Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Mafia's Little Doll: Kabanata 101 - Kabanata 109

Luca's POVMorning came quietly. The first thing I noticed was Maria, still sleeping beside me. Her breathing was soft, steady and peaceful.For a while, I just watched her. The room still smelled like her perfume and candle wax from last night.I didn’t want to wake her.I got off the bed slowly, careful not to make a sound. My body felt heavy, but it wasn’t from tiredness. It was from thought. I moved into the bathroom, turned on the shower, and let the water run over my head for a while. I didn’t even notice when the steam started filling the air.When I came out, I dried myself quietly and began to dress. I buttoned my shirt slowly, one after the other, and looked at Maria again. She hadn’t moved. Her hair was scattered across the pillow, and I could still see the faint marks I left on her wrists and legs last night.I almost smiled. She looked really peaceful sleeping.I walked to her side and took the necklace from the nightstand. I held it for a while, wondering if I should ta

Maria's POV “I’ve just been talking about myself and I didn’t even ask what’s been going on in your life,” my mother said, smiling as she stirred her coffee.I lifted my eyes from the rim of my cup. “Not much really,” I said softly. “It’s been… quiet.”She raised a brow, unconvinced. “Quiet? What about your man? You mentioned him once, and then you went all mysterious on me.”I smiled faintly. “He’s good.”“Are you two still together?” she asked, her eyes narrowing playfully, but before I could answer, Sophia returned with our order.The clinking of the plates against the table made me tense up. Sophia’s unfamiliar perfume filled my air. She smiled at my mother, placed the tray down, and when she turned to me, her smile softened into something polite. Almost cold.“We’re still together,” I said, forcing the words out.It was at that exact moment that the coffee cup slipped from Sophia’s hand and tumbled forward. The hot liquid splashed across the table, a few drops reaching my sleeve

Liam's POVAfter leaving the police station, I was driving back to the hotel when I saw a park by the roadside.It wasn’t a big one, just a small green space with a few benches, children playing, and teenage couples lying on the grass. For some reason, it reminded me of Maria. I remembered her saying she used to sit at a park whenever she needed to think or feel alive again. I wondered if I should call her, but then I thought against it. The last time we spoke, she didn’t want to talk about what almost happened between us, and I didn’t want to seem like I was forcing anything.I parked my car and stepped out, walking slowly until I found a clear spot on the grass. The air felt fresh, and for a moment, I just wanted to forget everything. Forget the case, forget Luca, even forget Stephanie.But I couldn’t.I sat down, leaning back on my hands, watching the people around me. Children were running with their kites, laughing and screaming. Parents were chatting on benches. A few teenage

Luca's POV I had been quiet for more than five hours in the car. The driver didn’t speak either, maybe because he could feel the kind of silence I carried. the kind that said I like it like this. No talking or music. Just quiet.When we finally stopped in front of Deborah McCarthy’s office building, I didn’t ask the driver to wait. I told him nothing. I just stepped out.I didn’t want to rest or check into a hotel or take a drink. I just wanted to see her. If she was truly going to reject me, I needed her to do it while looking me in the eyes.The building was calm and bright, the kind people built to show off how much money they had even when they've not really built a real business. I walked into the building, my steps slow and confident.The receptionist looked up and smiled politely. “Good afternoon, sir. How may I help you?”“Luca De Rossi,” I said. “I’m here to see Deborah McCarthy.”My tone made her straighten. I didn’t have to say more. She picked up the phone and spoke quic