Filed to story: Second Chance Mafia Bride Drama Novel
“Tsk, have you seen Mr. Salerno? Old, ugly, and from what I hear, a complete maniac. Supposedly, all his previous wives either died mysteriously or went insane from his abuse…”
“He’s on his fourth marriage already, right? What do you think-how long before this one gets carried out feet first?”
She froze at the mention of Nicholas’s name.
A small group of women and girls had gathered nearby, their voices dripping with sarcasm, faces animated with exaggerated expressions as they gossiped and snickered.
Narrowing her eyes, Serena changed direction and headed straight for them. The ringleader was still talking-
“They say he’s crippled… What, Mr. Salerno must be what, fifty? Honestly, who cares about his money? I’d never let my daughter marry someone like that.”
A girl beside her pulled a face, clearly disgusted. “Mom, don’t even joke about it! There’s no way I’d marry some old man. Please don’t ever mention my name in the same breath as his-it’s just gross.”
Serena stepped up just then, her anger bubbling over, and let out a sharp, cold laugh. “Maybe you should worry about whether you’re even good enough first. Do you think Mr. Salerno would settle for just anyone?”
The group fell silent at once, turning to stare at her.
Standing there, looking every inch the stunning beauty, Serena’s gaze was razor sharp as she glared right back.
A flash of jealousy flickered in the girl’s eyes as she sneered, “We’re having our own conversation. What’s it to you? The way you’re talking-don’t tell me you actually want to marry that old, ugly man?”
Her mother, Mrs. Salerno, squinted at Serena, searching her memory for a match but coming up empty. She figured this must be some nobody, a girl with no family background who’d somehow wormed her way in-probably just some man’s dubious date.
With a smirk, Mrs. Salerno piled on, “Exactly. Someone like Mr. Salerno-no respectable woman would ever want to marry him. But aren’t there always those gold-diggers, so obsessed with money and power they’d do anything for it? Some women will degrade themselves for a dollar.”
Serena let out a cold laugh. “You’re all so sure of yourselves. Sounds like you’ve actually met Mr. Salerno?”
“We haven’t met him, but who hasn’t heard the stories? Everyone says the same thing-don’t tell me they’re all wrong,” Mrs. Salerno shot back.
The others joined in, nodding and sneering.
“That’s just the way he is. It’s not even a secret-everyone knows.”
“He’s ancient, crippled, and keeps marrying one woman after another. Probably just some perverted old lech…”
“Ugh!”
Suddenly, chaos erupted-a shriek pierced the room as Serena, furious, grabbed her wine glass and flung it straight at them.
In an instant, the commotion drew everyone’s attention. Heads turned from all sides of the hall, eyes locked on the spectacle.
“You’ve all got plenty to say, but I thought you’d at least met the man! Gossiping hens, aren’t you? You flap your mouths about everything-if you’re so brave, go say all that to Mr. Salerno’s face!”
Serena’s words cut sharp as glass. Her pretty face was dark with anger, her posture daring anyone to say another word-she looked ready to slap anyone who tried.
Talk trash about her husband? She wouldn’t let it slide.
“You-where did this crazy woman come from?”
“Someone call security! Get her out of here!”
Fast as ever, Serena had drenched not just one but half a dozen of them, leaving them spluttering, faces red with rage, clothes soaked.
“What’s going on here?!”
Elder Mrs. Salerno-the matriarch celebrating her sixtieth birthday-swept in, surrounded by guests and family.
“Grandma! There’s a lunatic here!” wailed Ms. Salerno, dashing to her side.
Elder Mrs. Salerno, a lifelong mistress who prided herself on her looks, still had jet-black hair at sixty and carried herself with the haughty air of old money. She gave Serena a withering once-over. “And you are?”
With a pointed clunk, Serena set her empty glass down, then calmly reached for a napkin and dabbed her hands dry.
Damien was a piece of trash, so what could you expect from his grandmother? Just looking at these Salernos made her want to wash her eyes out.
Serena’s blatant disregard infuriated Elder Mrs. Salerno.
Just then, Rubina-who’d trailed after the old woman-gasped in shock.
“Serena! What are you doing here?”
Elder Mrs. Salerno turned. “You know her?”
Rubina glanced at Serena, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “She’s my sister, Lady. I’m sorry-she doesn’t always know how to behave…”
Serena’s eyes cooled at her sister’s presumptuous apology, her expression icy. “Serena?” Elder Mrs. Salerno suddenly remembered. Her lips curled in contempt. “So it’s you. No wonder raised without a mother, no manners at all! I heard you got married. Was it really to that old, crippled freak?”
Serena’s grip on her napkin tightened suddenly.
Around her, the group’s expressions shifted as Elder Mrs. Salerno spoke; realization dawned in their eyes.
A derisive laugh broke out. “No wonder she got so worked up when we mentioned Mr. Salerno earlier. Turns out her husband is just the same!”
“So this is Serena? I’ve heard about her husband-supposedly a man so worthless he doesn’t even dare show his face in public.”
“Tch, no wonder she flew off the handle like that!”
Fury flared within Serena. Without hesitation, she grabbed the nearest oversized flute of champagne and, with a swift flick of her wrist, doused the offending women with it.
“Aaah!”
They shrieked as champagne soaked through their dresses and their makeup streaked down their faces.
“Serena! How dare you-!”
Serena arched a cold smile, raising her chin, her beauty taking on a razor’s edge. “Why don’t you tell me again how I don’t dare? I think my actions are answer enough. Go on, keep talking. See if you think I won’t do it again.”
One of the women screeched, “How can you act so shamelessly in front of the Lady of the house? Do you realize where you are? This is the Salerno estate!”
Predictably, Elder Mrs. Salerno’s face darkened with fury. “No wonder you’re from such humble beginnings-you have no manners at all!”
Serena shot right back, her words sharp as glass. “And no wonder you act like you do. I suppose being a mistress first means you never actually learned the difference between right and wrong.”
The room froze. Everyone stared at Serena, stunned. No one could believe she’d have the guts to say that-even to Elder Mrs. Salerno!
Didn’t she know what the Salerno family represented? This was the house tied to Mr. Salerno himself.
Everyone present had whispered about Mr. Salerno behind closed doors, but when it came to his power and status, even the boldest among them held a healthy dose of fear.
Was Serena trying to get herself thrown out-or worse?
The Lady of the house was beside herself, her face turning an ugly shade of gray as her breath came in ragged bursts. She looked on the verge of fainting.
She jabbed a finger at Serena, shrieking, “Somebody! Get her out of here! Teach her a lesson-show her what it means to have some respect!”
Before her order could be carried out, a furious voice rang out from the entrance.
“What on earth is going on here?!”
Barry had arrived.