Bound by Betrayal (The Mafia King Captive Bride)

My ringing tone pulled me out of my sleep, and I yawned, stretching out my hand to grab the phone from the nightstand beside the bed.

Again, Damien hadn’t slept here last night.

My head pounded as I tried to sit up straight in bed. I picked up the call without checking the caller ID and placed the phone to my ear.

“Yes?” I sounded drowsy, my voice husky from sleep.

“Are you just waking up?” Sebastian chuckled from the other end of the line.

Startled, I pulled the phone away and checked the caller ID.

“Fuck,” I hissed under my breath.

“It’s still morning,” I said, yawning.

I heard him chuckle again before saying, “When you’re done, come to the eatery at Street 10 by the roadside.”

“Why?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.

“It’s about our last discussion,” he replied.

My gaze widened, and I instantly sat up straight in bed, my heart racing.

“Did you find anything?” I asked, clinging to the duvet in fear.

I heard Sebastian sigh before saying, “Just come out, at least by 10 o’clock.”

The line went dead as he hung up.

I tossed the phone aside, my fear banishing the remnants of sleep from my eyes. My heart was beating very fast.

Did he find anything?

**** *****

Exactly at 10 o’clock, Mr. Owen drove me to the street and parked in front of the restaurant.

It was an unassuming, old eatery – not fancy at all.

I wondered why Sebastian wanted us to meet here.

“What kind of friend are you meeting in this old restaurant?” Mr. Owen asked, eyeing the place with a frown.

“Not everyone is born into fortune, and besides, it’s an old school friend,” I smiled at Mr. Owen, and he nodded, looking apologetic for his earlier judgment.

Smiling, I patted his shoulder and said, “Wait for me here.”

Turning around, I walked into the restaurant.

The outside appearance was actually better than the inside. Mr. Owen was right; the place was very old and worn down. There were hardly any customers in sight.

My phone beeped, snapping me back to reality. I opened my purse and pulled out my phone.

Sebastian: “If you are already here, just come upstairs to the last floor.”

I put my phone back in my purse and began walking upstairs.

Even the staircase looked like it was on the verge of collapsing, with some of the tiles broken. I reached the top floor without difficulty.

“Ash,”

I turned to see Sebastian waving at me with a warm smile.

I smiled back and was about to take a step forward when I suddenly stopped in my tracks, my gaze widened as they fell on the two people sitting beside Sebastian at the same table.

What are they doing here?

One was my shitty ex-friend, Layla – the one who had betrayed me in the worst possible way.

The other person was Mason, and my eyes instinctively went to the bandage on his left hand.

My phone beeped again, and I pulled it out to see a new message from Sebastian: “Relax, I’m here with you.”

Taking a deep breath, I started walking towards them. As I approached, Layla and Mason both looked down, their faces lowering in embarrassment.

Why is Mason looking ashamed and worried?

I pulled out a chair and sat down, my face contorting in disgust. “Why are they here?” I asked, my voice firm.

“Welcome,” Sebastian said, but I cut him off with a warning tone. “Sebastian…”

“Fine,” he replied, brushing off the pleasantries.

“They have something to say to you.”

“I have nothing to say to her,” I spat, pointing at Layla, who couldn’t meet my gaze, her face lowered in shame.

“I am sorry, Ash,” she stammered, trying to hold back her tears, but I glared at her, my expression silencing her.

“Ash, please listen to them,”

“I told you I have nothing to say to her,” I said to Sebastian, my tone unwavering.

“Don’t you want to know about the stranger?” he asked, and I immediately shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

An awkward silence fell between us, but after a few minutes, I sighed and spoke up. “Fine.” Sebastian gave my hand a reassuring squeeze across the table before turning to Layla. “Talk.”

She glanced at me but quickly looked away. “You know, Ashley,” she began.

I didn’t allow her to finish and I snapped, “I know nothing,”

She closed her mouth instantly, looking down.

“Ash,” Sebastian said, raising his eyebrows, and I sighed.

“Continue,” he prompted, turning to Layla.

“My grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer, and no hospital accepted to treat her without upfront payment first. She was dying, and we were out of funds. I could have asked you for help, Ash, but that was when your dad reduced your monthly allowance due to the fight at the club.” Layla looked at me, regret flashing in her eyes.

I remained silent, continuing to listen to her.

Mason, on the other hand, seemed oddly quiet, having not looked up or spoken to me since I arrived.

That is strange.

“The little you had was barely enough for yourself, so I didn’t want to burden you further,” Layla explained. “One day, I heard from our neighbor that Prestige Medical Center might be able to help me if I spoke with their doctor.” She paused, shooting Mason a glare.

I followed her gaze, my curiosity piqued.

“So, I went there and was fortunate enough to meet the doctor that same day. The receptionist directed me to his office, but when I entered, I found it empty. I suddenly felt pressed, so I decided to use the restroom in the office before the doctor could arrive. But when I got there… I saw Mason and Olivia in an intimate position.”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

That’s a lie!!

I immediately whipped my head at Mason, waiting for him to defend himself but yet he didn’t say anything. And that means one thing, that Layla is right.

My eyes widened in shock, but surprisingly, I didn’t feel hurt. Instead, I felt foolish – stupid for thinking that the time I caught them was their first encounter, when in reality, Mason had been secretly seeing Olivia behind my back.

“I was shocked to discover Mason was the owner of the place,” Layla continued, turning to look at me. “Remember, you never told me about his hospital or that he owned the well known Prestige Medical Center. I had assumed he was just a junior doctor at another hospital.”

She was right; I had kept most of Mason’s personal and professional life a secret from her because she had never trusted him or his feelings for me.

She was never a fan of him.

And now, all I could think was that I had been a blind fool in love.

A lot of secrets seemed to be unveiling though I am still confused on how all this relates to that stranger.

Or is there something else that they are not saying?