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11.06.2026 15:08:38
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The Mafia's Substitute Bride 271
Lucas was on the phone for most of the ride, his voice an almost inaudible murmur about shipments and timelines that Val only half-followed as she watched the city gradually give way to the coastal road. She was grateful for the distraction, for the chance to let the suspense of the suprise bother her more than anything else, and the unpleasant aftertaste of her mother’s call slowly faded with each passing kilometer.She only realized their destination when the glittering new towers of the waterfront district rose into view, all sharp angles and reflective glass standing sentinel over the sea, because this wasn’t his usual style—not one of his old-money clubs or discreet hilltop properties—so the novelty sparked a flicker of curiosity that finally pulled her fully from her thoughts.It was a familiar place. Why wouldn't it be? This was the same place he had threatened to lock her up in if she didn't take care of herself now that she was pregnant. It's been a little while she came here
The Mafia's Substitute Bride 270
Val had barely made it to the middle of the grand staircase, the unsettling aftertaste of her mother’s call still clinging to her, when a new shift in the air announced his presence.All sound from the dining room seemed to be sucked into a vacuum. The light, airy chatter of the influencers cut off so abruptly it was as if someone had hit a mute button. He stood at the top of the stairs, already dressed for the day in a dark, impeccably tailored suit that looked more like armor than clothing. His hair was damp from a recent shower, and his features were sharp and awake, he looked a lot different from the sleeping man an hour ago, the last traces of sleep completely banished.His gaze swept over the scene below, missing nothing. It flickered over Val for a second, before moving to the dining room doorway where three faces were now visible: Laina’s frozen smile, Olive’s pale and anxious expression, and the two wide-eyed, star-struck influencers who looked like they’d just seen a panthe
The Mafia's Substitute Bride 269
The breakfast was a study in contrasting energies. The two influencers, Naya and Celeste, were a whirlwind of excited chatter and no stop talking porcelain, their voices bounced off the high ceilings of the dining room. They didn't fail to dissect every detail of the upcoming party with the unnecessary fervor of art critics at a premiere, and their questions about the Rolls-Royce Droptail and the guest list wouldn't stop flowing.“So, the dress code is strictly black-tie, right?” Naya was asking, her phone held aloft as if to record the answer. “Because I have this stunning gold lamé gown, but I can switch to the black Valentino if it’s more…”Val was about to give a response when her phone, sitting face-down on the table next to her napkin, began to vibrate insistently. The screen lit up, casting a faint glow on the polished wood. She didn’t need to flip it over to know who it was as the specific, jarring ringtone, a clipped, classical piece she had set for a specific person, was eno
The Mafia's Substitute Bride 268
The breakfast spread in the main dining room was understatedly lavish, a quiet prelude to the evening's spectacle. Silver domes covered plates of eggs Benedict and fluffy pancakes, while a cut-crystal bowl held a vibrant colorful mosaic of fresh berries. To her dismay this was what the chef served. She wasn't being over mindful of the pocket but the fact that she was working for a foundation that focus on everything including the hungry children on the streets, and here she was enjoying her life away while they begged for scraps.Influencers these days loves such juicy news, even though it made no sense why she had to go hungry because someone out there was hungry. It's the government job, there are other wealthy people out there, these influencers included, and she's donated more than a few times so whatever was wrong with eating healthy. But she has an image to keep clean now, Lucas' included even though he barely gives a fuck, and it's unfortunate the chef could read her mind.
The Mafia's Substitute Bride 267
The morning of her birthday unfolded and shockingly it was a total contrast to what Valentina and everybody in the household expected, it was like every other morning, but the silence didn’t quite belong to a house preparing to host one of the most anticipated gatherings of the year, and everyone knew what it was. Still, the morning was shockingly calm. Valentina stirred awake first, silk brushing against her skin as she slipped from beneath the heavy duvet . The room was still dusky, the curtains only half-drawn, but she could see Lucas lying peacefully, his chest rising in steady rhythm. He looked peaceful in sleep, stripped of that iron composure he wore while awake, or the worry. His mouth was slightly parted as though even his dreams had let him rest. She stared at him a second longer before turning away to get ready for the day.Barefoot, she padded across the cool marble, she washed her face and brushed her hair into some order before heading downstairs. Her nightgown shuffling
The Mafia's Substitute Bride 266
The chandeliers above the grand hall gleamed like rows of captive stars, each crystal piece painstakingly polished by trembling hands under Rebecca’s watchful eye. Silverware gleamed on the long banquet table, roses and orchids filled every vase, and the golden drapes had been freshly pressed until they fell in perfect lines. The room smelled faintly of beeswax polish and cut flowers, as though beauty could be bottled and forced into the air.Rebecca stood in the center, silk dressing gown catching the light as she gave orders. One servant adjusted a centerpiece an inch to the left, another straightened a chair, both terrified of her sharp tongue. They moved quickly, afraid she might lash out if she caught them breathing too loudly. Rebecca’s lips curved in satisfaction. At last, the house was coming alive. For once, everything would shine. Everything would remind Valentina of home, of what she had left behind.This birthday would heal it. It had to. Rebecca repeated the thought like
The Mafia's Substitute Bride 126
The sound of glass shattering made her freeze for half a second before she bolted up the stairs. Her heart pounded out of fear, and out of sheer relief. He was home. She had been calling his name and getting nothing, but now, at least, she knew he was here
Zuletzt aktualisiert : 2026-03-30The Mafia's Substitute Bride 123
“Feeling better?” he asked, setting his coffee down.“Much,” she muttered, though her head still throbbed a little.The soup had a slightly minty, bitter undertone, but it wasn’t unpleasant. If anything, it was comforting.She finished half if it quickly, the broth easing the dull ache in her stoma
Zuletzt aktualisiert : 2026-03-30The Mafia's Substitute Bride 127
Val took a deep breath, her heart sinking further in the painful silence.She didn’t realize how long she’d been standing there until her fingers started cramping from fisting them for too long. The phone on the couch h
Zuletzt aktualisiert : 2026-03-30The Mafia's Substitute Bride 129
He was almost done wrapping the last finger when he felt her suddenly go still.Her breath softened, and her body tensed like a jolt of electricity ran through her.He felt it immediately, and his hands froze mid-wrap. He looked up, expecting to find tears, maybe another apology on her lips—but she
Zuletzt aktualisiert : 2026-03-30
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