All Chapters of Bound By The Mafia: Chapter 11 - Chapter 19

It had been two weeks since Akiko left Glen’s apartment. Now, she was living in a small rented house at the edge of the city. Luckily, Mr. Eloise hadn’t frozen her bank account, so she could survive for a while with the little money she had left.The house had only one bedroom, a small kitchen that merged with the dining space, a single bathroom, and a modest living room. Just enough for someone living alone. But with such affordable rent came a drawback—it didn’t have a heating system.Not that it mattered much. Akiko never had much appetite, which helped cut expenses. Most of her limited budget went to feeding Kouma, her dog. She watched him for a long time, wondering what would happen to him if she wasn’t around anymore.“If I die, you’ll have to find a new home,” she whispered, stroking his fur. “A warmer, better place than this.”Refusing to drown in sadness again, she decided to get ready to meet someone—Vian—a doctor she hadn’t seen in a long time. Initially, she’d planned to a

The cold air made her cough as she pulled on her jacket. With what little strength remained, Akiko pushed herself off the couch and stepped outside. She paused, gazing at the sky. No stars. No moon. Just an empty black canvas above her.She had locked herself away for days—sustained only by water and a few slices of bread. Even when Vian came knocking, she didn’t open the door. He must have assumed she’d moved on. If he had known how distant she’d become, he never would’ve confessed. He would’ve buried his feelings quietly—just to preserve the fragile thread that still connected them.“So cold…” she whispered to herself.No medicine. No appointments. Just bed. Stillness. Silence. She was waiting for the end. Hoping it would come without noise, without pain.But today, her heart nudged her toward something unfinished.The orphanage.She didn’t know if Ethan still remembered her. But she had come to say goodbye. Ethan was the boy she once found on the street—beaten by his parents. She h

Akiko remained busy in the kitchen. She wasn’t much of a cook, but this time she gave it her all to bake a birthday cake. She was so focused on her task that she didn’t even notice when her hand brushed against the hot baking tray. The sting made her wince, but she didn’t stop.After decorating the cake as neatly as she could, Akiko headed to the bathroom. The clock had already struck 7 p.m. Glen would be home any minute. She cleaned up the apartment, too—oddly messy for a man like Glen, who usually kept everything spotless. Had no one cleaned it while she was gone?"He’s still not back," Akiko murmured, glancing again at the clock. 10 p.m.She was tired of waiting in the living room. The sound of the door unlocking made her jump. She rushed to the fridge, grabbed the cake, lit the candles, and walked toward the entrance with a soft smile."Happy birthday," she said.But Glen didn’t even look at her. His jaw was tense. His eyes, dull with exhaustion."Don’t bother me. I’m exhausted,"

Glen was already waiting in the parking lot, leaning against the sleek black car as Hans pulled up. The tinted windows and partition ensured total privacy—perfect for a man like him, who preferred the world not see what he did in the back seat. He often kissed Akiko without warning, sometimes just to tease her, sometimes for reasons even he couldn’t explain.It always made her flustered. But Hans never said a word. Ever professional.“I want to come too!” Daisy’s voice rang out just as Akiko reached for the car door.She appeared from the lobby, swinging her bag over her shoulder and smoothing her glossy hair like she was walking into a photoshoot.“Why are you leaving me behind?” she pouted.“I let you stay at my place. That doesn’t mean you get to tag along to work,” Glen snapped, not even sparing her a full glance.“But I get bored in that giant apartment,” Daisy whined. “And my room’s still empty. I figured I’d come with you—maybe observe the company. Who knows? I might become a b