All Chapters of The Mafia's Substitute Bride: Chapter 231 - Chapter 240

EVENINGValentina stood in the glass-walled lounge overlooking the gardens of Bellavista Hills, early evening shadow cooling the marble floor beneath her bare feet. Lucas was in the kitchen preparing herbal tea when she arrived—steam swirling above the brass kettle. She hesitated at the doorway, clutching a card with tight fingers. Her chest felt heavy with each breath, it was as if she'll die at any second. She has excused herself to go take some air, and even though she was outside she still couldn't breath, so what use was it.Lucas glanced up as she entered, brow knitting gently. “Baby?” he said softly. “You okay?”She inhaled, trying to muster calm. “Lu, I… I– I’m sorry.”She took a step closer toward him, then let her shoulders drop. Her mother wouldn't keep her mouth shut, and frankly an apology wouldn't cut it. She was sorry for everything she hadn’t anticipated. For not preparing Lucas for the blowback, for making him catch anger meant for her or someone else.She remembered t

Candles trembled on the long mahogany table, their soft glow catching the slightest raise of Rebecca’s glass before she set it down with care. The food lay untouched, wine untouched, conversation stalled under the weight of expectation. Rebecca cleared her throat softly before speaking, her tone measured but firm: “Since everyone is present, perhaps we need not hide it any longer.” Rebecca looked at Valentina fixedly, then turned her attention to Bianca and her own husband seated across from her, emotion simmering under control. “I’ll be calling the family lawyer tomorrow. Valentina and Lucas , I hope you both understand and follow as I wish as it is my final order after thinking about it. You’ll both be divorcing.” The words sliced through the hush. Slowly, Val's mouth partef in a soft gasp if disbelief. Lucas’s hand shot under the table to grasp hers, fingers locking, nails pressing into skin.Alecia’s eyes widened in raw shock while Bianca tried not to appear shocked or super inter

They rode back through winding lanes, rain-muted streetlights painting soft patterns across the windshield while Valentina nestled closer to Lucas, feeling the steady thrum of his heart through his shirt. When they arrived, he carried her up the stairs with careful strength, his movements patient and silent—a world away from the chaos of the evening—and placed her gently on the edge of their bed.In the bathroom, he ran a deep bath infused with lavender oil, watching steam curl around the mirror before helping her out of her clothes. His hands were confident but gentle: undoing bra straps, guiding her into the warm water. As he poured water over her hair, the trickle sounded like rain, and she closed her eyes, letting it wash over her — a slow ritual that erased tension bit by bit. He shampooed softly, rinsed carefully, then cupped water over her shoulders once more.Eventually, he lifted her out and wrapped her in the thickest towel, drying her with slow strokes, smoothing damp hair

The arrivals terminal at San Matteo International was a warm blur of sunlight through glass, scattered luggage wheels humming across tile, and the distant metallic purr of the baggage claim carousel. Margaret adjusted her sunglasses, sighing as she checked the time again on her gold watch. 4:23 p.m. Flight from Madrid—delayed an hour, of course. “Of course,” she muttered. When she called Kai earlier yesterday to confirm what time his flight was today he told her it's been cancelled, because of the weather and shit, concerned she asked him to stay back and not book another flight until everything was good.She was disappointed that her soon would be a day late, all the preparations and happiness now seemed to soon, until he called and told her to come pick him up at the airport this evening, he confessed it was all a lie as he wanted to surprise her, but later realized he didn't make any arrangements with his driver and had to call her.She spotted him the moment he sauntered past cust

The rain tapped steadily against the dark sedan, creating a private canopy around Cam and Ethan. Inside, their breaths floated in the stillness between intermittent wipers. Cam stared out the window, watching rivers of water streak across the glass.Ethan cleared his throat again. “Are you mad at me?” he asked softly. “Do you hate me?”She turned slowly, meeting his eyes—grey-blue reflections of dripping clouds. “Why would I hate you?” she whispered. “Did you do anything that would make me hate you?.”He frowned, voice quieter than the rain. “When I came to your house that night, after I’d scared you so much—did you hate me then?” He paused. “I thought you did when your brothers made me leave and you also told me to go.”She blinked. Her pulse thudded. “I didn’t hate you,” she said, tone brittle. “I was protecting myself—and them. You disappeared after making me feel like that. It hurts, but I don't hate you, so do with that information what you will.” She paused, looking out the blur