All Chapters of CALAVERA: The Mafia’s Caged Bride : Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

~ANYA POV~I don't remember the moment sleep finally drags me under. One second I'm lying on my side, staring at the soft pattern on the curtains, and the next I'm drifting somewhere warm and quiet.For the first time in so long, no shadows are running after me in my dreams, no hands reaching, no echo of my own screams bouncing back at me. Just dark stillness. Just rest.When my eyes flutter open the next morning, I feel... lighter. My chest doesn't ache. My breathing is calm. The room smells faintly of shampoo, that clean sweet scent that always lingers after I wash my hair.I blink slowly, stretching an arm across the huge bed before rolling onto my back.It hits me, no nightmares. Ever since that night I called César crying and rambling, everything feels different. He calls me every night before I sleep and I shamefully admit that I actually look forward to his calls every single night.His voice low, steady, and annoyingly confident wraps around me like some invisible armor. I ke

~ANYA POV~ The morning sun felt nosy, glaring against the windowpanes as Isidora decided our shopping trip had officially commenced.I stood before the mirror, nervously adjusting the oversized white dress shirt I had stolen from César's closet. It swallowed my frame, the hem brushing the tops of the baggy denim shorts I wore beneath. I looked small. Fragile.The problem was the smell. The fabric had his scent....sandalwood, fancy tobacco, and a strong, unique smell that was just him. It felt like it was holding onto me.Isidora, on the other hand, looked sharp and classy. She smelled like jasmine and wealth."Ready, querida?" she chirped, though her eyes were assessing me like a project.The car ride was a breakdown in quietness. We weren't just traveling; we were being transported like high-value cargo. Six guards flanked us....three lead, three trail. They were tough, their hands hovering near the deadly force hid beneath their tailored jackets. I didn't just feel conspicuous; I f

~ANYA POV~The mood at the table changed the moment the food arrived.Two waiters walked up to us, their movements stiff and professional. They were holding large silver trays, and steam was rising from them. Immediately, the smell hit me. It was a mix of garlic, rich butter, and expensive herbs. Under normal circumstances, it would have smelled delicious. It would have made my mouth water. But today, right now, it felt like a heavy blanket was being wrapped around my face, suffocating me.My stomach turned over. The smell of the tomato wine sauce was too strong, and the scent of the fresh bread made me feel sick.The waiters placed the plates down gently, making a soft clinking sound against the expensive table. It was a three-course meal, the kind of food you only see in movies or magazines.It looked fake. That was the only way I could describe it.There was a bowl of bright, creamy soup that smelled sweet and rich. There was a basket of soft, warm bread that shone under the light

~ANYA POV~The meal had been a blur. The rich smells of truffle and butter that had made me nauseous earlier still remained in the air, but the plates sat mostly untouched. I pushed my chair back slowly, my legs feeling heavy.Isidora, as always, was perfectly composed."Let's settle this," she said softly, her tone casual but commanding.A waiter approached with a polite bow, holding the leather check folder between trembling hands. I noticed how he kept his eyes down, staring at his shoes, not daring to meet ours.Isidora didn't reach for cash. She lifted a single card from her purse and tapped it against the wireless terminal. The waiter froze mid-motion. He stared at the card as if it were a loaded gun.My eyes widened slightly. The card was black—matte, light-absorbing black—with letters that shimmered faintly in the soft light of the restaurant. It looked heavy. It looked important."What is that?" I whispered as Isidora slipped it back into her purse.She glanced at me, one eye

~ANYA POV~The room is really dark, and it feels like something heavy is on my chest. I can't tell what time it is because the clock is facing the other way, and the thick curtains are blocking all the moonlight.I've been lying here for hours, eyes wide open, staring into the black emptiness. Every time I close them, I see blood. I see the faceless woman Isidora talked about. I see myself standing at an altar, chains around my ankles, marrying a man who just murdered my entire world.It's just a story, I try to tell myself. Isidora is trying to scare you into submission.But then I remember the look in her eyes. It wasn't a lie. It was a history lesson.My body is exhausted, aching from the stress of the day, but my mind is wired, buzzing with caffeine and adrenaline. I shift under the duvet, the silk sheets feeling too slippery, too cold against my skin.Then, I hear it.It's faint. So faint that if I were asleep, I would have missed it. The sound of the electronic lock on the bedro