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Chapter 172. Just One Thing Matters
Last Updated:
2025-04-21 19:16:19
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The Mafia's Substitute Bride Chapter 173. The Guilt
The soft rustling of the curtains filled the quiet bedroom as the moonlight streamed in through the open windows, casting silver streaks across the floor. The night air was cool and still, carrying with it a sense of calm that the couple hadn’t felt in days. Dinner had been quiet, filled with concerned glances from Leonardo’s parents and affectionate giggles from their children, Vincenzo and Lucia. But now, in the sanctuary of their room, it was just the two of them—no distractions, no interruptions.Sofia sat on the edge of the bed, brushing her fingers over the blanket absentmindedly. Leonardo stood by the door for a moment, watching her. She looked fragile in the dim light, her hand resting protectively over her belly, her long lashes casting shadows on her cheeks.He finally walked toward her, kneeling in front of her like a man seeking redemption.“I owe you an apology,” he said softly. “Not just for last night, but for all the times I let my anger win. For making you feel like y
Last Updated : 2025-04-22The Mafia's Substitute Bride Chapter 174. Sold Out
The musty air inside the warehouse was thick with dust and diesel fumes. Shafts of sunlight slipped through the cracks in the rusted ceiling, cutting across crates of firearms marked with foreign stamps. Leonardo adjusted the cuffs of his black linen shirt, stepping around a crate with slow, measured confidence.Domenico stood at his side, expression unreadable, arms crossed, and a Glock holstered beneath his leather jacket.Anthony Gonsalvis lit a cheap cigar and grinned, the oily kind of grin Leonardo had always distrusted. “Everything's here, Don Morelli,” Anthony said, waving a hand toward the open crates. “Fresh stock. No serials, no loose ends. Clean work.”Leonardo gave him a long, quiet stare. “I don’t give a damn about the wrapping, Anthony. What’s the price?”Numbers were exchanged, fake smiles offered. Domenico crouched beside a crate, pulling out a semi-automatic and inspecting the chamber. Everything seemed legit—too legit.Then came the sound.A sharp whistle. Tires scre
Last Updated : 2025-05-01The Mafia's Substitute Bride Chapter 175. Protective Brother
Domenico drove like a man possessed, the tires screeching against the asphalt as he pulled into the clinic’s private entrance. The second the car stopped, medics were already rushing out. Leonardo had called ahead.Leonardo barely got out of the car before two nurses approached with a stretcher for Rusty, who was unconscious and pale from blood loss. Domenico helped them load him onto it, his jaw tight as he watched his injured man disappear behind hospital doors.Leonardo winced as he clutched his shoulder, blood still seeping through his shirt. A nurse tried to usher him inside, but he waved her off.“Get Rusty stable. That’s the priority,” he muttered.“You both need care,” she insisted.“I said, treat him first.”Domenico rolled his eyes. “For once, don’t be a stubborn bastard.”Eventually, the Italian don allowed them to clean and dress the wound—nothing deep, but enough to sting and tear the fabric of his day. The bullet had grazed him, but the tension in the room made it feel d
Last Updated : 2025-05-05The Mafia's Substitute Bride Chapter 176. What He Deserves
Leonardo didn’t answer. Instead, he unbuckled his seatbelt, yanked the car door open, and stepped out without a word.“Where are you going?” Domenico frowned, confused.Sighing, he unfastened his own seatbelt, turned off the engine, and pushed the door open. He stepped out onto the sidewalk, his eyes instantly locking on Leonardo.The mafia king was pacing slowly, hands in his pockets, head low. The road was nearly deserted—just the occasional car speeding by. Above them, the night sky was star-scattered and dark, the moon absent. Street lamps cast pale yellow pools of light on the sidewalk, flickering faintly. It was quiet, almost eerily so.“What’s going on, Leonardo?” Domenico pressed, his voice taut with tension. Panic had begun creeping up his spine ever since Leonardo had admitted he’d done something that could break Sofia’s heart.Leonardo stopped pacing. He looked out at the road like he was hoping it would swallow him whole.After a heavy silence, he finally muttered, “I slep
