Lahat ng Kabanata ng marked by the mafia alpha: Kabanata 31 - Kabanata 40

Chapter 29: The RevelationI got the text an hour later."You can come home now. We're gone."I drove back to the penthouse. The elevator ride felt like falling.The door was unlocked.Inside, the apartment was too quiet.Kai's toys were gone from the living room floor. The blanket Amara kept on the couch was gone. Her laptop was missing from the kitchen counter.I walked to our bedroom.The closet was half empty. Her side was bare. Hangers swung on the rod. Nothing else.Her dresser drawers were open. Empty.I sat on the bed. Stared at the empty space where her things used to be.My phone rang. The hospital."Mr. Volkov? Ms. Cross is being discharged. She needs a ride home.""I'll be there in twenty minutes."I drove back. Found Rihana in a wheelchair at the entrance. A nurse stood behind her."Hospital policy," the nurse explained. "Everyone gets wheeled out."I brought the car around. Helped Rihana into the passenger seat.She moved slowly. Carefully. Like she might break."Thank y

Chapter 31: The ResignationTwo weeks passed.Every morning, I sent flowers to Amara's hotel. Roses. Lilies. Peonies. Whatever the florist had.Every evening, they came back. Untouched. Still wrapped.I called her thirty times a day. She never answered.I texted her. Long messages. Short messages. Apologies. Explanations. Pleas.Read receipts showed she saw them. She just didn't respond.At the penthouse, Rihana was everywhere."Lucian, I'm feeling dizzy. Can you help me to the couch?"I'd help her. Then leave the room."Lucian, the doctor wants to schedule our first ultrasound. Can you come?""Fine. Send me the date.""Lucian, I can't reach the top shelf. Can you get this for me?"I'd get it. Hand it to her. Walk away.She was using the pregnancy. Using it to keep me close. To force me to interact with her.And I hated it. Hated every second.But the baby. If it was mine, I had responsibilities.Even if I wanted nothing to do with her.On Monday morning, I drove to the office early.

Chapter 33: The Desperate Pursuit I sat in my car outside Amara's apartment building. The engine hummed. My coffee had gone cold an hour ago. 7:30 AM. The door opened. Amara walked out. Black dress. Red heels. Hair falling in waves down her back. She looked untouchable. I got out. Slammed the car door. "Amara." She didn't turn. Didn't slow down. Just kept walking toward her car. "Amara, please. Two minutes. That's all I'm asking." Her hand reached for the car door handle. Pulled it open. "I know you're angry. I get it. But we need to talk about this—" She slid into the driver's seat. The door closed with a solid thunk. I knocked on the window. Hard. "Amara, don't do this." The engine started. She put the car in reverse. I stepped back. My hands dropped to my sides. She didn't look at me. Not once. Just backed out of the parking spot and drove away. I stood there in the empty parking lot. Watched her taillights disappear around the corner. My phone buzzed. Dimitri. "Wher

Chapter 35: The AwakeningMy head pounded. My mouth tasted like metal and regret. I opened my eyes. White ceiling. Beeping machines. Hospital.I turned my head. Lucian was there. Slumped in a chair next to my bed. His head rested on the mattress. His hand held mine. His beard had grown out. Dark stubble covered his jaw. He looked exhausted. Broken.Beautiful.My chest tightened. That familiar ache spread through me. The one that never went away no matter how much I tried to kill it.I reached out. My fingers hovered inches from his face. I wanted to touch him. Wanted to run my fingers through his hair like I used to. Wanted to wake him up and tell him everything would be okay.But it wouldn't be okay.He did this. He destroyed us. If he had just listened to me about Rihana from the start, we wouldn't be here. I wouldn't have spent last night drowning in vodka and Marcus's empty compliments. I wouldn't have kissed him in the rain like a desperate fool.My hand stopped. Pulled back. I s

Chapter 37: The CelebrationViktor poured champagne into two crystal glasses. The liquid bubbled. Gold against the light. He handed one to Rihana."To our father." He raised his glass. "May he rest knowing we finally got justice."Rihana clinked her glass against his. But she didn't drink. Just stared at the champagne like it might turn to poison.They stood in Viktor's penthouse. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. The same city Lucian used to control. The same empire that was now crumbling."Seventy percent of his assets." Viktor walked to the window. Looked out at the lights below. "Gone. Transferred to accounts he'll never find. By this time next week, he'll be scrambling to pay his own security team.""Good." Rihana's voice was flat.Viktor turned. Looked at her. His expression softened immediately. "You don't sound happy, little sister.""I am happy.""No. You're not." He walked closer. Set down his glass and took hers gently from her hands. "Talk to me. What's wrong?