Share

Chapter 2

last update Last Updated: 2025-04-18 18:08:30

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee still lingered on Delilah’s clothes as she entered her small apartment.

As soon as she stepped inside, the scent of something delicious hit her nose.

She inhaled deeply, savoring the scent of spices and herbs that made her stomach growl with hunger.

After a long day at the cafƩ, it was exactly what she needed.

With a tired sigh, she dropped her bag lazily by the couch, her shoulders slumping in relief. She moved toward the kitchen, following the irresistible smell, already guessing who the culprit was.

She rounded the corner into the kitchen, and found her aunt, Mary Flynn.

Mary stood over the stove, stirring a pot of what smelled like her famous chicken stew.

Her aunt’s graying hair, always tied back in a neat bun, gleamed under the kitchen lights.

Despite her age, Aunt Mary had the energy of someone half her years and the warmest smile that could melt any stress away.

Mary glanced up and smiled warmly when she saw Delilah. "I knew you wouldn’t be cooking tonight, lazy girl," she teased, reaching up to peck Delilah on the cheek.

Delilah chuckled, leaning into the kiss. "You know me too well, Aunt Mary. I was going to cook… eventually."

Her aunt laughed heartily. "If I left it to you, you’d starve yourself before getting a meal ready. Someone has to keep you fed!"

Delilah grinned, unable to argue. She quickly washed her hands and moved to help. "Okay, okay, I admit defeat. Let me at least help finish this up."

Together, they worked in comfortable silence, the only sounds in the kitchen being the bubbling stew and the clatter of dishes as Delilah set the table.

After a few more minutes, they were done, and Delilah carried her plate to the dining room, her stomach rumbling in anticipation.

They both sat down, the dining room filled with the smell of the delicious food.

Delilah took a bite, humming in satisfaction as the flavors danced on her tongue. Aunt Mary’s cooking never disappointed.

As they ate, Aunt Mary glanced at Delilah, a thoughtful look on her face. There was a pause before she spoke.

"Delilah, there’s something I need to tell you," she began, her tone gentle but serious.

Delilah, mid-bite, glanced up curiously. "Go on," she said, chewing on a piece of chicken, too lost in the delicious meal to sense the gravity of her aunt’s words.

Mary smiled softly, then took a deep breath. "I’ve found a suitor for you. A good match."

The words landed like a bombshell.

Delilah froze, her spoon suspended in mid-air, eyes wide with shock.

For a moment, it felt like the room had gone completely silent, as if the air itself had stilled in disbelief.

"A… suitor?" Delilah repeated, her voice barely above a whisper, her mind racing.

She hadn’t expected this.

She glanced at Aunt Mary, who was watching her closely, waiting for a reaction.

The very word, Suitor made Delilah’s stomach twist.

"He's a nice guy," Mary said, her voice warm and encouraging. "And very handsome."

Delilah blinked and let out a small sigh, trying to collect her thoughts. "Aunt Mary," she began slowly, "I don’t think—"

Mary interrupted, her expression shifting from playful to concerned. "Delilah, I’ve noticed how you've been avoiding men. I understand after... everything." Her voice trailed off, eyes clouded with memories.

Delilah looked away.

She knew her aunt was thinking of her parents' death and the awful events that followed—the men she’d dated who had proven to be untrustworthy, leaving scars deeper than she liked to admit.

But not all men are like that, Mary believed. Not every man is like what you’ve faced, she wanted to say, but the words hung unspoken between them.

"I’ve been thinking about your future a lot, you know," Mary continued, her tone softening as she reached across the table to hold Delilah’s hand. "With your parents gone, it’s fallen on me to make sure you’re looked after. I may not be around much longer myself."

Delilah’s head snapped up. "Oh goodness, Aunt! Don’t talk like that. You’re not going to die of old age anytime soon." She squeezed her aunt’s hand affectionately. "You’re still young and full of life."

Mary chuckled, but the seriousness in her eyes didn’t waver. With a playful smack to Delilah’s hand, she added, "If I’m so young, then hurry up and get married while I’m alive, rather than waiting until I’m gone."

Delilah sighed, shaking her head but smiling faintly. She knew how much Mary cared, but this wasn’t what she wanted—not now, not like this.

