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Chapter 29
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2025-04-28 15:33:40I crawled beside him curling up into a ball as the image of the dead driver and Martin struggling for his life played in my head over and over again.
I had been so close to being kidnapped. Or even killed because that was the goal, I was supposed to be the pawn that gets used against Ace. I clamped my hands against my midsection, hugging myself. I came to Ace room because I wouldn't be able to sleep without another human's warmth. It's nothing big, just me seeking comfort. I told myself.I did not hear the sound of Ace ending the call until he slid next to me and replaced my hand with his, he drew me so that my back was against his chest and his warm breath on my ear. The continuous image of the blood gradually dissipated. I sighed as I leaned closer enjoying the feel of his heartbeat that my back detected. It was even, like a lullaby but I didn't sleep.No matter how hard I tried to sleep it was impossible, thoughts floated in my head like a chaos that
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The Substitute Bride of the Ruthless Mafia Boss Chapter 31
Ace’s presence beside me was oddly comforting, despite the usual tension between us. His hand rested lightly on my thigh, a silent claim that I wasn’t sure I liked. But right now, I was too focused on the fact that someone had followed us.I stiffened. Ace noticed immediately.“What?” His voice was calm, but his grip on my thigh tightened.I swallowed and kept my gaze trained on the shadow disappearing behind the wall. “Someone’s watching us.”Ace followed my line of sight, then glanced at Fred. “Secure the entrance. Nobody gets in or out without my permission.”Fred nodded and walked off, issuing silent commands to the other guards. Ace pulled me close, his lips brushing my ear. “Who did you see?”I hesitated. “I—I’m not sure. Just a figure. It could be nothing.”Ace scoffed. “It’s never nothing.”He guided me into the hospital room where Martin lay, bandaged and asleep. Relief flooded me at the sight of his chest rising and falling steadily.“Martin,” I whispered, stepping closer.H
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-28The Substitute Bride of the Ruthless Mafia Boss Chapter 31
Ace’s presence beside me was oddly comforting, despite the usual tension between us. His hand rested lightly on my thigh, a silent claim that I wasn’t sure I liked. But right now, I was too focused on the fact that someone had followed us.I stiffened. Ace noticed immediately.“What?” His voice was calm, but his grip on my thigh tightened.I swallowed and kept my gaze trained on the shadow disappearing behind the wall. “Someone’s watching us.”Ace followed my line of sight, then glanced at Fred. “Secure the entrance. Nobody gets in or out without my permission.”Fred nodded and walked off, issuing silent commands to the other guards. Ace pulled me close, his lips brushing my ear. “Who did you see?”I hesitated. “I—I’m not sure. Just a figure. It could be nothing.”Ace scoffed. “It’s never nothing.”He guided me into the hospital room where Martin lay, bandaged and asleep. Relief flooded me at the sight of his ch
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-29The Substitute Bride of the Ruthless Mafia Boss Chapter 32: Brielle's POV
The drive back was silent. Ace sat beside me, fingers drumming idly against his knee, while Fred focused on the road ahead. The tension from earlier still lingered in the air, thick and suffocating. I wanted to ask questions—so many questions—but I wasn’t sure if I wanted the answers.Ace had just threatened a man with a gun. Not surprising, given who he was. What unsettled me was how unaffected he had been, how natural it all seemed.I took a breath, forcing myself to speak. “So… Nightwind.”Ace didn’t look at me. “Yeah.”“Are you going to tell me what that means?”His fingers stilled, but he didn’t respond.I sighed. “Right. I forgot. You don’t do explanations.”Ace glanced at me then, his expression unreadable. “Nightwind is one of the five families under my rule. Or, at least, it used to be.”That got my attention. “Used to be?”“There was a shift in power a few years ago. I allowed Julia’s husband
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-29The Substitute Bride of the Ruthless Mafia Boss Chapter 33: Brielle's POV
