My Second Marriage with the Mafia Kingpin

Ashley mentally cringed as she thought of how small the world truly was. How could this girl stay in Dominion’s territory even after what happened?! And she just had to cross paths with her?

Damn it... Ashley mentally grumbled. This is what I mean when I say I’m really unlucky.

A deep exhale escaped her as she straightened, glancing at her guards, who were side-eyeing her as if waiting for her reaction.

They look happy, though, she thought. Gosh... these guys really love me so much—just as much as I love them.

She huffed and smiled brightly.

"Guys, take those with you," she said cheerfully, then ran to Isabella, hooking her arm around her beloved sister. "Isabella~ how are you~?"

As if she hadn’t just humiliated her the night before.

Isabella’s frown deepened, her face dark as she glared at Ashley. The latter, however, blinked innocently and kept her smile intact.

As for her bodyguards, they glanced between their smiling madam and the grim Isabella. They weren’t too worried Isabella would do something again, but they couldn’t just leave Ashley alone with that woman. So, they exchanged looks, silently asking who would stay.

"Isabella, are you angry with me?" Ashley frowned deeply. "Please, give me a chance to explain, sister~!"

Now she’s your sister, huh?

The guys scrunched their noses at Ashley’s attitude toward Isabella.

In the end, with Ashley’s insistence, she dragged Isabella to a nearby restaurant to talk.

Ashley led Isabella inside while Red stayed behind to keep watch. Though he took another table, close enough to step in if something went wrong, but far enough not to hear their conversation.

"Ashley, do you know what you did last night!?" Isabella fumed once they were alone. "How could you act like nothing happened, huh?"

Ashley frowned deeply while Isabella went on and on.

My baby boo, please forgive me this time.

"I said I’m sorry," she pouted. "I know it was hard, but you also know Lucian. If I don’t defend myself, he’s going to kill me!"

Isabella stopped and glared at her. "You’re still making excuses?"

"I’m not making excuses—I’m telling the truth!" Ashley intoned innocently. "I know you care about me so much that you’d even sacrifice a limb for me. And I’m really grateful to have a sister like you. So I thought you’d understand, since you cherish me so much... as you said."

Ashley’s frown deepened as she looked at Isabella pitifully. "Don’t tell me you don’t cherish me enough and would rather have me killed? Were you lying when you said to put the past behind us?"

Isabella almost choked, feeling trapped by the idiotic words coming out of Ashley’s mouth.

"If so, then I’m really sorry," Ashley said, lowering her head. "Just cut me off and let me rot as Lucian’s wife. I won’t ask you for help again. Maybe I should just cling to Lucian for survival—"

The rest of her words halted when Isabella suddenly grabbed her arm.

For a split second, a triumphant smirk flickered across Ashley’s face before she lifted her head. The moment she did, tears brimmed in her eyes.

Red, watching from a few tables away, scrunched his nose. "Is she... crying?!"

"Hic!" Ashley hiccuped dramatically. "I understand now, Isabella. You’re probably tired of me too and just want me to stay in Dominion forever. It’s alright. It’s not your fault—hic!"

"It’s not—it’s not like that, alright?" Isabella winced, consoling her through gritted teeth.

When she saw Ashley earlier, it took all her restraint not to confront her immediately. If anything, she wanted to make Ashley feel bad about what happened last night.

However, Isabella didn’t get the chance because Ashley just kept talking and talking.

Just how idiotic is this girl?! Does she really think I cherish her that way?! How could she believe that?!

"I’m just upset about what happened last night—and of course, what Lucian did to Mom," Isabella huffed, forcing herself to "understand" Ashley’s reasoning. "But it’s not like I don’t know you did it for your own survival."

Ashley hiccuped and wiped her eyes. "Really?"

"Of course!" Isabella nodded, forcing a smile. "Lucian is not to be trifled with. He’s punished you many times and keeps putting you through so much."

Ashley nodded profusely. "Especially last night."

"What?"

"Isabella, you don’t know—even after I did that, he was still upset that I wasn’t harsh enough," Ashley added between hiccups. "So he kept teaching me a lesson all night."

She forced another tear out and wiped it away. "And even this morning, he wasn’t done yet. I had to beg for my life."

Isabella furrowed her brows, studying Ashley. Hearing that Ashley was still punished despite everything somehow put her at ease.

I knew it, she thought. Lucian was only acting like that last night to maintain his reputation.

For a moment, Isabella had been worried that Ashley and Lucian’s relationship was improving. The way Lucian looked at Ashley—as if she were the only person in his world—had unsettled her.

Convinced otherwise, Isabella nodded in satisfaction and squeezed Ashley’s arm.

"Don’t worry about it," Isabella cajoled. "If anything, I’m sorry too. You know I didn’t do that on purpose last night, right?"

"Of course! But I couldn’t say that because I have to survive," Ashley nodded, sniffing hard and smiling. "It’s not like you’re heartless, Isabella. Let’s just put all of this behind us, okay? It’s not like I meant it too, so it’s no big deal!"

Just like how Isabella once told Ashley to put all the abuse she endured in the Di Carpios’ household behind her... because it was no big deal.

Isabella felt a lump in her throat but forced a smile. "Of course. It’s not like it’s a big deal."

You bitch, she seethed inwardly. One day, you’re going to get killed—and I’ll make sure of it. But for now...

She calmed herself, thinking of Ashley’s connection to Shyaan.

"By the way, Ashley—you see, Dad is interested in the business—"

"Right, Isabella! Why are you still here?" Ashley cut in before she could finish. "The event was last night, so I thought you’d be flying out today. That’s why I didn’t check on you, and also, I’m not allowed. I only got permission to go out today to run errands and send off Madam Shyaan."

"Ahh. Well, I was about to visit you so we could clear things up," Isabella explained. "But on my way, my tire exploded."

"..."

You mean, someone shot it?

Ashley maintained her smile, not expecting the guards at the gate to actually follow her instructions.

"So I had to get it fixed first. Anyway, that’s not important—"

"What did the mechanic tell you?" Ashley interrupted again.

And so, every time Isabella tried to bring up the business, Ashley cut her off and changed the subject. She kept doing it until Red finally got tired of pretending not to notice her signals and approached them to leave.

Once alone, Isabella clicked her tongue and scoffed.

"That idiot," she muttered. "She’s lucky Lucian is her husband. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have indulged her."

She let out another sharp breath and was about to stand when a server approached, placing several dishes on the table.

"Huh?" She paused, looking at the food, then at the server. "What’s this?"

"Your order, Miss."

"My order...?"

"The woman you were with earlier placed it," the server smiled.

Isabella’s face twitched as she stared at the feast Ashley had ordered... for her to pay.

"That... idiot!"

Meanwhile, Ashley skipped her steps back to the parking space with a big, satisfied smile on her face.