All Chapters of The Mute Bride For The Don: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

I didn’t know when or how I’d fallen asleep, but when I woke, it was already morning and Ivan was gone.I winced as I turned, and frowned when I found a small bottle of ointment sitting beside my bed, along with a folded cloth.I looked down at my body and fresh tears began to well up in my eyes at the sight of what I looked like.Ivan had tended to the burns he’d caused and applied the ointment to my wounds in my sleep, but my whole body ached in ways that went beyond the physical. Exhaustion pressed into my limbs as I forced myself to sit upright.I stared at my reflection in the small mirror across the room, and the tears slid down my face.I hated this place, I thought. I hated everything about it. I wanted to leave so badly. I wanted to leave all of this behind. This wretched life. My father’s deal. Ivan—I was still lost in thought when the door creaked open and Anna rushed in. Relief washed over her face the moment she saw me.“Thank God you are still alive!” she breathed, rush

“You promised me! You said if I brought my daughter to you, you’d help me find the investors I need for my company. You said you’d give me shares. You’d help me pay my debts.” His voice lowered as he moved even closer to her pleadingly.“There is nothing anyone can force Ivan to do that he doesn’t want to do,” Anastasia interjected smoothly. “It’s not my fault if things did not turn out the way you wanted them to, okay?”I stood, caught between them, watching them argue over me like I wasn’t even standing there.“Not your fault?” my father snapped. “You told me if I brought her here, if I sold her to you, you’d deliver on everything we agreed. You promised you’d connect me with people who could save what’s left of the business. That was the deal!”“Wait!” I said, cutting through their bickering as my head started to pound. “Papa, forget whatever deal you two are talking about and take me home! We don’t need it! Take me home!”Papa’s eyes hardened. “It’s not that simple, Vanya,” he whi

His hands trembled slightly against his knees, and I could see him struggling to keep them still while trying to communicate with me. “There was no way to reach you directly. You’re—difficult to access. Anastasia was the only one I could speak with, Don. I’ve known her for years.”“I see.” I leaned back into the chair, letting the silence stretch before continuing. “I’ve done my research on you, Antonio. Your company is collapsing. You and your wife spend recklessly, and your debts continue to pile up beyond your ability to manage them. And that company…” I paused, watching his face pale with each word, “…it belonged to your late wife, did it not? Vanya’s mother.”Antonio’s jaw tightened and his eyes squinted hard, but he said nothing.I reached for my cigarettes, sticking one between my lips and lighting it slowly. “Care for one?”“No,” he said quickly. “I don’t smoke.”“That’s a lie, and I hate liars.” I exhaled a slow puff of smoke. “Because I have it from a reliable source that y

The sound of his laughter vibrated through the room. “You sound almost desperate for marriage, Birdie. Is that why you were foolish enough to let your family sell you off in the first place? Were you dreaming of some fairy-tale wedding? Huh?! I cannot marry you. You are far too weak and far too manipulative. You are not worthy to be my wife!”“Oh really?” A laugh tore out of my throat, altering my cry as I screamed at him. “That’s rich coming from you! You are the manipulator here! You’re the one who manipulated my father, promising him money just so he wouldn’t take me away.”“That’s not manipulation,” Ivan denied, unbothered. “That’s simply understanding greed. Greedy people are exactly like that, and besides, Antonio would have sold you for far less if I’d asked.”He studied me for a long moment, as if weighing how much more to say. “And even if I had helped him properly, what difference would it make? Your stepmother would drain it dry. Your stepbrother isn’t serious enough to run

My eyes widened when he lifted the log, and the closer he lifted it to my face, the harder I whimpered. I bit down on his fingers, but Ivan didn’t move.Just when I thought he’d definitely shove it into my mouth, he shook his head. “No, Birdie. I’m not going to do this. If I burn this little mouth of yours, you won’t be talking forever.” He sneered. “But since I want you to keep talking and taking your punishment, I have a better idea.” He lowered the stick back into the fire, and I thought it was over. Then Ivan pulled out a small knife and put it in the fire.I tried to bolt, but he yanked me closer to him, dragging me until my chest pushed into his, and he had my waist pinned down by his arm, giving his right hand cruel access to my bare back.I groaned, a sob breaking free from my lips as I tried to see what he was doing, but it was impossible with the position he’d put me in. I couldn’t move, couldn’t think, and could only wait—“Aaaaaarghhhhhh!” A scream wrenched out of my throa