron fist. Just as i made up my mind to leave the bed, a knock came on the door and I hoped it wasn't Stefano. “Hey,” his rich baritone reached my ears and my heart leapt. I wanted to respond to him but I didn't know how to go about it. So i kept quiet, hoping he'll talk and just go away when he was dome. “I know you can hear me because you don't sleep till 9
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-16
Bab terbaru
The Don's bargain 113
A few minutes later, I texted Marco with shaky fingers just to know where he was with the text. I scratched my hair eagerly as I waited for his response but apparently there was none forthcoming and it increased my fucking anxiety. I hated when things appeared to not be within my control. It annoyed the fuck out of me. Because why? Why couldn't I just know what the hell was happening?Just a few moments later, he called me.I heard him exhaled and immediately my questions came pouring. “Any news yet? What the fuck is happening?”I imagined his shuddering as I heard a stilted breath, almost like he was panting before but had decided to cese as he heard the weight my words carried.“Fucking answer me.” I replied slamming my fist against the wall.“We searched eveything we could and we didn't find her.” He replied calmly.“you don't mean that? What do you mean you couldn't find. Do not return to the villa until you're sure you're coming back with her.” I gave the firm instruction and the
The Don's bargain 112
A few minutes later, I texted Marco with shaky fingers just to know where he was with the text. I scratched my hair eagerly as I waited for his response but apparently there was none forthcoming and it increased my fucking anxiety. I hated when things appeared to not be within my control. It annoyed the fuck out of me. Because why? Why couldn't I just know what the hell was happening?Just a few moments later, he called me.I heard him exhaled and immediately my questions came pouring. “Any news yet? What the fuck is happening?”I imagined his shuddering as I heard a stilted breath, almost like he was panting before but had decided to cese as he heard the weight my words carried.“Fucking answer me.” I replied slamming my fist against the wall.“We searched eveything we could and we didn't find her.” He replied calmly.“you don't mean that? What do you mean you couldn't find. Do not return to the villa until you're sure you're coming back with her.” I gave the firm instruction and the
The Don's bargain 111
I ended the call angrily and frustrated. I ran my hands through my hair as I sighed. I took powerful strides back into the club as I searched for Marco. It didn't take long before I saw him.“Marco!” I shouted over the loud music and held his hands, dragging him from the noise. The whole time he regarded me with a shocked expression on his face. Once we were outside, he arched brows.I wanted to speak but I realized I was short of breath. I bent down slightly, placing both fingers on my knees. After inhaling the night air, I straightened my posture.“Did you see Bella?” I asked him, hoping for a positive response.He gauged my expression for a while after giving me a look that felt like my question was ridiculous.“No… i thought she was with you.” Be replied calmly.My bands flew to my forehead as I held it tightly. “Are you being serious right now?” I asked.“Yes.” He nodded.“Take me home.” I demanded.“Yes sir.”The whole time during the drive, I somehow hoped that Tomasso and Bell
The Don's bargain 110
StefanoLost in my inebriates wall, I looked at the environment. I knew something was missing. Where had Bella fucking gone to? Was she mad at me or something?Sometimes she acted so irrational and I was going to talk to her about it the moment we got home but for now I had to look for her.Rosa was sitting by my side, smiling coyly as she placed her hands on my legs. A part of me enjoyed the feeling but I knew it was wrong. I pushed her hands away and rose to my feet. Before I rose to my feet, her shrugged and smiled.My face contorted into an angry expression. My fists balled. She knew what she doing… maybe she was among Robin's plan to get me to cheat on my wife. Being seperated from my wife was one of the fatest ways to make me weak and he must sensed and was willing to capitalize on it. He used Rosa instead, she should be ashamed of herself for letting Robin use her like this. I looked over my shoulders once more as I tried to search for my wife, instead I was met with Rosa's stu
The Don's bargain 109
