The Mafia Boss's Pet Wife

Sophia

The days that followed Nathan's visit were filled with an oppressive quiet. The kind that presses in on you from all sides, where even the sound of your own breath feels like a violation of the stillness. I couldn't escape the memories of his touch, the cruel words he had whispered, and most of all, the overwhelming realization that I was losing control. I was no longer just playing a part in a game I was the pawn, caught in a situation I couldn't undo. Every morning I woke up to the feeling of his gaze upon me. His words replayed in my head, each one like a poison slowly seeping through my veins. It wasn't just about his power over me. It was about his ability to manipulate me into questioning everything I thought I knew about myself.

I hated how easily I fell into his trap, how every interaction with him made me second-guess my own strength. I didn't want to feel this way. I didn't want him to have this kind of hold over me. But there it was, undeniable and consuming. It was late one afternoon when I found myself walking down the corridor, my thoughts racing as I tried to avoid anyone who might have questions. My stepfather, always lurking in the background, seemed to be growing more and more impatient with me. His face was becoming a constant reminder of the deal he had made with Nathan. And then there was Nathan himself-his presence always lingering in the air, even when he wasn't physically there. I turned a corner, and there he was.

Nathan stood at the end of the hall, leaning casually against the wall, his arms crossed. His eyes locked onto mine the moment I stepped into view, a smirk spreading across his face as if he had been waiting for me. "You've been avoiding me," he said, his voice smooth, like honey dripping from his tongue. "Why?"

"I haven't been avoiding you," I lied, but even as the words left my lips, I knew they were hollow.

"Really?" He took a step closer, his boots clicking against the floor as he approached. "Because it sure looks like you've been running from me."

I swallowed, refusing to back down. "I'm not running from you. I'm just-busy."

His smile never faltered. "I know you're lying, Sophia. And I know why."

I felt a cold shiver run through me as he closed the distance between us. He was so close now, his scent-citrus, leather, and something more dangerous-filling my senses.

"Don't flatter yourself," I snapped, trying to push him away with my words. "You don't get to control me like this. I'm not some prize you can claim, Nathan."

He chuckled darkly, his eyes glinting with amusement and something far more sinister. "You think I want you because you're a prize?" He leaned down, his face inches from mine, his breath warm against my skin. "No, Sophia. I want you because I can. Because I can bend you to my will and watch you fight it every step of the way."

I flinched, but he didn't give me the chance to retreat. His hand reached out, cupping my chin with surprising gentleness. The contradiction of his touch-the tenderness laced with control-made my pulse race in a way that disgusted me. "Stop," I breathed, my voice shaky as I fought the urge to lean into his touch. "This... this isn't what I want."

He ignored my protest, his thumb tracing the line of my jaw. "I know exactly what you want, Sophia. You want to break free. But you can't. Not from me. You never will."

I shoved his hand away, this time with more force, but it was too late. The damage had already been done. The seeds of doubt had already been planted, and now, they were taking root in my mind, spiraling into something dark and uncontrollable.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"I don't need you," I hissed, my breath coming in quick gasps. "I never did."

Nathan didn't respond immediately. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, studying me with a look that made me feel both exposed and insignificant. His expression was unreadable, but there was something cold behind his eyes-like he was toying with me, testing the limits of my resolve.

"I'm not letting you go, Sophia," he finally said, his voice low and steady. "Not now. Not ever."

I recoiled, my heart pounding in my chest. "I'm not yours to keep."

"You will be," he answered, the certainty in his tone sending a wave of panic through me. "Eventually, you'll see. You'll understand why I'm the only one who can give you what you really want."

I didn't say anything in response. There was nothing left to say. The silence between us stretched on, thick with unspoken words. I turned quickly, walking away before I could let myself get lost in his web of manipulation.

But I knew, deep down, that I was already tangled in his threads. The more I fought, the more he enjoyed it. He wasn't just trying to control me he was trying to break me, piece by piece, until I was nothing more than a shell of who I once

was.

I had to resist. But every encounter, every glance, every word from him made it harder and harder to remember who I was. Nathan was playing a game, and I was his pawn. And the more I tried to escape, the more I realized I was playing right into his hands.