All Chapters of The Mafia's Substitute Bride: Chapter 141 - Chapter 150

Lucas didn’t spare her a glance as he grabbed a chair from beside the desk and dragged it over, the scraping sound against the floor making her flinch. He sat and fixed his gaze on her like he wasn’t sure whether to start yelling or say something worse. Then he sat, resting one arm on the edge of the chair. “At this rate, if we don’t get this over with,” he muttered, “you’re going to cause another trouble.” She blinked, her mouth parting slightly trying to understand what he meant by that. “What…?” she breathed, trying to make sense of it.

The knock came just after nine the next morning. Valentina was still in her robe, curled against her pillows with a throw blanket wrapped around her shoulders, flipping half-heartedly through an unread book. She didn't bother to call out. Olive pushed the door open without waiting. “Sorry to bother you, ma’am. This came in through a courier this morning. Personal delivery.” Olive stepped in with a dark green envelope in hand. No sender name on it, but the seal had the emblem of the Vescari Foundation pressed into the back. Valentina took it and turned it over in her palm. “Charity event?” she asked under her breath, already tugging the flap open. Olive, still standing there, nodded. &ld

It turned out the call Lucas answered in the car was from Ethan.The moment they stepped into the glittering lobby of the event hall, with polished floors reflecting gold light and the sound of soft music humming from a string quartet near the grand staircase, Ethan spotted them. He was standing not far from the center of the crowd, dressed in a steel grey tuxedo with a black silk lapel, chatting loosely with a group of people. He noticed them almost instantly, excused himself, and strolled over with that usual confidence that seemed to follow him everywhere.“Lucas,” Ethan grinned, pulling him into a quick one-armed handshake that looked more like something they’d done a thousand times before. “You’re on time for once.” He said sarcasticallyLucas returned the gesture with a small nod, then turned slightly as Ethan’s eyes slid toward Valentina.“Ms Caruso in the flesh,” he said, voice smooth as he reached for her hand, bringing it up for a kiss. “You look like sin and royalty had a c

“Mrs Santoro, there you are.”Bianca turned from the long table of desserts, blinking as the chairman’s daughter, Aisha, approached her with a soft smile and a flute of champagne in hand.“My father would like to speak with you both now,” the lady said. “He's waiting.”Bianca’s brow twitched. “Where is Lucas?”“I assumed he was with you,” the girl said lightly. “But if not, I’m sure he’s around. Someone mentioned seeing him near the parking area a while ago.”Bianca forced a smile. “I’ll find him.”She didn’t wait for a reply. Her heels clipped quickly against the marble as she exited the hall with a frown etched on her face. The sounds fading the closer she was to the parking lot. She reached the path leading toward all the cars, scanning them, the shadows between them, the corners where a man might take a private business call.Nothing.She kept looking until she found a familia plate number and traced it to the car in between two other similar cars, but the fogged window alerted he

VESCARI FOUNDATION AUCTION CHARITY EVENTThe private room at the top of the Vescari Foundation was grand in the way old money always was. The walls were lined with velvet and dark walnut, art framed in gold catching the soft chandelier light. A butler quietly poured a drink at the far end, and the aging chairman sat in the large leather armchair by the window, a blanket across his legs.Bianca walked beside Lucas, her heels tapping softly on the marble as they entered. She smiled slightly when the chairman looked up with a smile."Ah, there they are," he said, his voice warm but faint, he sounded like someone waking from a long nap. "You two always arrive like a painting. Beautiful pair."Bianca's eyes flicked sideways, catching the subtle crease in Lucas' brow. She smiled nonetheless. "Chairman Vescari, it’s a pleasure."He waved a hand gently. "Come, sit. You, my dear—" he pointed to her, then to Lucas, "and your husband, you’ve been missed.".Bianca let out a quiet breath that coul