All Chapters of After His Betrayal, I Became His Mother-in-Law: Chapter 21 - Chapter 29

Juliana's POVMy head felt like someone was using it for target practice with a hammer. I opened my eyes to find myself in my own bed, still in last night's clothes, though my shoes were off.On the nightstand was a glass of water and two pills.Memories of last night flashed back like a slideshow. Edward's harassment, Dante's appearance, me in the car... oh god! I had actually tried to untie his tie and said those shameful words!"I want you..."I covered my face, wishing the floor would swallow me whole. He'd brought me home. He'd been a gentleman and tucked me in.My phone was about to die. When it lit up, I saw a message from Sofia.Sofia: Are you alive?Sofia: All of New York is talking about how Dante Landini almost broke Edward's hand for a woman last night. Was that woman you?I immediately called her. "Sof, I messed up.""Tell me everything! What happened?""I got wasted... I didn't just confess, Sof... I threw myself at him.""What?!" Sofia screamed. "And then? Did you do it

Juliana's POV"Time's up," the guard said."I love you, Dad," I finally said."Marco is dangerous, don't agree to anything he says, Jules," my father said urgently. "Even if I rot in here, I can't let you ruin yourself. Protect your mother."The visitation time ended quickly. I walked out of the detention center, my heart heavy as lead.A brand-new, bubblegum-pink Porsche was parked at the curb. Isabella leaned against the driver's side door, waving at me."Hey," she said with a grin. "Like it? It's new.""It's beautiful," I said dryly. "You're still here?""You're on your way to tutor Matteo, right? Get in, I'll give you a ride," she said, enthusiastically opening the car door. "We can chat on the way."I couldn't refuse and got in."I hope my brother isn't being too much of a handful," Isabella said, breaking the silence. "He's actually very kind, just... a little lonely.""I think so too.""I've been so busy with the wedding lately, I've neglected him," she sighed. "I love Marco so

Dante's POV"Don, this is a gift for Miss Isabella," Vittorio said, handing me a black velvet box. "The pink diamond necklace."Isabella wasn't back yet, and Matteo should still be in his lesson. I planned to put the gift in her room to surprise her.I pushed open the master bedroom door. The air was a mix of Isabella's usual perfume and... a faint smell of blood?Then, I froze.Juliana. Half-naked, standing in the middle of the room. I froze.Her back was to me, but then she spun around, frantically clutching a scrap of silk to her chest.It covered almost nothing.My gaze dropped against my will. The ridiculously short skirt clung to the curve of her hips, revealing an expanse of long, lean leg.And her torso... that pale, delicate skin, the swell of her breasts... a fleeting glimpse was enough to set my blood on fire."What the hell are you doing in my daughter's room?" I bit out, forcing a calmness I didn't feel."Do you make a habit of barging into your daughter's room without kno

Third Person POVLate at night.Isabella was curled up on the living room sofa, the light from her phone screen illuminating her sad face. It was already ten o'clock, and Marco still hadn't returned her messages."Why aren't you asleep yet?"Dante walked in. He had taken off his suit jacket, the top two buttons of his shirt undone, and was holding a glass of whiskey."Waiting for Marco to call," Isabella sighed. "He said he had an important meeting, but I can't shake this feeling."Dante snorted, a flicker of displeasure in his eyes. He had never hidden his dislike for Marco Valenti. The man was too ambitious, his eyes dishonest.But his hands were tied. Isabella had been smitten with Marco from the moment she saw him at a family banquet, even threatening to leave the family for him."Papa," Isabella put down her phone and suddenly asked, "You and Mom... did you get married because you were in love?"Dante's hand paused as he poured his drink. He turned to look at his daughter, who bor

Third Person POVThat night, silver moonlight spilled across the master bed of the Landini estate.Dante didn't take Juliana to a guest room, but carried her directly into his own bedroom. It was the first time he had broken this taboo.Juliana sat on the edge of the bed, her hands wrapped around the glass of hot whiskey Dante had given her, her body still trembling slightly. The earlier confrontation had drained all her strength.Dante knelt before her on one knee, his long fingers unbuttoning her torn sleeve, carefully wiping the bruises on her wrist from Marco's grip with a warm towel."Does it hurt?" he asked in a low voice, the fierceness in his eyes melting into tenderness as he looked at her."No," Juliana said, looking at the man who made all of New York tremble, now kneeling at her feet like a devout believer. The walls around her heart finally crumbled. "Dante, thank you."Dante looked up, his deep, abyss-like eyes burning with a long-suppressed fire. "I told you," he said, h