THE DON'S CAPTIVE MISTRESS のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 51 - チャプター 60

AXELI sit back now, putting one leg on top of the other, leaning back on the chair, watching Damien Morozov. I can see the wheels turning in his head as he continues watching me, searching, before he looks at his right-hand man. And then he looks back at me again.He says, “As I told you, you won’t have anything to prove when our families merge together. Our families are the largest crime families in the country, probably the whole world.....and if we were to merge, we would be unstoppable. Just think of what your children—my grandchildren would be like. They would be so powerful.”He leans back, elbows on the armrests like a king. “Moretti, you know I do not have a son to inherit my Kingdom. I have my beautiful daughter, and I am willing to put her in your care. That girl is smitten by you, so we won't have a problem, I don’t have to force her into the engagement. She has had a crush on you from the very first moment she saw you, so chemistry is not a problem."“And our grandkids,”

AXELI groan inwardly but don't show it. I seriously don't need this right now.“I have matters to attend to," I answer curtly. "I’m a businessman. A busy one at that,” I add. I want to cut this short. I want to get the hell out of here. The last thing I want is to give her hope...to let her believe I’m going to marry her, that something is going on between us. Nothing could be further from the truth."I knowwww...." She pulls the word. "But this is important, it won't take a minute."“Yes? What is it?” I ask, my voice cold, sharp, straight to the point. I’m not trying to make friends.“My father told me he was going to talk to you,” she says excitedly. “So....did the two of you talk?”“Your father will tell you every detail of our talk,” I say ready to walk away.“So you agreed? We’re going to get married?” she squeals.I turn and leave without giving her an answer.As I walk away, I pray she doesn’t run after me. You never know with teenage girls’ minds, especially a brat from Dami

HAZELWhen I woke up the next morning, I had already made a decision.Sleep never really came no Matter how much I tried. I spent the whole night tossing, thinking about Harris, thinking about getting out of here, thinking about what would be different now. I had tried everything the first time Axel brought me into this house. I had tried pleading. I had tried crying. I had begged, bargained, and broken down. None of it had worked.Axel had shoved me into this tight, suffocating space, his home, my prison without a single explanation. I still had no idea why I was here, what purpose I served, or when he intended to let me go. Sometimes he wanted me near him, as if my presence fed something in him, yet he wouldn’t even engage with me. He wouldn’t talk. He wouldn’t explain. It was maddening, confusing, and suffocating, and it drove me to the brink.But now… now I had hope. And that changed everything.Lying awake in the dark last night, I realised I had to change my strategy. The Hazel

HAZELI smile brightly at the question.“Nothing. Why do you ask?""You are... Uh, you changed....?" Remo answers."I just thought I needed a change,” I say, my voice bright. It’s cheery. I feel maybe it’s because of the reaction that I never thought I would ever get from them that’s pushing me on. But I continue.“I just woke up feeling so great this morning. And, you know, I think I should make this a daily occurrence, you know.....waking up early, enjoying the sun and the company...." I take a deep breath closing my eyes. "I watched the sunrise today. And it was just spectacular, watching the sun. You know, I feel like there are so many things around me that I don’t appreciate,” I say.Remo is nodding his head. He has this half smile at the corner of his eye. I know he’s watching Axel. And he’s giving me the audience I need to go on. And, you know, he’s keeping me going.“And I realise I’m just so lucky,” I continue, as I look at Remo and Axel. “Like, you know, I have Axel here.”

HAZELFor a second, I just blink at Angela.There’s something about the way she says it, apologetic but firm, that makes me feel like a child who wandered somewhere she shouldn’t. And Natasha still hasn’t taken my hand. She hasn’t even looked at me again. Her eyes have returned to the cutting board like I’m just an inconvenience that walked in with the wind.Heat creeps up my neck.“Oh. Okay.” I swallow. “I didn’t mean to interfere, and I wasn’t saying it was her job. I just hoped I would get to do something.... I wanted something to keep me busy so I won’t be so bored. I always wanted to learn how to cook, and when you said she’s a real chef, I just got curious to learn from her. That’s all.”Angela’s face softens immediately, and I can see her trying to come up with a solution.“Um, you know what… if you’re looking for something to do, why don’t you go watch a movie in the movie room? I’ll bring you popcorn, some chocolate, juice....whatever you want. Just say it.”But that’s not wh