Reclaimed by the Mafia Heir

In the fifth year of marriage, Nora Yates stumbled upon scandalous headlines linking her husband to another woman.

His friend teased him. "Stefan, you're ruthless. Just because Nora stole Izabella's boyfriend, you married her, pampered her, and fed her those pills until she's practically a fool."

Stefan Gordon, cradling a pregnant Izabella Stewart, spoke coldly. "She made Izzie unhappy. She has to pay the price."

Outside the private room, Nora, battling severe depression, nearly collapsed.

Her trembling hands dialed a number. "Tell that company I'll join."

For five years, Nora had been a housewife, confined to her sickbed.

Everyone forgot she was once a legendary hacker, feared by every major corporation.

...

Nora's past as a love-struck fool for her first love was a well-worn joke in their circle.

Yet Stefan cherished her, treating her like a treasure.

His love was grand, from renting every LED billboard in the city for a public confession to kneeling in the snow to prove his devotion, and after marriage, patiently feeding her bitter medicine day after day.

The pills were bitter, but his love was sweet.

No one doubted Stefan's sincerity, yet Nora clashed with him three times.

The first time, she caught a whiff of unfamiliar perfume on him.

Everyone claimed they smelled nothing, and Stefan, to appease her, showered repeatedly, nearly scrubbing his skin raw.

The second time, she found a pair of lacy underwear in their bedroom.

She confronted him hysterically until the maid admitted the underwear was hers.

Nora froze, humiliated, as Stefan hugged her with tender concern. "Are you feeling off again? It's okay if you got it wrong, Nora. I don't blame you."

His patience never wavered. "Come on, take your medicine. It'll help you get better."

He brought the pill to her lips.

"Stefan, I don't want it," Nora said, her face pale. "Every time I take it, I feel like I'm imagining things."

"It's fine, Nora. If you doubt me, it's my fault for not doing enough. I'll be better for you."

His warmth and forgiveness made her feel ashamed of her dark suspicions.

The third time, Stefan was away on a business trip when their cat accidentally opened a news alert on the tablet.

"Rising star Izabella Stewart spotted with wealthy boyfriend in Solara, celebrating her birthday. Wedding bells soon?"

Nora rarely cared for gossip and moved to close it, but a glance stopped her cold.

Beneath the bold headline was a paparazzi photo.

Izabella, in a sleek swimsuit, beamed in a man's arms, his face blurred.

But Nora recognized the watch on his wrist, a one-of-a-kind gift she gave Stefan for his last birthday.

Snow fell outside, blanketing the world in silence.

The house was warm, yet Nora felt a chill that froze her blood.

It couldn't be.

Maybe she misremembered. The watch wasn't unique, or perhaps she never gave him one at all?

Stefan, in Eldoria for a merger, couldn't be in Solara.

Logic urged her to stay calm, but her shaking fingers betrayed her as she dialed his number.

The phone rang for ages before he answered.

"Nora? Why're you calling so late?" Stefan's voice was gentle, without a trace of annoyance.

The faint sound of wind suggested he was outdoors.

Nora gripped the phone, nails digging into her palm. "Nothing. Just feeling uneasy."

"Uneasy? Did you take your medicine? Is it serious? Should I send a doctor?" His voice sharpened with worry, and she could picture his anxious expression.

"I took it," Nora said, stroking Muffin's head as the cat nuzzled her. "How's your trip going?"

"The meeting's hit some snags. Might take a few extra days." His reply was smooth, but the wind in the background vanished, as if he'd stepped into a closed space.

Nora stayed silent, and Stefan continued. "I've got another meeting. The shareholders here are waiting. They don't like working overtime. Stay safe at home, okay? Eat well and take your medicine."

Nora mumbled a reply and hung up quickly.

Another second, and her calm facade would have shattered.

Stefan hadn't noticed the flaw in his words.

It was midnight in Eldoria.

He had lied to her.

Her chest heaved, breath short from panic.

Pain shot through her palm, pulling her scattered thoughts together.

"Meow!" Muffin bit her hand, letting out a hoarse, urgent cry.

Snapping back to reality, Nora realized she hadn't taken her medicine that day.

She hated those antidepressants; they dulled her mind.

But today, she needed to be calm, even ruthless.

Muffin watched her swallow the pill, then curled up in her lap, purring softly.

Soothed by the cat and the medicine, Nora's gaze drifted to the study.

Stefan knew she studied computer science in college and loved coding, earning a reputation in the tech world before her illness.

The top-of-the-line computer in the study was a gift to keep her entertained, though she rarely used it.

She powered it on, the blue glow illuminating her pale face.

Her fingers brushed the keyboard, and muscle memory took over.

Code flowed effortlessly, bypassing firewalls and tracing signal sources.

Nora, bedridden for years and dependent on Stefan, had been forgotten as the hacker who once rendered corporate defenses useless.

The cloud backup she swore never to touch was now easily breached.

Stefan's phone was traced to Solara's coordinates, matching the news report's time and place.

Clear photos loaded on her screen, unblurred.

Stefan's handsome face glowed with happiness.

He smiled, arm around Izabella's waist, strolling on the beach, dining on a submarine.

The evidence lay coldly before her.

Her stomach churned, but with little food in her system, she only dry-heaved, bile burning her throat.

For the first time, Nora wished she truly was delusional.

In her daze, she dialed a familiar number.

Nora hadn't figured out why she called Penelope, but the call connected quickly.

Penelope said "hello" a few times before Nora slowly murmured, "Penelope."

Penelope's voice shot up, as loud and brash as ever. "You little brat, you finally called! You've been holding a grudge just because I opposed your marriage to that guy from the Gordon family?"

Nora remembered now.

Penelope was the only one in the Yates family who objected to her engagement.

