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Home / Mafia Short Story / The Perfect Doll He Discarded / Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

All Chapters of The Perfect Doll He Discarded: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

11 Chapters

Chapter 1

For three years, I loved Don Damien Costello, the city's devil. Then he dumped me for being too perfect.So I went on a date with someone else.I just didn't expect to run into trouble before my date even arrived."Miss Rossi, I hear you've been lonely lately?"Lorenzo Benedetti’s voice slithered into my ear. It reeked of cheap booze.He was the heir to the Benedetti family. One of Damien’s biggest rivals.I took a step back. My hand tightened around my champagne flute.My date wasn't here yet. We were supposed to meet at this charity gala."I don't know what you're talking about." I kept a polite smile plastered on my face.Lorenzo moved closer. Malice gleamed in his eyes. "Don't play dumb, sweetheart. All of New York knows Damien Costello kicked you to the curb."He reached for my face. "Why not give me a try? I promise I'm a lot warmer than that cold-blooded bastard.""Back off.""Control myself?" Lorenzo sneered. "Why should I? You're just Costello's cast-off."My face burned.The

Chapter 2

The memory of that night two months ago came flooding back.I had waited for four hours in Damien's penthouse.I wore the black silk dress he loved. I lit a hundred candles.Cigars and whiskey were on the table.It was my perfectly planned proposal.I was going to be his wife. The one light in his dark world.The sound of the lock turning made my heart leap.I took a deep breath, ready for his surprise.But Damien didn't walk in alone.Sophia Marcelli was clinging to his arm. Her red lips were practically at his ear.The Marcelli family was one of Damien’s biggest rivals.I knew exactly what her being here meant.He wanted an alliance."Damien?" I stood up. My voice shook.He glanced at the candles, at the dinner I’d arranged. A flash of annoyance crossed his face."Isabella, what is all this?""I thought we should talk. About our future."Sophia let out a little laugh. "Oh, how romantic." Her fingers traced circles on Damien's chest.My face burned with shame. "Damien, can we talk in

Chapter 3

Damien’s hand hung in the air, inches from my face.My body trembled.Not with fear. With rage."Don't touch her."Julian’s voice was like steel.He stepped forward, shielding me with his body.I could feel his warmth. I could smell the faint scent of his cologne.The feeling of being protected made my heart race again.Damien slowly lowered his hand. His eyes shifted to Julian.The two men sized each other up. The air crackled with danger."Julian Thorne." A cold smile played on Damien's lips. "I've heard of you. The lawyer who never loses in court.""My reputation precedes me, it seems," Julian said calmly, but I felt the muscles in his back tense."This isn't a courtroom, counselor," Damien moved closer. "This is my world. And in my world, I make the rules."Marco shifted on his feet, his hand inching toward his jacket.The redhead, Sophia, pressed herself against the elevator wall, her eyes wide with excitement.She loved watching men fight over a woman."Your world?" Julian chuckl

Chapter 4

Damien's POVI stood in front of the elevator. Blood from my knuckles dripped onto the marble floor.There was a deep dent in the wall. A sharp pain shot through my hand, but it was nothing compared to the fire in my gut."Boss?" Marco asked carefully. "Should I get the doc?""Get lost."I turned and stalked toward the casino downstairs. Sophia trotted after me on her heels, trying to take my arm."Honey, your hand..."I shoved her away. "I said, get lost."The casino was a sea of bright lights and noise. The rattle of dice and chips filled the air.Smoke, booze, and perfume hung heavy.I went to the VIP corner where a few of my guys were at a poker table."Boss!" Tony jumped up to give me his seat. "Just in time, we were just...""Just what?" I sat down and nodded for the dealer to continue."Uh... talking about what happened upstairs," Tony said, trading a look with the others. "That Thorne kid has some balls.""Yeah," another guy, Vince, chimed in. "Trying to pick up the Boss's girl

Chapter 5

Isabella's POVHe didn't stop after that night.First, it was pictures of our intimate moments. Then the texts started. Demands for me to come back.This morning, a velvet box was waiting outside my studio.Inside were the lace panties I’d left at his penthouse.The card had his arrogant scrawl: "Waiting for you to come home."I shoved them into the incinerator and watched the lace turn to ash.I spend my days and nights in my studio, restoring paintings.It's my sanctuary.But now, his memory haunts this place like a cheap cologne.My phone buzzes on the table.It was a new text.My body tenses.But the name on the screen is Julian Thorne."Seen the news?"I put down my brush, confused. I pull up the news app.The Wall Street Journal headline hits me like a punch: "Thorne Group Completes Hostile Takeover. Meridian Corp Changes Hands in 24 Hours."I skim the article.Meridian, a notoriously corrupt real estate company. They bullied small businesses. And whispers said they were backed b

