All Chapters of Married to the Billionaire Mafia Don: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The sun was mild that morning, bathing the Martinelli estate in a warm golden light that filtered through the massive windows of Ivy's suite. She hadn’t slept well again.Despite Anna’s presence the night before, the memory of the live cobra in her bed and the death threat on her mirror haunted her. Anna, ever loyal, had brought her breakfast on a silver tray, but Ivy barely touched it.She was just about to return the untouched croissants to the tray when Anna stepped in quietly and said, "Your grandfather-in-law has invited you to brunch. In the garden."Ivy blinked. "Nonno Salvatore?" she asked dazedly.Anna nodded, then gave a small smile. "He said it was important."Ivy hesitated, then stood. Anything to get out of this suffocating room was a welcome distraction.---------------The garden looked like something from a Renaissance painting: elegant topiaries, roses in bloom, and a round stone table set beneath a flowering arbor. A pitcher of fresh lemonade sat waiting beside a tr

Lorenzo unbuttoned his suit jacket, shrugged it off, and draped it over a nearby chair. When he began to unbutton his shirt, Ivy took a step back.This wasn’t what she’d expected. Sure, she wasn’t going to kid herself into thinking that Lorenzo had a single romantic bone in his body, but she definitely wasn’t expecting a wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am either.“I hope you don’t mind if I take a quick shower in your bathroom?” he asked smoothly.Ivy suppressed a sigh of relief. “Of course. Go right ahead,” she said almost breathlessly.Lorenzo responded with a curt nod and went to the bathroom. While he was there, Ivy tried to compose herself.What should she do now? Change into her sexiest lingerie and prop herself on the edge of the bed in the most seductive pose she can muster? Or should she wear one of her modest nighties, dive under the covers and pretend to be asleep?“Get a grip, girl,” she muttered and went to her wardrobe to find something to wear.She chose a simple purple satin sli

The dinner party was just four days away, and the Martinelli mansion was a whirlwind of activity. Staff bustled through the halls with polished silver trays, floral arrangements, and freshly laundered linens.Ivy, however, had her own mission: survive the etiquette tutor from hell.After two days of grueling lessons on posture, cutlery, small talk, and the subtle art of making one's presence known without being obnoxious, Ivy had just about reached her breaking point. But it was paying off.She had nailed her mock introduction, properly curtsied, and could now tell the difference between a fish fork and a dessert fork without a second glance.This morning's lesson was finally over, and Ivy sat in the east garden, catching her breath and sipping cold cucumber water. The sun filtered through the trellised roses, and for the first time since arriving at the Martinelli estate, she felt a flicker of control."Not bad for a girl who used to eat cereal straight out of the box," she muttered

Ivy walked beside Lorenzo in silence, her heels clicking lightly against the polished marble floors as they made their way through a winding corridor she had never noticed before.He hadn’t said much since they left the hallway after that horrid encounter with Ken, but his hand gently rested on the small of her back, guiding her with quiet intent.They stopped before an ornate set of wooden doors carved with intricate designs of olive trees and crowned lions. Lorenzo opened the door and stepped aside, allowing Ivy to enter first.She stepped into another world.Salvatore’s private quarters were nothing like the rest of the Martinelli mansion. The space felt more like a royal suite than a part of someone’s home.Soft amber lighting poured from antique sconces. The furniture, deep mahogany and dark leather, smelled of age and sophistication. Artifacts, family portraits, and relics of European origin adorned every surface.There was even a fireplace crackling gently beneath a grand oil p

"Are you cold?" Lorenzo asked, tightening his arm around Ivy as they stepped out of the restaurant into the cool night air.Ivy shook her head with a small smile. "No. Just... happy," she said truthfully.Lorenzo kissed her temple, a rare, tender gesture that left her breathless."Good," he murmured, leading her toward the car waiting at the curb.The paparazzi were still buzzing around, but the bodyguard handled them expertly. Within minutes, they were safely ensconced in the luxurious backseat of the Rolls-Royce, the partition rising again to shield them from the world.Lorenzo laced his fingers through Ivy's and brought her hand to his lips."I meant what I said, you know,” he said softly. “Tonight was only the beginning."Ivy studied his handsome face, illuminated by the dim glow of the interior lights. "You were wonderful tonight," she said quietly.Lorenzo chuckled. "I should be telling you that. You were magnificent. Elegant. Poised. You made me proud."Her cheeks flushed with