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134

مؤلف: Western.R
last update آخر تحديث: 2025-12-30 18:02:00

Lucas tapped the side of the chair lightly with his knuckles, staring at the man tied to it like he was working out a thought in his head. Then he looked up at Ethan.

“You got a boxing ring in this place?”

Ethan gave him a strange look, one brow lifting a little, but he nodded anyway. "Yeah. Down the hall."

"Good," Lucas said simply, rising from his chair. "Get me a pair of gloves."

Still eyeing him like he was wondering what he was about to get into, Ethan turned and disappeared for a moment. Lucas stayed where he was, loosening his wrists, rolling his shoulders slowly, never once taking his eyes off the hostage.

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  • The Mafia's Substitute Bride   149

    VESCARI FOUNDATION AUCTION CHARITY EVENTThe private room at the top of the Vescari Foundation was grand in the way old money always was. The walls were lined with velvet and dark walnut, art framed in gold catching the soft chandelier light. A butler quietly poured a drink at the far end, and the aging chairman sat in the large leather armchair by the window, a blanket across his legs.Bianca walked beside Lucas, her heels tapping softly on the marble as they entered. She smiled slightly when the chairman looked up with a smile."Ah, there they are," he said, his voice warm but faint, he sounded like someone waking from a long nap. "You two always arrive like a painting. Beautiful pair."Bianca's eyes flicked sideways, catching the subtle crease in Lucas' brow. She smiled nonetheless. "Chairman Vescari, it’s a pleasure."He waved a hand gently. "Come, sit. You, my dear—" he pointed to her, then to Lucas, "and your husband, you’ve been missed.".Bianca let out a quiet breath that coul

  • The Mafia's Substitute Bride   148

    Ethan didn’t even wait for the music in the ballroom to fade behind him. The second Valentina gave him the address, he was already heading for the exit, holding her by the wrist just long enough to make her repeat her warning one last time.“If she says no—if she doesn’t want you—” Val spoke firmly, looking him straight in the eye, “you’ll leave Naples. No stalking. No ‘waiting around just in case.’ I only gave you this because I trust you to do the right thing.”“I will,” he said quickly. “If she tells me to go, I’ll disappear.”She didn’t reply right away. But after a second’s pause, she let go of his wrist.“Go.”Ethan didn’t waste another second.The cold air outside hit him like a reset button. His footsteps pounded against the villa steps as he rushed toward the parking area, jacket flaring behind him. His car was tucked into the far end of the lot, and by the time he reached it, his heart was hammering harder than it had in months.He drove fast, one hand on the wheel, the othe

  • 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

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