Mafia's Princess(Under Editing)

Chapter 18

Anastasia Rose

I was sprawled across the sofa in the TV lounge, limbs comfortably stretched out, remote dangling loosely in my hand as I mindlessly flipped through channels. Nothing held my interest. Every show felt dull, repetitive—background noise filling the silence more than entertaining me.

The house was unusually calm and it felt unfamiliar because that was not normal. The house was usually buzzing with footsteps, noises, and chaos so it felt odd when I couldn't hear a single noise around me.

Mom, the aunts, and Isa had gone out shopping—apparently again. According to them, none of them had "the right dress" for the ball. I doubted that deeply. Given how often shopping trips were discussed in this family, their closets could probably rival boutiques. Still, they insisted.

They had asked me to come along.

I refused.

Shopping just wasn't my thing.

My younger elder brothers were out somewhere with our cousins—God knows where—while the eldest brothers and cousins had gone to the warehouse for work. Grandparents, Dad, and the uncles were in the snooker room, probably drinking wine and arguing over shots.

The remote clicked again.

"Huhhh," I sighed loudly, tossing it aside in defeat.

Boredom was winning.

"Ana, what are you doing here?"

The sudden voice startled me so badly that I slipped off the sofa entirely, landing on the carpet with a soft thud.

Did I ever mention that I'm extremely clumsy sometimes?

"Careful, amore."

Dante's voice was gentle as he stepped forward, helping me back onto the couch.

He sat beside me, concern flickering briefly across his face, "You okay?"

I nodded.

"Didn't you go to the warehouse?" I asked, settling myself properly. "When did you come back?"

"Just now," he replied. "We were done with the work. The rest went to their rooms. I heard the TV on and wondered who was here."

I nodded in understanding.

"Why didn't you go shopping with the others?" he asked curiously.

I shifted closer, stretching my legs to the other side of the sofa as he instinctively wrapped an arm around my shoulders. Without thinking much, I rested my head in his lap.

"Shopping is boring," I said honestly. "And I didn't need anything."

"Hm," he hummed. "I thought girls liked shopping."

"Maybe they do," I shrugged. "It's just not my thing."

His fingers moved gently through my hair, soothing.

"Then what is your thing?" he asked.

I smiled softly. "Reading books. Sketching when I'm bored. Visiting art galleries and museums sometimes. Playing tennis."

His hand paused.

"You play tennis?" he asked, eyebrows lifting.

"Yeah. Played a lot in high school. Why? do you play too?"

He chuckled. "I do. I've played since high school, even during university. I was a champion once. Got offers to join the national team, but I never planned to make it my future. It was just a hobby." He sighed lightly. "I stopped once medical studies took over."