MAFIA LOVE SCANDAL

“Entrepreneur and owner of the Four Seasons Hotel network, officially married his girlfriend who is a professional model.”

“Kaivan Maximilian married his girlfriend Anna Maria Judith Esstele in a private ceremony.”

***

“Damn it!”

Luca cursed in frustration. He even threw the newspaper he had just read without a second thought.

This morning, the middle-aged man was enjoying his breakfast peacefully. However, everything suddenly changed when Rodrigo, his assistant and confidant, arrived with news that instantly raised his emotions.

“So, that little brat married my target?”

Rodrigo nodded timidly. He knew all too well Luca’s habits when he was angry. He tended to throw the nearest object in any direction.

“According to the news, the wedding party was held privately and seemed quite sudden. Could it be that he married our target to protect her?”

“So, you mean Kaivan knew we were pursuing that woman?”

Rodrigo nodded again.

“Perhaps Kaivan deliberately helped the woman to escape our grasp by marrying her.”

Luca let out a frustrated breath. His mind was racing, trying to make sense of the information he had just received.

“If his intention was to help and protect, why go as far as marriage? Did they know each other beforehand?”

Rodrigo fell silent. He didn’t dare speculate on this particular question. Sharing perceptions with Luca was risky; one wrong move, and his life could be in danger.

“I don’t know for sure what motivated Kaivan to marry the daughter of our enemy, Sir. What’s certain is that with this marriage, it’ll become even harder for us to get close to the target.”

Luca clenched his jaw. He was preparing to curse again, but he quickly took a deep breath to keep his emotions in check.

Afterward, he took out his phone from his pocket and scrolled through his contacts, then quickly dialed a number.

“Mateo,” he greeted as the call was answered promptly. “What recent information have you gathered?”

“Has Sir heard or read the news about Kaivan marrying Giorgino Masseli’s daughter?”

Luca let out a soft sigh.

“Hmm, I just read about it. Why is everything getting more chaotic?”

“I don’t know, Sir,” Mateo responded. “I believe there’s a significant plan behind their marriage. Here, I’m also searching for an associate to gather clear information.”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Luca exhaled softly. On one hand, he needed to resolve the chaos before his organization’s secrets were exposed.

“I don’t care, capture the woman when the opportunity arises. If Giorgino’s daughter is carrying the item we’ve been looking for, you must swiftly get her out of that hotel.”

“I will investigate immediately. I promise to bring the woman back to Sicily soon.”

“If there’s no progress in a month, execute the backup plan. Lure the woman out of her hiding place.”

Mateo replied once more.

“Understood, Sir. I’ll carry out all your orders.”

****

Anne blinked repeatedly, gathering her senses. With effort, she got up and slid down from the bed. Glancing briefly at the clock in the corner of the wall, it was already six in the morning.

Instead of rushing to shower, the beautiful woman tidied her sleepwear and headed to the kitchen. Pondering for a moment, she considered what kind of breakfast she wanted to make.

After living with Kaivan for so long, it was the first time she tried to use the kitchen available in her room. Cooking was one of her favorite activities, but she remembered Meggy’s warning not to go through the trouble, which always deterred her.

For a moment, Anne thought as she checked each ingredient in the storage cabinet. Eventually, she decided to cook lasagna and pasta carbonara.

Being accustomed to the kitchen, it didn’t take long for Anne to finish preparing all the dishes. She skillfully served what she had cooked on the table, arranging everything neatly before heading off to clean herself up.

At exactly eight in the morning, Kaivan emerged from his room. While newlyweds typically go on a honeymoon or take a vacation after their wedding reception, Anne and Kaivan were different. On the second day of officially becoming husband and wife, Laura Maximilian’s eldest son was busy getting ready for work.

Anne, who had returned to the dining area, immediately greeted him. She intentionally invited him to share breakfast, acting like an ordinary married couple.

“Do you want breakfast? I cooked everything this morning.” Anne offered a genuine smile while pointing to the food on the table. Her mood was quite good this morning. There was no desire to engage in a war with the man standing silently across from her.

