Lahat ng Kabanata ng Mafia's Captive Desire : Kabanata 61 - Kabanata 70

Lucy sat on her bed staring at the ceiling. The silence in her room was starting to eat at her. She had been cooped up for days, and though Julia often dropped by to keep her company, talking and laughing with her, the quiet always returned when Julia left. Now the boredom pressed on her chest, mixed with hunger twisting her stomach.She sighed, dragging her fingers along the blanket, and muttered to herself, “I can’t just keep sitting here all day.”Her body moved before her mind changed. She slipped on her slippers, pushed open the door, and padded down the wide hallway toward the kitchen. The mansion felt too big sometimes, each corner echoing like it held secrets. But the smell of flour and sugar she imagined comforted her.In the kitchen, she opened the cupboards, pulling out flour, sugar, eggs, butter, and a small container of blueberries. The thought of warm muffins brightened her mood.She tied her hair up in a messy bun, rolled her sleeves to her elbows, and began mixing. The

DAYS LATER: GALAThe gala hall sparkled with golden chandeliers that hung low, casting warm light over polished marble floors. The air smelled of wine, roses, and expensive perfumes mixing together. Everywhere Lucy turned, she saw men in sharp suits with their wives or mistresses clinging tightly to their arms. Their laughter was loud, their words low, their eyes sharp and filled with secrets.Lucy stood near the edge of the room in her red gown. It hugged her curves, the silk catching the light each time she moved. She shifted uneasily, her fingers brushing over the thin fabric at her side. The music was soft but her nerves were not.Across the room, Barry stood with a tall man who looked just as powerful as him, his hand tucked into his pocket, speaking with that cold confidence he carried so well. He looked untouchable. Julia had already slipped away to mingle with some people, leaving Lucy standing alone.Her eyes roamed the grand hall again. The tall ceilings, the crystal chandel

At the top of the staircase, Lucy held her chin high, trying to mask the storm in her chest. Barry stood close enough that the heat of him brushed against her bare arm, but he didn’t touch her. He didn’t have to, his silence alone felt like its own kind of touch.She caught him watching her from the corner of her eye. Her lips pressed into a thin line.“Stop staring,” she muttered under her breath.Barry’s lips curved faintly, but he didn’t look away. “Why?”“Because it’s… it’s rude,” she snapped softly, her cheeks warming.He leaned slightly, his words brushing the shell of her ear. “Or because it makes you feel something you can’t name?”Her breath hitched, and she turned her face away quickly. “You’re unbelievable.”Barry chuckled low in his throat, the sound rich, mocking, but strangely soft too. He straightened, his hand sliding back into his pocket as though nothing had happened.“Come, kitten. Time to smile for the crowd.”Lucy bit her lip hard, following him down the stairs. H

The morning sun slipped gently through the tall glass windows of the dining room, painting the long polished table with soft streaks of gold. The air smelled of toasted bread, fresh coffee, and fried eggs, a mix that made Lucy’s stomach grumble even before she sat down. She had tried to sneak out to the garden first, her little basket of flowers already waiting by her door, but Julia had caught her halfway down the stairs.“Where do you think you’re going?” Julia asked with a playful lift of her brow.Lucy froze like a guilty child caught red-handed. “I was just… going to check the flowers outside. They need water.”Julia shook her head, looping her arm through Lucy’s and steering her toward the dining room. “Breakfast first. Flowers won’t wilt in the next thirty minutes. Sit. Eat. That’s an order.”Lucy groaned softly, her lips pressing together. “You sound like Barry.”“Good. Someone has to make sure you don’t starve yourself,” Julia teased, pulling a chair for her.Barry was alrea

Lucy trailed behind Barry when they entered the mansion. The morning air still clung to her skin, heavy and tense, but the moment they stepped inside, silence filled the wide halls. Julia and Jessica peeled off almost immediately, each heading toward their rooms. Julia said a soft “bye,” while Jessica didn’t bother saying anything at all. Her heels clicked sharp and quick as she disappeared down the corridor.Lucy hesitated, then turned to follow Barry. He didn’t look back, but his stride was steady, purposeful, leading her toward his study like it was second nature.“Hey...” she said quietly, almost unsure if she should even ask.He hummed low, the sound deep in his throat, but he didn’t slow.Lucy quickened her pace until she was at his side. “I thought tonight was supposed to be a meeting,” she said.“It was,” Barry replied, voice smooth, clipped.Her brows pulled together. “But… nothing happened. Everyone was just drinking, smiling, acting like it was a party.”He finally glanced