All Chapters of The Mafia's Substitute Bride: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

“You just love ordering people around, like you’re any better,” I muttered weakly under my breath, barely loud enough for him to hear. I scooted to the edge of the chair, trying not to let my soaked clothes seep into the fabric.He didn’t say a word, didn’t even shoot me a glare. Instead, he reached up and grabbed the collar of his white shirt. To my surprise, he peeled it off in one swift motion, skipping the buttons altogether. My eyes betrayed me, lingering as the muscles of his chest and arms shifted under his pale skin. The shirt landed lazily on the backrest of the chair I was sitting on, the damp fabric slumping as if mirroring my exhaustion.Without sparing me a glance, he walked over to the fireplace.I watched as he crouched, his movements methodical and calm. He grabbed a couple of logs from the neatly stacked pile to the side and arranged them in a careful crisscross pattern. Then he added kindling—small twigs and shavings from a bucket nearby—on top. His hands worked with

"Let’s get you warm," he said as his fingers threaded gently through my hair, trying to untangle the mess the rain and his drying had left behind.I didn’t expect it—the simple gesture, his touch—it caught me off guard, making my chest tighten in ways I didn’t want to think too much about. My body, traitorous as always, leaned into the motion.And then, without warning, I sneezed.It was loud and unladylike, and I immediately clapped both hands over my nose and mouth, mortified. My eyes widened as I tried to suppress another sneeze building in my throat, but Lucas’s startled expression completely derailed me.He had flinched.Lucas Caruso. The man who walked through life like nothing fazed him. The man who could stare down a hurricane and come out smirking. He had flinched.I couldn’t stop myself. The embarrassment disappeared in an instant, replaced by a burst of laughter that I couldn’t hold back. I doubled over, pointing at him like a child who’d just caught their teacher doing som

He kissed me again and again, deeper this time, like he was trying to steal every bit of air from my lungs. His hands gripped my waist firmly but not harshly, grounding me while still leaving me breathless. The pressure of his lips against mine was unrelenting, and I couldn’t help but melt into him, losing myself in the heat and urgency of the moment.My fingers found their way to his hair, threading through the strands as if holding on to him would stop the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me. And then, just as abruptly as it started, we pulled away. His breathing was uneven, his forehead resting against mine for a brief second before he straightened. Without a word, he slipped his arms under me, lifting me like I weighed nothing, and began carrying me out of the laundry room.I didn’t ask where he was taking me, too caught up in the haze of what had just happened. My head rested against his shoulder. It felt... strange. Comfortable, even. Which only made me more uneasy.When w

The drive back home had started like any other. My thoughts drifted, still caught up in the relief of seeing my mother’s improving condition. The day, for once, had been good.I was leaning against the window, deep into thoughs, when the driver, the assigned ond, tensed. I didn’t notice it at first until when he slightly tightened of his body and the way his hands gripped the steering wheel a little harder than usual. Then he glanced at the rearview mirror again. And again.“What is it?” I asked, straightening in my seat.He didn’t answer immediately, his eyes between the road and the mirror. “I think we’re being followed ma'am,” he said after a moment, his voice clipped but calm.The words sent a chill down my spine. I turned to look out the back window, and sure enough, a black SUV trailed close behind us. Too close. My heart started to pound even before I could a meaning of the situation..The driver pressed his foot on the gas, the car surging forward. I gripped the edge of my sea

Lucas stood, gathered the first-aid kit as if he was unsure of his next step. He then made his way toward the door, and I couldn't hold it in any longer.“Wait,” I blurted out, my voice cracking mid-word.He stopped instantly, his back stiffening before he turned to look at me. His eyes searched mine, and for a moment, neither of us spoke. Then his gaze dropped slightly, catching the tear tracks on my cheeks. I didn’t even realize I was crying until a sob bubbled out of me, unbidden and raw.“Bella…” he said, his voice soft, hesitant.I shook my head violently, burying my face in my hands. “I’m sorry… I just—” The words clogged my throat, hot and messy, refusing to come out the way I wanted them to.In two quick strides, he was in front of me again. He crouched down, his hands lightly resting on my knees. The gentleness of it caught me off guard.“Bella,” he said again, “Look at me.”I hesitated, my breathing jagged and unsteady, but finally lifted my head. His eyes were locked onto m