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Todos los capítulos de The Mafia's Substitute Bride: Capítulo 21 - Capítulo 30

206 Capítulos

27

By the time I pulled up to Luca’s estate, Monica was already gone. I wasn’t surprised—it was late, and she’d probably finished her cleaning for the day. That meant I was on my own with the unpacking, which was fine. I didn’t mind the solitude. It gave me time to think.I spent the next hour unpacking my things, taking my time to arrange everything just the way I wanted. The second master bedroom was beginning to look more like mine with every box I emptied, though it still didn’t feel like home. Once I was done, I sat on the edge of the bed and realized how hungry I was. I hadn’t eaten since lunch, and the rumbling in my stomach reminded me of that fact.I wandered downstairs to the kitchen, hoping to find something to eat. But when I opened the fridge and cabinets, I wasn’t surprised to find them mostly empty. Luca lived alone, after all. I figured he probably didn’t bother stocking up on groceries, or maybe he just ate out most of the time.Sighing, I grabbed the car keys again and h

28

I stared at her. “You’re kidding,” I said Who doesn’t have a phone? Especially someone who clearly felt comfortable just walking into Luca’s house.She didn’t even blink. “I’m not. Lu knows I have no phone, we know each other, so just call him”Great. I was stuck in this awkward situation, with this woman who didn’t seem to believe me and was now pushing me to call Luca. I didn’t want to, but what else could I do?Feeling the pressure mounting, I turned around and walked back upstairs to my room. This was not how I expected to start my day.I reached for my phone on the nightstand, hesitating for a moment before dialing the number Luca had given me. My hands were clammy, and my heart pounded in my chest. I didn’t want to call him, but the woman was standing downstairs, waiting, and I have little to no mental strength to deal with a woman this morning.He picked up on the third ring, and before I could even get a word out, his voice came through, surprisingly low but angry. “Did you for

23

I wiped my hands on my robe and walked toward the front door, feeling a strange mix of anticipation and dread. As soon as the door opened, I stopped in my tracks, and for a moment, I almost forgot how to breathe. There he was, standing in the doorway, dressed in all black. He looked like a walking shadow—dark, dangerous, and impossible to ignore. His black tailored suit fit him like a glove, his shirt unbuttoned just enough to reveal a hint of his tanned skin, and the hair, the hair! made him look like he’d stepped out of some mafia movie. But of course, he wasn’t acting—he was the real thing.He glanced at me, and I cleared my throat, trying to snap myself out of it.Jessica, who had been lounging on the couch like she owned the place, stood up, giggling like some giddy teenager, and walked over to him. "I brought cake to celebrate your victory over Donovan," she said, her voice high and sweet. I blinked, my mind trying to catch up. Donovan? Who’s Donovan? Whoever he was, he must be

24

After my shower, I wrapped myself in a soft robe and headed downstairs. The quiet of the house was unsettling, too big, too empty. I’d never liked silence that stretched on, especially not in a place this large. It made everything feel more lonely than it already was. As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I caught sight of something that stopped me in my tracks and made my stomach churn.Jessica was standing right by the door, smiling up at Luca, leaning in close. And then, before I could process what was happening, she kissed him. Just a light kiss on the cheek, but it was enough to make my stomach churn all over again. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but she was giggling, acting as if she had every right to be there, she smiled before walking out and shutting the door behind her.I stood there for a moment, frozen, before scoffing softly to myself. Typical. Ignoring the look Luca threw my way as I passed him, I made my way into the kitchen, hoping to lose myself in something

25

After a few days of seeing Luca only twice, and barely exchanging more than a handful of words each time, I decided I couldn't take it anymore. I needed to do something—anything—to fill the quiet that seemed to suffocate me in this massive, empty house. So, when Monica came by to clean up, I asked her if she could give me a proper tour of the estate. I didn’t want to wander around aimlessly again and get lost for the hundredth time. She agreed with a kind smile, and I felt a small flicker of excitement for the first time in days.After having pasta for lunch—again—I skipped down the stairs, feeling a little lighter. The repetitive meals had become something of a comfort. At least it was something I knew how to make.I really need to start broadening my cooking horizon. Maybe macaroni and cheese next time.As I reached the bottom of the stairs, Monica was already waiting for me in the foyer, her black-and-white uniform neatly pressed as always. She was probably the friendliest face I’d

