The Mafia's Substitute Bride
The space between them disappeared. She arched into him, tilting her head as his lips traced a slow path down her jaw, then lower.
Goodness, she wanted more.
***
Valentina De Luca was never meant to be a Caruso bride. That was her sister's role—until Alecia ran off with her fiancé, leaving behind a family drowning in debt and a deal that couldn’t be undone. Now, Valentina is the one offered up as collateral, forced into marriage with Naples’ most dangerous man.
Luca Caruso has no use for a woman who wasn’t part of the original bargain. To him, Valentina is nothing more than a replacement, a means to reclaim what was promised to him. But she isn’t as fragile as she seems. And the more their lives tangle, the harder she is to ignore.
Everything begins to go well for her, well, until her sister returns. And with her, the kind of trouble that could ruin them all.
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Chapter: FiveThe car finally pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant, an open space lined with luxury cars that gleamed under the soft evening light. My heart thudded in my chest as I glanced at the restaurant. It was an outdoor Michelin-starred place, every inch of it oozing exclusivity. The restaurant itself was a combination of sleek modern architecture and elegant, soft lighting that made the space seem more intimate, despite its grandeur. Tables were arranged with precision, each one set with sparkling glassware and expensive table settings. Even from the parking lot, I could see how meticulous it all was—every detail perfected, like the guests who frequented it.The engine came to a stop, and the driver promptly got out, circling to my side. He opened the door with a silent bow, and I took a deep breath before stepping out. The moment my feet touched the ground, I had to hold myself not to panic and hail a cab out of here.I reached into my bag and pulled out the black invitation card—
Last Updated: 2025-10-28
Chapter: Four10:15 AM the next dayForty Five minutes until the meeting and I was yet to dress up. I was forced to bath but I needed more time to regain control of myself before I put on that dress.It's my favorite color, a shiny blue silk slip ankle length dress with cowl neck.But it didn't stop the helpless feeling.10:22I finally pulled myself together and slipped into the dress. It only took a few minutes, but it felt like an eternity. I applied just enough makeup to cover the dark circles under my eyes, not wanting to look as tired as I felt. Then, I grabbed my bag.As I headed downstairs, I couldn't stop the silent prayer running through my mind. Even though I knew just how wrong it was, but is it bad that I wanted Luca Caruso to find out about the switch and back out. But at the same time, a part of me wished he wouldn’t. My mother’s life hung in the balance, and I knew my father wouldn't hesitate to cut off her life support if this marriage didn’t happen. He had made that clear. Pretty
Last Updated: 2025-10-28
Chapter: ThreeConfusion, hurt and anger; those were the three emotions I felt in a matter of seconds as I stared at Marco’s text.What the hell was he saying? I thought as I tried calling his number again. It rang and the call was instantly rejected.I felt my heart clench, painfully. This wasn’t possible. Macro couldn’t be breaking up with me. We’d spent too many years together for this joke to seem real.I needed to see him, talk to him and make sure this joke was that alone, a joke!Heading towards my closet, I changed out of my night dress and grabbed stormed out of my room, determined to reach his place in seconds and get the answers I deserved.My father saw me on my way out, but didn’t make any effort to stop me. It was like he knew I wouldn’t do what Alecia did. I knew I wouldn’t do what Alecia did.Getting into my car, I sped towards his penthouse and thanks to it being the early hours of the day, there was no traffic, meaning I arrived there in under an hour.In little to no time, I was i
Last Updated: 2025-10-17
Chapter: TwoThe sun was barely rising when I was jolted awake by the sound of hurried footsteps echoing down the hallway. The soft light of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a pale glow over my room. For a moment, I lay still, listening, my heart pounding in my chest. Something wasn’t right.I slipped out of bed, my bare feet padding quietly across the cool marble floor as I moved toward the door. The voices in the hallway grew louder, more frantic. I recognized them immediately—my father’s deep, commanding tone, laced with anger, and the strained, nervous replies of the servants.I cracked the door open just enough to peer out. The corridor was a flurry of activity. Two of the maids were speaking in hushed whispers, their expressions anxious. My father stood at the end of the hallway, his face ashen, barking orders at anyone within earshot.“Find her!” he shouted, his voice reverberating off the walls. “I want every inch of this house searched and Alecia brought to me! Go! Find her, sh
Last Updated: 2025-10-17
Chapter: OneI once recalled a time when breakfast, lunch and Dinner, used to be my favorite time of the day. A time when we’d all gather around the lavish dancing table, chatting, laughing and discussing all about our day as we feasted on the delicious meal prepared by my mother.But now, as I sat in the dining room of my family’s mansion, several varieties of food spread out before me, I couldn’t help but think of such times as distant memories.Memories that I realized were slowly fading, being replaced with the harsher things of life, as I sat absentmindedly, playing with the food I had long lost my appetite for.Across from me, Alecia was in her usual form—vivacious, vibrant, and utterly captivating. She was the kind of person who could command a room without saying a word, her presence was so out there and captivating that at most times, it was impossible to look away. I often wondered how it was possible that we shared the same face, the same features, yet were so fundamentally different.P
Last Updated: 2025-10-17