The Mafia Boss's Pet Wife

Nathan's POV

The morning light filtered through the blinds, casting soft shadows across the room. I stood by the window, watching the world go on outside as if nothing had changed. But everything had. Sophia was no longer the innocent girl I had first encountered. No, she was mine now, in ways she couldn't even comprehend.

I had watched her carefully over the past few days, observing how she reacted to my presence. She was still hesitant, still unsure of where she stood. And that was fine. She needed time to realize that the game we were playing was more than just a power struggle. It was about dominance. It was about her learning to accept her place, and I would make sure she did.

I turned from the window and looked toward her. She was sitting on the couch, absently flipping through a magazine, her eyes focused but distant. I could see the conflict still lingering in her expression. She wasn't fully mine yet, but she was getting closer.

"Sophia," I called out, my voice smooth, but firm.

She looked up, meeting my gaze.

"Get dressed. I want you to go out today. Buy some new clothes," I ordered. "Something... that suits you better."

Her brow furrowed slightly, but she didn't argue. Not yet. She stood up, slowly, almost as if she were still trying to gauge whether this was a test or something else.

I could see the hesitance in her movements, the small tremble in her hands as she straightened her shirt. But I wasn't interested in her doubts. I wanted to see how far she'd go, how far she'd push herself to meet my expectations. It was all part of the process.

"And don't think you can avoid me while you're out," I added, my voice cold. "I expect you to return here as soon as you're done. Understood?"

She nodded, though I could see a flicker of defiance in her eyes. Good. Let her think she had a choice. It would make breaking her all the more satisfying.

I watched her leave, her steps measured but with a slight hesitance, as if she were walking toward an unknown fate. I allowed her this little freedom, but I knew it wouldn't last long.

Sophia's POV

The city seemed louder than usual as I stepped out into the streets. The hustle of people, the cars speeding by, all of it felt so distant. I couldn't focus. My mind kept replaying Nathan's words. "Buy some new clothes," he'd said, as if it was some casual request, but I knew better. It was a command, one I couldn't ignore.

I had been living in a haze, trying to adjust to everything. To him. To this life. His control over me was suffocating, but at the same time, I couldn't deny the strange pull I felt toward him. I hated it, but I couldn't resist it either.

As I walked into a store, the bright lights overhead only made the pit in my stomach grow deeper. I picked up a few items off the rack, not really looking at them, just going through the motions. I felt so out of place, like I was playing dress-up in someone else's life. But Nathan wanted me to look different. He wanted me to be something more, something... his.

I barely registered when someone bumped into me, stumbling backward as the stranger's hand grasped my arm to steady me.

"Watch where you're going, freak," the woman snapped, pulling her arm back like I was a disease.

I blinked, her face finally coming into focus, and my heart sank. There was no mistaking her.

"Vanessa," I whispered, the name slipping from my lips before I could stop it.

Vanessa smirked, her eyes flashing with barely contained malice. "Well, well, if it isn't my little sister. I didn't expect to see you here, especially looking like... that."

I could feel my stomach churn with unease. Vanessa had always hated me, always made sure to remind me of my place in the family the one she had clearly chosen to ignore. But standing in front of me now, she looked even more disdainful. Her sharp eyes took me in, scanning my appearance with judgment.

"What's Nathan doing to you, huh? He didn't tell me he was turning you into one of his pets," she sneered. Her words were like poison, each syllable a reminder of the rivalry between us.

I opened my mouth to say something, to defend myself, but the words stuck in my throat. What could I say? That he was controlling me? That I was already slipping deeper into his world and had no idea how to climb back out? Vanessa's laugh cut through the air, harsh and mocking. "I always knew you were weak, but this? You're practically begging for it, aren't you?" She eyed me again, her lip curling into a malicious grin. "Too bad. You were always going to fall under his control. Dad was right. You were always the perfect target."

"Stop," I whispered, my voice shaking. But it wasn't enough to stop her.

"I wonder if Nathan realizes just how pathetic you really are," Vanessa continued, her tone dripping with contempt. "He can't possibly think you're good enough for him. You've always been a screw-up."

I wanted to argue, to lash out, but I knew it would only make things worse. Vanessa loved this, loved the way she could break me down with just a few words. It made her feel powerful, important. And deep down, I hated her for it.

"I don't need you to tell me what Nathan thinks of me," I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I know where I stand."

Her smirk only widened, and I could see the triumph in her eyes. She knew she had won this round.

"Good," she said, backing away slowly. "Then you know your place."

I watched her leave, the weight of her words still heavy on my chest. She was right about one thing. I was playing into Nathan's game. But I couldn't stop myself. I didn't know how.

The world around me seemed to shrink as I stood there in the store, my mind racing, my heart pounding. The reality of my situation felt more suffocating than ever. I wasn't sure how long I could keep pretending I had a choice in all this. I turned back to the clothes on the rack, the fabric feeling like nothing more than a reminder of how much I was losing myself in this.