26

The sound of a car engine revving violently startled me awake, yanking me out of the comfort of sleep. I bolted upright in bed, my heart pounding so loudly it echoed in my ears. I blinked against the darkness, struggling to make sense of what was happening. Who drives like that into a quiet estate this early? It had to be… Luca had enemies, and the first thing rang through my mind like temple gong was the possibility of a hit on the house.I swallowed hard, fear creeping up my spine, and quickly tied my hair up in a messy knot. My hands shook as I listened intently for any more noises, expecting—no, dreading—the sound of someone breaking in. I hugged myself, hoping that if I stood perfectly still, maybe I’d hear more clearly. The moments stretched, and my imagination began to run wild. What if they were already inside? What if they were coming for me? I hadn’t even been married for a month and now this?After what felt like forever, my heartbeat finally slowed enough for me to gather

27

I stepped out of the bathroom, the steam clinging to the air as I towel-dried my hair, feeling a little more human after the shower. The sleep was gone from my eyes, and my head felt clearer after the rude awakening. I glanced over at the sleek, expensive-looking black box sitting on my bed, its edges in gold and looked like a million dollar package, wasn't expecting anything less from a man like that anyway, it was practically screaming luxury. I hesitated before opening it, half-expecting something ridiculous.Lifting the lid, my fingers brushed against the soft fabric inside. A white, sleek cowl neck dress, its asymmetrical hem giving it's own edge of elegance, like It was from paradise. It was the kind of dress you’d wear to some high-end event, not a Sunday breakfast. Underneath the dress, I found a pair of Saint Laurent Opyum heels in black, their iconic design unmistakable, and a diamond jewelry set clearly from Tiffany jewels., wrapped in a neat little package.I raised an eye

28

More guests began to arrive shortly after the first couple, trickling in one by one like a slow but steady stream. Two more couples came next, followed by a single man and two women, all dressed impeccably as if stepping right off the pages of a fashion magazine. I greeted each of them as they entered, exchanging the obligatory pleasantries even though my patience was wearing thin. The morning was going to be more exhausting than I’d initially thought, but I knew what role I had to play here.Luca—well, Lucas—had made it clear without saying a word that I was to behave like the proper hostess, the perfect wife. I wasn’t in the mood to push any boundaries today, especially not with him surrounded by these people. They looked powerful, dangerous, and like they wouldn’t hesitate to make anyone disappear who inconvenienced them. No, I’d do my part, smile, nod, and serve wine like the obedient little wife I was supposed to be. It’s not like this would be the last time I’d have to endure so

29

The main course arrived, served with precision and care by the team of servers. I barely registered what was on the plate, too preoccupied with the rising tension in the room. The men were engrossed in a conversation that had taken a much more serious tone, their voices almost too quiet to hear over the soft clinking of silverware. The women, seated next to their husbands or partners, remained silent, only speaking when spoken to, nodding along in agreement with whatever was being discussed. I could tell they were used to this dynamic.As for me, I zoned out almost immediately. It was all so... formal, like I was an extra in a movie where the lead characters did all the talking, and I just blended into the background. I didn’t care much for the conversation—they were talking about things I only vaguely understood, something about business deals and alliances and of course , enemies, which I assumed meant more illegal activities. But I kept my focus on my food, cutting small pieces and

30

The breakfast was winding down, and I felt relief wash over me. It had gone smoother than I expected, despite the formal stiffness in the air. The servers moved swiftly, clearing the plates and dishes until only the wine bottles remained. The men continued talking, their conversation now more relaxed, but still over my head, with words like "territories" and "expansions" being thrown around as if they were discussing stock market trends.I leaned back in my chair, taking a sip of my wine and trying to stay invisible. The last thing I wanted was to get pulled into any part of this. I’d done my part—hosted, poured the wine, and smiled when necessary. I was about to mentally check out when everywhere went silent and Luca turned to me, his voice cutting through my thoughts. “Valentina, why don’t you show the ladies around? We’ll be talking for a bit longer.”I blinked at him, caught off guard. Show the women around? I almost wanted to refuse, but I knew better than that. His eyes were cal

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