Chapter 6

The picture went viral.I sit in my studio, scrolling through the comments.Most are supportive, but some are venomous."Another gold digger.""Costello dumps her and she immediately finds a new wallet.""The Thornes are old-school. They won't tolerate a woman like her for long."I turn off my phone. Try to focus.But my hands are shaking.The phone rings.A blocked number."Hello?""Miss Rossi. It's Nico Torrino."My blood runs cold.Nico. Damien's most trusted man."What do you want?""Easy now, bella. Just a business call." His voice is relaxed, but I know the danger beneath it."I have no business with the Costellos.""Oh, but we do," Nico chuckles. "I'm calling on behalf of an anonymous collector. He wants you to restore a painting. The price is very generous.""I don't take anonymous commissions.""Not even for a million dollars?"I take a deep breath.The number is tempting. But I know what's behind it."Why me? There are plenty of restorers in New York.""Because you're the bes

Chapter 7

I don't know how long I've been in the studio.Three days? Four?Time blurs between paint and canvas.The Madonna in front of me is almost finished. Her eyes shine with mercy. But all I feel is exhaustion.I haven't slept since Nico's call.Every time I close my eyes, his venomous words echo in my head."You think they'll accept a Don's mistress?""You think they'll let their precious heir marry a tainted woman?"I shake my head, trying to banish the thoughts.The brush trembles in my hand.An email from my biggest client. The contract has been terminated.Then a call from my father. His voice shakes as he tells me the company accounts are frozen.Suddenly, the room spins.I reach for the workbench, but my legs give out. I collapse into the chair.My forehead is burning. My vision blurs.I have a fever.My phone rings and rings, but I don't have the strength to answer.The world feels so far away.Through the haze, I hear a knock."Isabella?"Julian's voice.I try to answer, but my th

Chapter 8

The next afternoon, I leave my studio.As I drive into the parking garage, the metal gate slams shut behind me.Black Cadillacs emerge from the shadows, boxing me in.My heart hammers against my ribs.My car door is yanked open. Damien himself pulls me out of the driver's seat.He shoves me against the cold metal of my car. His hands trap me, his body a cage.He's wearing a dark suit. His face is pale.His eyes were hollow, but a terrifying madness burned deep inside them."Get in the car," he tells me."I won't.""Isabella." His voice is quiet, but laced with threat. "Get in the car."I see his men outside. Their hands are inside their jackets.I have no choice.I start the car. I drive where he tells me, toward the outskirts of the city.The silence in the car is suffocating.I can feel his eyes on me. Burning holes into my skin."Have you fucked him?" he snarls, the question hitting me like a physical blow.I don't answer. I slam on the brakes."Answer me!" He punches the dashboard.

Chapter 9

"Marry you?"I look at Damien. He's like a stranger to me.There are tears in his eyes, but his obsession is terrifying.This is not the man I once loved."Yes," he says eagerly. Hope flickers in his eyes. "Isabella, we can start over."I don't answer. My heart is a frozen wasteland.He lets go of my hand. Pulls a velvet box from his pocket."This is for you."He opens it. Inside is a breathtaking diamond ring. "The Star of Sicily."He carefully takes out the ring. His eyes are full of expectation."My grandmother wore it. My mother wore it. Now, I want you to wear it."The ring is stunning. Any woman would kill for it.All I feel is disgust."Put it on, Isabella." Damien takes my left hand. "Be my queen. For real this time."I look at the priceless ring.Then, as he watches, full of hope, I take it from him. I roll down the window. And with all my strength, I throw it into the weeds on the side of the road."No."The look on Damien's face freezes."What?""I said no." I stare at his s

Chapter 10

I look at Damien's pale face. A new strength rises inside me."What you're feeling right now," I say calmly, "is exactly what I felt that night in your apartment."He starts to tremble."How does it feel?" I continue. "To lose control?""Isabella…" His voice is barely a whisper."It hurts, doesn't it?" I take a step closer. "To watch someone you love belong to someone else. To see their eyes no longer hold your reflection."Damien stumbles back against his Cadillac."But do you know what hurts the most?" I ask. "Realizing that person never truly loved you at all.""I love you!" he shouts. "I always have!""No." I shake my head. "You love the feeling of owning me. You love the power of controlling me."Julian stands silently beside me. He doesn't say a word, but I can feel his support."In your world, Damien, trust isn't a bond. It's a bargaining chip," I say, my words sharp and precise. "And you will always trade up for a bigger prize."Pain flashes in his eyes. "That's not true—""The

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