Mafia bride

softly through the curtains, casting a lovely glow over the breakfast table, and the aroma of strong coffee lingered in the air. She had spent the last few hours preparing for the day, wri

ability to see through her. Marco moved a step closer, invading her personal space. I do not believe you comprehend the gravity of the situation. Your home, your family, they are all at jeopardy. "And we both understand why." Vivienne's throat clenched, but she wouldn't let him see her falter. "You are wasting time. I don't need your help." Marco gave a grim laugh. Help? I am not offering you assistance, Vivienne. I'm here to remind you of the contract you struck. Your family's security is still dependent on your decisions, and those decisions have consequences." His gaze was fixed on hers, and Vivienne felt the weight of everything-her past, her choices, and her broken dreams-crawl down on her. I'm not asking for your help," she said again, this time with more conviction. If you've come here to threaten me, then feel free to leave. Marco halted and studied her for a long, anxious minute. Then, without saying anything, he turned and walked back to his car, his strides heavy and deliberate. Vivienne remained at the doorway, watching him depart. She could feel her heart thumping in her chest and her pulse resonating in her ears. The weight of what he had said, the threat he had issued, hung in the air like poison, smothering her. An Unexpected Encounter. Later that day, Vivienne found herself in the nearby park, trying to clear her mind. She thought the fresh air would help relieve the tight knot in her gut, but nothing seemed to work. Marco's visit had left her more disturbed than she wanted to admit. He was right: she was running out of time. And the prospect of losing her home, her family's legacy, left her feeling helpless. She took a deep breath and walked carefully down the road, attempting to ignore the frantic flutter in her chest. But as she turned a corner, she froze. A man she never expected to see again sat on a bench under a magnificent oak tree. Alessandro. His presence overshadowed everything she had struggled to hide. He sat nonchalantly, wearing a black leather jacket and dark jeans, his eyes masked behind a pair of sunglasses. Even from a distance, she could feel the intensity of his gaze and how he appeared to draw everything around him into his circle. He was the same Alessandro she had known, just as magnetic and threatening. Her heart raced in her chest as she took a timid step forward, unsure of what to do or say. A part of her wished to turn and run. The other part, the one that had never completely let go of him, wished to run to his side and resume where th