Bethroted To The Mafia Boss

Alice’s POV

‎“You are getting married to Victor Arc soon.”

‎My father’s voice was calm.....too calm for the storm those words unleashed inside me.

‎For a moment, I just stared at him.

‎My lips parted, but nothing came out.

‎My heart slammed hard against my ribs like it wanted to escape.

‎“W-what?” I finally whispered.

‎“Who?”

‎“Victor Arc,” my father repeated, folding his arms as if this was a normal conversation. “He brought a letter to the house. It states that you and him were engaged as children and should be married when you turn twenty-five.”

‎The room suddenly felt too small.

‎Too hot.

‎Too suffocating.

‎“A letter?” I echoed, my voice barely mine.

‎I had never heard of such a thing. Never.

‎“He said his father told him about it before he died. Though, I was not aware there was a letter like this but I believe it's from my friend because it's his handwriting and the letter looks old,” Dad continued. “Mark Arc was my best friend once… before we fought over that land. After that, everything fell apart. Our friendship ended and your uncle disappeared leaving me and you all alone. It has not been easy for me, you know. This marriage is going to grant me a son, a son I can talk to.” His eyes brighten as he said the last sentence.

‎I swallowed hard.

‎Getting married to Victor?

‎That would be the worst thing that could ever happen to me.

‎…Wouldn’t it?

‎You might be wondering why there’s such bitterness between us.

‎Victor Arc was my childhood friend.

‎No… more than that.

‎He was my first crush.

‎Back then, it was always the three of us.... Victor, Evans Moss, and me.

‎We were inseparable.

‎I can still remember the laughter echoing in Victor’s compound, the way we’d run until we were breathless. Those were the happiest days of my childhood.

‎Our parents were close too… until the land dispute.

‎After that, everything changed.

‎I was no longer allowed to visit Victor’s house.

‎I still remember the night my father told me.

‎I cried myself to sleep, my hands clutching my pillow as if that would somehow bring my best friend back.

‎At first, Victor had only been like a big brother to me.

‎But when I grew older… something shifted.

‎I began to notice the way my heart raced whenever he called my name.

‎How my cheeks burned when he smiled at me.

‎How my stomach fluttered when he winked.

‎And whenever he stood close to me, I felt… safe.

‎Like nothing bad in the world could ever reach me.

‎Victor wasn’t just my friend back then.

‎He was my whole world.

‎“But that was years ago,” I muttered, folding my arms tightly across my chest as if I could shield myself from the past. “I know better now. I won’t let myself get tangled with him again… especially not now that he’s… promiscuous.”

‎The word tasted bitter on my tongue.

‎Different women on