All Chapters of Substitute Bride for the Mafia Don: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

Riccardo It's been three agonizing days since Ava was taken. I haven't slept or eaten, and nothing else matters but getting her back. Time feels like it's dragging on, each minute more painful than the last. Every time my phone buzzes, my heart races, but nothing compares to the moment I heard her voice. I was in the dining room, looking at the map of the city on the table with my team around me, searching for any clue. Then my phone rang with an unknown number. My heart raced, but I picked it up without thinking, desperate to act. “I have your precious wife,” the voice said. Before I could reply, I heard her voice—faint and distorted, but undeniably Ava. “No!-Riccardo!” Her fear and pain hit me hard, and for a moment, I couldn't breathe. Then the line went dead. That sick bastard wanted me to hear her cries. I promised her I'd come for her, no matter what. The silence after that was unbearable, and I gripped my phone so tightly that I felt it start to crack in my hand. "Track

Riccardo The waiting room felt like I was in hell. I was pacing the cold, clinical floor, my thoughts racing uncontrollably. Ava was in surgery, losing blood fast. I could still hear her screams and feel the warmth of her trembling body in my arms, my hands stained with her blood. Those images haunted me—the sound of her breath catching, the quiver in her voice as she fought to stay conscious. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. I was meant to keep her safe. Maybe I was a failure. My team of expert doctors had rushed her into surgery the moment we arrived, and they were working hard to save her. But with every tick of the clock, time felt like it was dragging on forever. “She’s losing too much blood,” the lead doctor had told me earlier, his tone heavy with determination. “We’re getting her ready for surgery, but… Don, it’s a critical situation.” Those words didn’t register. Not Ava. I couldn’t accept that. I wouldn’t lose her—not like this. I tried to suppress the guilt, the anger, t

RiccardoThe room was so quiet it felt heavy, but I had come to love this stillness ever since Ava came back home and into my life. The gentle sound of her breathing and the steady beat of her heart were the only things that kept me anchored. She was here, alive, and that was what truly mattered. I stayed close to her, even though I was completely worn out. She had faced so much, and the least I could do was ensure she felt safe. Ava was still fragile, on the mend from everything she had endured. I was there to make her comfortable, whether it was fetching her a drink, wrapping her in a blanket, or just holding her hand. Steph and Bento were always around, checking in on her, hovering protectively as if they could sense the lingering tension. Slowly, Ava's eyes opened, adjusting to the soft light streaming in. She looked drained, but the pain in her eyes was beginning to lessen. Still, I knew she needed time to heal, not just physically but emotionally too. “Hey,” I said softly, tuc

AvaIt's been a few weeks since I got out of that bed, and now every morning feels like a little win. I'm moving a bit quicker, standing a bit taller, and somehow, despite everything that’s happened, I’m starting to feel like myself again. Not the shattered version I was a few weeks back, but someone who can reclaim some control. Right now, I'm perched on the edge of Riccard's bed, slipping on the slippers he insisted on getting for me. He's at the desk across the room, busy with work. He’s always working, but he’s also always there for me. Watching, guiding, helping. It can feel a bit overwhelming at times, but I can’t deny that I need it. "You good?" His voice is soft, but it’s always filled with concern, always picking up on the little changes in me—like today, when he noticed me walking across the room without flinching. "I’m good," I reply, standing up and heading toward him, trying to act casual, even though my body is still protesting. Riccardo gives me that unreadable look o

RiccardoThe next day unfolded slowly, a calm before a storm. I could tell by Ava's behavior; she was deliberately trying to provoke me with a look, a word, or most annoyingly, her body when I least expected it. Her clinginess had intensified after her recovery, and while I was glad for her, I felt completely powerless to change anything. As I helped her with breakfast, her fingers danced on my arm, lingering longer than necessary. She met my eyes with an intense gaze, a captivating allure that was all-consuming."Riccardo," she whispered, her voice playful, leaning in so her lips brushed against my ear. "You're holding back," she murmured, sending my heart racing. She was so near, dangerously so, and I knew I had to resist. Not yet. Later, as we sat on the couch with her legs draped over mine, her body pressed against me, I struggled to breathe. Her eyes were locked onto mine, and I saw that challenge, that daring spark again."You're not even looking at me," she said, her voice low