In His Grasp: A Mafia Romance

Chapter 76: A Kiss from Him

Lilly returned with pasta and hot cocoa. "Clark, why don't you join us for a little snack? It's teatime."

"Thank you, I'd like a cup of coffee," Clark replied without hesitation.

"Alright, I'll prepare that for you," Lilly was as cheerful as a little bird. She set the dishes down and then dashed into the kitchen.

"You've got a great chef," Clark remarked, looking at Lilly.

"She's my friend," Isabella said, truly considering Lilly as her friend. Despite the age gap, they had a strong connection. They could enjoy the same reality shows, have a crush on the same male celebrities, and share personal matters. Lilly had always offered her valuable advice, and she had been a source of comfort during Isabella's worst moments.

In the darkest times, Lilly had been there to uplift her spirits.

Clark chuckled. "You and Emanuele have something in common. He often treats his subordinates like family."

He recalled Emanuele's sorrow and guilt after the loss of a driver. To be honest, he couldn't comprehend those emotions. He was the kind of person who had affection for everyone but never allowed it to grow too deep. He believed that for a Mafia boss, developing deep emotional ties could be dangerous and make them a vulnerable target for enemies.

Given the constant dangers surrounding them, their enemies might target their loved ones despite all precautions. He had prepared himself to lose family members, even his wife, if necessary.

Watching Isabella eat with such vitality, Clark, the woman soon to become his wife, was captivating. She was more spirited now than she had been before. When he had first seen her today, he had almost failed to recognize her. After some time apart, she had become incredibly frail, lying in bed as if she might pass away at any moment.

Yet here she was, quickly recovering her spirit, eating heartily, and indulging in sweets. Perhaps he could take her to a dessert shop next time, Clark contemplated.

"After we finish eating, let's go shopping for some clothes you'd like," he suggested to Isabella.

"Can I go out now? Won't it be dangerous?" Isabella asked, the threatening message she had received still fresh in her mind. She knew that staying in the apartment was the safest option.

"It's okay; I'll protect you, and I have the best security team with me," Clark assured her. The people around him were among the top-tier bodyguards in Canada. If they couldn't ensure their safety, the entire apartment wouldn't be secure.

"Alright," Isabella agreed. She felt like she hadn't been outside for a long time. Ever since the series of assassination attempts, she had tried to avoid going out. Even when she did, she returned quickly, afraid of encountering unforeseen dangers. Now that Clark said they could go out together and reassured her about safety, Isabella felt she could relax and enjoy a little outing.

After eating, Isabella felt much better, and Lilly brought her some medication. "To ensure your complete recovery, make sure to take your medicine on time," Lilly told her with a warm smile. "Thank you," Isabella replied, touched by Lilly's care.

Lilly also provided a khaki windbreaker for Isabella to wear. "You're still quite weak; be careful not to catch a cold."

Isabella looked at Clark as he examined her. She couldn't help but smile. "Lilly seems like my mom."

"I wouldn't mind having a beautiful daughter like you," Lilly responded with a smile.

"That's great; I can also start calling you 'Mom' now," Clark teased Lilly.

After they walked out, just as Clark had promised, the security was extremely thorough. A total of six cars were part of their convoy, with two leading the way, one on the left and one on the right, and another following behind their car, ensuring their protection.

"The mall belongs to our Campbell group. Today, it's closed to the public, and it's all our people inside. So, once we're in, you don't have to worry. You're safe to shop around," Clark reassured Isabella. Isabella had always known the Campbell Group was immensely influential, but she never expected that Clark would have the entire mall cleared just for her. Was he really opening an entire empty mall just for her?

Arriving at the mall's entrance, Isabella was met by heavily armed bodyguards. After getting out of the car, the security team escorted Isabella and Clark inside. It was a huge mall, but apart from the armed bodyguards, there wasn't a single soul, not even store employees.

"Isabella, let's get started. What would you like to buy?" Clark asked with a gentle and warm tone that brought forth feelings of guilt inside Isabella.

"I don't really need anything specific, just looking around is fine," Isabella initially declined.

"That's okay. This whole mall is mine. Whatever you want, just pick it out," Clark insisted.

With that encouragement, Clark led Isabella into the first store, a boutique that specialized in handbags. He asked Isabella about her preferences.

Initially, Isabella wanted to decline, but Clark's brow furrowed, and he became serious. "If you can't choose, I'll have the entire store's inventory bought for you."

The whole store? That was too much!

Isabella looked at the exquisite handbags displayed in the cabinets, realizing that even one of them would be equivalent to several months' worth of her salary. How could she possibly bring herself to choose? Even if Clark said he would cover the costs, it was overwhelming.

In the end, she picked a classic and versatile black chain bag.

Afterward, they moved to the nearby clothing store. Clark had store employees assist Isabella in selecting clothes suitable for her.

The store clerks brought out several dresses for her to try on. "These dresses are all new arrivals this year, and they come in various styles. They should suit you very well," one of the clerks said with respect, recognizing Clark.

Isabella tried them on, and Clark found all of them to look great on her. He instructed the store employees to purchase all the dresses.

"That's too much," Isabella said, watching as Clark paid for the items with his card. The amount on the bill was shocking. Just for these few dresses, it added up to thousands of dollars. She couldn't believe it. With that much money, she could save up!

"It's okay, Isabella. Spend freely. Happiness is what matters most," Clark said as if he didn't care about such a small amount. Seeing Isabella's surprised expression, he found it adorable. Unable to resist, he kissed her on the cheek.

Isabella was completely unprepared for it. After Clark's kiss, she felt a bit disoriented. She almost lost her balance. Quickly, Clark held her, and she found herself in his arms. "What's wrong? Are you too nervous?" he asked, gazing at her with a hint of a smile in his eyes. His handsome face shone brightly, and his eyes sparkled, as if he was delighted by the fact that he had just stolen a kiss from her.

Clark indeed felt elated. It seemed like he hadn't felt this way even during previous relationships. At this moment, he held Isabella in his arms, feeling her soft body and her fragrance like a flower, and he felt like he wanted to kiss her again.