"You’re my only family, Delilah," Mary continued softly. "I just want to know you’re happy and with someone who’ll take care of you. The suitor I found for you... well, his family has already approved. They think highly of you."

Delilah pulled her hand away gently, returning her focus to her food. She picked up her spoon again, hoping to steer the conversation elsewhere, but her aunt wasn’t letting this go.

"Aren’t you at least interested in knowing about him?" Mary asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

Delilah didn’t even look up. "No."

Mary’s lips pressed into a thin line as she reached for her phone, pulling up something on the screen. "Well, maybe seeing him will change your mind." She turned the phone toward Delilah, showing a photo of the man she was talking about.

Delilah’s instinct was to look away, to avoid whatever trap her aunt had set, but as her eyes caught a glimpse of the man in the photo, her heart did a strange flip.

He was handsome—no, more than handsome. He was striking, the kind of man who could stop traffic with just one glance. His black hair was short but styled in that perfect, effortless way that suggested both discipline and rebellion.

His deep, dark grey eyes, almost charcoal, stared back with an intensity that made her breath catch in her throat.

There was something about his sharp, firm features, the coldness of his expression, and the athletic build that hinted at power and control.

Delilah gulped, suddenly feeling uncomfortably warm.

She quickly set down her spoon again, her appetite vanishing under the weight of the image before her.

"He was handsome four years ago," Mary said with a knowing smile, "but he’s even more handsome now."

Delilah finished the last bite of her food hastily, her mind spinning.

She picked up her plate, pushing back her chair as she stood. "I’ll think about it," she muttered, heading for the kitchen.

Behind her, Mary’s playful voice followed. "Is that a yes?"

Delilah paused, half-turning with a shrug. "Maybe a yes."

She didn’t need to see her aunt’s face to know that her response had made her beam. Mary, ever the optimist, would take any sliver of hope and run with it.

"Thank the stars!" Mary exclaimed, her voice light with happiness.

Delilah escaped into the kitchen, setting her plate in the sink.

Her hands gripped the edge of the counter as she took a deep breath, trying to regain control of her racing thoughts.

The image of the man was etched in her mind, those deep grey eyes haunting her. She could feel her pulse thudding in her chest, the unwelcome flutter of attraction tightening her stomach.

But no. This wasn’t happening. She wasn’t going to let herself fall into another situation where emotions clouded her judgment.

She had no reason to trust anyone, let alone someone like him—handsome or not. She had dealt with enough to know better than to let herself get tangled in a mess of love, or worse, marriage.

She had managed to avoid every suitor her aunt had thrown her way before, and she would do the same this time.

Delilah wasn’t ready to give her heart to anyone, especially not someone who looked like they could break it without a second thought.

With a firm nod to herself, she washed her plate and resolved not to be swayed, no matter how cold and calculating—and devastatingly handsome—he appeared to be.

Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App

Latest chapter

  • The Capo's Deadly Bride Ā Ā Ā Chapter 143

    The private dining hall of the restaurant was a world apart—sleek, expensive, and eerily silent despite the gathering of powerhouses seated inside. Crystal chandeliers cast golden light on the polished mahogany table stretching across the room. The men and women seated were the most feared, most respected members of the underground—Capos, Consiglieri, and a few others whose names alone could make hearts stop. At the head of the table, a sharply dressed man in his sixties stood—the chairperson for the evening. His voice was steady, yet commanding. "As we all know," he began, "the organization is entering a new era. We’ve survived brutal wars, betrayals, and shifts in power. But survival isn’t enough. We must grow. And for that… we need a leader. A new Don." Murmurs followed, quickly fading into silence as he continued. "There are a few names on the list. Men capable of leading us forward. Men who have proven their loyalty. Men who have spilled blood, cleaned the dirt off our emp

