Unbound From The Mafia Don

"Why are you so quiet?"

In the suffocatingly quiet backseat of the stretched Lincoln, Dominic was resting with his eyes closed. The flashing shadows of the streetlamps cut through his sharp profile, which looked as lethal as a Roman god's.

I turned my gaze away from the window and looked down at the faded brooch resting against my chest.

"Nothing to say," I replied.

Dominic reached out, habitually intending to stroke my hair.

I slightly tilted my head to dodge his hand.

His hand froze in midair for a split second before drawing back naturally. He let out a somewhat helpless sigh.

"Are you still brooding over that brooch?”

“Aria, I’ve told you a thousand times, Bianca is different. Her father took a bullet for me. I owe her a life. Can't you be a bit more reasonable?"

"It’s just an old brooch. Do you really have to give me the cold shoulder like this?"

"Dominic," I called his name calmly.

"Yeah?"

"Only the Donna has the right to wear that brooch."

The car fell completely silent for a second.

"That's just the old-fashioned nonsense of those stubborn elders. Why you took it seriously?"

He chuckled, his tone dripping with nonchalant arrogance.

"Aria, it’s just an outdated brooch."

"I’m going to Antwerp next month. And I'll order you a high-couture diamond necklace. I promise it will look a million times better than that ancient antique."

"Be good. Stop overthinking these trivial matters."

His deep, gravelly voice brushed against my ears, still carrying that familiar, intoxicating magic.

He was always like this, using the most tender tone to casually brush away all my expectations for the future.

Five years ago, when Dominic was still a low-level enforcer under the previous Don, he bought me a five-euro imitation ruby brooch.

He pinned it solemnly to my chest, his gaze unwavering as he spoke.

"Aria, when I become Don, I will pin the real Donna brooch on you. You will be my one and only Donna."

I was still wearing that cheap, imitation gem today.

Though its worthless material had failed the test of time, long since losing its luster.

The car pulled into the manor gates.

Dominic turned his body toward me.

"I’ll clear my schedule tomorrow to spend the day with you. Where do you want to go?"

In the past, I would have joyfully planned a packed schedule.

But now, I only felt an exhausting weariness.

"No, please," I said, pushing the car door open. "I’d like to rest at home tomorrow."

Dominic wrapped his arms around my waist from behind. His embrace was filled with suffocating possessiveness.

"Are you sure you want to keep playing this attitude with me?"

His breath brushed against my ear, a thick mix of vintage bourbon and tobacco.

"Bianca is so thrilled after getting the brooch. She can't even sleep. She asked me to take her to customize a bespoke haute couture gown to go with it."

"You know how she is, no? She can never make up her mind and has depended on me since childhood. I'll accompany her tomorrow morning, and I'll be back to spend the afternoon with you, okay?"

"Okay," I whispered.

"Good girl."

He kissed my forehead, with a look of satisfaction appearing in his eyes at my compliance, as if I were a caged canary he had successfully tamed.

When we entered the villa, Dominic went straight into the bathroom to shower.

I walked upstairs, pushed open the study door, and opened my laptop.

I logged into my inbox, where an encrypted email was sitting quietly. It was from the elite Swiss Institute of Medical Research—a prestigious fellowship in advanced cardiology I had secretly applied for but hesitated to accept because I couldn't bear to leave his side.

“Dear Dr. Aria, have you made up your mind? When are you arriving in Geneva? The lab is ready for you.”

I stared at the glowing screen for a long time.

In the text box was the reply email I had edited halfway this afternoon. I continued typing, adding a single, resolute sentence:

“I accept the invitation. I will arrive in Geneva by the weekend, on the early morning flight.”

I closed the laptop, walked over to the safe, and smoothly pulled out my passport, slipping it into the hidden pocket of my half-packed suitcase.

The sound of rushing water echoed from the bathroom.

I walked out onto the balcony and sent a text to Alora, who was far away in Geneva. We had gone to college together. She was a year senior to me and had always looked out for me.

【Alora, I’m taking the early morning flight the day after tomorrow.】

The reply came back instantly.

【Finally snapped out of it? Good for you! You’ve waited for that man for way too long. Come to Geneva, I’ll show you around and introduce you to all the handsome Swiss guys!】

I looked at the screen and smiled faintly.