All Chapters of The Mafia's Substitute Bride: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

The bright morning sun streamed into the room, the warmth pressing against her face, dragging her out of sleep. Valentina groaned softly, squeezing her eyes shut, trying to cling to the last bits of sleep, but it was useless. She was awake. With a sigh, she shifted slightly, only to feel something tug at her. Her legs wouldn’t move properly, and her arms were… stuck? She cracked one eye open and frowned. She was tangled. The sheets were wrapped around her like some kind of twisted cocoon, trapping her legs together and pinning one of her arms beneath her. "Ugh," she muttered, twisting slightly to free herself, but the more she moved, the worse it got. She kicked a little. The sheets didn’t budge. She yanked at them. Still stuck. What the hell? How did she even manage to do this in her sleep? After another weak attempt to break free, she gave up with an exasperated sigh, flopping back against the pillows. "Great. Awesome." Resigning to her fate, she let her head rol

The afternoon light streamed through the curtains, casting a harsh glow over the bedroom. She lay curled against Lucas, her body sore in ways she hadn't fully prepared for even this morning. Every small shift reminded her exactly why she was so exhausted, why even her bones felt tired. Lucas, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. He looked perfectly comfortable, arms lazily wrapped around her, his breathing slow and steady against her neck, like he hadn't completely wrecked her hours ago. Her phone vibrated on the nightstand. With a soft sigh, she stretched over him and reached for it, biting back a wince as she stretched. Gosh, she was sore. She unlocked the screen and scrolled through her notifications—messages, emails, a missed call from a number she didn’t recognize. “Hey,” she whispered, still staring at the screen. “What’s the Wi-Fi password?” He made a low noise against her neck, his lips brushing her skin as he mumbled out a string of letters and numbers.

Immediately after dinner they both retired to their room, Valentina ran a hand through her hair, staring at the half-packed suitcase on the bed. They were leaving tomorrow.She exhaled, shaking her head before folding a shirt and placing it inside. The past few days had been exhausting in ways she hadn’t expected. In conclusion, Milan wasn't where she'd want to stay, maybe she was judging to quick but she wouldn't say she had fun here.Lucas got on the phone near the door, with low deep voice as he spoke in Italian. She wasn’t paying attention to his words, too focused on finishing the packing so she could get some rest.When he finally hung up, he stretched slightly before saying, “Flight’s booked. We leave early tomorrow.”She nodded, reaching for another dress and shoving it into her suitcase.He then disappeared into the bathroom, and she heard the sink turn on a moment later. She sat on the edge of the bed, rolling her shoulders. She was sore, tired, and more than ready to sleep.

The evening of the Hope Charity Gala arrived with an air of quiet anticipation.Lucas finished getting ready first. He adjusted his cufflinks, glancing at his reflection in the mirror. The black tux fit him perfectly. The mask Valentina had picked out sat on the dresser, and after a brief hesitation, he grabbed it. He wasn't really sure about this.Without another word, he left the room, heading downstairs.Valentina, on the other hand, was still in her room. She had just slipped into her gown, smoothing her hands over the fabric as she took a moment to look at herself in the mirror. The dress was perfect for the occasion, it was elegant, mysterious, and tailored to her figure like a second skin. It was probably the first dress she's bought at first glance and still love it. The deep color complemented her tone, and the shiny sequins shimmered subtly under the warm light from the chandelier.She sat down in front of the vanity, carefully pinning her hair up. Her fingers worked throug

While the buying and biding went on with the highest bidder at $625,000, Valentina shook her head and set her empty champagne glass down on a passing waiter’s tray and excused herself from the small circle of women who had been making conversation with her, and Lucas as she needed a moment away from the crowd, away from the exhausting small talk and fake smiles to ease herself.The bathroom was as luxurious as the rest of the venue, with marble countertops, gold fixtures, and the soft scent of fresh flowers filling the space. She took her time after doing her business to touch up her lipstick in the mirror and adjusting the delicate straps of her gown. A few women also lingered by the sinks, adjusting their dresses and touching up their makeup, gossiping about the bids going up on the screen outside, and the hot men.And she stepped out the moment she was done.Lucas stood near one of the tall tables, engaged in a brief conversation with a businessman when he felt a soft hand suddenly