Alle Kapitel von The Secret Mafia Wife Vanishes: Kapitel 11 – Kapitel 20

Day three of Avril's absence.Donatello had mobilized every intelligence asset the Vexille family possessed.Surveillance from every major airport, port, and train station in North America was being reviewed over and over.Every bank account, credit card, and phone number in Avril's name had vanished without a trace.He even put a price on her head that made jaws drop on both sides of the law: complete ownership of the Cerato wharf for a single piece of information on Avril Merouin's whereabouts.It was the most important shipping hub on the entire East Coast.His father called him. The first words out of his mouth were, "Are you insane?"Donatello said only one word."Yes."But even with that, there was nothing.It was as if Avril had vanished from the face of the earth.He stopped sleeping, stopped eating. He’d just sit in his study all night, every night.Angelina had tried to see him several times, but he'd turned her away.So when she finally showed up at his door and saw how he l

Donatello slammed on the brakes.The car screeched to a halt on the side of the road.The seatbelt jerked Avril forward. She looked over at him, frowning."What are you doing?"Donatello couldn't stand the cold distance between them anymore. It was worse than if she had screamed at him, or hit him.He took a deep breath and laid his cards on the table. "Avril.""I don't want this divorce."Avril's frown deepened. "...What?"Donatello turned to face her.His eyes, once so calm and controlled, were now shot with blood."I can't accept this.""Can't accept what? That you were divorced without your knowledge? Or that I was the one who initiated it?""I can't accept you misunderstanding me. I can't accept you not giving me a single chance. I can't accept… just cutting ties with you like this.""So I'm begging you. At least… don't be so cold to me…"A look of genuine confusion crossed Avril's face again.She seemed unable to process what he was saying."Avril, listen to me." He instinctively

I stayed at Chloe's for five days.In those five days, we drank every bottle of champagne in her fridge, watched twenty movies I never had time for before, and even got daring new hair colors.On the fifth night, I booked a flight to the Maldives.The flight was in two days, at ten in the morning.I planned to get two more good nights of sleep, and then start the second leg of my post-divorce travels.Donatello hadn't contacted me.He was keeping his promise, but I felt a vague sense of unease.I told myself I was just being paranoid and continued packing.The next morning, the sky was just starting to lighten.I was dragging my suitcase downstairs when I saw a figure leaning against the wall at the end of the alley.His white shirt was soaked through with blood. One hand was pressed hard against his side, and crimson dripped from between his fingers onto the stone pavement.He looked up, his face pale and bloodless.But the moment he saw me, his eyes lit up."Avril…"He spoke weakly.

The next afternoon, Angelina was already sitting at a window seat when I pushed open the coffee shop door.She wore a cream-colored knit sweater, her long hair loosely tied back. She stood up as soon as she saw me."Avril," she said softly, her voice tinged with a nervous energy.I sat down across from her and ordered an Americano.We sat in silence for a while before she finally spoke."Avril," she took a deep breath. "I came here today to tell you, from the bottom of my heart—I'm sorry."She stood up and gave me a slight bow.I was taken aback and quickly motioned for her to sit."Angelina, you don't have to do that.""I have to," she insisted, her eyes turning red. "That day on the yacht, I didn't know you were Donatello's wife. I said so many things… so many things that must have hurt you.""I told you he sent bodyguards for me, I told you he used to have a crush on me…"Her voice broke."Every one of those words must have felt like a knife. And I was the one holding it.""Avril, I

A month later, Donatello's wound had mostly healed.The gash, once deep enough to see bone, was now a pale scar.I had visited him in the hospital a few times that month, always for just ten minutes, a brief chat, and then I’d leave.He didn't try to win me back.The tension between us had, surprisingly, eased a little.Now that he was okay, I was ready to resume my interrupted trip.I booked a flight to Iceland. The day before I left, I went to the hospital to say goodbye."Donatello," I said, standing by his bed. "I'm leaving tomorrow."His smile froze. "Where are you going?""Iceland. Then maybe around Scandinavia.""How long will you be gone?"I shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe I'll come back when I get tired of traveling."He was silent for a few seconds.Then he nodded, even managing a gentle smile."Okay.""Travel safe. Have fun."His calm reaction surprised me, but I was also relieved.This is good, I told myself.He's finally letting go.The next morning, Chloe drove me to the a