All Chapters of FRAMED FOR MURDER WHILE PREGNANT: NOW I'M THE MAFIA'S WIFE: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

120 Chapters

ANGEL'S FLIGHT

Marissa POV Angels Flight stood like a monument to old Los Angeles two orange railway cars on a steep incline, connecting Hill Street to the upper plaza. Historic, beautiful, and currently empty except for one figure standing at the top station.Becca.Even from a distance, I recognized her. The woman who'd been my high school rival, Chris's accomplice, Von's betraying wife. The architect of everything that had destroyed us."There's no one else here," Von said, scanning the area with trained eyes. "No backup, no ambush that I can see.""She's confident," I replied. "Thinks she's already won."We started up the incline, the railway cars motionless in the darkness. Every step felt like walking toward destiny terrible, inevitable, necessary.My hand rested on my stomach, on the baby I was still processing. Richard's genetics, conceived through violation, but mine in every way that mattered. Von's by choice and marriage. The child I'd protect with everything I had."If she tries anythin

THE PENTHOUSE

Von POV The penthouse was dark when we arrived, but Marcus had arranged for it to be stocked food, baby supplies, everything Michael and Marissa might need. I carried my sleeping son to the bedroom I'd always planned would be his, laid him in a bed that had been empty for months."He's beautiful," Marissa said from the doorway. "Lucky to have you.""Lucky to have both of us now." I kissed Michael's forehead, left a night light on, closed the door softly. "Come on. I'll show you around."The tour was brief living room with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the city, kitchen I rarely used, master bedroom that suddenly felt too intimate showing to my wife of less than a week."It's nice," Marissa said, looking out at Los Angeles sprawling below. "Sterile, but nice. Very bachelor.""Feel free to change anything. It's your home now too.""Our home." She corrected. "Pronouns matter. We're in this together, remember?""Together." I moved behind her, looked at the city over her shoulder.

CONSEQUENCES AND REVELATIONS

Marissa POV I woke to sunlight streaming through unfamiliar windows and the sound of a child's laughter.For three disoriented seconds, I thought I was dreaming. Then memory crashed back Becca's arrest, Angels Flight, falling asleep beside Von in his penthouse. Our penthouse now. Our home.The laughter came again. I followed it to the kitchen, found Von making pancakes while Michael sat on the counter, giggling as his father flipped batter high into the air."Again, Papa! Again!"Von obliged, caught the pancake perfectly. "What do you think? Should we make one for Marissa?""Yes!" Michael spotted me in the doorway. "Morning, Marissa! Papa makes funny pancakes!""Good morning." I moved into the kitchen, feeling awkward in yesterday's clothes, uncertain of my place in this domestic scene. "I didn't mean to sleep so late.""It's barely eight. You needed rest." Von gestured to the coffee pot. "There's decaf for you. Doctor's orders while pregnant.""You called my doctor?""Catherine did.

CONSPIRACY THEORIES

Von POV The FBI field office was organized chaos. Agents rushing between desks, phones ringing, evidence boards covered in photos connecting Chris, Richard, and Becca's conspiracy. In the center of it all, Agent Sarah Morrison no relation to the detective who'd arrested us waited with sharp eyes and sharper questions."Mr. and Mrs. Castellano. Thank you for coming." She gestured to chairs across from her desk. "We've been piecing together this conspiracy for eighteen hours straight. It's... extensive.""Fifteen years of planning tends to be extensive," I said."Yes. About that." Agent Morrison pulled out files. "Becca Romano has been connected to fourteen separate identities, seven bank accounts in four countries, and at least three other long term cons before targeting you. She's not just a murderer she's a professional criminal.""How did we miss that?" Marissa asked. "How did Chris miss that?""Because she's extraordinarily good at hiding. Multiple identities, clean backgrounds, p

THE WEIGHT OF SECRETS

Marissa POV Three days later, the paternity results arrived.I sat in Catherine's office with Von beside me, the envelope between us like a bomb waiting to detonate. Dr. Sarah Chen, the geneticist Catherine had hired, waited patiently across the desk."Would you like me to read it first?" Catherine offered. "Give you time to prepare?""No." My voice was steadier than I felt. "Just tell us. Rip the bandage off."Dr. Chen opened the envelope, scanned the results. Her expression was carefully neutral doctor face that revealed nothing."Mrs. Castellano," she said gently. "The child you're carrying is not genetically related to Richard Hale."Relief hit so hard I couldn't breathe. "Not Richard's? You're sure?""Absolutely certain. We compared DNA from multiple samples hair, blood, personal effects. Zero genetic match. Whoever told you this child was Richard's, they were wrong or lying.""Becca," Von said quietly. "She switched the samples. Made Marissa think she was carrying her uncle's c

