Substitute Bride for the Mafia Don のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 31 - チャプター 40

Ava "Let's go," Riccardo said softly, his hand brushing against mine. It was a simple gesture, but it meant a lot."We're finished here." Without waiting for me to reply, he guided me out of the room, the tension from the evening still lingering. But as I walked next to him, I felt certain of one thing: this was just the start. The house was now silent, the clinking of dishes and soft chatter replaced by a heavy stillness after dinner. Everyone had left, but the tension from the meal hung in the air like a thick fog. I found myself wandering through the mansion, my mind replaying the conversations—about heirs, expectations, and what they wanted from me. From us. I barely noticed Riccardo when he walked into the kitchen. It wasn't until he spoke that I jumped, surprised. He stood in the doorway, backlit by the dim hallway light, his face unreadable. "Figured you might be here," he said, his voice low, but there was an icy undertone. Maybe it was the frustration from dinner still han

Ava I woke up the next morning still fuming, replaying everything that had happened the night before in my mind. Riccardo's icy, dismissive attitude and the nerve he had to even consider bringing someone into the house after the way he treated me… It felt like my dreams had finally come true, only for him to crush them into tiny pieces. I could hear another woman's voice and laughter drifting through the thick walls of the De Lucca house, but I didn’t need to know the specifics to understand what was going on. The guest room Riccardo was using for his... questionable activities... was just down the hall from mine. It made my blood boil, all because of the sheer disrespect.As I made my way downstairs, the house felt unusually quiet, the kind of silence that hung heavily in the air, reminding me of how alone I felt here. My bare feet made soft sounds against the tiled floor as I headed to the kitchen for some coffee. I heard voices and recognized one of them as Bento's. I paused at

Ava Breakfast was filled with tension. Riccardo sat across from me, his grey eyes glued to his phone. The sound of my fork hitting the plate seemed to echo in the otherwise quiet room. I straightened up and deliberately set my fork down. "I want to visit my family today," I stated, keeping my voice calm. He finally looked up from the paper, his gaze sharp and scrutinizing. For a moment, he was silent, and the stillness lingered. "Why?" he asked, leaning back in his chair, his face unreadable. I fought the impulse to snap at him. "Because I haven't seen them since the wedding. My mother and Richard don’t deserve to be cut out of my life." His jaw tightened, and he put the newspaper down. "And your father?" The mention of him made me tense. "He's away on business." I met his gaze, my voice steady. Riccardo studied me for what felt like an eternity. His stare was piercing, cutting through any mask I tried to wear. At last, he nodded sharply. "Alright. But you won’t go alone." I

Ava It had been several days since I got back from visiting my family, and things between Riccardo and me had only deteriorated. To be honest, I was doing my best to steer clear of him. I just wasn’t in the mood to deal with him—especially not after everything that had happened. So, there I was, lounging in the living room, mindlessly flipping through a book while Lucifer rested beside me, his head comfortably in my lap. I stroked his fur, hoping to find some tranquility in the quiet. It was one of those rare moments where I could momentarily forget the chaos around us, where everything felt peaceful and normal. But that calm didn’t last long. “Ava,” I heard Riccardo call from upstairs. His voice was flat yet commanding, sending a shiver down my spine. “My office. Now.” My chest tightened at his words. It wasn’t a request; it was an order. I gave Lucifer a soft pat and reluctantly got up, trudging toward the stairs with a heavy heart. I knew this talk was unavoidable. When I ent

Riccardo I can feel the anger rising as I look at the images in front of me. Another damn black dahlia. This time, it’s pictures of Ava. Just seeing them makes my stomach churn, a tight knot of fury forming in my chest. Someone is toying with me, and it just won’t stop. I need answers. Right now. The clock ticks slowly as I get ready for the meeting. My mind is racing, weighing the possible threats and what could happen next. I understand the implications—this is more than just a warning. They’re stepping it up. I don’t hesitate to gather the family. This isn’t solely my call. I need Bento, Steph, and my most trusted men here. We can’t leave anything to chance. I don’t care how exhausted they are or what they have going on. They’ll be here, and they’ll be here immediately. I swing open my office door, hearing the faint shuffle of feet in the hallway, signaling that everyone has arrived. I settle into my chair behind the desk, my sharp gaze scanning each face as they enter the roo