Filed to story: Second Chance Mafia Bride Drama Novel
“What was that?” Nicholas leaned in, not quite catching her words.
She looked up, her voice louder and full of indignation. “I said, why did you let Alice change your bandages last night?”
Her cheeks puffed out in frustration. “You have a wife, don’t you? How could you let another woman do something like that? Shouldn’t you at least act like a married man?”
Logan, who’d been quietly sipping water nearby, choked mid-swallow.
Both Serena and Nicholas turned to look at him.
Nicholas narrowed his eyes ever so slightly.
Logan stiffened, quickly set down his glass, grabbed a stack of files, and put on his most professional face. “Uh, Mr. Salerno, I’ll just go put these in the study.”
He beat a hasty retreat, not daring to linger in case the newlywed Mr. Salerno decided he was in the way.
Once Logan had gone, Nicholas looked back at Serena, taken aback by her reaction, a strange feeling stirring in his chest.
“…You were upset because of that?”
“Isn’t it a good enough reason?” Serena’s voice grew small and forlorn, her bright eyes suddenly clouded over. “Or do you not think of me as your wife, just because we haven’t signed the papers yet?”
Nicholas paused. “…That’s not what I think.”
For once, the decisive, unyielding Mr. Salerno seemed at a loss.
Seeing his young wife so disheartened, he sighed, helpless. “I never asked Alice to change my bandages. Thomas always does it, but he had to leave early last night, so I told him to ask one of the housekeepers to help. Who told you it was Alice?”
“Really?” Serena’s head shot up, her eyes lighting up again.
“Really,” he replied, his voice unconsciously gentle.
A smile broke across Serena’s face, and she grabbed his arm, her tone playful but tinged with shyness. “So, when are we going to make it official?”
She tried to sound nonchalant, but a hint of embarrassment crept through.
Nicholas hesitated, then replied coolly, “Once my leg’s healed, alright?”
Moments later, Serena bounded upstairs, humming to herself as she searched for a larger vase for the flowers.
Nicholas watched her graceful figure disappear up the staircase, and his gaze darkened. He gripped the armrest a little tighter, shadows flickering across his face.
Eyes closed, he felt a heavy weight settle over him.
Marriage?
A dying man like himself-did he really have the right to tie down a girl like her?
He’d never cared about this sort of thing before, but with Serena… suddenly, he wasn’t so sure anymore.
Serena hadn’t mentioned Nora’s birthday to Nicholas, and she certainly hadn’t planned on inviting him along.
Her husband’s time was precious-why should Nora have that kind of pull?
She figured she’d just let him know in passing right before she headed out.
But, as it turned out, Nicholas found out anyway-because Rubina showed up at the house with a dress for her.
When one of the staff came to report that her stepsister was downstairs talking to Mr. Salerno, Serena’s eyes narrowed. She set down what she was doing and headed downstairs at once.
She hadn’t forgotten what kind of thoughts Rubina harbored toward her husband.
Downstairs, Rubina was standing there, feigning shyness, holding out an invitation with both hands. “The birthday party’s in five days. My mother hopes you’ll come, Mr. Salerno. I hope so, too.”
Nicholas glanced at the invitation, making no move to take it.
Rubina took a step closer, her voice growing soft and timid. “Mr. Salerno…”
She hadn’t even finished speaking when she suddenly tripped, lurching forward with a little cry, as if she were about to fall right into his arms.
Seeing that Nicholas didn’t seem inclined to move out of the way, a flash of delight crossed Rubina’s eyes-she was all set to let herself “fall” into his embrace.
But-
“Ah!”
Suddenly, someone grabbed her by the collar from behind, yanking her upright so abruptly her eyes almost rolled back.
“Rubina, how do you even manage to trip on flat ground?” Serena’s voice was sweetly mocking. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to throw yourself at my husband.”
She pulled Rubina back firmly, her smile never reaching the icy chill in her eyes.
Rubina’s expression froze, but she quickly tried to cover her embarrassment. “Serena, what are you talking about? I just lost my balance for a second…”
Serena gave her a dismissive smile. “Sure.”
Nicholas spoke up then, voice mild. “Your sister came to bring you a dress.”
“I know, the housekeeper just told me.” Serena’s tone softened immediately. She walked over to Nicholas’s side. Noticing he was sitting on the couch instead of his wheelchair, she settled in next to him almost instinctively, taking on the air of the lady of the house.
She looked up at Rubina. “It’s just a dress, Rubina. Why come all this way yourself? Couldn’t you have sent it with someone?”
Rubina stood there, stunned by how close the two were sitting. How had Serena and Mr. Salerno gotten so familiar in just a few days?
Wasn’t he supposed to hate people getting close? Why hadn’t he pushed her away?
Trying to compose herself, Rubina forced a gentle smile. “I also wanted to bring Mr. Salerno the invitation myself. It would be rude to send a servant for something like that.”
Invitation, huh? Serena scoffed inwardly. More like another excuse to see my husband.
“Invitation?” Serena’s tone was light. “I already told Mrs. Sinclair-Mr. Salerno won’t be attending.”
As she spoke, she slipped her arm around Nicholas’s, her voice turning sweet. “Right, darling?”
The affectionate gesture made Rubina’s face tighten with surprise-and jealousy.
But secretly, Rubina doubted Serena had even mentioned the party to her husband. She looked anxiously at Nicholas.
Nicholas felt the soft warmth of Serena pressed against his side, her hand giving his arm a gentle shake. When he turned, she was blinking up at him, sending pleading little signals with her big, bright eyes-adorable and mischievous.
He couldn’t help but feel both exasperated and amused. She hadn’t even asked him yet, had she?
But seeing how tense she was, clearly terrified he might agree, he decided to play along. “That’s right. I’m not going.”
Serena cheered inwardly at their unspoken teamwork. She almost wanted to hug or kiss him right then and there, but with Rubina still in the room, she restrained herself.
She turned back. “You heard him, Rubina. Mr. Salerno isn’t going.”
Rubina bit her lip. “Mr. Salerno, the Greco family and the Salernos are practically in-laws now…”
Serena’s grip on Nicholas’s arm tightened almost imperceptibly.