Bound by Betrayal (The Mafia King Captive Bride)

I rushed into the hospital, heading straight for the receptionist’s desk. “Where’s my dad?” I asked, my words coming out in a rush, my heart pounding in my chest.

“Where is who?” she inquired, adjusting her glasses, a look of confusion crossing her face.

“I… my father,” I stuttered, “He’s been admitted here.”

“Your father,” she mumbled, still puzzled. “His name, please, so I can confirm,” she trailed off, scrutinizing my appearance. Doubt creased her face as she eyed me up. “Are you certain your father is here?”

Exhaling heavily, I nodded, trying to steady my breath. I was fully aware of my disheveled state, with my puffy eyes and tousled hair.

Still uncertain, she scrutinized me until her eyebrow twitched in recognition. “Wait! You seem familiar.”

“Where is your manager, Mason!” I blurted out, feeling impatient with the situation.

“You’re Mrs. Ashley Albrecht, right?”

She was still in shock when suddenly a familiar voice called out from behind, “Ashley.”

Thank goodness!

Turning instantly, I let out a sigh of relief, “Mason,” I exclaimed as I rushed forward. “Where is he? What happened to my father?!” I grasped his hands tightly, gently shaking his arms. “Heart attack… How??”This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

“Calm down,” he exhaled. “He is being attended to.”

“Where is he? I need to see him right now!”

Nodding, he smiled and motioned for me to follow him. I didn’t even bother acknowledging his greeting; all I wanted was to see the man who raised me.

Talking, I didn’t even listen to him, my mind was in chaos. Seeing that I was not paying attention to him, he sighed and stopped in front of a white door with room 119 written on top. “He is inside,”

“Thank you,” I muttered and rushed inside.

Closing the door behind me, my heart throbbed as I walked into the dimly lit hospital room. Swallowing hard, I blinked back my tears as I stood beside his bed. “He is still unconscious,” seeing his condition, I could no longer hold it anymore as the tears streamed down my face in full force.

The heart monitor beeped softly in the background, a constant reminder of my father’s fragile state. I looked around but couldn’t spot his precious daughter, Olivia.

Smiling, my heart ached as I turned to look at him. I couldn’t help but feel a wave of sadness and regret washing over me. The beeping of the machines was the only sound in the room, punctuating the heavy silence.

Leaning forward, I gently placed my hand on top of his, my voice trembling as tears welled up in my eyes. “Dad, I’m truly sorry,” I choked out, wiping away the tears. “If only I hadn’t sneaked out that fateful night… We shouldn’t be in this situation; you shouldn’t be lying here so vulnerable,” I whispered softly, my voice barely audible amidst the beeping and my own sobs.

I reached out and gently traced my fingers on his hand, hoping he could somehow feel my presence and the weight of my emotions in that moment. “I wish you could forgive me and give me a chance to explain everything to you,” I held my mouth, sobbing hard, so hard that I felt pain in my chest.

“I was crying so hard that I didn’t hear when the door was pulled open and someone walked in. “It’s okay, Ashley… He will be up in a few minutes,” I felt a hand placed on top of my shoulder, causing me to slowly lift my head.”

“He needs some rest, please,” I nodded at Mason and stood up to leave.

Stopping in front of the door, I turned to look at him again. “I know you won’t be pleased seeing me here once you wake up, but just know that I love you, Dad, and will surely fix this,” I said in my head, gulping hard before walking away.

“Who brought him here?” I asked Mason as soon as we were out of the room and in the corridor.

“Mrs. Charlotte,” he replied, looking at me.

I smiled sadly and nodded, “Where is she?” I glanced around the place, but it was just us in the corridor apart from busy staff walking up and down.

“Hmmm… She stepped out to get something,” Mason nervously scratched his neck. I gulped hard, feeling awkward.

A few minutes passed in silence, tension thick between us. Neither of us wanted to break it. My heart raced, nerves getting the best of me.

Clearing my throat, I spoke up before he could say anything. “Thank you, I will start going,” I turned to leave, but he was quick to stop me.

“Ashley,” I tensed as I felt his hand grabbing my arm.

Swallowing the huge lump in my throat, I composed myself, hiding my nervousness as I turned around to face him. “Send the account details, I will sort out the hospital bills.”

“No need, I have already handled it,” he quietly muttered, surprising me.

“Hmmm,” I chuckled, “This is not a charity foundation; he is my father.”

“My fiance’s father,” he quickly chimed in, cutting me off.

“Ex,” I interject.

Sighing, he ran his hand over his hair, combing them backward. “We had something serious.”

“I am married, Mason.”

“At least I deserve an apology,” he blurted, stepping closer to me, but I immediately took a few steps back.

“Not when you messed around with my step-sister,” I snarled. “Where is she?” I glanced around mockingly. “She’s your girlfriend now, right?”

“You shattered me, Ashley!” He barked, scaring me. “I was devastated when I heard the news… I was in agony, my fiancee; just days before our wedding, you were discovered in a hotel room with someone else!”

Smiling sadly, I blink back the tears, pulling my gaze away. “And you decided to sleep with her without finding out from me!” I lashed out, pain evident in my tone.

“She seduced me,” he stopped right in front of me, pain and regret flashing through his gaze. “I was vulnerable, I called you to meet me in the hotel room. I waited all night and the next day….” He paused. “I saw in the news that you slept with a total stranger, still recovering from the fact that you were married off immediately.”

I couldn’t withstand his piercing gaze, so I immediately looked away. Tears welled up in my eyes; I wronged him, but I couldn’t undo it though I wish I could. “I am married now,” I swallowed hard, finding it damn hard not to cry out.

“Are you happy?” I snapped my head at him, his words breaking me harder.

Am I happy?

“I am sorry, Mason, but I am married,” I insisted, my words laced with hidden anguish, a veil over my true emotions.

“Are you happy?” He closed the space between us. “Do you love him?” he added, his breath fanning my face, his words hanging heavy in the tense air between us.

However, looking at him, I swallowed hard as I slowly placed my hand on his chest and pushed him away from me. “Sorry, Mason but this can’t work,” his face furrowed in a deep frown. “I need to leave,” with that said, I turned and started walking away.

“Ash…. Ashley!”