Sold To The Mafia Don

I received a message from a strange number that morning just before I could get out of bed. It was a picture captioned with; 'Told you he'll always come back to me. You're just a little distraction.'

I immediately regretted opening it. It was a photo of Jace in her bed, bare chested. 

It was obvious. They had sex.

No wonder he did not come back last night. 

She was right when she predicted that he would be over at her place than night. She knew him that well. He was truly hers.

"Wow," I whispered, unable to form a real reaction to what I saw.

There was no way I could feel cheated on because she was his actual woman anyways. I was just a pawn on his chessboard.

And when he was done with me, he would throw me away and reunite with the woman meant for him.

I was not supposed to feel anything. I was supposed to at least be happy I would not be trapped in this for too long.

I stared at door. Maybe he would walk in and tell me he wanted a divorce so he could go back to his ex and to be very honest, I would be thrilled. The only problem is how used I would feel. He had touched me a little more than I'd have wanted him to but there was no going back on it. 

I got on my feet and entered the bathroom. I shut my eyes and leaned against the sink as I thought of how I was going to go back to living my everyday life. It would be different. I would probably continue living in fear because of all that happened but at least I would be free again.

My phone beeped just then. It was an alert of a credit transaction in my bank account. I gasped at the figure. I opened it quickly and checked who it was from. It was from Jace. I immediately frowned.

Why would he send me this much money? For what?

Then it dawned on me that it could be my send off money. He was not going to let me off without anything.

I quickly showered. It was the day of my freedom. This was going to be a chapter of my life I would keep buried away from everyone else. By the time I return home and they ask where I've been, I'd just tell them I went on a trip. It was as simple as that.

I took a shower, washed my hair, dried it and brushed out my waves.

I soon entered the closet and started to pack up my stuff.

"What are you doing?"

I jumped and screamed, startled at the sound of his voice. I did not even hear him come in. 

"Mira, I asked you a question." He emphasized.

"I'm packing up my stuff."

"Why?"

"You're done with me right?"

For the first time, I saw him look confused.

I took my phone out of my pocket and shoved it in his face. I first of all showed him what Caterina sent. I saw his jaw clench as well as his fists. Then I showed him the money he had sent me.

"You two are back together. You don't need me anymore." I said.

"You're mistaken." I said.

My frown deepened. "I don't understand."

"I'm married to you. Not Caterina." 

"So she's your mistress now? Isn't she the person you're supposed to be married to?"

"There's never going to be anything between us. Ever again."

"But you slept with her." I stated, deadpan.

He sighed, looking uncomfortable. "It was a mistake."

"But-"

He took something out of his pocket and slid it on the island towards me. It was a black card.

"Buy yourself anything you want." He said and turned to leave.

"How about my freedom? Can I buy that?"

He paused and turned to me and yelled in frustration, "I'm letting you go out, Mira!"

"Letting me. Do you see how that sounds? I'm not some pet you can let out of the cage!"

"Maybe you're my pet." 

I tsked. It did not matter how many times I said it to him, he would always forget that I'm a human being.

"Just get yourself something nice. Hang out with your friends or something. I have work to do." 

He walked away.

I placed my head in my hands. 

Just when I thought I was free of all of this madness, I was still trapped.

I could not go down without a fight. I came out of the closet.

"Jace."

He was just about to open the door when he stopped, his hand was stuck on the handle.

"I told you it's Mr Romano to you."

"I'm your wife right? So why can't I call you by your name?" I retorted.

"That's not how it's done in this world."

I scowled. What exactly did he mean by that?

"Why did you choose to marry me?" I asked.

He turned to look at me but was quiet.

"Answer me! Why did you choose me of all women to torment?!" I yelled as my voice broke. I was not supposed to cry. It made me look weak, especially to him but I could not help it.

I raised my phone up.

"You just sent me nearly half a million dollars. That's two times more than whatever my brother owed you. You're a fucking billionaire. You could have let that money go but you decided to trap me here instead. What did I ever do to you to deserve this?"

He was still quiet. His expression was unreadable and it frustrated me even more.

"Just be the trophy wife I married you to be Mira. Embrace your new reality. Stop fighting it."

He walked away after that.

And no matter how many times I called after him even in the midst of my tears, he did not come back in. 

I sat on the bed, head in my hands as my tears dropped and I admitted out loud for the first time since this all began that...

"My life is over,"