All Chapters of The Mafia's Thirteenth Bride : Chapter 21 - Chapter 23

IvyI stopped trying.I stopped trying to figure out who was killing the brides. I stopped trying to earn Dorian's trust. I stopped trying to be anything other than what I had always been.Invisible.The first day, I sat on my bed and stared at the wall. Mrs Chen brought food. I did not eat it. Mrs Chen brought tea. I did not drink it. Mrs Chen sat beside me and held my hand and told me everything would be okay.I did not believe her.The second day, I lay in bed and stared at the ceiling. Mrs Chen brought soup. I ate a few spoonfuls. Mrs Chen brought tea. I let it go cold. Mrs Chen brushed my hair and told me stories about Dorian when he was a boy.I listened. I did not speak.The third day, I cried.Not silent tears. Not quiet sobs. Ugly crying. The kind that made my whole body shake and my throat hurt and my eyes swell shut.Mrs Chen was there. She held me. She rocked me. She whispered soft words in my ear."It is okay, child. Let it out. I am here. I am not going anywhere."I crie

IvyI slept better that night than I had in weeks.When I woke up, the sun was streaming through the curtains and Mrs Chen was already in my room, opening the windows, letting the fresh air in."Good morning, child," she said. "Did you sleep well?""Yes," I said. "I slept very well."Mrs Chen smiled. It was a warm smile. A mother's smile."I made you breakfast. Eggs and toast and fresh fruit.""Thank you, Mrs Chen."She left. I got dressed and walked to the dining room. The table was set for one. Dorian's chair was empty.I ate my breakfast alone. The eggs were good. The toast was warm. But I could not stop thinking about the way Dorian had looked at me last night. The way he had said my name. The way he had held me.Something had changed between us. I did not know what. I did not know if it was good or bad. But something had shifted.At 10 AM, I walked to the training room. Sofia was there, stretching on the mat."You look different," she said."Different how?""I do not know. Softer