I wasn’t sure how long I stood there after Ace’s words settled in the air. I won’t let anything happen to you. The weight of that promise pressed against my chest, leaving behind an unease I didn’t know how to shake.Because if there was one thing I had learned about Ace Reynolds, it was that he never promised anything unless he meant it.And that scared me more than anything else.I forced myself to move, climbing the stairs to our bedroom. The moment I shut the door behind me, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. My fingers trembled as I unbuttoned my blouse, my mind replaying everything from earlier—the way Ace had spoken about Nightwind, the way his entire body had tensed when he mentioned Julia.There was more to this. I knew there was.And the worst part? I had a feeling I wouldn’t like the answers.I showered quickly, letting the warm water wash away the grime of the day, but no matter how much I scrubbed, I
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-30The Substitute Bride of the Ruthless Mafia Boss Chapter 34: Brielle's POV
The moment Ace shut the door behind him, I exhaled sharply, my fingers gripping the robe around me. My heart still pounded from Vincent’s parting words, from the way Ace had looked at me before leaving.She’s none of your concern.It should have been reassuring. It wasn’t.I paced the length of the bedroom, frustration bubbling beneath my skin. Ace had been keeping things from me—things about Julia, about Nightwind, about this entire damn world I’d been thrown into. And now, Vincent Green was involved, a man whose name alone sent a shiver down my spine.I needed answers.I walked toward the door, hesitated for half a second, then pulled it open. The hallway was dim, the soft glow from the chandelier downstairs barely reaching this far. I crept forward, my bare feet silent against the cool marble floor.I had no idea what I was expecting to find.I just knew I couldn’t stay in that room, waiting.Halfway down the staircase, I heard them.“…not your call, Ace.” Esther’s voice, sharp and
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-05-01The Substitute Bride of the Ruthless Mafia Boss Chapter 35: Brielle's POV
I stared at Ace, waiting. The silence between us stretched long enough to make my skin crawl.I crossed my arms. “You still haven’t answered my question.”Ace exhaled through his nose, rubbing his jaw. “Go back to bed, Brielle.”I scoffed. “Seriously? That’s your response?” I took a step forward. “I just overheard you talking about how I might be a pawn in Julia’s little game, how Vincent is a problem, and how you’ve been keeping secrets from me, and you think I’m just going to go back upstairs and sleep?”Ace’s expression darkened. “You shouldn’t have been listening.”“Oh, my bad.” I shot him a saccharine smile. “I should have waited until you decided to actually tell me the truth instead of playing mind games with me?”His jaw tensed. “It’s not that simple.”“It never is with you.”Ace let out a low breath, his fingers curling into fists at his sides. “I keep things from you for a reason, Brielle.”“Yeah? What reason is that?”“To keep you safe.”I let out a humorless laugh. “Safe?
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-05-01The Substitute Bride of the Ruthless Mafia Boss Chapter 36: Brielle's POV
I barely slept.After last night’s conversation with Ace and Dawson, my mind refused to shut off. Every time I closed my eyes, Julia’s name echoed in my head. She was watching me. She was waiting for the right moment to strike.Ace hadn’t said it outright, but I knew what he meant. The second I slipped up, the second I gave her an opening—she’d take it.And yet, here I was, stuck in this house, unable to do anything about it.By morning, I was exhausted but restless. I needed to move. To do something. Anything to remind myself that I wasn’t just a pawn in Ace’s game.I pulled on a sweater and padded downstairs. The house was quiet, which wasn’t unusual. The staff usually kept to themselves, and Ace’s men were always lurking in the background, making their presence known without a word.As I reached the kitchen, I stopped short.Valerie sat at the island, picking at a plate of toast and fruit. She looked up when she saw me, her grey eyes lighting up.She had said she would be visiting
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-05-01The Substitute Bride of the Ruthless Mafia Boss Chapter 37: Brielle's POV
The next morning, I woke up with a pounding headache and the weight of last night still pressing down on my chest. I barely remembered falling asleep, but I knew it wasn’t peaceful.When I finally dragged myself out of bed and made my way downstairs, the house was already buzzing with movement.In the kitchen, Valerie was sitting at the counter, scrolling through her phone. She looked up when I walked in, her brow furrowing."You look worse than yesterday," she said, pushing a cup of coffee toward me."Thanks," I muttered, taking it."Did you even sleep?""Not really."She sighed. "Ace again?"I gave her a pointed look. "When is it not Ace?"Before she could respond, footsteps echoed down the hall. Esther strolled in, her sharp eyes flicking between us."You look like shit," she said bluntly.I scowled. "Wow, thanks. That really helps."She smirked, leaning against the counter. "I hear Ace has you on lockdown."I groaned. "Of course you heard. He acts like I'm a damn prisoner.""You b
