Page 55 of Dark Mafia Bride

She huffs in irritation but knows better than to press further. I glance across the garden and find Mirabella’s gaze meeting mine, a quiet intensity between us that feels like a tether, pulling us together even with the distance between us. I feel it.

Vittorio stands before her, saying something that makes him laugh, but her attention is unwavering, fixed on me.

There’s something powerful there—real, undeniable. It pulses with a vividness that cuts through every barrier I’ve tried to build. I know better than to hope for too much tonight. She made her intentions clear, insisting on separate rooms.

And yet, every time she’s near, I want her. It’s a desire I can’t shake, one that’s only grown with every passing glance, every accidental touch.

My legs move almost on their own, carrying me toward the dance floor with a single, relentless goal—to hold her, to dance with her until the night fades away. But with each step closer, the words haunt me, slipping through my mind like a shadow.No matter how perfect this feels, how close I am to the life I want, Abruzzi is right. I’m a monster. I can’t escape what I am.

And yet, as I approach her, I wonder if—for this one night—I can pretend otherwise.

And maybe Abruzzi wasn’t right about one thing—a man like me doesn’t deserve something pure, something...real—from a woman like Mirabella.

17

MIRABELLA

It’s been exactly ten hours, thirty minutes, and twenty-seven seconds since Ettore and I were declared husband and wife in front of a crowd of family and friends.

Ten hours of pretending to be madly in love. Way too much time spent smiling and laughing, all because I know cameras are watching and people are ready to scrutinize every move I make.

Ten hours of being a Greco.

Thankfully, the party is starting to wind down. Most guests have already gone home, and those who remain are too buzzed or caught up in their own conversations to pay me any mind. After dancing with me for a bit, Ettore disappeared into the crowd, leaving me to navigate this sea of people alone.

This is the first moment I’ve had to breathe since this whole spectacle began. My eyes scan the expansive garden, searching for my family. I slip away from a small group of guests, feeling a twinge of anxiety as I look for familiar faces. The laughter around me fades into the background, and when I don’t see Nonna, Mamma, or Giulia, I pull out my phone and send a quick message to Nonna.

“Where are you guys?”

It takes just a few seconds before her reply pings back.

“I was looking for you, too. Meet me by the fountain outside the garden.”

I wind through a group of women in glittering dresses, flashing them a smile as they turn to watch me pass. The night air feels chillier as I make my way toward the fountain. When I get close, I spot Nonna standing there, arms folded across her chest, her expression filled with relief.

Her face softens at the sight of me, and I release a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding as I close the gap between us. I’ve never been so grateful to see her.

“Mirabella,figlia mia,” she murmurs, pulling me into a warm embrace. The familiar scent of her lavender perfume instantly soothes my nerves.

“I’ve missed you,” I whisper, feeling the weight of everything settle as I lean into her. It’s only been a few hours, but the thought of spending the next year apart from her makes my heart ache.

I’ve always been very close to Nonna, even before my mom got sick. After my father left us when Giulia was born, my grandmother stepped in and has taken care of us ever since.

We pull away, and she looks at me, her eyes swirling with emotions.

“I’m sorry, Mira, for how I spoke to you earlier. It sounded extremely ungrateful, and I regret it,” she begins, her voice low. “I know the sacrifices you’ve made so that your mother can afford her treatment, we have food on the table, and Giulia can go to high school like other kids.”

My heart softens at her apology.

“It’s okay, Nonna. I expected you to react that way. I would be upset too if, in the near future, Giulia told me she was marrying a stranger just for money,” I reply, trying to lighten the mood.

Nonna smiles, taking my hand and brushing her thumb over my knuckles. “You mentioned earlier that your husband promised to help us. Well, you were right. Ettore…he’s already done so much for us in just a few hours of your marriage,” she says, her tone cautious but hopeful. “New things have been delivered to the house. He even offered to move us to a better apartment, but I turned him down. You know I have an unhealthy attachment to that place.” She chuckles, and I can’t help but smile, too.

“Also, he’s arranged a car and a driver for Giulia’s school, and Isabella is starting her treatment at a private hospital tomorrow. She’ll receive the intensive care she needs.”

The news takes me by surprise. I knew Ettore said he would help us, but I didn’t realize he would act so quickly.

“He didn’t tell me,” I murmur, feeling a mix of gratitude and disbelief.

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