Filed to story: Second Chance Mafia Bride Drama Novel
“We… used to know each other.” There was no way to hide it, and Serena didn’t dare lie. She admitted honestly, “But I don’t like him at all, not even a little. We aren’t even friends anymore!”
“Is that so?” Nicholas wasn’t so easily convinced. “Funny, the way he treats you doesn’t look like you’re ‘not even friends.””
“Well, that’s just him being delusional!” Serena wrinkled her nose in distaste, but then she couldn’t help but sneak a tiny smile. “Are you jealous, darling?”
Nicholas’s lips pressed into a thin line.
Serena pressed her cheek against his hand, her voice soft and sweet as honey. “You’re so wonderful. He can’t compare to you in any way. I’d never like someone like him!”
Her eyes brimmed with pure, unwavering affection as she looked at him, as if he truly was her whole world.
Almost as if under a spell, Nicholas lifted his hand and brushed her cheek. His palm, rough with callouses, sent a tingle through her skin.
The sensation made Serena shrink her neck a little. Meeting his deep gaze, her heart skipped a beat. She forced herself not to pull away, though her ears flushed red.
Suddenly, Nicholas blinked and seemed to snap out of it. He withdrew his hand, his face returning to calm indifference.
“Let’s go. Time to head home.”
Serena couldn’t decide if she felt disappointed or just relieved. “…Okay.”
She stood and started pushing his wheelchair, then asked, “So, do you believe me now, darling?”
Muttering under her breath, she added, “I even tossed Damien into the pool for you.
If you don’t believe me, I could go back and do it again!”
Her tone was more serious than joking-she clearly meant it.
Logan was left speechless.
Poor Damien. What rotten luck.
Back at Rosewood Manor.
Nicholas had business to attend to, so Serena wheeled him to the study before heading to her own room.
She had just reached her door when she bumped straight into Alice, who was coming out of her bedroom.
Alice’s face shifted in an instant-she clearly hadn’t expected Serena to return so soon.
Serena’s eyes sharpened. “What were you doing in my room?”
Alice kept her head down. “Miss, I was just cleaning up for you.”
Serena didn’t believe a word of it. She stared hard at Alice. “Funny, I don’t remember you being assigned to my room.”
“It was May before, but since she’s gone, I was asked to cover for her temporarily,” Alice replied.
Serena glanced at her. She was, indeed, wearing a housekeeper’s uniform.
Narrowing her eyes, Serena said coldly, “You can go.”
Alice let out a quiet sigh of relief and hurried away.
Serena entered her room and immediately pulled up the security footage.
On the screen, she saw Alice entering about half an hour ago. She went through the motions of cleaning, but Serena’s sharp eyes quickly caught the truth- Alice was using the cleaning as a cover to quietly search for something.
Looking for what, exactly?
Serena instantly remembered the recording she had fabricated-the one that didn’t even exist.
So, were they searching for her phone, her laptop, or maybe a flash drive?
She tapped her chin, then suddenly broke into a smile.
Originally, she’d planned to find Mary and have her assign someone else to tidy up her room. But now? She had a better idea.
How could she possibly pass up the chance to hand this opportunity to Alice?
At dinner that evening, Serena came downstairs. Alice shot her a nervous, sidelong glance, but even after the meal was over, Serena made no mention of changing the housekeeper. It was as if she’d forgotten entirely.
Alice, surprised but relieved, quietly exhaled. She even snickered inwardly at Serena’s supposed carelessness-how na?ve, how completely unguarded.
Serena, all the while, caught Alice’s darting gaze out of the corner of her eye. She tugged the corner of her lips into a faint, knowing smirk. If Alice behaved herself, all would be well-but if not? Well, she’d have only herself to blame for stepping right into the trap.
Back upstairs, Serena’s phone buzzed with a call from Gabriel.
She frowned, answered, and said curtly, “What is it?”
“What is it? You seriously have the nerve to ask me that? Do you feel no guilt after what you did to Rubina? You’d better get yourself back here-now!”
Gabriel’s voice exploded in her ear.
Only then did Serena remember: when she’d left the house, Rubina had been passed out by the pool.
“How is she?” Serena asked, lips curling into a careless smile. The question wasn’t out of concern; she was just curious to know how badly Rubina was faring.
“She’s running a fever-102 degrees!” Gabriel snapped. “She says you threw her in the pool on purpose! Serena, have you forgotten she’s your sister? How can you be so heartless?”
“Only 102?” Serena’s lips twisted into a sardonic grin. “That’s hardly fatal. When we were kids, she pushed me into the freezing pond in the dead of winter, and I spiked a 104-degree fever. She’s still got a ways to go before catching up. I’ll swing by when I have time.”
With that dismissive reply, she hung up, ignoring his continued tirade.
She’d told Gabriel she had no intention of going back, but truthfully, she was rather eager to see Rubina’s misery for herself. So, the next day, she strolled to the study, hung onto the doorframe, and called, “Honey, I’m heading over to the Greco estate for a bit!”
Nicholas was working at his desk. Hearing her voice, he glanced up and caught sight of her peeking in with that adorable, mischievous expression of hers.
“Go ahead,” he said, setting his paperwork aside.
Serena turned to leave, but at the last second, spun back around and dashed over to give him a quick hug. “I’ll be back soon!” she promised, and just as quickly, she was gone-a faint, sweet scent lingering in the air around him before he’d even registered what had happened.
His heart skipped. For a moment, his chest felt warm and prickly, and he was left staring after her in a daze. Suddenly, a shrill, excited whoop blared from his computer speakers.
“Whoa! Was that your new wife? She’s adorable! Nicholas, you lucky bastard!” Nicholas snapped out of it, his voice icy: “Shut up.”
“Oh, come on! I’m miserable enough as it is-can’t I at least enjoy a little vicarious happiness?” The other man’s tone was mock-pitiful.
On the screen, a video call was open. The man on the other end was a handsome playboy type-like Nicholas, he sat in a wheelchair.
He forced a bitter smile. “You and I aren’t the same. You’ll be walking again soon enough; I’m the one facing amputation. My mom’s dragged in every doctor imaginable, and they all say the same thing-unless some miracle worker turns up, I’m stuck like this for life.”
the Greco family
The moment Serena stepped through the front door, a furious shout rang out-
“How dare you come back?!”
Gabriel stood there, eyes blazing with anger. Serena’s expression didn’t even flinch. “Aren’t you the one who told me to come home?”