Lahat ng Kabanata ng Mafia's Captive Desire : Kabanata 61 - Kabanata 63

Lucy sat on her bed staring at the ceiling. The silence in her room was starting to eat at her. She had been cooped up for days, and though Julia often dropped by to keep her company, talking and laughing with her, the quiet always returned when Julia left. Now the boredom pressed on her chest, mixed with hunger twisting her stomach.She sighed, dragging her fingers along the blanket, and muttered to herself, “I can’t just keep sitting here all day.”Her body moved before her mind changed. She slipped on her slippers, pushed open the door, and padded down the wide hallway toward the kitchen. The mansion felt too big sometimes, each corner echoing like it held secrets. But the smell of flour and sugar she imagined comforted her.In the kitchen, she opened the cupboards, pulling out flour, sugar, eggs, butter, and a small container of blueberries. The thought of warm muffins brightened her mood.She tied her hair up in a messy bun, rolled her sleeves to her elbows, and began mixing. The

DAYS LATER: GALAThe gala hall sparkled with golden chandeliers that hung low, casting warm light over polished marble floors. The air smelled of wine, roses, and expensive perfumes mixing together. Everywhere Lucy turned, she saw men in sharp suits with their wives or mistresses clinging tightly to their arms. Their laughter was loud, their words low, their eyes sharp and filled with secrets.Lucy stood near the edge of the room in her red gown. It hugged her curves, the silk catching the light each time she moved. She shifted uneasily, her fingers brushing over the thin fabric at her side. The music was soft but her nerves were not.Across the room, Barry stood with a tall man who looked just as powerful as him, his hand tucked into his pocket, speaking with that cold confidence he carried so well. He looked untouchable. Julia had already slipped away to mingle with some people, leaving Lucy standing alone.Her eyes roamed the grand hall again. The tall ceilings, the crystal chandel