All Chapters of THE CARETAKER BRIDE : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

During dinner, I noticed my father was completely distracted, his gaze resting on me, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't bring himself to. My mother, on the other hand, looked like she’d just received an invitation to an exclusive Chanel summer sale.I waited for my father’s permission to leave, after i finished my meal. My mind was already drifting to the painting I’d spent hours on that morning. It was a project I’d been immersed in, especially now that I’d graduated high school, finally giving my creative side some space to breathe.Then suddenly my dad cleared his throat rather loudly. “We need to have a talk with you,” he said.My pulse quickened. The last time he’d used those words was when he’d told me my fiancé had been killed in a Bratva attack. The news hadn’t affected me as deeply as I thought it would have; we’d only met once, years ago, and there was no connection between us. In short, i was somewhat grateful; the universe just wasn't in his position that day.

I tried to make sense of the situation before me, as I stared at the girl before me. She looked back at me with wide, uncertain eyes, her lips slightly parted like she was waiting for me to say something. For a moment, I couldn’t place her. Then, it hit me—Isabella Rizzo, she's my future wife.Interesting.I studied her, my gaze moving from her bare feet up to her legs, covered in a faded denim dress, and then to her flowery top, which seemed more appropriate for a teenager than a woman about to marry into my kind world. Her hair, long and wavy, cascaded down her shoulders, but it was the bangs she still wore that caught my attention. There was something almost... charming about them.Beside me, Faro was clearly trying to stifle his laughter, but I wasn’t in the mood for amusement. Isabella had just called me “sir,” and it didn’t sit right with me at all.She shifted uncomfortably, clearly feeling the heavy weight of my stare. When I didn’t move, she stiffened and finally met my gaze,

The four months leading up to November passed in a blur for me—an endless cycle of sleepless nights, emotional outbursts, and grueling workdays. Time seemed to stretch and compress at the same time, leaving me drained but determined to push through.On the morning of my bachelor party, I crouched down in front of Daniele, who was sitting cross-legged on the floor, completely engrossed in an animated series on his iPad. His dark hair was a mess—tufts sticking out in the front, knots tangled in the back. Sybil had tried to brush it earlier, but Daniele refused to sit still, and I didn’t have the patience to force him. I figured I’d just buzz it all off after the wedding.“Daniele,” I said, my voice firm but calm, hoping to get his attention. “I need to talk to you.”He didn’t acknowledge me. His face was glued to the screen. I reached for the iPad, but he twisted away, glaring at me stubbornly.“Give it to me,” I ordered, my tone hardening.Daniele flinched slightly but held onto the de

After my dance with Christian, all I wanted was to find a quiet corner to collect myself. But before I could even think about escaping, I saw Mansueto Moretti limping toward me, his cane tapping lightly on the floor.I forced a polite smile, watching as Christian slipped away with a brief nod. Mansueto extended his hand toward me. “Will you give this old man the honor of dancing with the bride?”“Of course, Mr. Moretti,” I replied, offering a small curtsy.“Mansueto, please. We’re family now,” he corrected me gently.I nodded, accepting his hand. I briefly wondered how he planned to dance with his cane, but he must have read my thoughts because he smiled wistfully. “We’ll have to dance in one spot, if that’s all right with you, young lady.”I nodded again, stepping closer as he handed his cane off to a nearby man. His other hand rested lightly on my back, and we began to sway to the music.“You’re very quiet,” Mansueto remarked after a moment. “From what I hear, you’re not usually a q

Luca’s uncles—the very Underbosses who thrived on finding ways to irritate me—were the first to ignite the chaos.Isabella and I had been standing with my sisters and her parents, exchanging pleasantries, when the first holler split through the celebratory hum of music.It started with one, then spread like wildfire. Cheers erupted, applause followed, and soon enough, the room was filled with chants of, “Bed her! Bed her!” The words ricocheted off the walls, stirring my simmering irritation.Isabella’s father and brother, to their credit, remained quiet. Christian, however, pierced me with a glare that nearly crossed the line of insolence. At another time, I would have ensured he understood the cost of such a challenge. But not tonight. I allowed it, partly because I respected his audacity, and partly because I had bigger issues at hand.Beside me, Isabella’s knuckles whitened around her wine glass. She threw an awkward smile toward my sister Mia, whose comforting arm found its way ar