Captive To The Mafia Don

Chapter 22

Writer's POV

Julie held Alice’s hand while she cried.

Alice looked at Julie and patted her hand.

“It’s okay. I’m fine now.”

Julie raised her eyes to look at Alice.

“No, you’re not. You pretend to be okay even when you’re in pain.”

Adrian looked at Zain, who seemed lost in thought.

“Alice, you’ll be fine, okay? Alessandro still believes you’re from one of those gangs. But soon the truth will be uncovered. Even I don’t know who to believe now.

Julie, I’m off to the office now. Take good care of yourself.”

Adrian walked up to Julie and kissed her forehead, then left.

Zain stood up and left without saying a word.

“Julie, I don’t know what I did to Maria and June. Honestly, I’m fed up. I’ve told Alessandro countless times that I don’t know of any gang, but he still wouldn’t believe me,” Alice explained while trying to sit up.

Julie helped her up and adjusted the pillows behind her.

“I know you didn’t do it,” Julie said softly. “The doctor said the old lady will wake up soon. Then she’ll tell them who caused her injury.”

Alice nodded slowly.

“What about Nena?” Julie looked at the window, then at the door.

“Miss June got her fired.”

“What?” Alice exclaimed.

“No. Why would she do that?”

“I don’t know. But she knows Nena is your friend, and she’s not happy that Nena helps you. So she fired her.”

Alice and Julie talked for a while after that. Their voices were low.

Alessandro had ordered the servants earlier to serve Alice food before leaving. The tray was still on the table, half untouched.

***

The day went by quickly.

Alessandro had been to the hospital twice to check on his mother.

June had only checked on Mrs. River and left. She didn’t stay long.

Alessandro was about to leave the ward when he almost bumped into Julie.

“Oh, good evening, Sir Alessandro,” Julie said quickly.

Alessandro wasn’t the type to talk much. He returned her greeting with a short nod and went back inside.

“How is Mom doing?” Julie asked as she set the food flask she brought on the table beside the bed and sat down on a chair.

“The doctor said she’ll be up by tomorrow morning.”

Julie had a lot she wanted to say, but she kept it to herself.

Alessandro glanced at her and asked,

“Do you think Alice did this?”

Juliet was surprised by the question.

“No. She’s a nice person and she wouldn’t do this.”

Alessandro wanted to believe that. But the footage of Alice stealing the flash drive kept playing in his head.

He turned to Julie.

“You’ll be here for a while. If Mom wakes up, do well to let us know.”

“Okay.”

With that, Alessandro left the hospital and headed for the club.

One of his properties in the city.

He needed to cool his head down.

***

After midnight, Alessandro drove back to the mansion. He would be leaving for England the next morning.

He went straight to the study and called his brothers.

“Yo, men. In the middle of the night?”

Zain yawned. He didn’t like anyone disturbing his sleep.

“Big bro, you called?” Adrian had already taken a seat.

“I’ll be traveling to England tomorrow morning for an important meeting. I would like you both to keep an eye on Alice. Don’t let her play any tricks again.”

“That won’t be a problem,” Zain said. “But when are you returning?”

“I’ll be returning the next day. The CEO of Stardust Group, Maria’s father, will be returning. And you know he wants to get me and Maria engaged.”

Adrian exchanged glances with Zain.

“So what do you have in mind?” Adrian asked, clearly displeased with the idea.

“I have nothing to do with Maria. And I will never agree to the engagement. I’m going there to inform him of that, I also need to check out some new arms.”

“No problem. Wish you a safe journey then. Right now I need my sleep back. Hope I’m dismissed.”

Alessandro dismissed him. Zain left immediately. Alessandro walked out of the study with Adrian.

“Tell Mom. And make sure to keep an eye on the house,” Alessandro said.

Then he went to the east wing.

Alessandro took two showers.

He tossed and turned in bed, but he couldn’t sleep.

“Why am I having this feeling of guilt?” he whispered to the dark ceiling.

Eventually, he managed to sleep for the night.

***

The next morning, he was about to leave.

He had planned to leave early, by five in the morning.

But something caught his gaze.

He went to his car to keep his suitcase, then decided to go to the back of the mansion to wash his hands before driving off.

That was when he saw Alice.

She was kneeling on the wet ground. Her clothes were drenched in water.

“You should leave this place,” June said. She landed Alice another slap.

“I’m sorry, ma,” Alice said quietly. “But I’ve told Sir Alessandro, and he wouldn’t let me go.”

“Then try harder,” June snapped. “You can’t stand in my way. I love Alessandro, and you won’t be my obstacle. Why have you been making things hard for me? Gosh, I feel like strangling you right now.”

Maria was frustrated. Alessandro wasn’t noticing her. And Alice was always there.

Alice gathered some courage.

“I know you hurt the old lady,” Alice said. “And made everyone think it was me.”

Maria looked at her and laughed coldly.

“Oh dear. I did that. Because it would make Sir Alessandro hate you even more.

But guess what? I have more plans for you. And by the time I’m done with you..”

She grabbed Alice’s face hard.

“You’ll wish you were dead.”

Alessandro was stunned by what he heard.

He stood frozen behind the wall, listening.

Something struck him. Hard.

I have been hurting the innocent person all along.

His chest felt tight.

He watched as June let go of Alice’s face and stepped back, satisfied.

Alice didn’t cry. She just lowered her head, water dripping from her hair onto the ground.

Alessandro’s hands clenched at his sides.

For weeks he had believed the lies. The video. The knife. The fingerprints.

He had slapped her. Cuffed her. Locked her up.

And all this time, it was June. It was Maria.

He took a step forward, but stopped himself.

If he came out now, June would deny it. She would twist it.

He needed proof. He needed to think.

He turned and walked back to his car in silence.

His heart was heavy, but his mind was clear for the first time in days.

He would go to England.

He would deal with Maria’s father.

And when he came back, he would make this right.

Not with anger.

With truth.

As he drove out of the gates, he looked at the mansion in the rearview mirror.

Alice was still there, kneeling in the cold.

And for the first time, Alessandro knew he was wrong this time.