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The Mafia's Substitute Bride 147
“Mrs Santoro, there you are.”Bianca turned from the long table of desserts, blinking as the chairman’s daughter, Aisha, approached her with a soft smile and a flute of champagne in hand.“My father would like to speak with you both now,” the lady said. “He's waiting.”Bianca’s brow twitched. “Where is Lucas?”“I assumed he was with you,” the girl said lightly. “But if not, I’m sure he’s around. Someone mentioned seeing him near the parking area a while ago.”Bianca forced a smile. “I’ll find him.”She didn’t wait for a reply. Her heels clipped quickly against the marble as she exited the hall with a frown etched on her face. The sounds fading the closer she was to the parking lot. She reached the path leading toward all the cars, scanning them, the shadows between them, the corners where a man might take a private business call.Nothing.She kept looking until she found a familia plate number and traced it to the car in between two other similar cars, but the fogged window alerted he
The Mafia's Substitute Bride 146
She turned slowly to face him, brows raised, lips parting to echo his confused "uh…what?"—but the words didn’t come.Instead, she stared.Not at his expression exactly, though that was part of it, but at the soft flush creeping over the tips of his ears. Faint at first, just a quiet bloom of red that might have gone unnoticed in this dim light if she weren’t standing so close. But it spread quickly—like his body betrayed him before he could reel it back in. He look like someone just showed him a baby photo of him, and his ears had their own story to tell. And right now, they were telling her something she'd never seen before.Her eyes widened the slightest bit. “Are you… blushing?”Lucas blinked one as if the question startled him more than the word she'd used moments ago. The nickname.She stepped in, still watching him, with an amused and surprised voice. “Wait. Seriously? That’s what gets a reaction out of you? Lu?”He looked away briefly, shifting in his seat, but that tiny red t
The Mafia's Substitute Bride 145
It turned out the call Lucas answered in the car was from Ethan.The moment they stepped into the glittering lobby of the event hall, with polished floors reflecting gold light and the sound of soft music humming from a string quartet near the grand staircase, Ethan spotted them. He was standing not far from the center of the crowd, dressed in a steel grey tuxedo with a black silk lapel, chatting loosely with a group of people. He noticed them almost instantly, excused himself, and strolled over with that usual confidence that seemed to follow him everywhere.“Lucas,” Ethan grinned, pulling him into a quick one-armed handshake that looked more like something they’d done a thousand times before. “You’re on time for once.” He said sarcasticallyLucas returned the gesture with a small nod, then turned slightly as Ethan’s eyes slid toward Valentina.“Ms Caruso in the flesh,” he said, voice smooth as he reached for her hand, bringing it up for a kiss. “You look like sin and royalty had a c
The Mafia's Substitute Bride 144
She didn’t let go of him for the next few seconds, but eventually the warmth in her cheeks and the dampness on his shirt nudged her gently back to reality. Valentina eased out of the embrace, rubbing under her eyes again even though most of the crying had already stopped. She sniffled, took a small breath, and stepped back fully.“I was thinking…” she began, her voice still a bit raw from sobbing, “I could make you something for lunch. What do you want?”Lucas tilted his head slightly as if giving it some thought, his gaze following the way she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.“How about late dinner instead?” he suggested casually. “After tonight’s event.”She blinked. “Dinner?”He nodded. “Yeah. It’ll be late by the time we get back. You can impress me with your cooking then.”Her lips tugged up slowly, and then a grin bloomed wide across her face. She gave him a childish wave with both hands like she was heading off on a school trip. “Okay, then. Late dinner it is.”He shook
The Mafia's Substitute Bride 143
The knock came just after nine the next morning. Valentina was still in her robe, curled against her pillows with a throw blanket wrapped around her shoulders, flipping half-heartedly through an unread book. She didn't bother to call out. Olive pushed the door open without waiting.“Sorry to bother you, ma’am. This came in through a courier this morning. Personal delivery.” Olive stepped in with a dark green envelope in hand. No sender name on it, but the seal had the emblem of the Vescari Foundation pressed into the back.Valentina took it and turned it over in her palm. “Charity event?” she asked under her breath, already tugging the flap open.Olive, still standing there, nodded. &ld
The Mafia's Substitute Bride 142
Before she could ask what he meant her phone buzzed on the bed, after a quick glance she declined the call.Few seconds later it rang again.She didn’t reach for it right away. It lit up briefly, faint light spilling across the sheets before going black again. She didn’t need to check. The name alone was enough to make her stomach tighten.She stared ahead, her arms crossed loosely over her middle, and let it pass.Lucas, still sitting of his chair with one ankle hooked over his knee, turned his head slightly. He wondered who it was that made her expression fall so fast.The phone buzzed a second time.
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