My Second Marriage with the Mafia Kingpin

[Present Time]

Since then, Ashley and that boy had been together for a short time. The boy was good at stealing and pickpocketing, but she didn’t want that.

In the Di Carpio household, Ashley had learned quickly what consequences meant.

So, stealing and things like that, she knew they would only get them by for a moment. But if they were caught, she was damn sure it wouldn’t end well for either of them. Thus, they ended up begging on the streets, doing side gigs in parking lots, and even cleaning shoes for pennies.

They would do anything for a cent, even hanging out with other homeless kids to widen their network.

However, as she said, it was only for a short time. Scott eventually found her and dragged her away. It happened so fast that she didn’t even get to say goodbye to the boy she had been living with under the bridge.

That was the last time she saw him.

"Hahaha! It’s been a while! Who would’ve thought?!"

Ashley sat across from the silver-haired man in a cafe inside the airport. He laughed gleefully, talking nonstop.

That’s him?

Ashley blinked, studying the man. Her face twisted slightly.

From what I remember, he rarely spoke. Actually... I don’t think he ever spoke to me. His muteness worked when we begged on the streets, though.

But now, this guy was talking nonstop. It was hard to believe that the boy in her memories was the same man sitting before her. Her gaze drifted to the tattoos on his skin, and her lips pressed into a thin line.

Slowly, Ashley lowered her gaze, thinking of her past regrets. It wasn’t like she had forgotten about him. If anything, she had tried looking for him when she was able, but couldn’t find him. Then life kept happening, leaving her no time to spare.

She didn’t even know if he had survived... or if he had died somewhere along the way.

"It’s so good to see you, Boo." Suddenly, the man exhaled sharply.

He cupped his cheek, looking straight at her. His eyes softened slightly, though his lips remained curled into a smile.

"I... missed you a lot," he added, his voice lowering with seriousness. "Did you?"

Ashley drew a deep breath as she leaned back, crossing her arms under her chest while staring at him. His eyes carried the same color she remembered. Yet, for some reason, she felt nothing from this reunion.

A part of her wanted to feel relief—that he was alive, that he had survived. But another part of her knew that feeling was shallow, considering he had ended up in an organization like the White Serpent Brotherhood.

"Are you... really him?" she asked quietly, his jolly expression not changing. "If you are, then tell me something only you and I would know."

The man’s smile widened. "Hmm... that’s hard, since we barely talked back then. Remember? I didn’t talk much."

"..." Ashley bit her inner lip. That was true.

"But... does the birthmark on the back of your shoulder count?" he tilted his head. "Or the time we were almost abducted by that white van? Turns out they weren’t abductors, but they were from social services. Or that time..."

Ashley remained silent, watching him list things from their past; moments she herself had nearly forgotten, only now resurfacing as he spoke.

"It’s... it’s really you, huh?" she whispered, her tense shoulders relaxing. A soft smile appeared on her lips, now convinced.

That boy...

The one who had always lingered at the back of her mind. The one she had silently prayed for—that he was still alive, that he had survived this harsh world. And even though it felt far-fetched, she had always hoped that at least one of them had managed to turn their life around... just as they once promised.

The man smiled faintly. "Unfortunately," he said, "I didn’t turn my life around. Not in the way we promised."

And that sealed it.

That completely convinced her that the man sitting across from her was the same boy from her past.

He rested his arms on the edge of the table, folding them, his eyes fixed on her. He looked at her intensely, as if memorizing every detail of her face. His cheerful front softened, as if memories of the past had warmed him.

"It’s been a long time, Boo," he murmured, tilting his head slightly. "I’m just glad I got lucky enough to see you before I leave this territory."

Her lips parted, but she paused, unsure what to say. Then, finally...

"Ashley," she said. "That’s my name."

"I know," he chuckled, lifting his arm to show her his tattoo. "Do you recognize this symbol?"

"Who wouldn’t?"

His lips curled into a satisfied smirk. "Why do you think a member of the White Serpent is walking around Dominion’s territory?"

Deep lines formed between her brows. "What do you mean?"

"Boo, you might’ve forgotten about me, but you never left my mind. Not even for a second," he said, folding his arms again. "When you disappeared, I asked the other kids around. Thankfully, one of them saw what happened and told me some men took you. The kid remembered the symbols they had, and years later, I realized they belonged to the Di Carpios."

He smacked his lips. "But even after finding that out, I had just joined the White Serpent. I was still at the bottom. I told myself... if I wanted to take you away from the Di Carpios, I needed the power to do it."

"Unfortunately, just when I got close... you were suddenly married off," he sighed, his eyes never leaving her. A defeated chuckle escaped him as he cupped his cheek, his eyelids drooping.

"So, back to my question—why do you think a member of the White Serpent is in this territory?" he shrugged lightly. "That’s your answer."

He drew a breath.

"To be honest, foolish as it may be, I didn’t think beyond wanting to see you. Just to make sure you were okay. I just..." He trailed off, exhaling slowly.

"...I really wanted to see you, Boo. I guess heaven’s on my side today, giving me this opportunity."