All Chapters of The Mafia's Substitute Bride: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

I arrived at Caruso Corp., pulling up to the gates with a mix of nerves and determination. The building was even more intimidating in person than I imagined, its towering glass windows reflecting the morning sun like a fortress. As I approached the security booth, I rolled down my window and informed the guard that I was there to see Luca Caruso. The man who looked serious and stone-faced, spoke into his walkie-talkie while glancing at me. Though I couldn’t hear him, I watched his lips move, confirming my arrival. He stood there for what felt like an eternity, waiting for some kind of approval. After a moment, the gates slid open with a low hum. He waved me in, and I drove forward, trying to steady the nervousness building in my chest. The tension in my hands was obvious as I gripped the steering wheel.I parked the car and climbed out, smoothing the front of my dress and taking a deep breath. The building’s size, combined with the knowledge of who I was about to meet, made everythin

Luca signed the documents with quick, precise strokes, barely looking up as he moved his pen across the required spaces. Once he was done, he handed the folder back to me along with his own copy of it. I took it carefully, flipping to the page where my signature was needed. Using the same pen, I signed my name in the designated spots. The pen felt cold in my hand. Imagine signing something so important, something that would bind me to him, yet it felt so casual in the moment, like I was buying a house or signing a normal business deal.I handed his pen back, and without a word, he clicked it shut and dropped it into a cup of pens on his desk. He didn’t even look at me, already turning his attention back to the folder he’d been working on earlier. It was like I wasn’t even there anymore. As I shut my own folder and slipped it into my bag, I found myself standing awkwardly, unsure whether I should leave or wait until he was done.The room was quiet for a minute, the only sound the soft

Once outside, I spotted Luca’s driver standing next to the car, waiting for me. He made to open the door as I approached, but I shook my head slightly, opened it myself, and got in. I didn’t feel like being fussed over right now.The drive back to the company was quiet. I looked out the window, watching the streets blur by. I wasn’t really thinking about anything specific—just trying to enjoy the breeze. When we finally arrived, the security guard nodded as we passed through the gates. The driver parked the car, and I grabbed my bag, and headed inside.There was no more stares or interruptions this time. Just me, the folder, and the rings in my bag. After stepping into the elevator, I hit the button for the top floor, watching the numbers light up one by one as it ascended. My fingers brushed against the smooth edge of my bag, feeling the box inside. The elevator dinged softly, and I took a deep breath before stepping out. The hallway was as quiet as before, almost unnervingly so. I

After leaving the hospital, I decided to make one last stop—Marco’s penthouse. It had been weeks since we’d broken up, but he still hadn’t bothered to send my things. A part of me didn’t want to go back, didn’t want to face whatever was waiting for me there, but I knew I had to. I couldn’t keep holding on to anything from that relationship.I parked outside the building, hesitating for a moment before finally walking up to the entrance. Everything about this place brought back memories, some I wasn’t ready to deal with. I took the elevator up, and knocked on the door, immediately I came out. Waiting for an answer, but the only thing that greeted me was silence. I knocked again, louder this time. Still nothing.My hand hovered over the keypad next to the door. I debated whether or not to try the passcode. Surely, he would’ve changed it by now, right? But my curiosity got the best of me, and before I knew it, I was entering the numbers. It was the same. He hadn’t changed it.The door cl

The courthouse was quiet, almost eerily so. There were a few people milling about—couples waiting for their own ceremonies, some lawyers in suits, and the occasional clerk moving between offices. It was nothing like what I thought a wedding would feel like. No music, no flowers, no smiling faces. Just paperwork and a judge in a small, beige room.I hadn’t asked Luca why his family wasn’t there. I didn’t see the point. My father hadn’t come either, so there was no reason to question his absence. Maybe this was better, without the extra eyes watching. There was enough pressure without having to deal with family drama.The judge glanced between us as he read through the required legalities, his voice monotone, like this was just another task for him to check off his list, like us being there ruined his morning, well that was until took off his black mask and the judge looked like he was about to shit his pants.Luca was dressed as though he hated people looking at him but boy, did his dr