"One million," A man seated at the corner of the room called out, raising his paddle.
My heart pounded louder with each bid. The men sneered, their eyes devouring me like I was a piece of meat. My body trembled as I rubbed my sweaty hands on my clothes.
The bids went higher and higher until there were just two men left. 
"Three million," the chubby man declared, impatient evident in his tone.
There was silence in the room for a moment.
"Five million," A stranger countered, raising his paddle. 
My eyes widened in shock as I tried to figure out who this stranger was. The room was filled with murmurs and no one could counter the stranger. 
The auctioneer's gavel slammed down. 
"Sold!" 
***
Leila Flynn, 19 years old, struggles to keep her ailing brother alive, and her life takes a dark turn when she is suddenly kidnapped into London's underworld auction. During the auction, she is bought for a high price by a mysterious and wealthy stranger, Dominic Anderson. Leila is then taken to a grand mansion in London, where she begins a complex relationship with Dominic.
Dominic, a powerful mafia boss, lives a life shrouded in mystery and danger. Leila gradually discovers that Dominic's concern for her and her younger brother, Michael- who suffers from leukemia- goes beyond mere kindness. Under Dominic's protection, Leila tries to uncover his true intentions while also developing a subtle emotional connection with his brother, Luca.
In this dangerous game of love, betrayal, and revenge, Leila must decide whether to place her trust in Dominic or sever all ties with his perilous world once and for all.

Maid for the Mafia

　　Later in the afternoon, I went for a walk around the garden, just to get some air in my head.


　　I saw Luca standing over by the first gigantic red oak that had presented itself in my line of vision, my heart leaped, and then it stopped in my chest, and I turned into stone. It was as if his face were doing this to distill one pathetic, pleading expression and compact it, brim-full of despair, at the absolute opposite of his usual stupid, vacant look.


　　I took a shuddering breath to try and keep what was quickly becoming roiling emotions at bay. Anyway, why did I want to go toward him? I should have just held my head up high, gone past him, ignored him, and felt like an idiot all the way.


　　I stepped closer, looming cautiously hesitant foot by foot. "Luca?" I said his name softly.


　　He turned and managed a smile, but it never reached his eyes. "Leila. Didn't see this one coming."


　　Had to get out for a minute," I said, forcing a casual note. "You okay?"


CHAPTER 41 The Unexpected Gift