The Don's Unwanted Bride

CHAPTER 6

Alyssa's POV

The wind whipped against my face as I walked along the pavement, dragging my suitcase behind me like a defeated soldier retreating from war.

My fingers were numb, not from the cold, but from clutching the phone tightly to my ear, hoping, begging, for Estina to pick up. But she didn’t. Not once. Not after everything.

The streets of LA were bustling with people, everyone in a rush, heads down, lives in motion.

Meanwhile, mine was in limbo. I was alone, and with each step I took, the weight of reality sank deeper into my chest. I had nowhere to go. No money. No family. No friends who knew the real me.

I passed by building after building until a plain sign caught my eye.

"Maid Wanted - Apply Inside"

It was taped to the outer gate of a mansion. It wasn’t fancy or even flashy.

Just a simple note written in black ink, fluttering slightly in the breeze. It felt like a lifeline thrown my way. I stared at it for a long moment, questioning everything. But desperation doesn’t give room for pride. I pushed the gate open and stepped in.

I barely made it a few feet before a voice barked behind me.

"Stop right there!"

I froze.

Two towering men in black overalls strode toward me. One had a walkie-talkie strapped to his belt, the other had a scar that ran down his cheek. Their eyes swept over me, judging every inch.

"What do you want here?" Scarface demanded.

I straightened my spine. "I… I saw the vacancy notice. For a maid. I… I want to apply."

They exchanged a look, then one of them sneered.

"This place isn’t for riff-raffs like you. Get lost."

His words hit me harder than I expected. I stood there, swallowing the lump in my throat. If only they knew. If only they knew who I really was. But maybe it was better that they didn’t.

I was a Mafia Princess, daughter of Nicholas Martini, a name that sent shivers down spines. But right now, I was nobody. Just a girl in ripped jeans, carrying two suitcases full of secrets.

"Please," I whispered, voice trembling. "I need this job. I can clean, cook, serve. I’ll be invisible. Just give me a chance."

Scarface took a step forward. "We said get lost."

I didn’t move. I couldn’t.

"Do you want us to drag you out of here?"

Just then, a loud screech of tires echoed through the compound. The gates creaked open and three sleek black Range Rovers rolled in like a silent threat. They moved in formation, and even the guards stiffened.

The car in the middle stopped directly in front of us. The back window rolled down slowly, and a pair of cold, penetrating eyes met mine.

His gaze pinned me to the ground. Raven-black hair. A jawline carved in steel. Skin kissed by sun but shadowed by danger. And those eyes, icy, calculating, unreadable.

He stepped out of the car with the elegance of a king and the power of a monster.

"Who is this?" he asked, his voice deep, authoritative.

"She said she wants to apply as a maid, sir. But she looks… suspicious," one guard replied.

He turned fully toward me, hands in his pockets. His stare drilled into my soul.

"You. What’s your name?"

I hesitated. "A-Andrea."

He tilted his head slightly. "And why do you look so damn familiar?"

My heart skipped a beat.

He took a step closer, narrowing his eyes. "Have we met before?"

I shook my head quickly. "No, sir. Never."

This man looked dangerous. I should better leave. If I didn't, he might figure out my identity.

I wanted to move, raced out and never came back but with his gaze still locked on mine, intensely, as he studied me, I couldn't budge. The other guards watched in silence, and I did too, waiting for his verdict.