However, instead of approaching, Kaivan just walked by without a word. He briefly glanced her way before choosing to exit the room, acting as though Anne wasn’t even there.

Not wanting to dwell on it, Anne resumed eating. Whatever attitude Kaivan wanted to adopt was his choice. What mattered was that she had tried to be kind.

Meanwhile, upon entering his office, Kaivan was greeted by a woman who frequently visited him. None other than Veronica. The confident woman greeted him with open arms, hugging him and planting kisses on both of his cheeks.

“I’ve missed you.”

“Me too…” Kaivan responded casually. He even planted a brief kiss on Veronica’s forehead. He then held her wrist, guiding her to sit next to him on the sofa.

“I thought you didn’t want to see me anymore,” she said. “Why didn’t you come to my wedding reception —-”

“And see you standing next to that slut?” Veronica retorted. She was already annoyed without any valid reason. Just thinking of Anne made her want to curse loudly. The memory of the woman who was now Kaivan’s wife embarrassing her and forcibly kicking her out was still vivid in her mind.

“You know very well that our marriage is just a status. Besides, it won’t last long.” Kaivan attempted to appease her. “I’ve told you, you’re still here,” he said as he took Veronica’s wrist, guiding her finger to stop over his heart.

“You’re such a smooth talker!” Veronica sneered. “All men are the same.”

Frustrated with Veronica’s behavior, Kaivan pulled her into an embrace and muttered softly.

“I’m not lying. How else can I make you trust me?”

Veronica appeared to think for a moment before responding.

“I want you to officially acknowledge our relationship. For God’s sake, I’m tired of being treated like just a casual date.”

Kaivan smiled.

“Not now, Veronica. You know I’ve just gotten married. How can I formalize a relationship when I’m still tied to Anne?”

“Fine, I’ll give you leeway. After your marriage is over or after you divorce her, please clarify our relationship status.”

Kaivan simply nodded. If he refused or said no, Veronica would undoubtedly pout and sulk. Women were like that; they always wanted their wishes granted.

“Oh, by the way…” Veronica spoke up again. “There’s a celebration party at one of our favorite bars tomorrow night. Don’t you want to have fun with me? We haven’t gone out together in a while.”

Kaivan shook his head, meaning to decline Veronica’s invitation.

“I can’t go freely like before. You know very well that if I go out with you, there’ll be rumors and speculations.”

Veronica smiled, understanding Kaivan’s concerns. As a well-known public figure, he couldn’t just engage in activities outside without consequences. There were many rivals looking for opportunities to bring him down.

“Don’t worry, we won’t be alone. I’ll invite some other friends. The important thing is that you attend and join me.”

Kaivan agreed with a nod. It had been a long time since he had gone to parties like this. Despite his busy schedule, he also needed some refreshment from the daily grind.

“We’ll meet at the event venue tomorrow then.”

“Alright, I’ll be waiting for you tomorrow night.”

Veronica leaned in, about to kiss Kaivan, when a knock on the door accompanied by a man’s voice disrupted them.

“Sorry, Mister.” Mike looked embarrassed. Little did he know that his boss was indulging with another woman in his office.

“It’s okay, Mike,” Kaivan replied, loosening his hold. He shifted his gaze to Mike, who stood not far from the doorway. “Is there something you need to report?”

Veronica, understanding that Kaivan was busy with work, stood up from her seat. She grabbed her bag from the table and got ready to leave.

“I’ll take my leave now. I’ll contact you again later.”

After Veronica left, Mike closed the door. The next moment, he handed a folder to Kaivan, a folder he had intentionally brought to give to him.

“This is the report you requested a few days ago about expanding the land and renovating our branch hotel in Milan, Italy.”

Kaivan accepted the folder Mike handed him. He opened it and carefully read through it. His eyes scanned up and down, occasionally furrowing his brow. It was evident he was seriously studying what was before him.

“So, should I personally review this project?”

