All Chapters of marked by the mafia alpha: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

159 Chapters

breaking through

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

the return

Chapter 20: The Return[Content Warning: Jealousy, manipulation, emotional tension]I was going through contracts when the door crashed open.A woman walked in. She didn't walk. She glided. Like the floor was made of clouds.Red dress. Expensive. Tight. Her body was perfect. Too perfect. Her dark hair fell past her shoulders in waves. Her skin was golden. Flawless. Her face was innocent. Pure.She was gorgeous.And she didn't even look at me.Her eyes went straight to Lucian."Lucian," she breathed.He stood so fast his chair flew backward."Rihana."She ran across the office and jumped into his arms. He caught her and spun her around. Held her tight."You're alive," he said. His voice cracked. "You're actually here.""I told you I'd come back," she said, laughing against his chest. "Did you miss me?""Every day."I cleared my throat.Loud. Deliberate.They didn't break apart. They were still wrapped around each other.Rihana finally looked at me. Confusion flickered across her beauti

manipulation begins

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

The seduction

Chapter 22: The SeductionI got the call at 2 PM.Lucian's voice was panicked. "Rihana's in the hospital. She was hit by a car. I'm going to get her. I don't know how long I'll be.""Is she okay?" I asked."I don't know yet. I'm on my way there now."He hung up.I sat at my desk. My heart was pounding. Despite everything, despite the jealousy and the fear, I was worried about her.She'd saved Lucian's life. That meant something.Three hours later, Lucian walked into the penthouse.With Rihana.She was moving slowly. Carefully. Like she was in pain.But there was no bandage. No cast. No visible injuries."I'm fine, really," she was saying to Lucian. "You don't have to do all this."But she was leaning on him. Her hand on his arm."The doctor said you need rest," Lucian said. "You're not driving anywhere. You're staying here."He helped her to the couch. Set her down gently. Arranged pillows behind her back.I watched from the kitchen doorway."I'll make you some tea," he said. "With ho

shartteted truth

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

the decision to fight

Chapter 24: The Decision to FightI sat on the hotel bed. Kai was asleep next to me. His small chest rose and fell. Peaceful. Innocent.He had no idea his world was falling apart.My phone buzzed. Rachel."I'm coming over. Don't argue."Twenty minutes later, she was at my door. She took one look at me and her face crumpled."Oh, Amara."She pulled me into a hug. I didn't cry. I was too empty for tears.We sat on the bed. Kai between us. She didn't speak for a long time. Just held my hand."I'm leaving," I finally said. "I'm taking Kai and we're going somewhere Lucian can't find us.""No."I looked at her. "What?""No," she repeated. Her voice was firm. "You're not running.""Rachel, you don't understand—""I understand perfectly." She turned to face me fully. "You're scared. You're hurt. You feel betrayed. But running isn't the answer.""He let another woman kiss him. He prioritized her over me. He—""He made mistakes. Huge mistakes. But if you leave now, you're handing him to her on

drugging

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

the lie

The drive home felt like driving to my own funeral.Every block. Every turn. Every red light. They all screamed at me. Cheater. Betrayer. Failure.My hands shook on the steering wheel. I gripped it tighter. Tried to stop the shaking. Couldn't.The parking garage was empty. Early morning. Most people still asleep. Normal people who hadn't just destroyed their entire lives.I sat in the car. Engine off. Silence pressing down on me.How was I supposed to walk in there? How was I supposed to look at Amara and pretend nothing happened?My phone buzzed. Rihana."Are you home yet? Please don't tell Amara. Please. She'll hate me forever."I threw the phone onto the passenger seat. Didn't respond.Hate her? She should hate me.I finally got out. Walked to the elevator. Pressed the button. Watched the numbers climb.Twenty-eight. Twenty-nine. Thirty.The doors opened.I stepped into the penthouse.And there she was.Amara stood at the stove. Flipping pancakes. She wore one of my old college shi

the guilt

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

the collapse

Chapter 28: The CollapseThe hotel room was suffocating.I'd been here for two days. Two days of staring at walls. Two days of ignoring calls.My phone buzzed again. Amara. The forty-seventh call.I didn't answer.At noon on the third day, someone knocked on the door.I ignored it.The knocking continued. Louder. More insistent."Lucian, open the door. I know you're in there."Rihana.I opened the door.She looked terrible. Worse than at the coffee shop. Her skin was gray. She swayed on her feet."What do you want?""I need to talk to you. Please. Just five minutes.""No.""Lucian, please. I'm not feeling well. I just need—"Her eyes rolled back.She collapsed forward.I caught her. Her body was dead weight in my arms."Rihana?" I patted her face. "Rihana, wake up."Nothing.I pulled out my phone. Called 911."I need an ambulance. A woman just collapsed. She's unconscious."I gave them the hotel address.Then I called Amara.She answered on the first ring. "What?""I'm at the Marriott

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