The Devil Who Claimed Me

Chapter 56: The meeting

The next day...

Mila stood before the mirror, staring at her reflection.

The dress hugged her figure perfectly. A deep, elegant red shade accentuated her skin, flowing smoothly down to her ankles with a subtle slit that revealed just enough.

Her makeup was subtle. But it enhanced her features effortlessly. She looked beautiful.

A knock came at the door. Before she could respond, it opened.

Dominic stepped in. "Are you ready?" he asked, buttoning up his calf.

The moment he looked up at her, he stilled. For a long second, he didn’t move. His eyes slowly trailed over her, taking in every detail.

’So beautiful.’

He couldn’t look away from her. Something dark flickered within him. The urge to pull her close, to claim her right there, surged through him with unsettling force.

Her beauty shouldn’t be seen by others. It should be his, only his.

But this meeting was important. He couldn’t afford to miss it.

"Shall we go now?" He extended his hand toward her.

Mila’s heart raced as she nodded and put her hand on his. "Let’s go."

The car ride was quiet.

Mila sat beside him, her hands resting on her lap, her gaze fixed outside the window. It was her first time stepping out of the mansion.

And what she saw surprised her.

The road stretched smoothly ahead, wide and well-maintained, lined with structured lighting and modern architecture. It didn’t look like an isolated or underdeveloped island. It looked like a developed city, advanced and well-organized.

She hadn’t expected this. When the car finally slowed and came to a stop in front of a grand banquet hall, her surprise deepened.

The structure was luxurious. It was no less than the finest venues she had seen in major cities.

For a moment, she simply stared. She couldn’t believe Dominic had developed this island like this.

A strange feeling crept into her chest.

’Just how powerful and wealthy is he?’

The thought was thrilling yet scary.

Dominic stepped out of the car and opened the door for her. "Come."

Mila got out of the car. She hooked her arm with his.

Together, they walked in, and the earlier confidence she had built began to return. But beneath it, a quiet tension lingered.

This world was far bigger and far more dangerous than she had imagined. And now, she was stepping right into its center.

"Mr. Lee is a powerful man in the underground," Dominic said in a low voice. "A weapon dealer. He has connections across the continents. Once, he worked closely with my godfather. But after his sudden death and Marco’s betrayal, everything has fallen apart."

He paused for a moment, his voice growing heavy. "The gang split. Half followed me, and the rest went with Marco."

Mila glanced up at him, listening carefully.

"We lost his trust," he continued grimly. "To him, we became unstable, weak."

He halted his steps and turned to her. "Alejandro officially named me as his successor. This empire is mine by right."

His features tensed as he added, "Marco, on the other end, chose betrayal and joined hands with the enemy."

The muscles of his jaw flexed. "If Mr. Lee sides with him, Marco grows stronger. That’s something I won’t allow."

Standing there, Mila felt the weight of it pressing down on her. It was not a lecture in medical seminars. It was to convince a mobster to partner with Dominic. And she knew nothing about this world.

She grew restless.

"This meeting decides everything," he added, placing his hands on her shoulders. "You have to make him work with us. Otherwise, defeating Marco will be tough."

Mila’s throat tightened. She had been confident so far. But now, doubt crept into her mind.

’What if I fail?’

Her palm felt cold. Then she reminded herself she was here for her freedom, safety, and a better future. This was her chance, and she couldn’t blow it away.

She straightened. "I won’t fail," she said with confidence. "I’ll do everything I can."

Dominic relaxed a bit. He believed Mila could do it. "I know you can." He held her hand, tighter than necessary. He was nervous, but he was not showing it. "Time to meet him."

As they approached further inside the hall, they noticed a middle-aged man seated on a sofa speaking with a couple of men.

Mila tightened her grip on Dominic’s arm unconsciously.

The man looked intimidating. His eyes were sharp, as if he could see through people within seconds. A faint scar ran along his jawline, adding to his intimidating aura.

Dominic sensed her tension. He gently put a hand over hers. "It’s Mr. Lee. You should greet him politely."

Mila nodded.

As they moved in closer, everyone stepped back. But Mr. Lee remained seated on the sofa. He didn’t speak. He simply watched them, assessing.

"Hello, Mr. Lee," Dominic greeted him. He then gestured toward Mila. "This is Mila, the interpreter for today’s meeting."

Mila stepped forward, flashing a confident smile. She greeted him in Mandarin and bowed her head to him. "I’ll be assisting with communication today."

Mr. Lee was impressed with her words and her etiquette. The meeting began. At first, the air was tense, heavy with unspoken mistrust.

Mr. Lee spoke in Mandarin, his tone sharp and probing.

Mila translated seamlessly, laying out the questions he had asked.

Dominic responded carefully.

Mila didn’t just translate. She guided subtly.

Across the hall, Valentina watched everything. Her eyes were fixed on Mila. At first, it was just irritation. Then it turned into something far worse.

How could Mila become so important in just a few days? She was not only standing by Dominic but was assisting him in an important meeting.

Her heart burned.

All eyes were on her. It was as if she were the center of attraction. But what pained her the most was the way Dominic looked at her.

He wasn’t just listening to Mila. He was watching her intently as if no one was there.

Her grip tightened around the glass. Since when did a woman like Mila become so important that she had a chance to stand in a place like this?

Valentina had been in this gang for years, yet he had never had a chance to meet an important client like Mr. Lee. She had always been working in shadows, never having had the opportunity to step up to the light, to the center.

And Dominic – he had never looked at her the way he looked at Mila.

Valentina downed her drink in one go. The burn in her throat did nothing to soothe the fire in her chest.

What stung her the most was Mila’s confidence. She was speaking with Mr. Lee with ease. There was no flicker of fear, not even a hint of hesitation. It was as if she belonged to this world already, as if she had been doing this job for eternity.

’She doesn’t belong here,’ she muttered to herself. ’She is just an outsider. And I’ll remind everyone that.’

She grabbed another glass from a passing waiter and walked away.