Penelope had been firm. "That guy's up to no good. Trust me, Nora, I've seen enough people to know."

But back then, every relative hoped the marriage would happen.

After what happened, who else but Stefan, a love-struck heir with a spotless background, would marry her?

Her father even threatened to disown her if the wedding fell through.

Even Nora herself once believed Stefan was her only salvation.

Everyone chased fame and profit, but Penelope genuinely cared for her.

"Nora?" Penelope's voice grew anxious over the phone. "Are you crying?"

Nora realized her cheeks were wet.

She took a deep breath, struggling to keep her voice steady. "Penelope, I want a divorce."

Penelope, usually so loud, fell silent.

The silence stretched so long Nora thought the call dropped, until Penelope sighed softly. "Okay, I'll help you find a divorce lawyer. If he dares to refuse..."

"No need," Nora said, her throat tight, her voice dry. "He'll agree."

Another silence followed.

Penelope didn't pry, her tone softening. "Good. Come live with me after. I'll take care of you."

"No, thanks." Nora refused instinctively, terrified of burdening anyone.

Especially Penelope, who was locked in a fierce competition with their cousin at the family company, fighting an uphill battle in a family that favored men.

"I can work, but I might need some time to start over."

Penelope knew her sister's stubbornness and relented. "Fine, give me a week. I'll find you a good position."

After hanging up, Nora felt a weight lift slightly from her heart.

Perhaps Stefan sensed something was off, because the next morning, as Nora dozed restlessly, the mattress dipped beside her.

Stefan, carrying the chill of the night, pressed tightly against her back.

Muffin, startled from her arms, hissed and yowled, only to be grabbed by the scruff and tossed out of the bedroom as Stefan locked the door.

Nora couldn't pretend anymore and opened her eyes.

Stefan's voice was gentle. "Did I wake you? Things wrapped up early over there, so I rushed back to be with you."

He was lying again.

Nora's heart ached, her nails digging into her flesh as she forced her voice to sound normal. "That was fast. Did everything go well?"

"More or less. Some details still need sorting." His vague answer came as his lips brushed her hair, lingering as if reluctant to part. "How about you? Did you miss me these past few days?"

Nora's limbs grew cold hearing his clumsy lies, while Stefan seemed lost in tender affection.

Just as his kiss neared her skin, a soft piano melody cut through the darkness, jarringly loud.

He froze, glancing at his phone. "It's Lucas. He's still in Eldoria, probably forgot the time difference."

Work calls had come in the middle of the night before, but this time, the ringtone persisted, ringing again after being silenced.

He held the phone, looking helpless.

Nora said, "Answer it. It might be urgent."

The moment she spoke, Stefan released her, covered the mouthpiece, and stepped out of the room. "...Didn't I tell you not to call at this hour? Okay, take it slow, explain. Really?"

Nora lay still, and sure enough, five minutes later, Stefan returned, touching her hair apologetically. "There's an emergency at the company. I need to handle it. Sleep first, okay?"

Nora's voice was calm, almost cold. "I understand. Go take care of it."

He seemed relieved, quickly changed, and kissed her forehead before leaving.

The bedroom door closed softly.

Nora lay motionless, as if asleep.

After a long moment, tears rolled from her eye.

She knew Stefan would agree to the divorce.

She had followed the trail and found Izabella's pregnancy test report.

That call was likely Izabella, perfectly timed to share the news.

The irony was, Nora learned of her husband's mistress's pregnancy before he did.

The next afternoon, the snow that had fallen intermittently for a week finally stopped.

Nora sat in a coffee shop, the snow outside reflecting faint sunlight, stirring unbidden memories in her mind.

Days ago, on a similar afternoon, Stefan, about to leave for a business trip, knelt to tie her shoelaces and invited her for a walk.

She lounged in her chair, her voice lazy. "It's cold outside. I don't feel like moving."

Stefan held her foot, his palm warm, his smile indulgent. "Then we won't go. Remember to take your medicine after I leave."

In just a week, everything had changed.

Penelope sipped her coffee. "I know you hate crowds. Is this place okay?"

The members-only coffee shop was private and quiet, with only soft piano music in the background.

"You're too thin now," Penelope said, eyeing Nora's gaunt, pale frame, her brows furrowing. "Let me order you a chestnut cake. You used to love it."

Nora shook her head. "I can't stomach that now."

Penelope gasped, about to speak, but Nora cut her off. "Let's get to the point."

"I asked you here to show you this company." Penelope slid a document across the table, its cover embossed with the golden logo of DeepBlue Tech, exuding mystery. "I barely mentioned you, and they reached out, offering you the role of the server security consultant. The pay is triple the market rate for a job that's just routine maintenance."

The document confirmed it, a salary three times the norm for light work.

Penelope lowered her voice. "But this company has deep ties. On the surface, it's a global tech giant, but behind it are tangled connections to powerful families in Valoria."

Nora couldn't deny the job's appeal; its tasks, pay, and pace seemed tailored for her.

But all she wanted after the divorce was a quiet, simple life, and getting involved with a web of international influence felt unwise.

Penelope noticed the conflict in her eyes and didn't push. "No rush to decide. They're giving you plenty of time. I'll look for other options too."

Nora exhaled, nodded, and tucked the document away.

Penelope drained her coffee and waved her phone. "Don't stay cooped up tonight. I booked a spa, and my private doctor can check on you, help get you back in shape."

"Maybe another day," Nora said, pulling up a text from Stefan's assistant. "There's a gala for a film project the Gordon Group invested in. I need to make an appearance."

Penelope's face darkened, her words sharp. "At a time like this, you're still playing his game?"

Nora gave a bitter smile. "It's the last time. It doesn't matter."