Paid $5 Million To Leave the Mafia Don のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 9

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

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?

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

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

(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