All Chapters of Paid $5 Million To Leave the Mafia Don: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

At the party celebrating Lucius’s new title as Don of the Falcone family, he walked in with a bombshell on his arm.Every eye in the room snapped to me.After all, it was no secret I’d been chasing Lucius for three years.Even he had started to soften up, a huge change from the outright disgust he’d shown me at the beginning.I knew they were all taking bets on whether I’d be the next official girlfriend."Everyone, this is Tina. My new date," Lucius announced.The woman, Tina, clung to his arm, the diamond necklace on her chest practically blinding. She saw me and covered her mouth with a giggle. "You must be Eleanor. Lucius has told me all about you."Told her about me? I could guess what kind of things he’d said.I just took a calm sip of my champagne. I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing me crumble. I’d heard worse over the last three years.I just considered it part of the job.Right on cue, my phone vibrated in my pocket.I glanced down at the screen: [Bank Transfer Re

Chapter 2

I’d just landed, and before I could even drop my luggage, my agent was already pushing me to attend a business gala."Eleanor, every influential gallery owner and collector in New York will be there. You have to make an appearance."I glanced down at my outfit.A simple white shirt I wore for a comfortable flight, a pair of slightly faded straight-leg jeans, and plain white canvas sneakers. I had no makeup on, just a thin layer of tinted moisturizer to hide the jet lag.Hardly gala attire.But I didn't care. My talent and my market value had earned me the right to not kiss anyone's ass.I took a cab to the venue. As I was about to walk up the steps, a thick arm blocked my path."Sorry, ma'am. This is a private event tonight," the bouncer said, his eyes scanning my jeans and sneakers with a sneer.I was about to pull out my invitation when a familiar voice cut through the air."Eleanor? Is that really you?"It was Leo, Lucius's suck-up of a lieutenant, the one who loved to kiss ass and

Chapter 3

I didn’t even flinch at the wave of mockery and venom.With everyone watching, I walked calmly to an empty seat in the corner. I pulled out the chair gracefully and sat down. When a waiter passed by, I took a glass of champagne from his tray and took a small sip. My movements were fluid, as if I hadn't noticed Lucius staring at me from the head table, his eyes burning holes into my back.My composure was clearly a disappointment to those hoping for a show."Who does she think she is, acting like some kind of princess?"A woman in a deep-V, magenta dress slinked over. It was Mia, a Falcone family hanger-on. I remembered her trying desperately to get into Lucius’s bed, only to be kicked to the curb harder than even a plaything like Tina. Seeing me looking "pathetic" was the highlight of her year.She looked down at me, holding her wine glass. "You disappeared for three years. I thought you'd landed some rich old man. Turns out you were just rotting in a slum somewhere. What's the matter?

Chapter 4

"What did the artist say?!" Isabella cut her assistant off, practically vibrating with impatience.The entire room held its breath. This was E.V., the most mysterious genius in the art world. None of them had a clue that the artist herself was sitting right there, being ridiculed by all of them."Ms. Ricci, it's all set. The artist has accepted your invitation.""We've scheduled a meeting at the gallery tomorrow morning to discuss the details.""Tomorrow morning? Why not tonight?" Isabella frowned."The artist has a private engagement tonight and declined our dinner invitation," the assistant explained quickly.Isabella’s annoyance vanished, replaced by pure, unadulterated pride. She turned and strutted back to Lucius, linking her arm through his."Lucius, did you hear that?" Isabella’s voice was sickeningly sweet, but her eyes were triumphant as she scanned the room. "Tomorrow, I'm closing the biggest deal of the year. In all of New York, only I could get E.V.!"The room erupted in an

