The Devil Who Claimed Me

Before heading to the Vega mansion, Mila wanted to meet with Lara. She called her.

The call connected almost immediately.

"Hello?"

"Hello. It’s me..."

When Lara heard Mila’s voice, she shouted in surprise. "Mila? Where are you? Are you okay?"

The worry in her voice was unmistakable.

Mila’s lips curved into a soft smile. "I’m fine. I’m at Vega Bio Corp."

"What?" Lara exclaimed, her surprise deepening. "You are really in town?"

"Yes," Mila confirmed.

"Stay there. I’m coming right now."

Mila said, "Let’s meet at the café across the company."

Several minutes later...

In the café...

The moment Lara saw Mila, she rushed forward and pulled her into a tight hug.

"I’m so relieved to see you," she said, tears brimming in her eyes.

Mila hugged her back. "I am relieved, too."

And she truly was. Seeing Lara safe, unharmed... it eased something deep inside her. The danger that once loomed over her was gone. But Mila chose not to speak of it because she didn’t want to scare her.

Lara pulled back, her eyes scanning Mila from head to toe, as if making sure she was real.

"I thought I’d never see you again."

Mila smiled through the moisture in her eyes. "But I’m here. Right in front of you."

Lara blinked her tears away, worry clouding her face. "How did you get out of that place?" she asked urgently. "Tell me honestly—how have you been all this time?"

Mila’s smile softened. "Things changed," she said quietly. "I stopped trying to run away. I accepted Dominic. Wholeheartedly."

Lara’s mouth dropped open. "What?" she blurted, her eyes widening. "Are you serious? You forgave your kidnapper?"

Valentina stepped forward and shot a warning look at her.

Lara’s voice faltered. She swallowed, shrinking slightly under that look.

Mila raised a hand and stopped Valentina. "Please, I want to have some words with my friend."

Valentina shot a sharp, warning look at Lara. "I’ll wait outside."

She walked out of the café.

Mila turned back to Lara. "My life isn’t the same anymore," she started again. "I tried to escape him, his world. I really did."

Her gaze lowered briefly before lifting again. "But I realized how wrong I was. Away from him, there is only danger. He is my safety."

Lara couldn’t believe Mila had changed her mind so abruptly. She thought she was forced to accept that life.

She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Mila, are you scared of something? Is someone forcing you? Just give me a sign. I’ll do anything to get you out of that hell."

Mila looked at her for a long moment. She didn’t blame her. Because once, she had felt the same. She had tried to escape that world, only to understand later that her destiny was with Dominic, not away from him.

She whispered back, "No one forced me. Actually, I fell in love with him."

"What? Are you serious?" Lara exclaimed.

A few people nearby turned to look.

Flustered, Lara quickly grabbed Mila’s wrist and dragged her to a quieter corner table.

"How can you fall for a monster like him?" she demanded in a hushed but intense tone. "You are hiding something. You have to be."

Mila smiled slightly. The monster Lara spoke of was the same man who had stood between her and every danger she had never even seen.

She thought she wouldn’t reveal it. But it seemed that she had to tell her everything. Or Lara would keep misunderstanding Dominic.

Mila wouldn’t let anyone say bad things about him.

"Dominic isn’t what you think," she explained gently. "He is loving, caring, and protective. He would risk everything for the people he loves."

Lara stared at her like she didn’t recognize her anymore.

"Have you lost your mind?" she muttered. "Do you even know who he is?" She glanced around before lowering her voice further. "He is a mafia lord, Mila. Dangerous. Merciless. People fear him for a reason. And you are calling him loving and caring?"

"You don’t know him," Mila said calmly. "That’s why you think this way."

She sighed. "I thought the same before. But the more time I spent with him, the more I realized he is not what the world says he is."

Lara shook her head slowly. "I don’t know what he’s done to you... But this isn’t right. Remember this – he is a gangster. And you shouldn’t be with him."

"I’m already with him," Mila said quietly. "And I don’t regret it."

Lara gaped at her, stunned.

"He saved me," Mila continued. "Again and again."

After a moment of pause, she added, "And he saved you, too."

At that, Lara almost choked on her own saliva. "What are you talking about? He saved me?"

She didn’t remember when she had fallen into trouble and when Dominic had appeared to save him. Confusion replaced everything else.

"When? How? Care to explain?" Lara continued sharply.

Mila was about to reply, but Lara cut in, "He lied to you. He never saved me. In fact, I was never in such trouble that I needed him to save me."

"That’s because the threats were eliminated before you even knew it," Mila said.

Lara squinted at her. She was still confused as to how delusional Mila could have grown.

"When I tried to reach you that night," Mila continued, "someone took me before I could get into your man’s car."

"I remember that," Lara said slowly. "It was Dominic’s men—"

That was what she thought.

"No," Mila interrupted. "It wasn’t them."

"What?" Lara frowned.

"It was Marco," Mila said. "He kidnapped me. Forced me to work against Dominic."

Lara stilled.

"He threatened to hurt you. Kill you."

Lara gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.

"Macro had people watching you," Mila continued. "But Dominic had his own men protecting you from the shadows. You were safe because he made sure of it."

Lara’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears. She hadn’t known. After hearing everything, she realized how wrong she was. She was embarrassed.

"Dominic protected you," Mila said softly. "Because I asked him to."

A small smile touched her lips. "He loves me."

Lara reached across the table and held her hands tightly. "I am sorry. I misunderstood everything."

Mila squeezed her hands gently. "It’s okay. You didn’t know. I am glad that you are fine. That’s all that matters."

Lara nodded, though her eyes were still wet. "Is he good to you? He doesn’t hurt you, right?"

Mila’s face lit up as she smiled, heat blooming on her cheeks. "He is good," she murmured. She couldn’t stop imagining their intimate moments.

"Will he marry you?" Lara asked.

Mila’s smile froze. She had no answer to this question. She had never asked him this. Or maybe she had avoided thinking about it.

But now, facing this question, she felt uneasy.

"A man like him doesn’t marry, Mila," Lara said softly. "He will only keep you as his mistress. Are you okay with that? Are you willing to be with him without a name?"

Mila’s heart sank. She loved him, dreamed of marrying him, and having a peaceful life with him.

But Dominic’s world... Would it ever allow that?

He wasn’t ready to leave this world because the world wouldn’t let him go, even if he wanted to.

How long could he fight? Would they ever be able to have a peaceful life?

Her thoughts tangled, uncertainty creeping in.

Her phone buzzed. The sound snapped her out of it.

She picked up the call without checking. "Hello?"

"Come home," came Leonard’s voice. "Let’s talk."

Mila’s expression changed. The worry and uncertainty disappeared. What remained was a firm resolve.

"I’m coming."