Claimed By The Mafia Rogue King (Snow and Cupid) novel Chapter 263

Snowflakes

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The beeping sound from my cellphone drifted me awake. I fluttered my eyelids open, finding myself gazing at the gentle parting of the curtains, stirred by a soft wind slipping through the crack in the window.

It was indeed a beautiful day.

Christmas Day.

My birthday.

My heart bloomed with nothing but happiness and peace. I smiled, slow, real and stretched lazily under the covers.

Quietly, I reached for my cellphone to read the text that had popped up.

The smile on my face wiped clean.

For a fleeting moment, I had forgotten.

The Dark Alley case had been reopened, a cold case abandoned for four years.

‘Snow, we have an important meeting with the director of H.O.W.L before ten a.m. Please be prompt.‘

The message from Mr. Gerald stared back at me.

I swallowed hard.

I got up at once, no wasting time and headed to the bathroom. I had slept the night in Cupid’s bedroom, or rather, the one Marlik was using. He’d excused himself last night, insisted I take it.

After freshening up, I walked to the closet and pulled out a smart dress, crisp, professional. I grabbed a scarf to wrap around my neck against the chill and slipped into knee–high boots. Clutching my bag, I headed out.

In the corridor, I glanced down to the living room. Marlik was already there, watching the news, remote in hand. A soft sigh escaped my lips. He loved the news, perhaps waiting for something specific. Like Feroz’s capture.

I walked down the stairs, bypassing the bedrooms of Mother and Yasmin. Silence from behind their doors, I could tell they were still sleeping. I wouldn’t wake them. We’d stayed up late last night.

I reached the living room.

Marlik turned slowly, settled his gaze on me.

I had come to notice he rarely spoke to anyone but Cupid. With him, he smiled easy, genuine.

To the domestic staff, he barely breathed a word. He spoke to his mom and sister but even that was rare, as though guilt for what had befallen them still weighed too heavy on his tongue.

“Good morning,” I said softly when our eyes met.

He didn’t respond to the greeting. Instead, he murmured.

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5:59 pm DMW

Chapter 263

“There’s nothing good about the morning. Someone’s blocking the Dark Alley case from being aired. Right?”

I frowned, walked forward to watch the news playing on the screen.

The headline made me go still.

Rocco Frost and Seraphine Castle to Wed Next Week.

I reached for the remote and changed the channel.

Daylight News channel says the same story, wedding details splashed across the screen.

Another channel.

Same thing.

“Sweet Gossip Feed aired it,” Marlik said behind me, “but it didn’t last sixty seconds before the news cut off.”

I sighed.

I already knew what was happening.

“My human father is blocking the news from airing.” I turned to Marlik. “I… I need to go.”

He looked at me quietly for a long moment. I expected only a nod.

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Instead, he got up, walked over and placed his palm gently but firmly at the small of my back. He guided me out of the house.

When we reached my car, I stopped and turned to him.

“You should… say my thanks to Mom and Yasmin, please. I don’t want to wake them.”

He nodded.

Then reached forward, opened the car door for me.

When I was about to slide in, he asked quietly.

“Your friend… is she okay?”

I paused, looked at him thoroughly.

His eyes showed no emotion but I could pick up the energy.

He cared about Dove.

“Yes.”

“Good.” He replied, soft then added even softer. “Happy birthday. Sorry u don’t have a present to give.”

I smiled at him grateful, warm and slid into the car.

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