Mafia Decision: A Mafia for A CEO

I was preparing to enter a world of danger and deception, but my long-time boyfriend of eight years, Lucas, still didn’t have a clue.

Lately, he’d been preoccupied with his new secretary, Celine. Their connection was instant, their laughter gratingly sweet. For her birthday, Lucas had thrown a lavish party complete with a custom ten-layer cake. It didn’t matter that I was severely allergic to cream; when I accidentally brushed against it and landed in the hospital, Lucas didn’t even visit.

That was the final straw. As I recovered, I accepted the proposal from a man my family had chosen for me—a man I didn’t even know. This wasn’t an ordinary arranged marriage. In our world, it was an alliance: a union between two powerful mafia families.

The moment I got home from the hospital, my mother wasted no time. As I fumbled with my keycard to enter, her text messages flooded in with wedding plans.

Scrolling through the images of extravagant venues and designs, I stopped at her last message.

"Anastasia, Lucas was never serious. If he wanted you, eight years wouldn’t have passed without a proposal. Our family has waited long enough. The wedding is in three days. This is not just about love—it’s about power. Pack up and prepare yourself."

Power. Control. This was my life. But in that moment, her words felt like a lifeline.

Sighing, I sent a voice message. “Mom, just pick whatever works. Keep it simple. I’ll do what’s necessary.”

Unbeknownst to me, Lucas had walked up behind me. His sharp intake of breath gave him away as he caught a glimpse of my screen.

“What wedding?” he demanded, grabbing for my phone.

Before I could respond, his phone buzzed with a call. A panicked female voice echoed through the quiet hallway.

“Lucas! Someone’s following me! I’m so scared. I ran, but they won’t stop!” Celine’s trembling voice made his face harden with concern.

“Stay somewhere safe,” he said urgently. “I’m coming!”

Without sparing me another glance, Lucas rushed off into the night.

I kept my composure as I made a call of my own.

“Aunt Mina, I’m leaving in three days. I wanted to say goodbye.”

My aunt had raised me after my parents were exiled from the city ten years ago, caught in a violent power struggle within our mafia syndicate. She’d done her best to shield me from the dangerous currents of our family’s influence, but it was impossible to escape it entirely. Lucas, my next-door neighbor, had been my anchor during those early days. Or so I thought.

When Aunt Mina heard the news, she gasped. “You’re marrying Lucas? About time! Eight years, and he hasn’t proposed. That boy is—”

I cut her off. “No, Aunt Mina. It’s not Lucas. It’s an arranged marriage. A family decision.”

The silence on the other end stretched on. “Ana,” she said finally, “are you sure? Lucas cares for you. I know he’s been distant, but there’s no way he’d just let you go. Maybe I should talk to him?”

“No,” I replied firmly. “He’s had years. And what do I have to show for it? Ambiguity and wasted time. I won’t let my life be a footnote in someone else’s story.”

She sighed but didn’t argue. “If this is your choice, I’ll support you.”

The next day, I asked my mother to send a truckload of gifts to thank my aunt for everything. By evening, the packages arrived, and I stepped outside to supervise the delivery. To my surprise, Lucas was standing by the curb.

“You’re leaving,” he said, his voice low, almost accusing.

“Yes,” I replied, keeping my tone neutral.

“For good?”

I hesitated, searching his face for some sign of the man I’d once loved, the man I’d built eight years of memories with. But his expression gave nothing away, save for a flicker of regret.

“It’s best this way,” I said finally, walking past him as the weight of unspoken truths settled between us.