Ruby's worst nightmare was to get married to a person from the mafia. She wished to never marry a ruthless person, but destiny played its cards. She gets forced to marry a mafia king. When forced marriage with the billionaire mafia king occurs, will Ruby be able to adjust to the new mafia life which she feared all her life?
Chapter 1: When He Heard Her
VEXON
Before I knew it, I was in my second year of college. One day, on my way home after my last class I was hoping to lie down and relax, but as I stepped over the threshold I realized the air was thick with tension. So thick I could cut it with the blade in my pocket.
"No, Kendrik! You can't do this!" my mother was yelling at my older brother.
"Mom, please, try to understand. If I become king, it will put Pearl's life in danger," Kendrik pleaded, "I can't take that risk. After our wedding, we're moving away from here and we're going to lead a normal life. No more Mafia."
Our mother let out a frustrated sigh.
I felt bad for my older brother. The things people did for love were indeed crazy. I never desired to be a victim of love. At least, that's what I used to think...
Not wanting to interfere with their argument, since I was beyond tired, and I had an assignment to submit. I pretended not to see them and walked as fast as I could straight up the stairs and to my room.nd even after shutting my room door, I could still hear their yelling from downstairs, seemingly making the mansion we lived in seem small. Their yelling started to get on my nerves but I managed to ignore it.
I grabbed a t-shirt and a pair of pants, along with a pair of boxers from the armoire, before taking a refreshing five-minute shower. Stepping out of the shower with a towel hanging around my waist, I glanced at myself in the mirror as I passed it and started playing with my hair.
"Oh how I love you, my beautiful dark brown hair," I mumbled to myself as I continued playing with it. I loved playing with my hair, but my fun didn't last long as my phone started ringing.
"Boss, we've got a problem," Mane Cands, one of our trusted men, spoke through the phone. He has been the trainer of all the Bevine children since before I can remember, as we were all supposed to join the gang once we were old enough. I had completed all my necessary training, but Kendrik being the eldest and the next Mafia king, still had five more years of training left that only the Mafia King is supposed to undertake.
Our mom ran the deadliest gang in Canada, the Gladiolus, and my brothers and I have always wanted to be a part of it and Kendrik, he is supposed to be the next Gladiolus King. However, it seems he doesn't want to be King anymore and this is why he and mom continue to argue.
I hummed in response and waited for Mane to continue. He sounded quite nervous, which was unusual for him.
"Mistress has called an emergency meeting and she asked me to arrange everything within the next fifteen minutes. So, I thought you might have an idea as to why she is calling this meeting so suddenly."
"No, I don't know anything about it," I answered in confusion, at what I was hearing. "Inform all the important members and manage everything. I'll go talk to my mom," I said before cutting off the call, getting dressed, and then marching downstairs.
"Mom!" I called as I walked towards the hall, I could see my mom looking at her phone. She lifted her head and looked at me.
"What's wrong, Vexon?" she asked, putting a hand on my cheek.
"Why did you suddenly call an emergency meeting?"
My mom would never make such a hasty decision without a valid reason, but I wanted to know the reason right at that moment. I hated not knowing things, as I liked being prepared for whatever was coming.
She let out a small laugh. "Wait until the others join us first, honey. Then I'll tell you everything."
"You've got to tell me now. You know, I hate not knowing something," I groaned as the suspense of it all had me running a hand through my hair repeatedly.
"No," she said firmly as she walked off and into her bedroom, while I trailed behind her.
"Mo-" but before I could continue, she closed the door on my face and said through the door, "No means no, Vexon."
With a sigh, I gave up and went back to my bedroom and stayed there until it was time for the meeting.
When the time for the meeting came I headed down towards the study, and while walking towards it, I bumped into my younger brother, Cason.
"What's the emergency, bro?"
I glared at him. "For the first and last time, Cason, mom didn't tell me anything."
"How could mom not tell her favorite son?" another brother of mine, Kace, questioned sarcastically. He had appeared out of nowhere and joined us. I rolled my eyes at his comment, while he kept mocking me until we reached the study.
I was the second of five brothers and surprisingly mom's favorite son. Meanwhile, Kendrik was the first, Kace the third, Cason the fourth, and last but not the least, was Orson, our fifth brother. The bonds between us were very strong and we loved each other to death and I was sure nothing could break us apart.
Mom appeared soon after our family lawyer, the Gladiolus Executives and Mane had gathered in the sitting room in her study.
"Thank you all for coming at such short notice," she addressed us. "Now I shall make an announcement, so please listen carefully," mom said as she sat down beside me.
"As you all know, soon I am going to retire and according to the tradition, my eldest son, Kendrik, is supposed to inherit the title of 'Gladiolus King. Regrettably, he has rejected the position because he didn't want to put his girlfriend in danger, which is quite understandable."