Last Updated : 2025-05-05The Mafia's Substitute Bride Chapter 177. An Impending Storm
“You’re not telling her anything,” Domenico added, his tone less of a suggestion and more of a command. “She’ll be broken, Leo. She’ll never be the same after this—and neither will your marriage. You can’t do that to her.”His voice cracked slightly, frustration and desperation laced in every word.“I can’t watch her fall apart,” Domenico continued, his eyes pleading. “You know how much her self-respect means to her. She’s strong, but this… this would destroy her.”Leonardo looked away, guilt tightening his chest. “But… what if she finds out?”Domenico didn’t hesitate. “How?” he snapped, stepping forward. “How the hell is she going t
Last Updated : 2025-05-06The Mafia's Substitute Bride Chapter 1. Prologue
Sofia's heart pounded in her chest as the rain pelted against the windows, matching the rhythm of her mother's sobs. She could hear her mother's footsteps pacing back and forth in the living room, waiting for her husband to come home. Then, suddenly, the sound of a car pulling up to the house cut through the storm."Mama, he's here!" Sofia whispered, barely audible over the sound of the rain. She watched as her mother rushed to the door, wiping away her tears and plastering on a fake smile."Welcome home, dear," her mother said, her voice shaking. Sofia's father strode into the house, a beautiful woman in his arms. Sofia recoiled at the sight of her father's mistress, but her mother put on a brave face."Who is this?" her mother asked, trying to keep her tone light. "Is everything alright?""Everything is fine," her father sneered, pushing her away. "Can't a man have a little fun?"Sofia's mother's face fell. "Please don't hurt me," she begged. "I just wanted to make sure you were
Last Updated : 2024-07-23The Mafia's Substitute Bride Chapter 2. Living In Hell
*Seven Years Later*“Sofia, come to my room quickly.” Sofia heard her stepmother, Emma, calling her. She felt a pang of hunger in her stomach, but she knew she had to obey her stepmother's command. Sofia covered her plate and placed it on the slab before leaving. She couldn't risk facing the consequences of disobeying her stepmother.After her mother's death, her life became a living hell. Her stepmother didn't provide her with enough food to eat or proper clothes to wear. Sofia wasn't allowed to enjoy any luxuries in her father's mansion; she was treated as nothing more than a housemaid. Emma, her stepmother, justified her actions by claiming she was disciplining Sofia, fearing that without her mother, Sofia might turn out to be whore due to her mother's poor family background.Sofia was confined to the house and forbidden from attending any social gatherings or her friends' birthday parties. She wasn't even allowed to have any friends. Today after gathering all the leftover food from
Last Updated : 2024-07-23The Mafia's Substitute Bride Chapter 3. Substitute Bride
“I won't marry that girl!” Leonardo shouted angrily, throwing the contract papers off the table. Alessandro, looking out of the window, listened to his son’s outburst. The study, lavishly decorated with antique furniture and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, was thick with tension."Leonardo. Try to understand. This wedding is very important for this merger," his father declared nonchalantly."No, Father, it is not fucking possible. I won't marry a slut like her," Leonardo refused sternly. "By the way," he narrowed his grey eyes sceptically. "I was supposed to marry Ricci's other daughter. So, why did they change the bride at the last moment?" he scowled."We don't know why they changed the bride. However, this marriage will only last for three years and not a real one, so it doesn't matter who the bride is," his father explained patiently, but Leonardo was not in a good mood to understand those things."Are you serious, Dad? You want me to marry a whore for a business deal ?! You can't f
Last Updated : 2024-07-23
Latest chapter
The Mafia's Substitute Bride Chapter 177. An Impending Storm
