Filed to story: Second Chance Mafia Bride Drama Novel
Basking in the attention, she didn’t hesitate to promise Grace a flower.
Meanwhile, Serena’s phone rang. It was Nicholas.
“Did you get my gift?”
A low, magnetic voice drifted from the phone, making Serena’s ear tingle before she stopped, startled.
“What gift?” she asked.
“A bouquet,” came the reply. “Logan just told me it’s been delivered should be downstairs. Go take a look.”
Nicholas sent her flowers?
A rush of surprise and delight swept through Serena, washing away the cloud of frustration that had been lingering over her.
“I’ll go check right now!”
Hearing the excitement in her voice, Nicholas couldn’t help but smile, his features softening.
Phone still in hand, Serena hurried out, only to bump straight into Alice in the hallway.
Alice was cradling a vibrant bouquet, clearly on her way downstairs as well.
Serena’s gaze locked onto the flowers instantly.
“Where’d you get those?” she asked.
Alice grinned, smug. “Mr. Salerno sent them to me. Aren’t they gorgeous?” “Mr. Salerno sent them to you?” Serena’s eyes narrowed, full of disbelief. Could Nicholas really be so careless? Did he send two bouquets-one for her, one for Alice? The thought alone was enough to bring back the annoyance that had just faded.
Ignoring Alice, Serena rushed down the stairs and called out, “How many bouquets were delivered just now?”
“Just one, of course.” May, the housekeeper, glanced at Alice trailing behind and seemed to understand. She shot Serena a disdainful look. “Ma’am, you didn’t think those were for you, did you? Don’t get your hopes up. Mr. Salerno sent them specifically for Alice!”
The staff nearby looked over, some openly curious, others whispering behind their hands. Clearly, to them, little had changed-Mr. Salerno was still sending gifts to other women, not his wife.
They exchanged knowing glances, quietly enjoying the drama.
But when Serena heard there was only one bouquet, her heart settled. She spun around, reached for the flowers in Alice’s arms, and said, “Those aren’t yours. Give them here.”
“What do you mean, not mine? If they’re not for me, are they for you?” Alice scoffed, clutching the bouquet tighter. “These came from Kingsbridge University, a reward from Mr. Salerno for my acceptance! If you want flowers, you’d have to get into Kingsbridge yourself.”
Serena let out a short laugh. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I got into Kingsbridge last year. So actually, those flowers are mine. Hand them over.”
Alice’s heart skipped a beat.
What?
Serena goes to Kingsbridge, too?
The staff who’d been enjoying the show froze, caught off guard.
Alice’s grip on the bouquet tightened. A sinking feeling crept in, but she refused to give up. “Just because you say so doesn’t make it true. Mr. Salerno didn’t say they were for you!”
Serena had no patience left for this. She pulled out her phone and dialed the number from earlier.
Alice stammered, “Wait-“
But the call had already connected.
Serena wasted no time. “Honey, did you send me flowers from Kingsbridge University?”
She put the phone on speaker, and everyone in the foyer heard Nicholas’s voice, steady and clear-
“Yes. Logan mentioned a lot of students wanted them, so I had them put together a bouquet just for you. Do you like it?”
May’s jaw dropped.
The other staff members all turned to stare at Alice.
Alice’s face went rigid, a fiery flush creeping up her cheeks.
“I’d love them-if they’d actually made it to me,” Serena said, casting Alice a pointed look.
Nicholas’s tone turned steely, and Serena could almost picture his furrowed brow. “What happened?”
Serena didn’t hesitate. “Alice has them. She claims you sent them for her and refuses to give them back.”
“You-!” Alice was seething, ready to lunge and cover Serena’s mouth.
On the other end of the line, Nicholas replied, “I’ll be home right away.”
The call ended with a click.
Alice’s face turned pale.
She knew Nicholas far too well; just from his tone, she could tell Mr. Salerno was furious.
She shot Serena a poisonous glare, then shoved the bouquet of flowers into her arms without a shred of tenderness. “Here. Take them. As if I ever wanted them!”
Serena sidestepped gracefully, refusing to take the flowers. “Oh, you didn’t want them? Funny, that’s not what you said a minute ago. You looked delighted to have them. Go ahead, keep them-I’ll just wait here for Mr. Salerno to get back.”
With that, she found a seat and sat down, looking perfectly at ease.
Alice was seething.
Nicholas returned sooner than expected.
As soon as Serena heard him enter, she sprang to her feet. “You’re back!”
He grunted in reply, his gaze softening just a bit when he saw her cheerful face. She certainly didn’t look like someone who’d just been wronged.
Then his eyes shifted to Alice.
“Mr. Salerno…” Alice stood there nervously. The bouquet was now lying on the coffee table, abandoned.
“What happened?” Nicholas asked.
“I have no idea,” Serena piped up, moving to push his wheelchair while Logan politely stepped aside. “You called me and said there was a present, I was so happy! Then Alice came in and insisted the flowers were for her. Weren’t they meant for me? Since when did they become someone else’s?”
Nicholas wanted to know the same thing. He’d bought the flowers for Serena, to cheer her up. How had they ended up in someone else’s hands?
He frowned, turning to Alice, waiting for her to explain.
“I-I thought Mr. Salerno meant them for me,” Alice stammered, sounding wounded.
“You thought?” Nicholas echoed.
“Let’s say you misunderstood at first,” Serena said, “but when I told you the flowers were mine, you didn’t give them back, did you? Let me think-oh right, you even mocked me! You said, if they weren’t yours, could they possibly be mine? You told me to get into Kingsbridge University first-am I remembering that wrong?”
Alice froze.