All Chapters of The Mafia Boss's Pregnant Bride: Chapter 251 - Chapter 260

The airplane door was sealed with a hiss behind him.Landon stood there for a second, hand still on the latch, watching Daphne as she helped Ella settle into a seat. No wasted movement, no softness in her expression. But he saw it anyway. In the way she adjusted the seatbelt. The way she placed herself between the girl and the window, shielding her from the view outside. She didn’t even realize she was doing it.He set his gear down and moved toward the cockpit to check in with the pilot but paused when Max gave him a small nod—all clear. They were ready for takeoff.Landon turned back toward the cabin. Daphne was sitting quietly now, her head tilted back against the seat, eyes closed. Not asleep. Just…bracing.Ella sat next to her, legs swinging a little, her small hand still curled into Daphne’s. Like she was afraid letting go would mean disappearing all over again.Landon let out a slow breath and sank into the seat across from them.He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his kn

He’d expected to have to coax her onto the dance floor, to drag her away from her tendency to sit back and watch the world from behind a glass.But once the music caught her, Daphne leaned into it. She was wild on the dance floor—abandoning her usual strict economy of movement for something more reckless and free. Her hair slid loose around her face as she spun away and then back toward him, all hips and elbows and laughter.He liked her like this. Unguarded and free, at least for a few songs.After a while, she abandoned him completely, slipping into the spinning, laughing mass of strangers. Landon watched from the edge, a drink in hand.She was showing off, or maybe just refusing to be owned by anyone. Either way, the other bodies orbiting her didn’t bother Landon so much as the way she accepted drink after drink, finishing each in a single flick of the wrist, her skin flush with heat and alcohol.Oh boy…A short guy in a loud shirt tried to grind up behind her; she shrugged him off

Daphne didn’t know what hit the pool first: her towel, her sandal, or the absolute scream of rage echoing off the villa walls.“I’m going to kill you,” she repeated, louder this time, storming back toward the house.“Do you want breakfast first?” Max called after her. “They say not to kill on an empty stomach!”Landon didn’t follow. He just watched her go with that maddening half-smile, like he knew she’d be back. Like he knew exactly what string he’d just plucked in her chest.Daphne slammed the door behind her and braced both palms against the wall, breathing like she’d just sprinted a mile.Married.To Landon.She turned slowly and caught sight of herself in the hallway mirror—wide eyes, frizzing hair, and that damned gold ring catching the light like it was laughing at her.She looked… married. Not in the bridal-magazine kind of way. More like someone who’d woken up in the middle of someone else’s life. Someone who’d broken every rule she made for herself—and weirdest of all, didn

Ella sat with her knees pulled to her chest on one of the barstools, chewing toast with the wary precision of someone raised in a war zone. Her tiny hands still trembled, but she hadn’t tried to bolt yet.Progress.Max had stayed seated long after the others finished, still sipping his black coffee. Across from him, Daphne wiped syrup off her tank top with a linen napkin and zero grace.Landon was pacing again.“Once we get fully settled, we need to plan an attack on Marquez,” he said.Daphne didn’t say anything. It didn’t look like Landon was looking for a reply anyway. She turned her attention to Ella instead. “Do you want me to take you back to your room?” she asked softly.Ella blinked at Daphne, her toast still hovering near her mouth.“I can walk by myself,” Ella said quietly, setting the toast down on the plate with exaggerated care.Daphne gave a tiny, encouraging nod and slid off her stool. “Of course. I’ll just tag along in case you get lost. This place is ridiculous.”“It’s

Slowly, very slowly, Ella slid the towel from her shoulders and set it carefully on the lounge chair behind her. Her arms were thin, covered in fading bruises.Daphne’s heart twitched as she saw them. She herself had plenty of bruises, but it was never easy to see it on another’s body. Especially on a girl who reminded her so much of herself.Max pushed himself up onto the edge of the pool, water dripping down his arms, and patted the concrete beside him. “Come sit. Let’s start with toes.”Ella padded over and lowered herself to sit beside him. Her legs dangled over the edge but didn’t touch the water yet. Daphne joined them on the other side, folding her legs beneath her.“Okay,” Max said like this was a very serious mission. “Step one: enemy reconnaissance. Gently tap the water with your foot. See if it tries to bite.”Ella gave him a side-eye. “Water doesn’t bite.”“Tell that to jellyfish,” he said solemnly.She dipped her toes in. The water rippled. Max exaggerated a gasp and scoo