Page 30 of Dark Mafia Bride

I notice the shocked expressions on my staff’s faces, despite their efforts to conceal it.

“C-congratulations, sir.” Paula, the head maid, manages a small smile.

“Who gave you permission to speak?” Zia Camilla snaps.

“A-Apologies ma’am,” Paula stammers, fidgeting with her hands and casting her eyes to the floor.

I glance over at Zia Camilla. She sits primly with her hands folded in her lap, dressed in luxurious silk pajamas. It’s just minutes before her bedtime—I know because she adheres to a strict routine—yet she wears pearls around her neck and matching earrings dangling from her lobes.

My gaze sweeps across the rest of the family scattered on the sofa beside her. Vittorio slouches on a single couch, casually flipping through a random magazine. Aunt Francesca and Aunt Marta huddle together as usual. With only a year between them, they could easily be mistaken for twins given how they always stick together. As a child, I actually thought they were twins until my father pointed out that Aunt Marta is a year older than Aunt Francesca.

Leonardo, Antonio, and Bianca sit on another sofa to my left. I’m surprised not to see Bianca’s phone anywhere in sight. However, her boredom is clear as she flicks her dark hair behind her shoulder and stifles a yawn.

“I expect this household to be ready to welcome her when she arrives,” I continue, directing a pointed look at my aunts. “That includes ensuring the wedding preparations are in order.”

“Wedding preparations?” Aunt Francesca frowns. “Isn’t she supposed to be introduced to the family first?”

“The wedding is in three days.”

Murmurs ripple through the room. Zia Camilla sits up even straighter, if that’s possible, fixing me with a sharp look.

“Three days?” Aunt Marta asks, incredulously.

I raise an eyebrow. “Did I stutter?”

“Of course not. But isn’t that a bit too soon?”

“You can plan a stellar wedding in three days. Or is that too much for you to handle?”

“Of course not.” She looks almost insulted by my question. Her lips curl into a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “It will be the wedding of the year. Everything will be perfect.”

“That’s what I want to hear.”

I turn to the staff. “You will double your efforts around the house. Everything has to be flawless to welcome my bride. I want no mistakes.”

Murmurs of “Yes, sir,” echo around the room.

I inhale before slipping my hands in my pockets. “You are dismissed.”

As the staff rushes out of the room, I turn to face my family. I know the conversation isn’t over yet, and out of courtesy, I’m giving them one last chance to express their opinions, no matter how annoying they might be, before Mirabella arrives.

“What’s with the rush, Ettore?” Zia Camilla asks, feigning concern. Something glimmers in her eyes as she adds, “Did you get her pregnant? Is that why this marriage discussion suddenly came out of nowhere?”

At the tightening of my jaw, she hastily explains, “It’s just that you’ve always been so against marriage in the past…”

“You mean when you tried to set me up with the women you handpicked for me to marry?” I reply.

“I was only trying to help.” She glances at her sisters before continuing, “We all were. But once we realized you didn’t want to get married, we backed off. So now this...I can only assume something serious prompted you to make this decision.”

“And you jumped to the conclusion of pregnancy?” Leonardo chuckles. “What if our dear cousin fell in love?”

That earns a laugh from my brother and the rest of my cousins, but Zia Camilla doesn’t find it amusing. Her eyes narrow as she snaps, “It wouldn’t be the first time someone got pregnant out of wedlock in this family, would it? At least Ettore is being honorable about it, unlike your father…”

Leonardo’s smile disappears just as Aunt Marta sits up straight.

“Why would you say that to my son’s face?” she demands.

Zia Camilla chuckles, undeterred by Aunt Marta’s anger. “Because it’s the truth. You should be grateful our brother didn’t throw you out into the streets after your attempt to tarnish our family’s name…”

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