Mom paused for a long moment, letting the news of Kendrik's decision sink in, before she continued, "We need a new Mafia King, thus, with no further hesitation, I declare that the new Gladiolus King will be my second son."
I nodded, understanding her announcement.
So it's going to be her second son. Cool.
"Vexon... honey?" mom spoke up.
I looked at her as she gave me a pointed look, while all the others looked at me with various expressions of awe and admiration. I frowned at the sudden attention.
What's wrong? It's not like I'm going to be the next Gladiolus King.
Cason shook his head and whispered, "You're the second son, Vexon."
That's when it hit me. I was going to be the next Gladiolus King.
The job sounded like it would be a pain in the neck, causing a lot of turmoil and confusion. I always thought I would be one of the Executives, but never in my wildest dreams I thought that I would be the one ruling as King. Kendrik was always meant to be the next King, not me. Who could have thought that Kendrik had the power to convince mom, otherwise?
I stiffened at the next thought, oh Lord, I'm going to go bald with the amount of work I will have to do. Oh, not my beautiful dark brown hair.
"Congratulations, Brother!" all of my brothers chorused as they engulfed me in a bone-crushing hug. After they released me, mom side-hugged me and kissed my cheek with a satisfactory smile.
All the formalities were taken care of, and everyone seemed to be happy with the decision. It all happened so fast, while I hadn't been able to swallow the news yet. Why had mom decided to make me the King, without even asking me about it?
Sensing my unease, mom stepped close and spoke, "Vexon honey, come to my room please." With everything settled and everyone happy with mom's decision I stood up and followed after her, closing the room door behind me when we finally reached her room.
"Sit down, honey," she said in a tentative voice with a heartwarming smile. I did as she said.
"I know you're shocked by the news, but son, Kendrik wants to handle the legal business, as in, our Armament Company. Not the Mafia one. I talked to him about it and we both thought you would be the best decision. I had always had it in my mind that I would make you the next Gladiolus King if anything were to happen to Kendrik. It's because I feel you have the potential. I just know it. You see, I ain't getting any younger and our men need a young, capable King now, not an old, grumpy Queen."
I remained silent, her words running laps in my head.
"Since traditionally the firstborn child is supposed to inherit the position, I had to announce Kendrik as the next King, but truthfully I always wanted it to be you. You, my son, will be the best Gladiolus King. Please don't let me down, all my dreams are now dependent on you," she continued.
I could see mom was tense and afraid that I might reject the position, as Kendrik did. But all I knew was that I couldn't let her down. She had such high expectations for me.
"When do I start my final training?" I asked, getting straight to the point, which made her glow with happiness as she beamed. I had already been given basic training, now I just had to complete the final stage. The training that would prepare me to become the next Mafia King.
"You have to go tomorrow. Mane will accompany you. Once you come back, we will hold the coronation."
I nodded and left, heading straight to my room. I couldn't stand to talk to her anymore and needed to be alone. I needed time to think as well as to set aside my feelings and emotions. From here on out, I had to focus solely on the Mafia and nothing else. My only goal now would be the safety of my gang and my family, I couldn't afford to disappoint my mom. Not now.
I snapped out of my thoughts when my door creaked open and turned to find one of my brother's standing at the door. "Sorry, Vexon," Kendrik said, guilt clearly showing in his eyes.
Walking over to him, I patted his shoulder, "It's okay, you did it for love."
Of course, he felt guilty. Because of him, I had to take over the gang and give up my life, and everything I wanted.
"But if it weren't for me, Mom wouldn't have burdened you with this huge responsibility."
I chuckled. "It's okay. I'll make sure this gang is handled in the best possible way." Kendrik's eyes lit with amusement at my words.
"Mom was right. I can see the Mafia world taking a step forward with your leadership. I can just feel that willpower of yours," he said proudly and I smiled.
"Vexon, you can't go!" My eleven-year-old brother, Orson, came running towards me and wrapped his arms around my waist. I ruffled his hair playfully.
"I have to, Orson."
"Do you promise to call me every day?" he asked and I nodded as he started jumping in excitement.
"By the time you get back, I'll be twenty-three!" Cason squealed.
"I'll be twenty-four." Kace sent a challenging look at Cason.
Dear Lord! Please spare everyone from their fights while I'm gone. Besides, they clearly don't understand that time passes equally for everyone.
"Enough," Kendrik said, shutting them all up. I thought Kendrik would scold them, but boy was I wrong! "I'll be the eldest as always. I will be twenty-seven." And we all burst into laughter.
Our night passed with us playing video games, which was fun as heck. We all fought over the games, engaging in a hand-to-hand fight in the end. I would be lying if I said I wouldn't miss them at all, once I'm gone.