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-05-01
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The Substitute Bride of the Ruthless Mafia Boss Chapter 47: Brielle's POV
We drove in silence. Valerie kept both hands clenched on the wheel, her fingers practically digging into the leather. Esther lounged in the back seat like she didn’t have a care in the world, scrolling through her phone. I stared out the window, my mind racing. We had done it. The money had been moved. We should’ve been celebrating. But all I felt was unease. “So,” Valerie finally spoke, voice tight. “Where exactly are we going?” “My place,” I answered. “At least until we figure out if anyone’s onto us.” Valerie let out a short, humorless laugh. “Oh, they’re onto us. Did you see that backtrace? We had, what? Three minutes before they found me?” “But they didn’t,” Esther said coolly, still focused on her phone. “You wiped the trace. No one’s knocking down your door.” “Yet,” Valerie muttered under her breath. I turned to her. “Val—” “No.” She shook her
The Substitute Bride of the Ruthless Mafia Boss Chapter 46: Brielle's POV
Valerie wasn’t answering her phone.I paced outside her apartment, my nerves on edge as I hit redial. The cold Boston air bit at my skin, but I barely felt it. My fingers tightened around my phone, my patience running thin.Esther’s words replayed in my head: She doesn’t have to lie. She just has to hack a few accounts, move some numbers around, and make sure all the blame falls on the Nightwind’s enemies.Simple. In theory. But Valerie wasn’t built for this. She wasn’t a fighter, wasn’t a criminal. She was the girl who made terrible jokes when she was nervous and wore her heart on her sleeve. And here I was, about to drag her into my mess.The door finally swung open. Valerie stood in the doorway, wearing an oversized hoodie and pajama pants covered in cartoon frogs. Her auburn curls were a tangled mess, her gray eyes half-lidded with exhaustion.“Bri?” she yawned. “It’s—” she glanced at her phone screen “—almost midnight. What’s going o
The Substitute Bride of the Ruthless Mafia Boss Chapter 50: Brielle's POV
Chaos erupted like a gunshot in the dead of night.The moment Dawson lunged forward, a switch flipped, and the warehouse became a battlefield. Shadows moved, bodies collided, and the sharp echo of fists meeting flesh filled the space.I barely had time to react before Ace grabbed my wrist, yanking me back against him. “Stay close,” he murmured, his breath hot against my ear.Valerie’s panicked voice rang out, “This is so much worse than I thought it’d be!”Esther, ever the professional, sidestepped an attacker and slammed her knee into his stomach. “Then stop talking and do something useful.”Julia remained still, her smirk never faltering as the chaos unfolded around her. She was watching—assessing. Like a queen seated on a throne, waiting to see if her kingdom would fall or flourish.Her gaze met mine, and she lifted her chin. “Brielle.” Her voice was calm, almost amused. “I don’t know why you’re fighting so hard. This is inevitable.”I clenched my fists. “You’re delusional.”She ar
The Substitute Bride of the Ruthless Mafia Boss Chapter 44: Brielle's POV
I barely felt the cold night air as I stormed out of Julia’s mansion. My mind was spinning, my chest tight. Ace’s words played on repeat—I’m not leaving.It didn’t make sense.Dawson walked beside me, silent but radiating frustration. Esther trailed a few steps behind, muttering curses under her breath.The second we reached the car, I turned on my heel. “Did you see his face?” My voice came out sharper than I intended. “He was lying.”Dawson yanked open the car door. “Yeah, no shit.”Esther leaned against the hood. “He looked drugged. Or hypnotized. Or—” she waved a hand, “—something unnatural.”I crossed my arms. “Julia did something to him.”“She’s always doing something,” Dawson muttered.Esther frowned. “It wasn’t just Julia. There was hesitation. Like he wanted to say something but couldn’t.”That made my stomach twist. “Then we have to get him out of there.”Dawson rubbed his temples. “We will, but we can’t charge in blind.”I clenched my fists. “We don’t have time to be carefu
The Substitute Bride of the Ruthless Mafia Boss Chapter 43: Brielle's POV
