Filed to story: Second Chance Mafia Bride Drama Novel
Serena’s chest. “I never even liked Damien,” she blurted, her voice trembling with urgency. “Everything between us was just for show!”
Clutching his hand, she pleaded, “When I say you’re the only one in my heart, I mean it. I’m not lying to you please, can’t you believe me?”
She stared at him, waiting anxiously for his reply.
After a few long seconds, Nicholas slowly withdrew his hand from hers.
With that small gesture, Serena felt her heart plummet.
“Leave.” His voice was cold as ice.
He didn’t believe her.
Serena stared at him, stunned, a dull ache spreading through her chest.
“Mr. Salerno…”
Nicholas didn’t respond.
Of course he didn’t believe her. To him, her explanation sounded clumsy and unconvincing.
A charade? The messages Damien had sent were full of sweet nothings, and there was that photo of the two of them-her gaze fixed on Damien, pure affection in her eyes. There was nothing fake about it.
Nicholas clenched his jaw, forcing down a surge of anger as he closed his eyes.
Panic and frustration twisted inside Serena. She cursed Damien silently, wishing she could wring his neck for making a mess of things, then turned back to Nicholas with a desperate, pleading look.
“Then what will it take for you to believe me?”
Her eyes locked on his striking, almost too-handsome face, and her heart skipped a beat. Before she could think twice, impulse took over-she leaned in and pressed her lips to his.
The kiss was sudden, reckless, and soft. Nicholas’s eyes widened in shock at the unfamiliar sensation.
Meeting his gaze, Serena snapped back to reality. The rush of adrenaline faded, and she realized exactly what she’d just done.
She froze, forcing herself to act calm, then drew back slightly, her voice trembling. “…Well? Does that make you believe me?”
On the armrest, Nicholas’s hand clenched hard. For a fleeting moment, countless emotions flickered in his eyes, but when they finally settled, all that remained was an icy chill.
“Get out,” he said.
Serena went rigid, her face drained of color.
She stared at him, hurt and bewildered.
Suddenly, she shot to her feet. Her nose stung, her eyes went red, and a wave of humiliation washed over her.
She had made up her mind long ago to make things right with him in this life, to repay him for everything. But this was the first time-across two lifetimes-that she’d ever been this forward, and he still refused to believe her. Worse, it seemed he was repulsed by her.
She brushed the corner of her eye, her voice thick with tears she fought to hold back, defiant and wounded. “… Fine, I’ll go! Besides, we never even registered our marriage, so we won’t have to bother with a divorce.”
Something in those words hit Nicholas like a knife to the heart.
She turned to leave, but before she could take a step, a strong hand seized her wrist.
She gasped in surprise. In one swift motion, she stumbled and fell straight into his arms.
Her first instinct was shock and panic, but then she remembered his injured leg. Afraid she might hurt him, she tried to pull away.
But Nicholas’s grip was unyielding, locking her firmly in his embrace.
Her palms braced against his solid chest. She looked up, startled, and found herself staring into his dark, dangerously intense eyes.
“Didn’t you say you liked me? Then why are you running, hmm?”
His long, powerful fingers pinched her cheeks-not too hard, but enough to keep her from turning away, forcing her to meet his gaze.
“M-Mr. Salerno?” she stammered.
Serena felt a chill run through her. Even with all the fond memories of her past life, she couldn’t help but feel nervous and uncertain in that moment.
But underneath her anxiety, what she felt most was a sense of grievance. Weren’t you the one who told me to leave?”
“You say you love me?” Nicholas pressed, his gaze dark and unyielding as he fixed his eyes on her.
Serena opened her mouth to answer, but the sting of his earlier rejection made her falter. She turned her head away in frustration, her voice small and wounded. “You don’t even believe me, so why bother asking?”
She shifted in his arms. “Let go of me. I’ll just go home!”
Before she could pull away, his warm hand cupped her cheek, forcing her to look up and meet his eyes-eyes as black as midnight, swirling with something dangerous.
He ignored her protests. She couldn’t tell if he was warning her, or simply thinking aloud. “I gave you a chance. You refused to leave. Don’t regret it later.”
With him so close, Serena felt like prey caught in the gaze of a predator. Her heart fluttered, and for a moment, she was genuinely afraid of him. But she held her ground, refusing to look away. “I won’t regret it,” she mumbled, stubborn as ever.
Nicholas studied her for a moment, then abruptly released her. “Go get changed.”
Serena blinked, confused. “For what?”
“We’re going to the Registry Office.”
“The-Registry Office?!” She stared at him in disbelief, eyes wide.
“What, don’t want to?” His deep-set eyes seemed to see straight through her.
“No-no, that’s not it!” Serena stammered. “It’s just… sudden.”
But just as quickly, excitement bubbled up inside her, lighting up her face. “So… you believe me now?”
From the moment he’d mentioned the Registry Office, Nicholas hadn’t taken his eyes off her, watching every nuance of her reaction. When he caught the joy in her gaze, the tension in his jaw finally eased.
“Go on, then,” he said quietly, brushing her cheek with his fingers.
Whether he truly believed her or not didn’t matter. She knew all too well what it would mean to lie to him-she’d seen what happened to the last person who tried.
He didn’t answer her question, and for a moment, Serena felt a pang of disappointment. But the thought of finally becoming his wife made her heart soar again.
“I’m going to get changed!”
After being slapped twice, Alice simmered with hatred for Serena. When she heard Serena had gone into Mr. Salerno’s room, she let out a cold, derisive laugh.
“She honestly thinks she can win Mr. Salerno back? In her dreams. Just wait- he’ll throw her out on the street before long!”
“Mr. Salerno’s wife? More like a stray dog!”
The maids who favored Alice gathered around, comforting her and gossiping freely. No one held back when it came to Serena. As far as they were concerned, she was finished.
Who did Serena think she was, crossing Mr. Salerno? She was done for.
Just then, Nicholas’s door opened.