Filed to story: Second Chance Mafia Bride Drama Novel
“Me, what? Move aside you’re blocking my way. Didn’t Mary teach you how to read the room?”
Alice looked like she might explode.
Serena couldn’t have cared less. She strode into her room without another glance.
But Alice’s voice, dripping with malice, followed her down the hall-
“You really think Mr. Salerno cares about you? Just wait and see how you end up!”
“Will it be the psychiatric ward that comes for you, or an ambulance?”
Serena’s eyes narrowed sharply.
Seeing her reaction, Alice, thinking she’d struck a nerve, darted away with a satisfied grin.
Serena, lost in thought, walked into her room.
Nicholas’s first three wives-one had died, one had lost her mind, and the third had been whisked away by her family before the wedding even happened.
It was the same story in both her previous and current lives, but even now, she had no idea what had really happened to those first two women.
The rumor mill outside insisted Nicholas was a madman, that both wives had fallen victim to his cruelty.
But she didn’t believe it.
Nicholas wasn’t that kind of person-she was sure of it.
Remembering the truth she’d learned just before her death, her heart swelled with a bittersweet ache.
She opened her suitcase and began unpacking the things she’d brought from the Greco family home earlier that day. At the very bottom was a locked box. She punched in the code and retrieved a worn notebook from inside.
Calling it a “notebook” was an understatement-it was packed with rare, long-lost medical formulas. No wonder so many people had tried to get their hands on it. There were two copies of the notebook: one here with her, and another her grandfather was supposed to be safeguarding, along with other things her mother had left for her-like the Green Thumbs Botanical Research Institute she’d always dreamed of inheriting.
But in her past life, none of those things had ever reached her hands.
She flipped open the notebook. One ancient remedy caught her eye, and it made her think of someone-her mentor, from her previous life.
He’d had a child late in life, doted on him endlessly, but the boy had been sick from birth. Her mentor had tried everything he could, but nothing worked.
He was a giant in the medical world, yet he couldn’t even save his own son. Watching the boy slip away nearly broke him for good.
Ironically, one of the remedies her mother had left behind could have saved the boy. But by the time anyone realized, it was already too late-a regret her mentor never overcame.
At that moment, Serena felt an overwhelming rush of gratitude for her second chance.
She quickly snapped a photo of the formula-then hesitated.
Wait. She didn’t even have her mentor’s contact details!
They’d first met on a medical forum. The timeline hadn’t caught up to that meeting yet, but his account should still be active, right?
Her eyes lit up. She rushed to her laptop, signed up for the forum, and searched
Found it!
She was about to send the photo when she paused.
Wouldn’t that look suspicious? A stranger suddenly showing up with a miracle cure for his sick child-who wouldn’t be wary?
Thinking quickly, she photographed two more formulas and sent all three together, pretending to seek advice.
Her mentor’s account was famous on the forum, flooded with questions from aspiring doctors. Her message wouldn’t stand out.
She was about to go shower when her phone started pinging nonstop.
[Q: Where did you get these formulas?]
[Q: Would you be willing to meet in person?]
On the other end, Dr. Bruno Austin clutched his phone, barely hearing his wife call him to dinner, anxiously waiting for a reply.
His wife frowned in confusion. “Bruno, what’s going on?”
“There’s hope-Ethan can be saved!” Bruno’s voice trembled with excitement. “You don’t need to prepare for… anything else.”
She stared at him, eyes wide, words trembling. “Really…?”
Ever since they’d learned their son’s illness was incurable, the family had quietly begun preparing for the worst. But now her husband was telling her none of that was necessary.
Meanwhile, after a moment’s thought, Serena politely declined the meeting request.
There was still too much she had to do.
But in time, she would earn her place as her mentor’s student-on her own terms.
At dinnertime, Serena arrived at the dining room brimming with anticipation.
Nicholas had promised her he would join her for dinner tonight.
But the room was empty. He wasn’t there yet. She sat down, determined to wait for him patiently.
Minutes ticked by, and still no sign of Nicholas.
Unable to resist, she glanced upstairs and asked, “Where’s Mr. Salerno?”
Mary replied coolly, “Mr. Salerno is busy.”
“But he promised to have dinner with me. Did you just call him?”
“I did. Mr. Salerno doesn’t have time. You should eat first, ma’am.”
Serena shot Mary a look but said nothing more. She stood up and headed for the stairs.
Mary’s expression darkened as she tried to intercept her, but Serena was quick, deftly slipping past and hurrying up.
She paused outside the study and knocked twice. Logan opened the door, surprised to see her. “Ma’am?”
Serena peered inside. “Is Mr. Salerno still busy?”
Before Logan could answer, a low male voice sounded from within.
“What is it?”
Logan took the hint, stepping aside.
Now unobstructed, Serena saw him immediately-seated behind the broad desk, Nicholas looked up as he set down a file. His profile was striking, aristocratic, and commanded attention without a word.
She felt her heart skip a beat, completely out of her control.
How had she never noticed how magnetic this man was before?