NO MATTER HOW MUCH IT HURTS

Marissa POV "Understood. No more secrets. Even when I think they're kind." He pulled me closer. "For what it's worth, keeping that from you felt wrong. I knew it was wrong. Did it anyway because I'm an idiot who thought he was being protective.""You were being controlling. Like Chris."The comparison hit him visibly. "I'm nothing like Chris.""Then prove it. By being honest. Always. Painfully, brutally honest, even when it would be easier to lie." I pulled back. "Can you do that? Can you promise complete honesty, no matter how much it hurts?""Yes. I promise. Complete honesty." He paused. "Starting now I'm terrified. Of fatherhood, of failing these children, of becoming my father or Chris or any of the monsters who've touched our lives. I'm terrified that I'm going to destroy you by accident, that this marriage is doomed, that we're building something beautiful on a foundation of trauma that will eventually crumble. I'm terrified every single day, and I hide it because I think you n

THE TRIAL

Von POVBecca's testimony began on a Monday morning that felt like walking into an execution ours or hers, I wasn't entirely sure.The courtroom was packed. Media, victims' families, federal prosecutors building cases against everyone Becca would name. Catherine sat with us at the front, Marissa on my right, Marcus stationed at the back monitoring everything. Michael was with therapists, protected from seeing his mother on trial.When they brought Becca in, she looked nothing like the woman I'd married. Prison orange washed out her skin, her hair hung limp and unwashed, circles under her eyes spoke to sleepless nights. But her eyes those were the same. Sharp, calculating, missing nothing.Her gaze found mine, held it. Something passed between us that might have been regret or might have been one final manipulation. With Becca, I'd never know."All rise. The honorable Judge Patricia Whitmore presiding."Judge Whitmore was sixties, stern, with a reputation for zero tolerance for games.

THE CONVERSE

Von POV Becca's composure cracked just for a second. "My baby deserves better than me. That's why I'm giving Von custody.""No. You're selling custody for twenty years instead of life. Don't pretend it's noble." Marissa straightened. "Your child will grow up knowing its mother chose prison over them. Chose revenge over family. That's your legacy, Becca. Not the destruction you caused that's mine to overcome. Your legacy is abandonment. Being forgotten. Dying in prison while the people you tried to destroy live full, beautiful lives without you.""You can't erase me. I'm the reason you and Von found each other ""You're the obstacle we overcame. That's all." Marissa turned away. "Enjoy prison. I'll enjoy raising your child to be nothing like you."The courtroom erupted. Judge Whitmore banged her gavel. "Order! Mrs. Castellano, return to your seat!"Marissa walked back to me, sat down, hands shaking. I pulled her close, whispered: "That was perfect. She'll remember that forever.""Good

NINE MONTHS LATER

Marissa POV Labor started during Michael's fifth birthday party.Of course it did. Because nothing in our lives could be simple."Marissa?" Von's voice was careful, controlled. "Was that a contraction?""Maybe. Probably." I gripped the kitchen counter, breathing through the pain. "Or just really bad timing for indigestion.""That's the third one in twenty minutes. We're going to the hospital.""We can't. Michael's party ""Can be handled by Marcus and the nanny." Von was already calling for the car, grabbing the hospital bag we'd kept packed for weeks. "Catherine can manage the kids. Your water just broke, Marissa. We're going. Now."I looked down at the puddle at my feet, then at the living room full of five year olds screaming with birthday joy. Michael saw me, came running."Marissa? You okay?""I'm fine, sweetie. Just the baby's coming. Papa and I need to go to the hospital.""Now? But my party!" Then his face lit up. "Is my sister coming? Today?"We'd learned two months ago a gi

THE PROSECUTION

Von POV One week later, we stood in the same courtroom where Becca had testified, watching her receive her sentence.Marissa beside me, Catherine at our backs, Marcus monitoring from the gallery. Sophia was with her nanny, Michael at school, our lives continuing even as we closed this chapter.Becca was brought in, thinner than before, visibly pregnant now. Seven months along with my child another daughter, we'd learned. Another innocent life caught in this disaster."Rebecca Romano," Judge Whitmore began. "You've pleaded guilty to conspiracy, fraud, accessory to murder, and multiple other charges. In exchange for your cooperation, the prosecution has recommended a sentence of twenty years with possibility of parole after fifteen. However, before I pass sentence, I'm going to hear victim impact statements. Mr. and Mrs. Castellano, you may proceed."Marissa stood first. Walked to the microphone with more confidence than she'd had months ago. Stronger now, transformed by everything we'

1 2 3 4 5 6

...

SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP