Tempted By The Dark Mafia Heir

“New York, I'm here now,” Adeline retorts. She has finally arrived in New York after leaving about a year ago. Her parents had been pestering her for the past two weeks to come back home, claiming they had something really important to discuss with her. “Adelineeeee!” Seraphina screams at the top of her voice after catching sight of Adeline. Adeline turns around and sees Seraphina. “Phinaaa!” Seraphina runs towards Adeline, and Adeline hurries to meet her while pulling her carriage. Adeline lungs for the hug she’d been waiting a year for, but Phina slips away at the last second, grinning from ear to ear. Adeline wobbles, arms flailing, almost falling over before catching herself with a laugh. ‘You little trickster!’ she shouts, shooting Phina a mock glare, and Phina only laughs harder, delight sparkling in her eyes. “Nice move, Phina. Well done,” Adeline giggles. ***** Seraphina and Adeline had been friends since they met in high school, where wealth and confidence seemed to follow Adeline everywhere. Born as the only daughter of influential parents, Adeline was bold, unapologetic, and impossible to ignore. In contrast, Seraphina was quiet, focused on her studies, and found herself drawn to Adeline’s fearless energy. Adeline had actually been a bully who tormented the lives of less privileged students. In a quest to torment Phina, she developed a fondness for her. Despite their differences—one being reserved and the other daring—they formed an unlikely friendship, built on moments of laughter, shared secrets, and an unspoken loyalty that would last through the years. ***** Seraphina picks up Adeline’s carriage, and they get into the car that was waiting for Adeline. “Lady A, I need to get back to the hospital. I had to beg Alex to cover for me, and I can’t keep him waiting. He's already on thin ice with management,” Seraphina sighs, glancing at Adeline with exasperation and amusement. “Pull over at Sterling Medical Center,” Phina instructs the driver. “Okay, ma'am,” he responds. “My Phinaaa,” Adeline sighs and childishly pulls her into a hug. “You made sure to get this hug,” Phina laughs. “Yes!” They arrive at the hospital, and Seraphina hops out of the car and heads inside. ***** Adeline returns home, freshens up, takes a quick meal, and sinks into a deep, much-needed nap after the stressful journey she just endured. A few hours into her nap, Adeline’s phone starts ringing. Groaning, she grabs it and sees Seraphina’s name flashing on the screen. “Gosh, Phina!!” she exclaims, furious at the phone, her sleepy voice sounding very obvious. “What!” Seraphina responds, as if not realizing she has just disturbed Adeline’s sleep. “You are disturbing my peace again, as usual, girl,” Adeline groans, rubbing her sleepy eyes. “I needed to, Lady A. I miss you, okay?” Seraphina’s voice teases from the other end. Adeline rolls her eyes, but a smile tugs at the corners of her lips. “I hate you,” Adeline shoots back, the words sharp but playful. Seraphina laughs. “Yeah, yeah… but I still love you.” Seraphina’s tone softens, her curiosity piqued. “Have you talked to your parents about that urgent matter they mentioned wanting to discuss?” “Not yet,” Adeline admits. “I needed a little peace first.” Before they can continue, a knock comes at her door. She opens it to find a helper standing there. “Your parents are asking for you, ma'am,” the helper says politely. Adeline nods. She glances at her phone one last time, muttering, “I’ll deal with you later, Phina.” Then she ends the call reluctantly. With a sigh, she gets dressed and heads off to meet her parents, already missing the playful banter she had just paused. ***** Seraphina finishes work and leaves for home. When she walks into the living room, she finds Ivy, her cousin, watching the news. “Phina, come here!” she calls out eagerly. “Look, Haynes is looking even more handsome today!” she continues, her eyes beaming with affection as she points at the TV screen. Ivy has always been a fan of Haynes Van Doren—a strikingly handsome billionaire with a commanding presence that turns heads wherever he goes. Beneath his cold, powerful exterior lies a sharp mind and a fiercely loyal heart, especially toward those he loves. His confidence, intelligence, and subtle charm make him impossible to ignore. He is the most eligible bachelor in town, and almost every woman desires to have him. They all crush on him aimlessly. Ivy watches him on TV all day, both before going to and after getting back from school. She even discusses him with her friends who are equally obsessed with the handsome billionaire. She gets up to pull Seraphina toward the TV screen. “Leave me alone, Ivy. I am so tired. I doubt this crush of yours worked as hard as I did today.” “Ahh, come on, Phina. You're joking. Haynes works really hard every single day.” “You never listen. Remove this man from your head, madam!” Seraphina pokes Ivy’s head slightly and walks away. Ivy goes back to sit and enjoy her view of Haynes. ***** Adeline arrives at her parents' penthouse; the luxuriant and extravagant décor represents the wealth and power her family wields. She greets her parents politely, though a hint of weariness shows from her long journey. Her parents waste no time on pleasantries and jump straight to the topic of the day without any hesitation. “Adeline,” her father begins fiercely, “it’s time you consider marriage. The Van Dorens have requested you.”