I could feel the bass pulsing through my chest before we even stepped inside. The club was packed—neon lights cutting across the room like strobe knives, bodies grinding, drinks spilling, laughter rising in waves. I didn’t want to be here. Not really. But Stefano said he needed a night to forget, to feel powerful again, to remind the city that he hadn’t fallen off the throne they all thought he’d abandoned.He looked sharp—raven black suit, no tie, top two buttons undone. The kind of look that made people turn. The kind that reminded you he owned the room even before he spoke.But me? I felt like a footnote tonight. A pretty shadow in heels.We walked in, his hand on the small of my back. The warmth of it used to make me feel chosen. Now it just felt... routine. Decorative. Like I was another piece of the wardrobe.The place was loud. Lights flickering like memories I didn’t want. We got a private table—of course we did. Everything in Stefano’s life came with exclusivity, even when it
The Don's bargain 108
Standing at the archway between the kitchen and the living room, I sense Stefano’s tension the instant he steps through our front door. He closes the door a little too hard behind him, and the sound echoes through the quiet house. I stop what I’m doing and carefully slide the towel from my hands, my breathing catching at the weight of him. My husband’s shoulders droop under a burden I cannot see, and already I can feel the tight, anxious ache swirling in my chest.“It’s been a long day,” I whisper, though I don’t even have to say it. I know the weariness in the slump of his shoulders, in the way his tie is undone and his jacket hangs limply from his forearm. I reach out to brush a fingertip over the stubble on his cheek. He stands motionless in the hallway, eyes unfocused and distant. I imagine the ghosts of the day’s battles swirling in his mind. Even before he speaks, I know I need to reach him—now.Slowly, I close the distance between us. Before I can even think, my arms slide arou
The Don's bargain 107
Stefano was back home and we had to talk about this.“What's wrong with you? You have been acting all distant and aloof and it's killing me slowly.” I said, holding his hands as he slowly looked back at me with his eyes lost."I'm fine. Stop worrying yourself about me, go to bed, I will join you later when I'm sleepy.” Stefano said, bringing up a fake smile..“No! I will not! You need to tell me what's wrong with you? You can't be suffering alone when you can tell me what's wrong and we can solve it together. Or do you think I'm dumb or not hit enough to be with you? Are you tired of me?" I asked, dreading his response.He snapped his head back like I had said the most ridiculous stuff he have ever heard. I got startled by his abrupt movements, I could see anger in his eyes, clouded with disbelief.Why?“How dare you say something like that? I can never be tired of you and I won't.I yearn for you and I would never want to live a second without the thought of you not being mine or
The Don's bargain 107
Just after we got out, I glanced at Tomasso briefly as we stepped out the car. His face was hard to read, like he was trying not to show anything. My heart was beating fast, like I didn’t know what was about to happen even though I had prepared myself for it.“Just try your best to smile at him okay?” I said to him, resting my hand lightly on his arm.He didn’t respond right away. Just nodded a bit and looked down at his shoes. I could tell he was nervous. Even if he didn’t want to admit it.I turned to Marco, who was already getting out from the driver’s side. “Marco,” I called gently, stopping him before he could come around.“Yeah?” he asked.“Please, just stay in the car,” I told him. “I don’t want you to see all this. It’s messy… you know, family stuff. I just want to deal with it alone.”He looked like he wanted to argue but then sighed and nodded. “Alright. I’ll be right here.”“Thanks,” I whispered before turning back to the gate.Tomasso stood by the entrance, his arms crosse
The Don's bargain 106
Marco drove quietly, both hands on the wheel, his eyes fixed on the road ahead like it was the only thing that mattered. I sat in the front seat while Tomasso was at the back, earphones plugged in, head resting on the window. He hadn’t said much since we got in the car. Just a quiet “morning” to Marco and nothing else.The road was calm, barely any traffic. The sun was already out but not too hot. Light poured through the trees lining both sides of the road, dancing on the windshield like soft glitter. It was peaceful in a way that made everything feel heavier somehow. Like silence was stretching itself too wide.I kept stealing glances at Tomasso through the side mirror. His eyes were open, staring out at the road like he was somewhere else. Maybe in his head, maybe in the past. I didn’t know. I could only imagine what was going through his mind.We passed a small lake, the kind people always stopped by to take pictures. The water looked still, untouched, like nothing ever happened t