“You’re not telling her anything,” Domenico added, his tone less of a suggestion and more of a command. “She’ll be broken, Leo. She’ll never be the same after this—and neither will your marriage. You can’t do that to her.”His voice cracked slightly, frustration and desperation laced in every word.“I can’t watch her fall apart,” Domenico continued, his eyes pleading. “You know how much her self-respect means to her. She’s strong, but this… this would destroy her.”Leonardo looked away, guilt tightening his chest. “But… what if she finds out?”Domenico didn’t hesitate. “How?” he snapped, stepping forward. “How the hell is she going t
The Mafia's Substitute Bride Chapter 176. What He Deserves
Leonardo didn’t answer. Instead, he unbuckled his seatbelt, yanked the car door open, and stepped out without a word.“Where are you going?” Domenico frowned, confused.Sighing, he unfastened his own seatbelt, turned off the engine, and pushed the door open. He stepped out onto the sidewalk, his eyes instantly locking on Leonardo.The mafia king was pacing slowly, hands in his pockets, head low. The road was nearly deserted—just the occasional car speeding by. Above them, the night sky was star-scattered and dark, the moon absent. Street lamps cast pale yellow pools of light on the sidewalk, flickering faintly. It was quiet, almost eerily so.“What’s going on, Leonardo?” Domenico pressed, his voice taut with tension. Panic had begun creeping up his spine ever since Leonardo had admitted he’d done something that could break Sofia’s heart.Leonardo stopped pacing. He looked out at the road like he was hoping it would swallow him whole.After a heavy silence, he finally muttered, “I slep
The Mafia's Substitute Bride Chapter 175. Protective Brother
Domenico drove like a man possessed, the tires screeching against the asphalt as he pulled into the clinic’s private entrance. The second the car stopped, medics were already rushing out. Leonardo had called ahead.Leonardo barely got out of the car before two nurses approached with a stretcher for Rusty, who was unconscious and pale from blood loss. Domenico helped them load him onto it, his jaw tight as he watched his injured man disappear behind hospital doors.Leonardo winced as he clutched his shoulder, blood still seeping through his shirt. A nurse tried to usher him inside, but he waved her off.“Get Rusty stable. That’s the priority,” he muttered.“You both need care,” she insisted.“I said, treat him first.”Domenico rolled his eyes. “For once, don’t be a stubborn bastard.”Eventually, the Italian don allowed them to clean and dress the wound—nothing deep, but enough to sting and tear the fabric of his day. The bullet had grazed him, but the tension in the room made it feel d
The Mafia's Substitute Bride Chapter 174. Sold Out
The musty air inside the warehouse was thick with dust and diesel fumes. Shafts of sunlight slipped through the cracks in the rusted ceiling, cutting across crates of firearms marked with foreign stamps. Leonardo adjusted the cuffs of his black linen shirt, stepping around a crate with slow, measured confidence.Domenico stood at his side, expression unreadable, arms crossed, and a Glock holstered beneath his leather jacket.Anthony Gonsalvis lit a cheap cigar and grinned, the oily kind of grin Leonardo had always distrusted. “Everything's here, Don Morelli,” Anthony said, waving a hand toward the open crates. “Fresh stock. No serials, no loose ends. Clean work.”Leonardo gave him a long, quiet stare. “I don’t give a damn about the wrapping, Anthony. What’s the price?”Numbers were exchanged, fake smiles offered. Domenico crouched beside a crate, pulling out a semi-automatic and inspecting the chamber. Everything seemed legit—too legit.Then came the sound.A sharp whistle. Tires scre
The Mafia's Substitute Bride Chapter 173. The Guilt
The soft rustling of the curtains filled the quiet bedroom as the moonlight streamed in through the open windows, casting silver streaks across the floor. The night air was cool and still, carrying with it a sense of calm that the couple hadn’t felt in days. Dinner had been quiet, filled with concerned glances from Leonardo’s parents and affectionate giggles from their children, Vincenzo and Lucia. But now, in the sanctuary of their room, it was just the two of them—no distractions, no interruptions.Sofia sat on the edge of the bed, brushing her fingers over the blanket absentmindedly. Leonardo stood by the door for a moment, watching her. She looked fragile in the dim light, her hand resting protectively over her belly, her long lashes casting shadows on her cheeks.He finally walked toward her, kneeling in front of her like a man seeking redemption.“I owe you an apology,” he said softly. “Not just for last night, but for all the times I let my anger win. For making you feel like y
