Page 63 of Dark Mafia Bride

“Don’t talk like that,” Ettore interrupts sharply.

I meet his gaze, and the anger etched on his face is almost amusing, yet it surprises me. “Why do you care?” I ask, pushing back against the weight of his concern.

“Because you deserve better than this,” he replies fiercely. “You deserve to be treated with respect, not like some mistake.”

I feign a laugh. “You don’t need to be mad on my behalf. I’m fine. His leaving made me stronger. I’ve always had to fight for what I have. Maybe that’s why I don’t think I deserve to get things easily…”

“You have a wonderful family. Do you know how much I wish I had a close-knit family like yours?” He says, his voice tinged with unexpected emotion.

“Yeah, I may live with my family, but there’s no real love in that house. Everything revolves around money, fame, wealth, status. My aunts have hated my mother for as long as I can remember. Even now, years after her death, they always find a way to bring her up in conversations…”

“Ettore, I’m…” I choke, struggling to find the words.

“There’s so much competition, gossip, and backstabbing. The only person I can trust in that house is my younger brother,” he breathes out heavily. “You have something rare. You have genuine love and affection. You have people you can count on when things get tough. So don’t ever say you don’t deserve to be loved again. You have love in abundance already.”

I swallow hard, unsure how to respond. A mix of emotions swirls in my throat as he squeezes my hand affectionately, then turns to face forward.

The rest of the drive is quiet, and by the time we reach the hotel, the tension between us feels thicker. We step into the elevator, and the silence stretches uncomfortably.

Once we’re in our hotel room, Ettore breaks the silence. “Why did you leave that morning? Why did you run?”

His question hangs in the air like a heavy weight, and I feel my throat tighten.

“I didn’t run,” I reply, my voice stiff. “What we had was a one-night stand. It was supposed to end that way.”

He laughs bitterly, and the sound grates on my insides.

“You’re lying,” he accuses, stepping closer, his eyes locked onto mine.

“I’m lying?” I scoff, crossing my arms defensively. “Why would I lie? Do all the one-night stands you have stay back and cuddle in the morning? I have a life. That night was supposed to be my escape, and after that, I had to go back to reality!”

“Again, that’s not the reason you left, Bella.”

“Then what the fuck do you want to hear?” I say, my voice louder than I intended.

“The truth,” he insists, his eyes blazing as he closes the gap between us. “I want you to tell me the truth, Bella.”

He studies me intently, and I can feel the heat creeping up my cheeks under his gaze.

I exhale slowly. “I left because…I didn’t think I was good enough for you. It felt amazing, but I wasn’t sure if I did anything you liked. It was my first time, okay? I was terrified of what your reaction would be the next morning. I didn’t know if you’d want to see me again or if you’d just brush me off like some cheap fling…”

“Fucking hell, Bella,” he murmurs, his hand finding my waist and pulling me closer.

My breath hitches as his other hand caresses my face. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you, about that night. You made me feel like a starving man, like a dog craving more.”

His confession hits me hard. He sounds genuine, but a part of me still feels as if something isn’t right.

He watches me closely, his fingers tracing my face while I fight the rush of desire coursing through me.

After what feels like an eternity, he speaks again, his voice low and daring. “You want to learn,” he tells me, not as a question but as a statement. He knows what I want, how to give it to me.

“Tell me, Bella,” he whispers, brushing his finger over my lower lip. “Tell me to teach you.”

20

ETTORE

The look in Mirabella’s eyes as my words wash over her is... priceless. Her pupils dilate, and a soft breath escapes her lips.

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