Mike nodded.

“I’ve scheduled a site visit for next week.”

“Okay, you handle the arrangements. Remind me if I forget.”

“But, Mister…” Mike interrupted. “Regarding this visit, will you be taking Mrs. Anna Maria with you? Or will she stay at the hotel?”

Kaivan looked up. He had almost forgotten about Anne, who couldn’t be left behind so easily. However, bringing her along also carried its own risks.

“I’ll think about it. If there’s a change, I’ll let you know.”

****

Kaivan had just finished his work at exactly nine in the evening. Entering his hotel room, he crossed paths with Anne, who was getting a drink from the pantry. Wearing a thin satin nightgown, the beautiful woman immediately greeted him.

“You just got back?” she asked in a casual tone. “Have you had dinner? I cooked corn soup and roast meats earlier.”

Kaivan shook his head.

“Thank you, but I’m not hungry. Besides, you don’t need to go through the trouble of cooking for me. We have a dedicated chef who prepares breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And I might not even have the same taste as your cooking.”

Anne grimaced. She really wanted to curse. But she was aware that she didn’t want to fight right now. So, she offered a faint smile.

“It’s up to you. If you want to eat, that’s fine. If not, it’s also okay. I’m just trying to be nice to you.”

“What did you say? Being kind?” Kaivan felt provoked by what he had just heard. “After you suddenly came into my life and now you’re saying you’re being kind to me? Give me a break, Anna Maria! You’ve disrupted my life. If I had a choice, I wouldn’t want to meet you, let alone deal with you.” Kaivan pointed his finger directly at Anna Maria’s face and said sharply, “You’re nothing more than a troublemaker!”

“You-”

“What?” Kaivan quickly interrupted. “You don’t like what I said? Just so you know, who in their right mind would suddenly have to take responsibility for something they didn’t do? You’re not just a troublemaker. You might very well be a skilled liar!”

“Stop!” Anne yelled loudly, bringing both her hands to cover her ears tightly. “Say whatever you want. The fact is, I’m not the kind of woman you’re accusing me of being.”

Kaivan could clearly see Anne’s flushed face, her anger and frustration barely contained. Without saying much more, she immediately walked away, entered her room, and locked it securely.

As strong as Anne had tried to be, who wouldn’t be hurt by being humiliated in such a way? It wasn’t her intention to get caught up in such a complicated situation.

Lost in her tears, Anne’s phone rang again. It was the call she had been waiting for.

“Please, pick me up right now!”

Upon receiving the call, Anne rushed out her plea. The insult from Kaivan hurt her deeply.

“Hey… what’s wrong with you?” the voice on the other end asked. “Are you crying?”

“For God’s sake, I can’t take dealing with that damn man anymore! I’ve been trying to be kind, but he can’t show me even the slightest bit of respect. Do you think I can endure being in this situation any longer?”

“Anne…,” the man’s voice softened. “Please, be patient for a bit-”

“Until when?” Anne cut in.

“Until the time comes. I promise it won’t be much longer. I’ll come get you soon.”

Anne took several deep breaths, attempting to calm the emotions building up in her chest.

“Pick me up as soon as possible.”

“I will definitely come get you. But not right now. Hold on a bit longer. You need to be strong and more patient in dealing with that man.”

Anne remained still. She didn’t say anything in response. It was so difficult to be told to endure continuously.

“Or would you like to meet me?”

Anne’s eyes widened.

“Is that possible?”

“Of course. But it’s just a meeting. It doesn’t mean I’ll come to get you. Our mission isn’t finished.”

Holding her phone tightly, Anne nodded repeatedly.

“Alright, that’s fine. The important thing is that I can see you in person.”

“I’ll find a safe and suitable time. I’ll let you know as soon as possible.”

“You promise?”

“Of course. I never break my promises. Now rest. Forget about all your frustrations. Remember, our plans need to go perfectly so that we can be together again.”

Anne exhaled a long breath before finally responding softly.

“I’ll follow all your instructions.”