The Mafia's Substitute Bride Chapter 172. Just One Thing Matters
When Leonardo finally arrived home in his disheveled state, guilt weighing heavy on his shoulders, he found Sofia waiting for him near the front door. Her phone trembled in her tight grip, and the moment she saw him, she shot to her feet, rushing toward him.She threw herself into his arms, her body shaking as tears streamed down her cheeks. “Where were you the whole night, Leonardo?” she cried, her voice breaking. “Who does this to his pregnant wife after a small fight, huh?”Her sobs echoed in the hallway as she pressed her face against his chest. Leonardo’s heart shattered at the sound of her pain. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly as though he could shield her from everything—including himself.“I’m sorry, amore mio,” he whispered, lowering his head and pressing his lips to her hair. “It won’t ever happen again. I swear.”Sofia pulled back slightly, just enough to look into his stormy grey eyes with her tear-filled blue ones. Her voice was soft, but the words st
The Mafia's Substitute Bride Chapter 171. A Mistake
Leonardo stared at Ava, his heart sinking with helplessness. He still couldn't believe what had happened. The reality of his marriage, his love for Sofia, stood like an immovable wall between them. No—he loved Sofia, more than words could ever express, and the mere thought of betraying her, even if he didn’t remember every detail of the night, made him feel like a criminal.God, what have I done?He turned his gaze away, guilt consuming every corner of his mind. Ava was sitting on the edge of the bed, the sheet pulled around her like a fragile veil, watching him with eyes full of something that looked like hope. But staying here any longer would only be a bigger mistake. Whatever happened last night—it shouldn’t have.“I have to go,” Leonardo muttered, already stepping toward the door.His hand had just touched the knob when a trembling voice froze him in place. “Leo…” Ava whispered, her voice broken. “I’m very alone.”He stood still, his back to her. The image of Sofia’s face flashe
The Mafia's Substitute Bride Chapter 170. No Escape
Ava reached out, her fingers tracing lightly along Leonardo’s chest as she whispered soft, seductive words into his ear. But even in his dazed state, his reaction was immediate and fierce—he jerked away, his eyes clouded and nearly closed, yet his actions were furious as he shoved her hand aside with surprising strength.“Ouch,” she muttered, stunned more by the rejection than the force. His body was firm, solid like carved marble, and every part of her ached with longing. She had dreamed of this moment for years, and now that he was here—in her home, in her bed—she couldn't accept defeat.But it was clear: he wasn’t yielding.Frustrated, Ava stepped back and signaled her driver, who had been waiting just outside the door. Without exchanging a word, he entered the room and silently helped her undress Leonardo—his limbs heavy, his consciousness fading. She administered another dose of the sedative, watching his breathing slow as the drug took effect.Only then did she dismiss the drive
The Mafia's Substitute Bride Chapter 169. Last Chance
Sofia didn’t want to call her—not now, not ever. It went against every ounce of pride she still had. The very idea of reaching out to her to ask about her own husband made her stomach twist with humiliation. But her instincts as a wife were louder than her ego. Something deep within her, something raw and unexplainable, told her she had to find Leonardo—and that she would do whatever it took.With a shaky breath, she tapped the name on her phone screen. The dial tone rang only twice.“Ava, hi,” she said softly as the call connected, trying to sound composed.There was a pause before Ava responded, her voice low, almost too calm. “Sofia,” she said, the way one might say the name of an unexpected guest. “What makes you call me today?”Sofia hesitated, swallowing the lump in her throat. “Um… is my husband with you?” she asked carefully, every word laced with tension.There was a sharp inhale from the other side.“Your husband? And you don’t know where he is?” Ava’s tone instantly shifted
