The Mafia CEO'S Substitute Bride

he evening breeze tugged at her dress, a satin gown that clung to her like a suffocating second skin, its deep blue shimmering in the dim light. She shifted uneasily, her hands clenching t

spers of his cruelty, the stories that painted him as a ruthless mafia boss with no heart and no mercy. Vanessa had sobbed, panicked, and despe

in had run off that very afternoon, leaving behind nothing but a cryptic note and a trail of expensive perf

sharp as the glint in his eye. He wasn't a kind man, never had been, and she h

her aunt watched silently from the window, expression blank. No one wou

The driver, a tall man with dark eyes and a grim expression, opened the door for her. She hes

r of the limousine was luxurious, every surface gleaming with wealth, but the opulence only deepened the pit in her

ned around the bouquet, her thoughts racing. What would Dante think when he saw her? Would he be angry, knowing that his brid

nded in her chest, the anxiety building with every passing second. She couldn't imagine what

mansion beyond was just as imposing as the stories had suggested-an architectural marvel of stone and glass, cold and un

herself before the doors swung op

ing-locked onto hers with a cold intensity that made her breath hitch. He didn't move at first, his express

rd, he turned and

inside like some obedient pet? She hesitated, glancing at the driver, who gave her a barely percep

, almost too cold, and Bella felt a shiver run down her spine as she followed Dante through the hallways. He said nothing, his back rigi

kshelves and a large desk dominating the center of the room. Dante moved behind the d

it

s she lowered herself into the chair, clutching the bouquet in her lap like a lifeline. She

he room. Bella's mind raced with a thousand questions, but she couldn't find the cour

ow why you

d dangerous. Bella swallowed

it," she managed, her voi

ough it didn't reach his eyes. "Yes, I'm aware of your uncle's part i

didn't," she said quietly.

e's expression had darkened, his eyes narrowing slightly. He

, here y

nted this, but that didn't change the fact that she was no

oice," she whispere

in our world has a choice," he said quietly. "But we a

la tensed as he approached, her heart pounding in her chest. He reached out,

. "This marriage will go ahead as planned. But understand this, Bella-I

There was no escape from this. She was trapped, tied to a

twisted part of her wasn't su