Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride: Kabanata 111 - Kabanata 120

Jordan’s POVI sat behind the heavy oak desk in my office, looking at Ethan standing in front of me, calm and collected. I knew deep down that entrusting Ethan into my right-hand man slot made sense, he was charming, well-liked by the workers, and steady under pressure. I wasn’t going to throw myself into the things I did with Andrew.This time, I had to be explicit. No burdening, no doubling up on duties. Ethan would only handle operations, making sure that the mines were functioning, and the workers were inspired. I craned back in my chair and looked into his steady gaze.“You will manage Crystal Bay's day-to-day affairs while I am away,” I replied,  my voice steady but quiet. “But I want your attention only on the mines. Leave the expansion plan to me,” I warnedEthan nodded, his face implacable. “Understood, sir. I won’t let you down.”I believed him. Ethan wasn’t merely competent; he was reliable and yet a part of me couldn’t let go of that lingering doubt. Andrew had been reliab

Sierra’s POVWe got out of our room and walked to the swimming pool area of the resort, where the afternoon sun bathed the landscaped gardens in gold. Blooming hibiscus flowers lined the path toward the pool, their greens and reds in stark contrast to the cerulean pool.As we moved close, my eyes fell on two couples relaxing at the poolside. Sprawled side-by-side on what appeared to be the highest-priced sunbed in the city, they looked completely at ease, partaking in what could only be termed as a sexified sunbath naked. I instinctively bit my lip, stifling the laughter bubbling in my chest, and elbowed Jordan gently. “This is… different,”  I muttered with a filched grin.Jordan cocked an eyebrow, looking both amused and skeptical. “I guess they’re taking advantage of the ‘private’ part of the resort,” he said, shaking his head dryly. “Let’s just go find our own corner.”We chose a shady corner on the pool’s far side, far from the uninhibited couples. I tossed my towel over a lounge

Sierra’s POVThe short walk to the open-space event centre was imbued with an air of anticipation. The party was already in full swing and the energy was electric. The venue itself was absolutely spectacular. Long tables were set in a U-shape around a small platform, where a tangle of strings of fairy lights sparkled as if they were the stars. And in the background of very vivid disco music that was playing out loud, guests intermixed with each other, laughing and having a casual conversation. The warm night-air setting afforded the cool evening breeze to breathe the pasty fragrance of the ocean.Jordan and I were led to a table for two, decked out with plates and glasses trimmed in gold. There was a silk ribbon in rich hues, fitting the night’s theme draped across the back of each chair. There were cards wrapped in red ribbons neatly laid on the table, and when I untied mine, the content inside instantly struck my attention, it read: “Welcome to the Auction Party of Villa Marina!

Sierra’s POV“I know,” I said softly, looking toward the corner where Elara and Dominic now stood with their heads bent. “But we can’t let them win. Let’s go back to our table.”Jordan paused, his eyes still on the duo, before finally giving a nod. “There you are,” he replied, a reluctant weight in his voice. “But this isn’t over.”I doubted nothing of the sort for a second. When the music faded a bit, and party guests transitioned from the high-energy auction to a more festive affair, I scanned the room, looking at each guest and chatting away. They were done with the auction, and just chilling listening to music, and having some drinks, before breaking for the night.Jordan and I pretended to resume our spot at our table, but I soon realized there was little else to be done. Returning to the sanctuary of our room was the obvious next step.I turned toward the elevator, assuming that Jordan was right behind me, but something felt... off. The familiar sense of his presence wasn’t the

Sierra’s POVThe atmosphere around the room was beginning to slip into an almost comfortable quiet when Jordan’s phone buzzed noisily on the desk, the sound sharp and jarring in the silence. He stepped away from me slowly, peering up at the screen with furrowed brows."Who is it?" “What do they want and why can’t they wait till a better time?” I asked almost in one breath, noticing the tension that had twisted in his posture.Jordan’s lips pursed into a thin line as he read the message. He typed back a few words in reply, the fingers of his right hand moving nervously and swiftly."Jordan?" I pressed, stepping closer. "What’s going on?"“It’s nothing,” he said swiftly as he slid his phone face down on the desk. But the tension in his voice gave him away. My instincts went counter to that, as my head tilted. “That didn’t look like ‘nothing’” Is it about Dominic?"He paused for just a bit longer than necessary, proving my suspicion. “It’s not directly about him, hey! Calm down, Sierra,”