All Chapters of THE DON'S SECRET OBSESSION (His Bride, Her Prison): Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Chapter 71Dermos’s POVShe didn’t move. That was the first thing I noticed. Ariella had stopped retreating.For the first time since I stepped into the room, she wasn’t putting distance between us. She just stood there with her back no longer pressed to the shelves and her arms no longer crossed defensively.But she wasn’t relaxed either. Not even close.Her breathing had slowed, but I could still see the rise and fall of her chest, like she was forcing herself to stay steady, like she was holding something back.My gaze dropped briefly to her lips, then back to her eyes.She was still uncertain, still guarded, but no longer pushing me away.That alone shifted something in the air.“You’re thinking too much,” I said quietly, and her brows pulled together slightly.“I have enough reasons to,” she replied.Her voice wasn’t as sharp as before, that edge, or anger had dulled greatly.What remained was something different, something I didn't know if it was worse. Honesty.I tilted my hea

Chapter 73Ariel’s POVLuciana didn’t flinch, not when I stepped closer, not when my voice cut sharper than I intended.Not even when the tension between us thickened enough to choke on.She just stood there… watching me, with that smug look on her face.That calmness behind her features irritated me more than anything else.Or what? She had asked, like I wasn’t a threat, like I was just another woman trying to fight for her man.My fingers curled slightly at my sides as I held her gaze.“You heard me,” I said, quieter this time and much firmer. “Stay away from him.”Luciana tilted her head slightly with her lips curving into something that wasn’t quite a smile.“And if I don’t?” She asked softly, and there it was again.That tone, that not so defensive, nor aggressive tone.It was rather provoking, as if she were testing my limits, to see how far I was willing to go.I took another step closer, till there was barely any space between us.“Then I stop being patient,” I replied firmly.

Chapter 75Dermos’ POVWho could that person be? That was the single question that sat in my head the moment the words left my mouth.Sending someone else sounded simple when said aloud, but this was in no way simple.Cause the truth was… There wasn’t a single name in my head that I trusted enough.I leaned back slightly in my chair with my eyes still on the photos of the masked gathering spread across the table.A room full of strangers hiding behind masks. A room where one wrong move could easily spell your doom.Snooping around too much could easily lead to being spotted; we were well known among even the biggest of the biggest.“Alright,” Carlos said after a moment, breaking through the silence. “Let’s be practical about this.”Mateo folded his arms over his chest. “We need someone who can blend,” he added. “Not just walk in, but disappear in the crowd.”I nodded slowly. “Someone with no identity behind the mask,” I said. “At least on the surface.”Carlos scoffed lightly. “Those d

Chapter 77Ariel’s POVNo.No.No.Of all people, no. It cannot be her. My fingers curled slightly at my sides as that voice filled the room.It was the same familiar slurred tone that had no place in our conversation now.Why her? Why does it always have to be her?A quiet frustration stirred in my chest before I could stop it, tightening with every step she took closer.No. I can’t—“No,” I reacted as the word slipped out before I could hold it back.A soft, amused laugh followed immediately, and I didn’t have to look to know it was aimed my way.“Relax, Ariella,” Luciana said smoothly as she stepped further into the room. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”I finally looked up to face her well, my expression tightened despite the stress in me.“Of all people…” I muttered under my breath.And her smile widened slightly as she must have heard it, and probably enjoyed it.Then, to my surprise, she didn’t say anything again in my direction. She didn’t mock, but instead, she shifted he

Chapter 79Ariel’s POVThe door clicked shut behind me as I stepped out, and just like that, there was no going back.I returned to the living room and paused at the entrance for half a second with my fingers tightening slightly at my sides, before lifting my gaze and spotting them immediately.Dermos stood near the exit, his large arms folded over his chest, his posture as straight as ever. While Carlos leaned against the wall beside him, Luciana didn’t look at me at first.She was adjusting her gloves, looking all relaxed and unbothered, like this was just another routine outing.My jaw tightened slightly.“You’re late,” Dermos’ voice cut through my thoughts.I frowned slightly. “I’m not.”“You are,” Luciana cut in without looking at me.I turned my head towards her. “We didn’t set a time.”She finally glanced up with a single brow arching faintly. “And yet, I’m still ready before you.”I held her gaze, then looked away first, not because I couldn’t respond, but because I refused t