Filed to story: Second Chance Mafia Bride Drama Novel
It stung-she was a Greco too. Why wasn’t she good enough to marry into this family?
Serena’s mother had been dead for years. Now, the true lady of the Greco household was her own mother. So what if the marriage arrangement had been shifted to her instead? There was nothing wrong with that.
Lucky for her, her foolish younger sister had been so easily manipulated. With just a bit of prodding, she’d run off and eloped. The position of Mrs. Salerno-the future matriarch of the Salerno family-would finally be hers!-
The thought nearly made Rubina smile right then and there.
“Mr. Salerno, this is Ms. Rubina Greco, of the Greco family.”
Rubina quickly lifted her head. The moment she saw the man being wheeled over, she went completely still.
Her heart thudded against her ribs.
She had never seen a man with such striking features and presence before…
“Hello, I’m Rubina!” she blurted out, jumping to her feet, nerves and a hint of shyness in her voice. The idea that she might soon become this man’s wife made her eyes light up with anticipation.
Nicholas caught every subtle flicker of emotion on her face, yet his expression remained cold, his voice deep and even. “Greco? And what brings you here?”
“I came to apologize for my sister!” Rubina replied, her face the picture of remorse. “Mr. Salerno, my sister is still young and naive. She heard some rumors, got scared, and ran off with someone else. She was too frightened to marry you.”
Upstairs, Serena finished her shower only to discover that the staff hadn’t laid out any clothes for her.
She frowned, then finally pulled one of Nicholas’s bathrobes from the wardrobe and slipped it on. The man was tall-his robe was so long it trailed on the floor behind her. She had to hike up the excess fabric and tie the belt around her waist, leaving it hanging loosely around her frame.
She stepped out, intending to ask someone to fetch her something to wear. But then she heard a voice from downstairs-a voice she knew all too well.
“I’m willing to take my sister’s place and marry into the Salerno family. I hope you can find it in your heart, Mr. Salerno, not to blame the Grecos for this.”
Her tone was righteous, painting the image of a selfless older sister, nobly sacrificing herself for her family.
Serena’s lovely face turned cold.
Downstairs, Rubina stood like a delicate, stubborn little flower-chin lifted, eyes rimmed red. She finished her speech and waited for Nicholas’s verdict with absolute confidence.
She was every bit as good as Serena-maybe even better. If Mr. Salerno had been willing to marry Serena, why wouldn’t he accept her instead? Especially now that Serena had run off-
“Rubina, what are you doing here?”
A gentle, melodious voice drifted down from the staircase.
Rubina’s eyes widened in shock as she snapped her head up.
The moment she saw the girl descending the stairs, her expression changed so quickly she nearly gasped aloud.
-How could Serena possibly be here?!
Nicholas, who had been listening to Rubina’s performance with an unreadable expression, also looked up-and froze.
Serena had just showered; her hair was still damp and twisted up in a loose knot. Her skin glowed with a rosy flush, and her eyes, always beautiful, seemed even more luminous and captivating. She looked so stunning it was impossible to look away.
But the most striking thing of all was the oversized, ill-fitting bathrobe she wore. Nicholas recognized it at once as his own. His dark eyes narrowed.
Logan and several of the staff exchanged nervous glances. This was bad.
Mr. Salerno was notoriously territorial and obsessive about cleanliness. He absolutely hated anyone entering his room or touching his things without permission. For the new lady of the house to break both rules the moment she arrived what a way to start.
Rubina’s eyes flickered with a knowing glint.
Unlike her na?ve younger sister, she was hardly clueless about Mr. Salerno; she’d made it her business to learn plenty from Damien.
A glance at Serena’s borrowed robe, and then at the tense faces of the staff, told her everything she needed to know.
She put on a show of innocence. “Serena, whose clothes are you wearing?” Serena paused. The shift in the room’s mood made everything click into place.
In her previous life, Nicholas had indulged her so thoroughly that there wasn’t a single corner of Rosewood Manor off-limits to her. His bedroom had never been sacred ground. So when the housekeeper led her there just now, she hadn’t thought twice.
But this wasn’t her old life. She was new here, practically a stranger to the man whose world she’d just entered.
And Nicholas guarded his territory with an iron will. Cleaning his room was a privilege reserved for Mary, and Mary alone.
The realization made her uneasy, but she kept her composure, descending the stairs with a feigned calm until she stood before him.
“Sweetheart, I forgot to grab my clothes when I went to shower, so I borrowed yours. Is that alright?”
Logan’s expression froze.
Had she really just called Mr. Salerno that? Was something wrong with his hearing?
A heavy silence settled over the room.
Her voice, soft and teasing, landed like a feather on Nicholas’s heart. His long fingers, which had been drumming rhythmically on the armrest, stopped abruptly.
His gaze was fathomless as he studied her, saying nothing.
Rubina scoffed inwardly.
How delusional! As if Mr. Salerno hadn’t seen it all before. There’s no way he’d fall for-
“Yes. That’s fine.”
His deep, velvety voice rippled through the silence.
Every head in the room snapped toward him in disbelief.
Relief swept over Serena, and her eyes curved with a smile. “Thank you, sweetheart!”
For a moment, gratitude was eclipsed by a pang of guilt.
This was only her first day here, and already he was being this generous with her.
Did that mean she really was someone special to him?
Last time, he’d shown her nothing but kindness, yet she’d let herself be swayed by rumors, shrinking from him as if he were a monster-and in the end, she’d hurt him most of all.
Suddenly, she felt Rubina’s jealous stare burning into her.
Her own gaze grew cold as she turned. “Rubina, what are you doing here?”
Rubina quickly smoothed her expression and forced a smile. “I was just worried about you… so I came to check on things.”
“Really?” Serena cocked her head. “Funny, I could’ve sworn I just heard you say you’d stand in for me?”
Rubina’s face stiffened. She shot a wary glance at the imposing man in the wheelchair before grabbing Serena by the arm and pulling her aside, lowering her voice in urgent confidence.
“Serena, what’s gotten into you? Didn’t I tell you I’d take care of the rest? Why did you come back?”
“Mr. Damien Salerno is still waiting for you. Are you really going to let him down? Look, after this, we’ll just ask Mr. Salerno to let you go. Don’t worry, I’m willing to take your place. We’re sisters, after all-how could I just stand by and watch you walk into the fire?”
Listening to this performance, Serena nearly laughed out loud.