Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Mafia's Contract : Kabanata 31 - Kabanata 40

As soon as I heard the voice on the phone, I had a feeling something was wrong. Immediately, we got into Bea's car and she drove me all the way to the hospital. There was an feeling of dread in my chest as I rushed into the hospital and made my way towards the door to my mother’s room. My heart pounded loudly in my chest and my legs felt like they were moving through water. I pushed the door open and rushed in. There she was, my mother, looking so fragile, so small, plugged to machines and wires. Her chest rose and fell in a shallow manner, but it was the machines doing most of the work. I tried to catch and steady my breath, but it caught in my throat, leaving me on the edge of breaking down.The doctor stood by her bed with a serious expression. I hurried to my mother’s side, grabbing her hand, which felt cold and weak in mine.“Ms. Joan,” the doctor began "I’m afraid your mother’s condition has worsened. We’ve managed to stabilize her for now, but she needs surgery as soon as pos

As soon as the meeting was over, Irene took me to the new room where I would be staying. I stood in the doorway of my new room, hesitant to take a step inside. The room was enormous—larger than the room I was in before. It was also completely furnished with lavish decorations. The luxury around me felt like a different world, one I had no idea how to blend in. It had lovely red carpets, draped curtains, and expensive looking furniture. I did not belong here.I took a step forward, feeling the soft carpet beneath my feet. The room was so quiet that I could hear my own breath. The bed, a massive king sized bed with velvet hangings, seemed more like a throne than a place to sleep. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to walk further into the space. Everything here was new—too new. I was afraid to touch anything. The door opened softly behind me, and I flinched in fear. Irene stepped inside with a small smile.“Joan,” she said gently “How are you settling in?”I forced a smile. “It’s... it’

JOAN'S POVI shivered in the back seat of the limo, staring out at the blur of streetlights through my tears. My fingers trembled in my lap, and I could still feel the cameras flashing in my face, the shouts of the paparazzi hurling questions at me. I never imagined it would feel like this, being thrown into the public eye. The pressure, the eyes always watching, the fear of slipping up. It felt suffocating.The worst part? I just begun. This was just my first outing. Is this how it's going to be for the next few years? “Stop shaking. You’re acting like a child,” Sir Derrick scoffed. I snapped my head towards him. My eyes stung from the tears I’d been trying so hard to hold back. "How?" I asked him. His words made something inside me snap. "You're whining. You need to grow up" he muttered. "Acting like a child? I just got ambushed by a mob of reporters, Derrick. What do you expect me to do?" I whispered. He barely glanced at me. His hands gripped his phone tightly "This is you

HENRY'S POVI stood by the window of my office, staring out at the city below. I should’ve felt satisfaction. After all, I was filthy rich, and I had built an empire most men would kill for. But the satisfaction never came. It never did when I thought about Derrick.Derrick.The name alone made my blood boil. He’d always been a step ahead, always managed to take what I wanted. And now, he was about to become the Mafia Don for the district. Not because he deserved it, but because he was marrying that maid, Joan. The arrangement was fake, I knew it. It had to be. Derrick wasn’t capable of love, and certainly not with a maid.My hands clenched into fists, my nails digging into my palms. It wasn’t about the money for me. No, I had more than enough of that. It was about power, and the respect that came with it. All my life, I’d been second to Derrick. No matter what I achieved, no matter how high I climbed, it was never enough to escape his shadow. I was always known as the Mafia Don's ba

JOAN'S POVThe next morning, I was cuddled in the warmth of my blankets, half-asleep, when I heard a knock on my door. I groaned, pulling the covers over my face, willing the world away for just a few more moments."It's Sarah. Sir Derrick wishes to see you in his office," her voice sounded through the door. At the mention of his name, my body betrayed me. My heart quickened and a faint thrill coursed through my veins as I forced myself to sit up. Derrick. Of course, it had to be him."Do you know why?" I asked, trying to mask the curiosity in my voice."I'm not sure, but I think it has something to do with the wedding preparations. None of my business, anyway."Wedding preparations. The words felt cold as they settled into my mind. I quickly threw off the covers, getting out of ned I glanced at myself in the mirror with a flood of thoughts racing through my head. I looked like a mess. I wanted to look good for him, though I’d never admit that to anyone, least of all myself.After