I gripped the steering wheel tightly as Dawson sat in the passenger seat beside me, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. Esther was in the backseat, tapping impatiently on her phone. The tension in the car was thick, suffocating even. None of us wanted to admit what we were all thinking—if Julia had Ace, then we were already too late.But I refused to accept that.“We’re checking the bar first,” I said, breaking the silence. My voice was steadier than I felt.Dawson exhaled sharply. “You think she took him from there?”“Where else would he have been?” I shot back, gripping the wheel tighter. “He wouldn’t just disappear without a fight. Something had to have happened after I left.”Esther hummed from the back. “I still think we should be looking at Julia’s new husband’s place. The Nightwind Mafia has the resources to keep Ace locked up.”I clenched my jaw. “We’ll get there. But first, the bar.”No one argued after that.---The bar was nearly empty when we arrived, a few scattered patrons
The Substitute Bride of the Ruthless Mafia Boss Chapter 42: Brielle's POV
I knew exactly where to find him.The bar was dimly lit, the scent of whiskey and leather thick in the air. Shadows stretched long across the room, the low hum of conversation buzzing in the background. Ace was where he always was—behind the bar, half a glass of bourbon in his hand, watching the room with that sharp, unreadable gaze.His eyes flickered to mine the moment I stepped inside, and for a second, I hesitated.I wasn’t sure why I had come. Maybe it was the way he got under my skin, the way he always seemed to know what I was thinking before I even said it. Or maybe I just needed something—something real, something solid—when everything else felt like it was slipping through my fingers.Ace didn’t say a word as I approached. He just lifted his glass, took a slow sip, and watched me over the rim.“You’re late,” he finally said.“I wasn’t aware we had an appointment,” I shot back, sliding onto the barstool in front of him.His lips curved slightly, but it wasn’t a smile. “You al
The Substitute Bride of the Ruthless Mafia Boss Chapter 41: Brielle's POV
I wasn’t supposed to be here.That much was obvious.The hallway was dimly lit, the faint golden glow from the sconces casting long shadows against the polished wood. My footsteps had been light, careful, every nerve in my body telling me to turn around and go back.But then I heard them.Dawson’s voice, low and edged with something unfamiliar. Isobel's softer, more vulnerable than I’d ever heard before.I knew I should leave. This wasn’t my business.But I stayed.Pressing my back against the wall, I positioned myself near the slightly open door, the gap just wide enough for their voices to slip through.“I can’t do this,” Isobel whispered. “I keep telling myself that, but then…”Dawson let out a slow exhale. “Then what?”“Then I see you,” she admitted, her voice barely above a breath. “And everything I try to bury comes back.”A silence stretched between them, thick and charged.“You think I don’t feel the same way?” Dawson’s voice was lower now, almost dangerous in its intensity.I
The Substitute Bride of the Ruthless Mafia Boss Chapter 40: Brielle's POV
The bar was loud. Not the kind of loud where music drowns out everything else, but the kind where voices and laughter blend into a constant hum of chaos.I swirled my drink in my hand, watching the ice melt into the amber liquid. I hadn’t taken more than a sip, too distracted by the whirlwind of thoughts in my head.Isobel nudged me with her elbow. “You’ve been quiet.”“I’m always quiet,” I muttered.She smirked. “No, you’re brooding. There’s a difference.”Valerie, sitting across from us, leaned in, her curls bouncing slightly as she lowered her voice. “I… think she’s still thinking about what happened earlier.”My stomach tightened. “I’m not.”Isobel scoffed. “You so are.” She drummed her fingers on the table. “It’s written all over your face. And honestly? I get it. I’d be thinking about it too.”I shot her a glare. “Could we not?”Isobel grinned, completely unbothered by my tone. “Oh, come on. It was kind of hot.”Valerie nearly choked on her drink. “Isobel.”“What?” Isobel shrugg
The Substitute Bride of the Ruthless Mafia Boss Chapter 39: Brielle's POV
The moment the door clicked shut behind Isobel, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. I had spent the last hour staring at my sister, searching for any trace of the girl I once knew. She was here, she was alive, but something was off. I could feel it. And the worst part? No one else seemed to care. I paced the room, my fingers tightening into fists as I tried to make sense of it all. Ace was seated in the armchair by the fireplace, watching me with that infuriatingly calm expression. “You’re going to wear a hole in the floor,” he murmured. I shot him a glare. “And you’re just going to sit there like nothing happened?” Ace tilted his head. “What do you expect me to do, Brielle? Interrogate her the second she walks in the door?” “Yes!” I snapped. “That’s exactly what I expect! She was missing for months, Ace. And now she’s just back, no explanation?”
