All Chapters of Saved a Stranger, Now The Bride of the Mafia Devil : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The farmhouse slowly settled into a new rhythm over the following weeks, and I found myself adjusting to it before I even realized it was happening.The silence that had once felt suffocating no longer pressed against my chest every waking moment. It was still there, lingering in every corner of the house, but it wasn't as cruel anymore. It had become quieter somehow, gentler, allowing me to breathe without reminding me every second that Dad was gone.Morning sunlight spilled through the kitchen windows, bathing the old wooden floor in warm golden light. I stood by the stove, stirring a pot of oatmeal while absentmindedly humming one of Dad's favorite tunes. It was a simple melody he always sang while making coffee, usually so off-key that I'd tease him about it.Halfway through the chorus, I froze.The smile on my face slowly faded as my eyes drifted toward the empty chair beside the dining table.Dad should have been sitting there with his newspaper spread open, pretending to read w

Ava's POVI stepped fully onto the porch, absently wiping my hands on the small kitchen towel I'd brought from the sink.The cool night air brushed against my skin as my eyes immediately found the unfamiliar man standing a few feet away from Dan.I stopped and then,the small smile that had been on my face disappeared, replaced by cautious concern. The stranger was tall, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit that looked completely out of place against our little farmhouse. Rainwater dripped steadily from the black umbrella he held, but it wasn't the expensive clothes that unsettled me.It was the way he stood. Straight, alert and disciplined. Like someone who had spent years expecting danger.My heartbeat quickened."Who...?" I asked carefully, keeping my voice steady despite the uneasiness growing inside me.Dan turned toward me, and before either of them could explain anything, my body reacted on instinct.I walked straight toward him and without thinking, I stepped in front of

Ava POV The moment I closed the bedroom door behind me, the smile on my face disappeared. I stood there for a long moment, my hand still resting on the doorknob as Marco's words replayed over and over inside my head.He'll leave after he heals.A dull ache spread through my chest, and a tiny, humorless laugh escaped me."Of course he'll leave," I whispered."This was never a real marriage."I walked over to the bed and sat down slowly, staring at the blanket beneath my fingertips."It was only to save the farm."I nodded to myself, repeating the words as though saying them enough times would somehow make them hurt less."He doesn't belong here... and I..."My voice cracked. "...don't belong in his world."I quickly rubbed at my eyes before the tears could fall."Don't be ridiculous, Ava. You knew that from the beginning."I did. I really did. So why did it hurt so much?I lay down on my side, facing Dan's side of the bed.Maybe after losing Dad...Dan had quietly become the only pers

I’m sure. I want this. I want you.”Those were the words that left my mouth.I felt the weight of his gaze on my face as he pulled back just far enough to search my eyes, needing to see the truth there before he let himself believe it. Whatever he found settled something deep in him, and the tension in his shoulders eased. I inhaled softly, my hands resting instinctively against the solid warmth of his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my palms.For a long moment we stayed like that, looking at each other, breathing the same air, feeling everything we still weren’t saying. The silence was thicker, more intimate than any touch had been so far. His hand tightened at my waist while his thumb brushed lightly over the fabric of my sweater, then both hands settled on my hips, grounding me.“Ava… are you absolutely sure?” His voice was low and serious. “We don’t have to rush. I don’t want you to feel like this is something you have to do. This is a big step. I need to hear

The little clothing store was one of the oldest in Willow Creek. The brass bell above the door jingled cheerfully as I pushed it open, the sound bright against the quiet afternoon. Rows of neatly folded shirts, jackets, trousers, and boots lined the wooden shelves, carrying the comforting scent of fresh fabric, cedar wood, and a hint of lavender from the sachets Mrs. Maggie tucked between the stacks.The elderly shopkeeper looked up from behind the counter and smiled warmly. “Ava.”I returned the smile. “Mrs. Maggie.”She walked around the counter and gently squeezed my hands. “I’m so sorry about your father, dear. Thomas was a good man.”My smile softened with gratitude. “Thank you. He really was.”Only then did Mrs. Maggie notice the tall man standing quietly behind me, carrying every basket I had handed him without complaint. Her curious eyes traveled over Dante, taking in his broad shoulders and calm presence. “Oh? And who is this handsome young man?”My cheeks turned a soft pin