Alle Kapitel von THE MAFIA CEO'S UNWANTED BRIDE: Kapitel 1 – Kapitel 10

The family gathered in the study at eight o'clock.Lena sat beside the lawyer.Evelyn sat opposite her.Victoria kept checking her phone.Damian Romano stood near the window.He hadn't left.Lena wasn't sure why that bothered her so much.Perhaps because every time she looked at him, she felt as though he knew something about her that she didn't know herself.The lawyer opened a large folder."Before we begin, I must remind everyone that Mr. Carter's will contains several unusual conditions."Victoria rolled her eyes."My father always loved drama."Lena glanced at her."Not tonight."The lawyer cleared his throat."The first portion of the estate will be distributed according to Mr. Carter's wishes."He began reading.Several properties went to Evelyn.Others went to Victoria.A few charitable organizations received large donations.Lena listened quietly.Then the lawyer reached the final section."To my daughter, Lena Carter..."Lena straightened."I leave Carter Manor, my personal

Lena didn't sleep that night.She sat in Damian's car as they drove through the city, staring through the window.Her mother's image wouldn't leave her mind.She wanted to scream.She wanted to go back.She wanted answers.Instead, she was sitting beside the most dangerous man she'd ever met.Damian's driver kept his eyes on the road.Nobody spoke.Finally Lena broke the silence."Where are we going?""My house.""No.""You can't go back to the mansion.""My mother is there.""Your mother has been taken.""Then we need to find her.""We will.""When?""When it's safe."Lena turned toward him."Do you understand what you're saying?""Yes.""My mother could be hurt.""I know.""And you're telling me to sit quietly?""I'm telling you that if you rush in without knowing where they are, they'll use you to kill everyone."Lena looked away.He was right.She hated that.They arrived at a huge black gate.It opened immediately.The estate behind it was enormous.Lena stared.Damian noticed."

“Hello, daughter.”Lena stopped breathing.The woman's voice echoed through the mansion's security speakers, calm and unmistakably familiar. It was the same voice she had heard moments ago, the voice that had called her daughter as though nineteen years of separation meant nothing.The lights remained off.Somewhere downstairs, a security alarm continued to ring.Lena gripped the front of Damian's jacket.“Who is that?” she whispered.Damian didn't answer immediately. His attention was fixed on the security monitor, which had begun flickering back to life.“Security room, respond,” he ordered into his phone.Static.He tried again.Nothing.Then the woman's voice returned.“Damian, darling. It's been a long time.”His expression hardened.“Isabella.”Lena's fingers tightened around his jacket.“You know she's alive?”“I know that voice.”“That isn't what I asked!”Before he could answer, the monitor flashed.A woman's face appeared.Dark hair. Pale skin. Familiar eyes.The woman in th

Lena had always believed that the truth, no matter how painful, was better than a lie.But as she stood in the middle of the Romano mansion’s private sitting room, staring at the woman who wore her face, she began to wonder if some truths were better left buried.The woman stood near the fireplace, dressed in a fitted black gown that made her look every bit like the heiress she claimed to be. Her dark hair fell over her shoulders in soft waves. Her eyes—Lena’s eyes—were cold, sharp, and filled with a resentment Lena couldn’t understand.It was like looking into a mirror that had learned to hate her.“Who are you?” Lena whispered.The woman’s lips curved into a humorless smile.“You really don’t know?”Lena shook her head. “I’ve never seen you before in my life.”“Of course you haven’t.” The woman took a step forward. “You were taken away before you could even open your eyes properly.”Lena’s fingers tightened around the photograph she had found earlier. The picture showed two newborn

The message remained on Elena’s phone.Your mother is alive. But if you want to see her, you must come alone.Beneath it was an address.And one final warning.Do not trust Damian Romano.For several seconds, nobody spoke.Lena stared at the screen, her thoughts racing. Their mother—the woman she had spent nineteen years believing was nothing more than a name on a birth certificate—might still be alive.But the message had been sent to Elena.Not her.“Who sent it?” Damian asked.Elena shook her head. “An unknown number.”“Show me.”She pulled the phone closer to her chest. “Why?”“Because whoever sent that message knows something about your mother. They also know enough about this family to understand that sending you alone could put you in danger.”Elena’s eyes narrowed. “And you think I should trust you?”Damian’s jaw tightened.“No,” he replied. “I think you should trust your instincts. But I also think you should question anyone who suddenly claims to know where your mother is.”