Chapter 5

The assistant's "Miss Vance" landed like a thunderclap.The roaring ballroom fell dead silent. The people who had been laughing moments before now looked like they'd been choked.Isabella whipped her head around, glaring at her trembling assistant. "Are you insane?!" she shrieked, her voice sharp with fury. "Who are you talking to? Look at her! She's a pathetic stray who can't even afford a decent dress!"The assistant flinched at Isabella’s outburst. Her legs gave out, and she scrambled to the floor, frantically gathering the scattered papers while apologizing to me."I am so sorry! I'm so, so sorry, Miss Vance! I had no idea you would be here tonight!"Her voice was thick with tears. She didn't even dare to look up.Mia asked her, completely bewildered, "Why do you keep calling her Miss Vance?"The assistant's hands froze. She looked up, first at Isabella with confusion, then cautiously at me."Because… she's E.V. The artist Ms. Ricci has been trying so hard to sign."Boom.The word

Chapter 6

At Mia's venomous jab, I just smiled."Mia, you seem to have missed something."I lifted my chin slightly, my gaze sweeping over her and the rest of the gawking crowd, calm and cold. "You can't choose your family. I've never denied I have a shameful father."My voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority. "But I choose my own path. I am standing here today because of the brush in my hand, not because of anyone's charity."I looked directly at Mia's face, twisted with jealousy, and a smirk touched my lips. "As for debt collectors? Since you have so much free time, maybe you should worry about yourself. You live off the scraps the Falcone family throws you. One day, your master might be in a bad mood, and your future will be a lot harder than mine."Mia’s face flushed a deep, furious red. She gaped, speechless, as if I had slapped her.I was done with this party, done with the hypocrisy, the bootlicking, the malice. I had no interest in playing their games anymore."Enjoy t

Chapter 7

I knew that revealing my identity at the gala would bring trouble. Among those fair-weather guests, there were bound to be a few "helpful" people who loved to stir the pot.Sure enough, the news that I was now a rich and famous artist reached the ears of my greedy, degenerate gambler of a father.A few days later, at the most prestigious art center in Manhattan, the grand opening of my solo exhibition was underway. The red carpet stretched to the corner of the street, flashbulbs strobed like lightning, and the gallery was packed wall-to-wall with America’s top art critics, collectors, and media.I was wearing a simple but powerful black couture gown, smiling for an interview with a reporter from TIME magazine’s art section.Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from the entrance.CRASH!A crystal sculpture worth tens of thousands of dollars had been violently shoved over, shattering on the marble floor. The reporters spun around, cameras at the ready."Eleanor! You ungrateful little bitch! Get

Chapter 8

"Five… five million dollars?!"The number ignited a fire in him. He shot up from the floor and lunged at me like a rabid dog. "You bitch! You held out on me! Give me the other three million! That's my money! It's all mine!"He clawed at the air, his filthy hands reaching for my throat just like they used to when I was a child.But before he could touch me, my private security team moved. Two massive bodyguards stepped in front of me like twin towers, grabbing his shoulders and slamming him face-down onto the marble floor.But the person who lost it even more than my father was Lucius.Isabella's words had been a dagger straight to his proud heart. He shoved her away from him with so much force that the spoiled princess shrieked and fell backward into the shards of the broken sculpture.Lucius didn't even look at her.His eyes were bloodshot as he staggered toward me. His face, always a mask of control and command, was now shattered with disbelief."Eleanor…" he breathed, his voice raw.

Chapter 9

(Lucius's POV)The penthouse apartment was dark, the air thick with the stench of stale whiskey.Lucius was slumped on the sofa, his tie ripped loose, his handsome face covered in stubble, his eyes a web of red veins. More than a dozen empty bottles littered the floor around him.Ever since the gallery opening, the most feared man in the New York underworld had locked himself away, drinking himself into oblivion for a solid week."Lucius… please stop drinking."A soft, pleading voice broke the silence. Isabella tiptoed over to the sofa. "That woman is a money-hungry liar. She's not worth you destroying yourself like this. You still have me, Lucius. I'll always be here for you…""Get out."Lucius didn't even open his eyes. He swatted his hand in her direction, knocking her to the floor. The glass she was holding fell onto the thick carpet with a dull thud."Lucius! Are you insane?!" Isabella shrieked, scrambling up. "I'm doing this for you! Is a liar really worth all this?!"Lucius fina

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