Finally, when they all went to their respective rooms, I finished packing my suitcases and then went to bed. Drifting into a deep slumber with the final thought being that I was the next Mafia King.
The next morning, I woke up and took fifteen minutes in the bathroom to freshen up and get ready for the day ahead. Soon I was standing at the front door of the Bevine Mansion.
"Take care, Son," Mom said, wiping her tears away for the umpteenth time. I hugged her tightly, not wanting to let go.
"You too, Mom."
"I'll miss you, Vexon," Cason said through tears. He was the emotional one, always crying, especially when other people cried as he got attached to people really quickly and never really forgets them. Sniffling, he engulfed me in a bear hug.
"You are squeezing me, Cason," I joked, trying not to let a tear slip from my eyes.
"Don't forget to call me every day." Orson hugged me, after Cason. I chuckled and ruffled his blond hair.
"I won't. Be a good boy, Orson. I won't be able to save you from mom's wrath for the next five years, so don't be naughty."
"I won't," he said with such an innocent look, anyone would fall for it. Though, I knew he was lying. There was no way he could go on without doing something which would anger mom.
I went over to Kace and hugged him. "Don't leave, Vexon. Home won't feel like home without you."
"I have got to go, Kace. Hey, I'll come back though. It's not like I'm dying or anything." He shot me a glare, and I let out a chuckle. "Okay, just don't cry."
Kendrik reluctantly approached me and I pulled him into a hug. He was my best friend. "Don't turn into an ass," he said and we both laughed, hiding tears.
"I'll try not to."
"I'm so sorry. I got you into this mess."
"It's okay."
"Time to go, Boss," Mane announced after all the farewells and I walked outside.
"Thanks, Mane."
He chuckled and let out, "Aye aye, Boss. I'll be your assistant for the next five years."
Nodding my head, I got into the car and glanced up at the mansion through the window. I wouldn't see them all for the next five years, scared that once I left, everything would become a long-forgotten memory to me.
Who knew I was going to be the one going away?
A tear escaped from my eyes, as the engine started and we started to pull away. I tried to comfort myself, and in doing so decided to use my Mac-book to check the stats of our company, just to pass time more quickly. I was studying business, so I could help my mom when she needed it, in managing the Bevines' Armament Company - the company that Kendrik wished to oversee now.
"Boss, we're here," Mane spoke up. Closing my Mac-book, I looked up and glanced out the window.
This was where I would be living for the next five years. I stepped outside and looked around. There were camouflaged camps littered all over the grounds. My training was a secret, so my camp would be near the hills. I walked around, with Mane and some other guards following behind.
"Guys, I'll give chocolates to everyone. Calm down!" a sweet, angelic voice filled the air, causing my heart rate to pick up.
Where is this voice coming from? I wondered as I looked around frantically, searching for the owner of the voice. But I found no girl around me. Who and where is she?
Autumn Emerson was the Queen of the Shadow Mafia, inherited from her father. She was twenty-five years old and ruling a gang was a huge achievement for Autumn. However, there were some haunted memories linking between her fingers and a trigger of a gun. Meanwhile, Ian Beckett was the King of the Silver Mafia, whose life went upside down when his parents arranged his contracted wedding with the woman he loved to annoy since their childhood: Autumn Emerson. In order to protect their honor in front of their respective gangs, they have to put on a facade of being in love. What would happen when the contracted love had started to turn real?
Danica Waylon returns to California after three years, hoping to fulfill her younger brother's birthday wish. When she meets up with her crush from middle school, Troy Kingston, who is now a famous WhyNTuber and a celebrity influencer, she decides it’s in her best interest to maintain her distance from him. But when fate decides to bring Danica into the same mansion as Troy along with other celebrities, a prank goes wrong, and before long their fans start shipping them. The ship name 'Tronica' started trending and they had to give the public what it craved, which was for them to be the definition of #CoupleGoals. What happens when the lines between their reel and real lives get blurred? What will happen when the fans find out that the couple they adored was nothing more than smoke and mirrors? Most importantly, how will Danica control her feelings for Troy now that she has gotten fame by accident?
Diana Stevens is a twenty-two-year-old living a happy life with her boyfriend in the United States, but when a sudden call from her mother makes her return to England, her life takes a drastic turn. Ivan Candelstone is Diana's online best friend. Diana had always thought he was just a wealthy best friend of hers whom she talked with every day. Little did she know, he was actually the Prince of England who could only imagine himself with his girlfriend, Rain Summers. Due to a few misunderstandings, when the king and the queen meet Diana, she becomes royally chosen to be Ivan's betrothed. What will happen now that Diana and Ivan are forced into a marriage they never expected? How is Diana supposed to deny her new life, now that she is Royally Chosen?
