Stop Chasing Me, Mafia Lord!Chapter 1
I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the dress Giovanni had bought for me a few days ago. It was a soft shade of lavender, his favorite color on me. Tonight felt special—it was my birthday, and Giovanni had been acting strange all week, slipping away to take calls, coming home late, and being unusually secretive. But I knew he was planning something.
I’d seen the receipt in his pocket when he left for work the other day. He bought an expensive ring! My heart raced every time I thought about it.
I brushed a stray curl behind my ear, glancing at the clock. He should have been home any minute. I imagined how tonight would go. Maybe he’d take me somewhere special, or we’d stay in, and he’d propose. The thought of him slipping a ring on my finger, sealing our future together, made me giddy. I could already hear his voice, “Samara, will you marry me?”
Smiling, I tried not to get too ahead of myself. Giovanni always knew how to make me feel special, even if I couldn’t remember everything about our past. I guessed, I would just wait for him.
I walked into the living room, humming softly to myself. The TV was on in the background, and I absentmindedly flipped through the channels, waiting for him to call or text. My phone buzzed, but it was just a work email. Still nothing from Giovanni. I sighed, deciding to sit and wait.
That was when I saw it.
The screen flashed to life with images of fireworks lighting up the night sky. The camera panned over a familiar face—and my heart sank. Giovanni was there, standing beside a woman, smiling as the fireworks exploded above them.
It was Anya. The woman he swore was just a friend.
I felt the color drain from my face. My hands trembled as I reached for my phone, dialing his number before I could stop myself. He answered on the second ring, his voice calm, like nothing was wrong.
“Giovanni, where are you?” My voice trembled, and I hated how weak it sounded.
“I’m at the office. I’ve been swamped with work. You know how it is,” he replied smoothly.
I froze, staring at the screen in disbelief. There he was, standing with Anya while fireworks burst in the sky above them, and he was telling me he was working. My chest tightened, the air in the room suddenly too thick. I swallowed, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Are you sure about that?” I asked, feeling the words stick in my throat.