All Chapters of The Mafia’s possession: Chapter 151 - Chapter 160

The mansion was different now a year after the wedding. Nobody had planned it this way. It just happened, like most changes do, little by little without anyone noticing until they looked back.The way it used to be was quiet and neat. The furniture was nice. Nobody ever sat on it wrong. The rooms were clean. It was like they were trying to show off. People walked around like they were being watched all the time.Now it was noisier. There were toys all over the place even where they did not belong. Elena, who was eleven months old, could move around. Had strong opinions. She liked things like a particular stuffed rabbit, a specific bowl, and a special song during bath time. These things were very important to her. Justin did his homework at the kitchen table, so it was always covered in books. Lillian had hung some things in the front hallway, like a picture, a photograph, and a hook for coats. The hallway felt different, like a real home.The greenhouse was Lillian's garden now. She h

The planning for Justin's birthday started in October.Justin's birthday was in February, which meant Alex had four months to plan. That was more than enough time for someone like Alex who does things in a very thoughtful way.He makes lists. Thinks about every little detail, which is what he did for Justin's birthday party.Lillian found Alex's list in the study in November.The list was for Justin's birthday. It had things like go-karts and a trip to the arcade on West 54th, which Justin had mentioned before.There was also a movie that Justin really wanted to see. Alex had written it down.Lillian saw that Alex had been paying attention to what Justin liked.The last thing on the list was chocolate cake. It was circled.Alex had written that it should be dark with two layers, and the cream inside should not be white but have a coffee flavor.Lillian thought about when Justin had described the cake, and she realized that Alex must have remembered.The day of Justin's birthday was a

Jessie came every Saturday.This had started three months after she got out of the facility. At first, it was a text on a Thursday asking if Saturday morning was alright. Jessie was careful with her words because she knew she was asking Lillian, not just assuming it was okay. Lillian said yes, and Jessie came.They did not talk about everything that Saturday. They talked about the coffee. Lillian made coffee, and she always had. Jessie always drank it without saying anything until that Saturday when she said, "Lil, this coffee is really bad."Something changed.Not everything changed, not all at once. Just enough for the morning to feel real instead of fake.They started a routine by the month. Lillian would get to Greys at seven-thirty to open up. Jessie would get there at eight. They would sit at the counter with the coffee for thirty minutes before the first customers came at eight-thirty.It was the two of them in the shop before it got busy.This was not like their friendship. Li

A letter from a law firm arrived on a Monday.It was from a law firm she had never heard of, addressed to Alex. She knew from the way he read it, standing at the kitchen counter and not moving for longer than necessary, that it was not mail.He did not say what it was. She did not ask. She had learned when he would tell her things and when she needed to ask, and this was something he would tell her when he was ready.He made three phone calls before eight-thirty. She heard the way he talked on the phone. The way a man talks to his lawyers is the tone of someone who's prepared for something and is taking care of it.He was in his study for most of Monday.On Tuesday and Wednesday, he was busy. In meetings, she was not part of conversations she understood were necessary. She took care of the shop. She fed Elena. She talked to Justin on the phone about his school project, which was coming up soon.She watched the house, where life was going on as usual even though something was happening

The house became quiet slowly.Justin left with Clara at eight. They had a way with each other, which they had built up over months. Justin carried Clara's bag without her asking him to. The door closed behind them with a sound, the sound of people who belonged somewhere going home.Michael and Diana said their goodbyes in the entrance hall. Diana hugged Lillian and told her the shop's new window display was the best it had looked.The door closed.Elena was already asleep. She had been asleep since seven, tired out from her birthday, which she had treated like a project and had seen through to the end.The kitchen was clean. Lillian had done most of the cleaning. Alex had done the rest. The cake plate was in the drying rack with some frosting stuck to it, which Lillian would clean tomorrow. The good plates were back on the shelf. The kitchen had returned to its state.Lillian and Alex stood at the window.It had happened without planning. Lillian had come to refill her water glass. A