Becca Hertford recently shifted to a dorm and started her university, hoping it will help her stay away from her father, only to realize that something more complicated is awaiting her. Meeting the finest vampire Alexander Insworthe was the last thing she expected. Alexander Insworthe wants a potion that will make his brother the king of the vampires. He can do anything for his brother, even if it means sacrificing himself. But the problem is the potion is with Becca, and she is not an easy person. Can Alexander get the potion and make his brother the king before love changes the well-arranged plan?
Aria Anastasia, a free-spirited young woman, works as the MD of the Storm Fashion Industry. She has the post she dreamed of, but she didn't expect to work under an annoying, quirky boss. Surviving two years after working under him, she didn't expect to unleash a secret of her handsome boss, Zaiden Storm. Zaiden Storm is the CEO of the Storm Fashion Industry. No one can ever talk over him, and he always walks with a mysterious aura surrounding him. The only woman who doesn't hesitate to talk back to him is Aria. But he never expected her to find out his true self behind his facade. What will happen when Aria learns about the secret of her boss? Will she keep it within herself or start exposing Zaiden's truth to everyone bit by bit?
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
"Miss Brown, I am the butler here at your service," the butler replied. "My master wants to buy the baby in your belly." "What?!" Does that mean the abortion didn't take place? Did they kidnap her from the operating table just to buy the baby? But why her? "You..." Alice was about to ask a question, but the man in front of her calmly continued, as if he had expected her question, "You're pregnant with his child, and he needs a child. That's all I can tell you." Alice was forced to sign a surrogacy contract and eight months later gave birth to two healthy babies. Fortunately, the man was unaware of her daughter's existence. It wasn't until five years later that fate brought them together again...
Accused of murder, Sylvia Todd's mother was deemed a traitor by the entire pack, condeming Sylvia to live the rest of her life alone in humiliation as a lowly slave. All she wanted to do was to prove her mother's innocence somehow, but fate never seemed to be on the side of the traitor's daughter. Still, Sylvia never lost hope. As the future lycan king of all werewolves, Rufus Duncan possessed great power and status, but he had an inexplicable reputation for being cruel, bloodthirsty, and ruthless. Unbeknownst to everyone, he had been cursed long ago to transform into a killer monster on every full moon. Even though fate did not always look upon the two, it brought Sylvia and Rufus together as each other's destined mates. Will justice be served for Sylvia's mother? What about Rufus' secret? Can Sylvia and Rufus defy all societal norms and stay together? Will these two unlucky souls have their happy ending?
Loraine was a dutiful wife to Marco since they got married three years ago. However, he treated her like trash. Nothing she did softened his heart. One day, Loraine got fed up with it all. She asked him for a divorce and left him to enjoy with his mistress. The elites looked at her like she was deranged. "Are you out of your mind? Why are you so willing to divorce him?" "It's because I need to return home to get a billion-dollar fortune. Besides, I don't love him anymore," Loraine replied with a smile. They all laughed at her. Some believed that the divorce affected her mentally. It wasn't until the next day that they realized she wasn't fibbing. A woman was suddenly declared the world's youngest female billionaire. It turned out to be Loraine! Marco was shocked to the bone. When he met his ex-wife again, she was a changed person. A group of handsome young men surrounded her. She was smiling at them all. The sight made Marco's heart ache severely. Putting his pride aside, he tried to win her back. "Hello, love. I see that you are a billionaire now. You shouldn't be with suckers who just want your money. How about you come back to me? I'm a billionaire too. Together, we can build a strong empire. What do you say?" Loraine squinted at her ex-husband with her lips curled in disgust.
It took only a second for a person's world to come crashing down. This was what happened in Hannah's case. For four years, she gave her husband her all, but one day, he said emotionlessly, "Let's get divorced." Hannah's heart broke into a million pieces as she signed the divorce papers, marking the end of her role as a devoted wife. Within Hannah, a strong woman awakened, vowing never to be beholden to any man again. Embracing her new life, she embarked on a journey to find herself and command her own destiny. By the time she returned, she had experienced so much growth and was now completely different from the docile wife everyone once knew. "Is this your latest trick to get my attention?" Hannah's ever-so-arrogant husband asked. Before she could retort, a handsome and domineering CEO pulled her into his embrace. He smiled down at her and said boldly to her ex, "Just a little heads-up, mister. This is my beloved wife. Keep off!"
Her fiance and her best friend worked together and set her up. She lost everything and died in the street. However, she was reborn. The moment she opened her eyes, her husband was trying to strangle her. Luckily, she survived that. She signed the divorce agreement without hesitation and was ready for her miserable life. To her surprise, her mother in this life left her a great deal of money. She turned the tables and avenged herself. Everything went well in her career and love when her ex-husband came to her.