Filed to story: Second Chance Mafia Bride Drama Novel
Nicholas noticed. He hadn’t made a point of investigating her life with the
Grecos, but he’d heard bits and pieces. The current Mrs. Greco wasn’t the original matriarch, after all.
Judging by Serena’s reaction to the upcoming party, her relationship with that family-and especially with that woman-was anything but warm.
He didn’t bother to hide his disdain anymore. “If I recall, Sere’s mother passed away some time ago.”
The implication was clear: Nora wasn’t Serena’s mother, so what right did she have to demand his presence at the party?
Rubina’s smile faltered for a moment.
Nicholas felt Serena squeeze his arm a little tighter. He glanced down to find her eyes shining as she looked up at him.
He paused, then asked gently, “What’s wrong?”
Serena shook her head, replying quickly, “Nothing!”
But inside, her heart was light and joyful-he’d called her Sere! More than that, his thoughts aligned perfectly with hers. For a moment, warmth blossomed in her chest.
She wanted a private word with Nicholas, but Rubina’s continued presence was starting to grate. Serena decided it was time for her stepsister to leave.
“Rubina, just leave the dress and head home, okay?”
But Rubina had worked hard to find an excuse to visit Rosewood Manor-there was no way she’d leave so easily.
She put on her best smile. “I picked this dress out for you myself. Took me ages to find just the right one! Go on, take a look-see if you like it.”
With a wave, she signaled for the dress to be brought out.
The moment the dress was unveiled, the air seemed to freeze.
Logan, who had just walked over, couldn’t help but stare in shock.
Serena’s mouth twitched as she realized, a bit belatedly, what was happening. She stared at the dress-an explosion of clashing colors, garish reds and greens, with a cut so bizarre that it was hard to tell if it looked more like a blanket or a set of bedsheets…but then again, was there really any difference?
It was exactly the kind of “unique” style Nora and Rubina had worked so hard to cultivate in her over the years.
“Do you like it, Serena?” Rubina asked sweetly, the picture of the caring older sister.
A glint of coldness flashed in Serena’s eyes. “Of course! Where would you even find something like this? You really went out of your way, Rubina.”
Rubina missed the sarcasm and continued beaming. “As long as you like it! I don’t mind spending a little extra time for you.”
“If you like it so much, you have to wear it for the party. Just imagine everyone’s surprise!”
Listening to her fawning, Serena’s lips curled into a half-smile. “Sure, why not?”
Satisfied to see Serena as easy to manipulate as ever, Rubina’s earlier frustration vanished in an instant.
So what if she’d managed to catch Mr. Salerno’s eye? She’s still the same clueless fool!
Another birthday, another spectacle-Rubina couldn’t wait to see the outcome. With high spirits, Rubina finally left.
Nicholas stared at the dress, frowning slightly, silent for a long moment before he asked carefully, “Do you actually like this style?”
Serena hesitated.
She shot a quick look at the offensively loud dress, then blurted out, “Not at all!”
Relief softened Nicholas’s features.
Logan couldn’t help but chime in, “Then why would the Grecos send you something like this?”
Especially when that sister of hers kept insisting Serena loved it.
Serena pressed her lips together. “… Because it’s the only style I ever wore before.”
Logan looked incredulous. “You don’t like it, but you wore it anyway?”
Nicholas’s brows drew together again. “If you hated it, why didn’t you say so? Why keep wearing it?”
Serena glanced at him, her voice small and aggrieved. “I never liked these clothes. They’re ugly, and everyone always laughs at me when I wear them. I never wanted to, but every time I had to go out, Nora and Rubina would insist I wear something like this.”
The first time, she’d been na?ve enough to listen to Rubina and ended up the laughingstock of the party. The second time, she tried to refuse, but Nora and Rubina always told her she looked wonderful that the others were just jealous.
Her mother had died young, and Nora married in not long after. Serena was raised by Nora, grew up alongside Rubina, and trusted them completely. She’d always taken their word as gospel.
Looking back, she couldn’t help but feel pathetic.
And what a pair they were-she’d married into Rosewood Manor, and they still made sure to send her a “thoughtful” dress.
Nicholas’s gaze darkened at her words.
“If you don’t like them, you don’t have to wear them ever again.” His tone was cool as he glanced at the dress. “Get rid of it.”
Logan nodded in agreement.
But Serena stopped him. “Wait-!”
She blinked innocently. “She went out of her way to send me a gift. How could I just throw it away?”
Three days later, Nora’s birthday party arrived.
When Serena was about to leave, she made a special detour to the study. Leaning in the doorway, she called out, “Honey, I’m heading out!”
Nicholas nodded without looking up. “Alright, have a good time.”
But Serena didn’t move. She lingered in the doorway, fingers tracing the frame.
Nicholas finally glanced up from his desk. “What is it?”
She hesitated, cheeks coloring, but her words came out straightforward and earnest. “Why aren’t you calling me Sere anymore?” She gazed at him with hopeful eyes, her shyness barely masking her anticipation. “I like it when you call me that.”
Nicholas’s breath caught faintly. He looked at the girl waiting so expectantly in the doorway, his gaze unfathomably deep. After a moment-
“Sere.”
His voice was low, tinged with reluctant affection.
Serena’s whole face lit up with a dazzling smile. “Okay, I’m off, then!”
She lifted her skirt and practically skipped away, her joy unmistakable.
Nicholas watched her cheerful figure as she disappeared down the hallway, a quiet intensity in his eyes. Only when she was completely out of sight did he turn back to his paperwork, though he found it impossible to concentrate.
“Look into how she’s been all these years with the Grecos,” he instructed quietly.
He needed to know what kind of life she’d had with them.
Logan nodded and left to carry out the order.