Claimed By The Ruthless Mafia

Bella’s POV.

It had been a month since I moved in with Ryder, and he had invited me to accompany him to a house party. I hesitated, feeling unsure about attending such a gathering.

“Oh no, Ryder, what am I going to do at that party?” I argued, trying to find a way out.

But Ryder was insistent, his voice firm and commanding, “I don’t want to hear any excuses. I just want you to come with me. Be ready at 7. I’ll be there early, and we’ll go together to the party. Wear my favorite green dress.”Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

As we arrived at the party, it was evident that Ryder had a magnetic aura that drew people in. Everyone flocked around him, leaving me to feel like an outsider.

I sat there, increasingly bored and regretful of my decision to come. Just as my disappointment grew, Kate, an acquaintance, approached me.

“Bella! How are you? I heard you started living with Ryder?” she asked, her tone laced with accusation.

“Y-yeah, actually, he wanted me to move in with him because…” I tried to explain, but she cut me off with a scornful remark.

“Oh, Bella, don’t give me that crap. I know exactly what it means to live together,” she spat, her animosity evident.

Panicking, I stammered, “No, no. We’re just friends. Nothing more.”

She laughed, her tone filled with smugness, “Yeah, I know. And you won’t be more than that to him. Because…” She leaned forward, a wicked glint in her eyes, “… you’re not his type. Very soon, he’ll get bored of you and come back to me.”

Her words struck me like a knife. I was left dumbfounded, unable to come up with a suitable response. It was my choice to keep our relationship platonic, to avoid any emotional entanglements. I had made that clear to Ryder from the start. I was content being his friend, appreciating the care and special attention he showed me.

With her confidence in her words, she left me alone, leaving me to grapple with the insecurities her words had awakened within me. I sat there, feeling vulnerable and waiting for Ryder’s return.

Feeling overwhelmed after the conversation with Kate, I desperately wanted to escape from the situation. Frantically searching for Ryder, I wandered around the party, hoping to locate him. My efforts, however, were in vain, and a sense of unease settled within me.

In an attempt to clear my mind, I ascended to the second floor. As I approached the door at the beginning of the hallway, I noticed that it was slightly ajar. A mixture of curiosity and a sinking feeling in my gut compelled me to push the door open slowly. And to my utter shock, I found Ryder and Kate locked in an intimate embrace. It felt as if all the blood drained from my face, and my heart sank with the weight of betrayal and hurt.

I never saw it coming, never even imagined that Ryder who had been so kind and loving just moments ago, could be capable of such deceit. Though we hadn’t made any official commitments, the pain of his actions cut deep, as if the ground beneath me had given way, leaving me suspended in a void of confusion and hurt. The false hope he had bestowed upon me now felt like a cruel joke, and I couldn’t fathom why he would toy with my emotions like this. As Kate’s victorious smirk glowed with satisfaction, I knew her challenge had been to claim Ryder’s attention, and it was a challenge she had evidently won.

Kate’s face was like a portrait of triumph as she turned her gaze toward me, and her smile seemed to taunt my vulnerability. My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of heartache and anger making my head spin. Ryder, realizing the gravity of the situation, quickly disentangled himself from her and rushed to face me the moment he heard the door open.

“Bella!” His voice called out to me, tinged with panic and guilt. But his words felt hollow, like shattered promises echoing through the room. I couldn’t bear to hear any more of his lies, so without a word, I turned on my heel and left them alone to enjoy their moment of victory.

Tears streamed down my cheeks, and I hastily wiped them away with the back of my hand as I hurriedly sought an exit. My heartache had transformed into a raw ache, and the heaviness in my chest made it difficult to breathe. I couldn’t bear to stay in that dreadful party any longer, surrounded by the laughter and cheers of those who were oblivious to the emotional turmoil within me.

“Bella, wait. Please listen to me, baby girl,” Ryder’s desperate voice called out from behind me. But I couldn’t bear to face him right now. I continued my pace, my feet stumbling slightly in the elegant but restricting gown I wore.

However, Ryder was relentless in his pursuit. He closed the distance between us in swift strides and reached out to grab my hand, twirling me around to face him.

I jerked my hand away from Ryder’s grip. I couldn’t bear the thought of him holding me any longer, not after what I had just witnessed.

“It’s okay, Ryder,” I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tears that threatened to spill from my eyes. “You can go and see your girlfriend and have fun. There’s no need to follow me.”

Looking at his face, I saw the pain in his eyes, but it only fueled my anger and hurt. His expression seemed to beg for understanding, but I couldn’t bring myself to listen to his explanations, not when my heart felt like it was breaking into a thousand pieces.

“I don’t need your explanation, Ryder,” I whimpered, my voice shaking with emotion. “I’ve seen everything with my own eyes, and I’m not dumb. I know you’re only using me as a pastime. Hell, you don’t even like me.”

As he reached out his hand again, attempting to touch me, I instinctively held up my own hand to stop him midway. His frustration was evident as he clenched his fist and placed his hand down by his side, trying to control his emotions.

“Bella, you’re getting everything wrong,” he uttered through clenched teeth, his jaw tight with mounting frustration. I could see he was on the brink of losing his temper, but I didn’t care anymore. The pain was too much to bear, and I felt like I had nothing left to lose.

“Yeah, I’ve been living in a misunderstanding all this time,” I sobbed, bitterness seeping into my voice. “I’m sorry for disturbing your time with your ‘girlfriend’. You can go back and enjoy your night with her,” I spat out, gritting my teeth in a mix of anger and heartache. Without looking back, I turned on my heel, intending to leave and escape from the painful reality.

But Ryder wasn’t willing to let me go without a fight. He caught my hand and pulled me into his arms, attempting to hold me close once again. Desperation to escape overwhelmed me, and I tried to jerk my hand away, needing to break free from his touch and the emotional turmoil he had caused.

Finally breaking free, I ran away from him, my tears flowing freely, and my heart shattered.