Filed to story: Second Chance Mafia Bride Drama Novel
Martin was the driver who’d taken her to Rosewood Manor that day.
“Bring Martin in,” Gabriel said, his expression dark.
Rubina’s face went pale.
A moment later, Martin entered the room.
Rubina rushed to speak first. “Martin, tell my father the truth. Wasn’t it Serena herself who wanted to run away that day? Now she’s too scared to admit it and is trying to frame me!”
Martin’s eyes flickered, and he hesitated, as if wrestling with what to say. “Speak,” Gabriel ordered.
Martin sighed. “It was indeed Ms. Serena Greco’s own idea…”
Rubina’s shoulders finally relaxed, a smug smile flickering across her face. How naive of Serena, thinking Martin would ever take her side.
True, Martin had once been loyal to her mother, Cecilia, but Cecilia had been gone for years. Out of sight, out of mind. After all this time, Martin was firmly on her and her mother’s side now.
Gabriel slammed his palm on the table, the sharp crack echoing through the study. “Well? Do you have anything else to say for yourself?!”
His gaze bore into Serena. “Have I not made it clear just how serious the consequences are if you cross Mr. Salerno? And yet you were planning to run away? Really?”
“Your sister went out of her way to clean up your mess-nearly sacrificing herself for you and you have the nerve to accuse her?”
Serena didn’t so much as flinch. “I told you already, I never planned to elope.”
“You’re still denying it?” Gabriel’s eyes narrowed. “You just tried to call Martin, and now he’s confessed everything. He’s your mother’s old friend, he’s looked after you for years. Are you saying he’d lie about you?”
Martin did his part, wearing a look of helplessness as if the whole thing pained him.
In the corner, Rubina couldn’t quite hide the smirk tugging at her lips.
Serena, meanwhile, let out a cold laugh. “Who says he wouldn’t lie?”
The truth was, if not for her mother, Martin would have been run down by debt collectors years ago. But wasn’t there a saying-no good deed goes unpunished?
“Ms. Serena Greco…” Martin tried to defend himself.
But Serena cut him off, striding over and holding out her hand. “Give me your phone.”
Martin froze. “What?”
“If you have nothing to hide, let me take a look. Or is there something you’re afraid of?”
Serena knew Martin was a careful man. If he’d helped Rubina, there was no way he hadn’t kept some proof. And judging by the sweat breaking out on his brow, she wasn’t wrong.
He stood rooted to the spot, forehead glistening with cold perspiration.
“Martin?” Serena’s voice was icy.
Rubina jumped in. “Serena, you’re not the police-rifling through someone’s phone is a breach of privacy-“
“If it turns out I accused you wrongly, I’ll apologize,” Serena said.
Rubina fell silent, her argument dead on her lips.
With everyone watching, Martin’s refusal to move looked more and more suspicious. Was his so-called privacy really more important than clearing his name?
Gabriel’s eyes narrowed, suspicion deepening with every passing second. Finally, Martin caved, handing over his phone with trembling hands.
Rubina clenched her fists, heart pounding in her chest. Idiot! she seethed silently. Does he really have something on that phone?
Meanwhile, Martin could only pray that he’d hidden the evidence well enough for Ms. Serena Greco to miss it.
But then Serena’s voice rang out, sharp and cold. “Well, what’s this?”
Both Martin and Rubina felt their hearts drop.
Serena strode over and handed the phone straight to Gabriel.
She’d already pulled up a string of messages-Rubina’s, sent to Martin the very day Serena was married off to Rosewood Manor.
Rubina had been asking for updates. Martin replied that Serena seemed to be having second thoughts, that maybe she didn’t want to go through with the wedding. Rubina shot back: whatever it takes, make sure she runs away.
Gabriel’s face turned a dark, mottled red. “Rubina, what is this supposed to mean?!”
“I… I just thought Serena was so smitten with Mr. Salerno-she wouldn’t be happy married to him. I only wanted to help-“
“Don’t pretend you were doing me a favor!” Serena snapped. “I never said I wanted to run away!”
By now, the truth was obvious to everyone. Rubina had her eye on Serena’s marriage, and she’d done everything she could to sabotage it-hoping to take her place at Rosewood Manor.
The servants exchanged glances, their eyes filled with contempt. Who would have guessed? The sweet, gentle Ms. Rubina Greco, exposed at last.
Even Gabriel stared at his daughter as if seeing her for the very first time.
Rubina felt Gabriel’s icy stare and her heart started to race. “Dad, I…”
“Enough!” Gabriel’s face was thunderous. “Didn’t I already explain what’s at stake here? Thank God Serena didn’t listen to you. If she had actually run off with that man, have you thought about what would have happened to the Greco family?”
Take Serena’s place? Did Rubina really think Mr. Salerno was so easily fooled?
Rubina turned pale under her father’s scolding.
Nora, full of concern for her daughter, quickly pulled Rubina into her arms. “Darling, Rubina’s still sick…”
Gabriel fought to rein in his anger. Seeing Rubina so frail and frightened, his heart softened just a little. “You’d better think long and hard about what you’ve done.”
He turned around and met Serena’s mocking gaze. His expression faltered; for a moment, guilt pricked at him.
That guilt quickly twisted into annoyance. He was her father, for God’s sake. Who was she to look at him like that?
He snapped, “Rubina was wrong, I’ve already scolded her. Don’t be so petty, Serena. You don’t have to keep holding it against your sister!”
If this had been the past, those words would have cut Serena to the bone.
But now, there was no hope left in her heart for this father. All she felt was cold amusement.
“Scolded her?” Serena’s smile was razor sharp. “You mean you told her to think about what she’d done? That’s it?”
Gabriel’s face darkened. “What, now you want to tell me how to handle my own family?”
“As if I’d dare,” Serena sneered. “After all, Rubina’s your little darling. You’d never punish her, and I know it.”
She paused, her eyes glinting. “But tell me, do you think Mr. Salerno won’t find out about this? Let’s hope that when he does-and when the Greco family has to pay the price-you still feel so protective of her.”
All the color drained from Gabriel’s face.
The thought of Mr. Salerno’s anger, and what it would mean for the Grecos, made him look at Rubina again-this time with none of the tenderness he’d shown before. Only a cold, looming dread remained.
Rubina clenched her fists, panic rising in her throat. She hadn’t expected Serena’s few words to turn Gabriel so completely against her.