Semua Bab The Mafia Devil’s Contractual Wife : Bab 31 - Bab 40

~ALINA’S POV~ The moment Mr. Lockwood dropped to his knees, the silence was suffocating. Even the city’s distant hum seemed to pause. “I’m so sorry, Don Romano,” he stammered, his forehead nearly pressed to the concrete. “He’s my son. He’s young… foolish. He didn’t know who he was talking to.” I felt Ethan’s disbelief from across the space as he stood there, still clutching his cheek, stunned into silence. Jade, for once, had no snide remark ready. Her mascara had begun to smudge under her eyes, either from the wind or the humiliation. I couldn’t care less. Valentino stared down at him, unimpressed. “Your son,” he repeated slowly. His voice was dangerously calm, like the stillness before a tidal wave. “Yes, sir,” Mr. Lockwood said, trembling. “Please… I’ll deal with him. Just… please, don’t fire me.” Valentino’s cold gaze slid from the man kneeling before him to Ethan, still gripping his face like he couldn’t believe his father had slapped him. Then to Jade, who stood

~VALENTINO’S POV~Was this the woman I married?I stared at her, stunned, as she rose from her seat, slow and poised, like a queen in a court full of kings. She adjusted her dress lightly at the hips, her chin lifting with grace, and I could swear the temperature in the room shifted.There was fire in her—not forced, not loud. Just natural, and absolutely astonishing.God, she looked stunning.Mr. Herrera leaned back in his chair, fingers still folded beneath his chin, watching her like a man waiting to be proved wrong.I could hear Jerome’s breath hitch slightly. Mine almost did too. I hadn’t expected her to speak up. I wasn’t even sure she would.But here she was, standing in front of international investors, about to answer one of the most challenging business questions thrown at us so far.She inhaled once, then spoke.“Thank you, Mr. Herrera,” Alina began. “Now, to your question. You asked how Tino Autos plans to stay ahead of competitors who might launch similar prototypes by th

~ALINA’S POV~I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest, clearly expecting her rotten attitude.“Yes,” I snapped. “Well, I’m buying it,” she said sweetly, then turned to her boyfriend. “Babe, get it for me,” she drawled, dusting invisible lint off his cheap-looking jacket. He hesitated—just a fraction, but it was enough to guess he couldn’t afford it. “You know I want it,” she pressed. “I said I saw it first,” I repeated, a little louder this time. She scoffed. “You think you can afford that? Please.” I stared at her. Did she really think I was going to roll over because she strutted in with designer heels and a man at her side? She laughed and said, “My man is buying it for me. You can go look at something cheaper.” I stepped forward. “No. I want this one.” “And you think your boyfriend can afford it?” she sneered. “Sweetheart, he’s probably out there trying to haggle a clearance rack. Oh, I forgot—a fat ugly bitch like you can’t afford to have a man. Who wants a

~ALINA’S POV~The moment I stepped out of the car, all eyes turned to me.I felt it like heat on my skin.Heads turned, some subtly, others not even trying to hide their gawking.Val just smirked, proud and possessive, his hand sliding firmly around my waist like he was staking a claim. He didn’t say a word, but I felt his pride in every inch of that touch. Like he was saying; Don’t you dare look at her. She’s mine.A man walking past actually stumbled, his head craning so hard in my direction that he nearly walked into the wall. Somewhere near the valet station, a car screeched just a little too hard to a stop.Valentino gave a quiet laugh under his breath.“Easy,” he murmured with a smirk, his hand tightening around my waist.He was smug about it. And protective. And I… I liked it.We entered the restaurant, his hand never leaving mine. The restaurant was perched atop one of the tallest buildings in the city, the sixty-eighth floor, to be exact. As we stepped inside, I was hit w

~ALINA’S POV~His fingers dug into the bare skin of my inner thigh, pushing my dress higher, exposing me to the cool air of the car and to his hungry gaze.“Val—” I gasped, but his mouth was already on my neck, teeth scraping over my pulse point as his other hand fisted in my hair, tilting my head back.“Val?” he growled against my skin.My breath hitched.I could feel his eyes glued to me, quiet for a moment. Then, without a word, he reached up and flicked the dome light on.Warm, sudden light bathed the car’s interior, bright enough to make me squint.And there I was.His gaze roamed over me slowly, taking in the flush on my cheeks, the smudge of lipstick at the corner of my mouth, the way the strap of my dress had slipped off one shoulder.I swallowed.“Now I can see you properly,” he said, voice low, amused. “I can see how hungry you are for me.”My cheeks flushed red and I shifted under the weight of his gaze, acutely aware of every inch of skin the light touched.“I wasn’t hidin