  • The Capo's Deadly Bride Ā Ā Ā Chapter 142

    Delilah stepped out of her black car with ease and elegance, dressed in tailored black trousers and a cream fitted blouse that complimented the curve of her waist. Her heels clicked against the cobblestone driveway of Elder Donato’s mansion. A warm afternoon sun lit the air, but the mood was anything but sunny.Behind her, one of her bodyguards followed closely, holding a modest cake box with white frosting designs and a subtle satin ribbon. To the unsuspecting eye, it looked like a simple gesture. But this was Delilah—nothing she did was simple.Inside the mansion, she walked through the entrance like she owned the place, her steps unhurried, her smile steady. She entered the dining room where Elder Donato sat at the head of a long mahogany table, slicing a piece of veal with slow accuracy. His white hair was neatly combed, and his gold ring caught the light with every motion.Delilah’s smile widened when she approached. "It's so good to see you again, Nonno," she said with sweet af

  • The Capo's Deadly Bride Ā Ā Ā Chapter 141

    Days blurred into weeks, weeks into months. Delilah had become something of a legend in the shadows. The Krono wasn’t just a tool now—it was a throne, and she ruled from it, faceless but feared. She slipped into the lives of powerful men and women with blackmail so accurate they never saw her coming. Whispers of her haunted the boardrooms and political suites. They didn’t know her name, but they felt her presence. And it gave her everything—money, power, control.From the spoils of her secrecy, she built something legitimate: a real organization to help trafficked women. Gino’s paycheck doubled. Marco was making clean, sharp money in real estate. Even Aunt Mary had a new apartment uptown, one with sunlight and a working elevator. Ruby and Helen had cried when they received a cake box stuffed with thick bundles of hundred-dollar bills, hidden under the frosting.But even with all the glamor and goodness, Marco stayed watchful. The Krono was too dangerous. Too much attention and the

  • The Capo's Deadly Bride Ā Ā Ā Chapter 140

    Delilah was back at the mansion.Mrs. Hayden had already been given instructions—to assist Delilah at all times, no questions asked. And the older woman did just that, preparing what was necessary and retreating when needed. Delilah had asked to be left alone in the library, and Mrs. Hayden, like a loyal servant, obeyed.The mansion was silent. The late afternoon had melted into evening. Golden streaks of sunlight slanted across the dark shelves of the library.Marco was still at the office.Delilah sat in one of the chairs, her fingers moving with smooth accuracy. She took the new laptop—the one she had ordered Gino to get—and set it on the table before her. After a brief pause, she pulled out the USB.Let’s see what secrets the Krono holds, she thought.Click.She inserted the drive, and a folder appeared. No password protection. No decoy files. Just a single, cryptic label.She opened it.Rows of names greeted her. Important men. Influential women. Politicians. Judges. All neatly f

  • The Capo's Deadly Bride Ā Ā Ā Chapter 139

    Marco covered the pot with its lid and muttered under his breath, disappointment etched in his voice, "Sure, all it took was to be distracted."A crooked smirk tugged at his lips a second later. "Well, at least I got a compliment."The compliment had lingered in his mind far longer than the ruined soup. She had said he looked handsome. Devilishly handsome. And the way her gaze had lingered on him? He’d felt it — not just seen it. Felt it sliding over his skin like a warm current, deliberate, and far from innocent.Before he could get lost in the thought again, Delilah’s voice carried from the living room. "The delivery is here."He stepped out of the kitchen. The aroma of the delivered chicken soup replaced the burnt smell from earlier. It wasn’t the meal he planned to make, but it would do. They dined quietly, the silence between them no longer awkward but easy, almost intimate. When they finished, they retreated into the bedroom.Delilah changed into a loose-fitting nightgown, soft

  • The Capo's Deadly Bride Ā Ā Ā Chapter 138

    Marco had finally released Delilah from his arms, the warmth of her still lingering in his hold. She had called a cab through an app, adamantly refusing to trouble Gino for a ride."I’ll just grab a few things from the apartment and come back to the mansion," she’d said.Marco didn’t argue. He knew better than to push her when she’d made up her mind. Still, that didn’t stop him from escorting her to the hotel entrance.The cab was already waiting.Marco opened the passenger door for her and Delilah slid in. Maybe it was the brush of her body against his arm, or the way her fingers briefly brushed his as she settled in—but Marco’s gut clenched.He watched as the cab drove off, disappearing into the traffic. A second later, his phone rang.---Delilah had received a message from Mary earlier, saying she would be at the hospital for treatment and wouldn't be at the apartment. Now, Delilah found the key where Mary had said it would be—in the flower vase just by the apartment door. She un

More Chapters
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status