Lahat ng Kabanata ng marked by the mafia alpha: Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

Chapter 19: Breaking Through I sat at my desk. Staring at nothing.The office was quiet. Empty. Just me and my thoughts and the ache in my chest that wouldn't go away.Three days. Three days of silence from Lucian.Three days of sleeping in separate rooms. Of him turning away when I tried to help. Of watching him ice me out completely.I'd built an empire. Destroyed my enemies. Saved my son.But I couldn't save this.The files on my desk blurred. I couldn't focus. Couldn't work. Couldn't do anything except think about him.About his cold eyes. About his silence. About the way he wouldn't look at me.My secretary Rachel knocked and entered before I could respond.She took one look at me and closed the door behind her."You look like hell," she said, sitting across from my desk."Thanks.""Why can't you just tell him?" Her voice was frustrated. Exasperated. "Why can't you just say it?""Say what?""That you love him." She leaned forward. "Amara, it's so obvious. You're miserable withou

Chapter 21: The Manipulation BeginsI was on a conference call when Lucian's phone rang.He glanced at the screen. Rihana.He answered immediately. "Hey. What's up?"I tried to focus on the spreadsheet in front of me. But I watched him from across the desk.His expression changed. Softened. His jaw went tight."What? When?" he said into the phone.I couldn't hear her response but I could hear the urgency in his voice."Okay. Okay, calm down. I'm coming to get you. Where are you?"He stood up. Grabbed his jacket."I'll be there in twenty minutes. Just hold on."He hung up and looked at me. "I have to go.""Go where?" I asked. Trying to sound casual. Failing."Rihana's office. Her business meeting went bad. She needs me.""What do you mean bad?""I don't know the details yet. She sounded really upset. I need to go check on her."He was already moving toward the door."Lucian, we're in the middle of reviewing quarterly reports—""I know. I'm sorry. But she's alone and she needs me right

Chapter 23: The Shattered TruthI didn't sleep.I sat on the couch in the guest room. Waiting for morning. Waiting to pack. Waiting to leave.Around 6 AM, Lucian knocked on the door."Amara?" His voice was hoarse. Like he'd been crying. "Can we talk?"I opened the door. He looked like hell. His hair was disheveled. His eyes were red. He was still wearing the same clothes from last night."We need to talk about what happened," he said."There's nothing to talk about.""Yes, there is. Amara, I would never cheat on you. You have to believe me.""Do I?" I moved past him. "Because from where I was standing, you were letting another woman kiss you. Your hands were on her body.""I was pushing her away—""Not hard enough." I grabbed my suitcase from the closet. Started throwing clothes inside. "A man who didn't want it would have thrown her off immediately. You didn't. You hesitated. You let it happen.""That's not fair. You don't know what was going through my head.""I know exactly what wa

Chapter 25: The DruggingThree days of silence.Three days of Amara walking past me like I didn't exist.Three days of sleeping outside her locked bedroom door.I was losing my mind."Boss, you need to eat something," Dimitri said. He stood in my office doorway. Concern written all over his face."I'm fine.""You're not fine. You haven't slept. You haven't eaten. You look like death.""I said I'm fine."He left. I stared at the computer screen. The words blurred together. Nothing made sense anymore.My phone buzzed. A text from Rihana."I'm so sorry for causing problems between you and Amara. I never meant to hurt anyone. I'm leaving the city tomorrow. Goodbye, Lucian."Guilt twisted in my gut. She was leaving because of me. Because I couldn't protect both of them.I grabbed my jacket and left.The bar was dark. Loud. Exactly what I needed.I ordered whiskey. Drank it. Ordered another.The bartender looked at me with pity. "Rough day?""Rough life."I was on my fourth drink when she a

Chapter 27: The GuiltFive days since I found out.Five days of walking around with a bomb inside my chest, waiting for it to explode.Amara was in the kitchen. Making dinner. She hummed something under her breath. A song I didn't recognize.I stood in the doorway. Watching her.She turned. Saw me. Smiled.That smile killed me."Hey. Dinner's almost ready. Can you set the table?"I nodded. Moved to the cabinet. Pulled out plates.My hands shook. I gripped the plates tighter."You okay?" she asked."Fine.""You've been saying that a lot lately."I didn't respond. Just set the plates on the table.She came up behind me. Put her hand on my back. "Lucian, talk to me. Please."I stepped away. Her hand fell."I need to make a call," I said.I left before she could respond.In my office, I sat in the dark. Phone in my hand.Rihana had texted me three times today."Doctor appointment is tomorrow at 2 PM. Blood test to confirm.""Are you going to come with me?""Lucian, please answer. We need