My Second Marriage with the Mafia Kingpin

"I want to go."

The entire dining room stilled, confusion slowly etching onto everyone’s faces. Then, as if automatically, the maids slid their eyes toward one another and exchanged looks.

What did Ashley mean by that?

Did she really get tired of escaping that she was now asking Lucian nicely?

Had she not given up?

Primo tilted his head, looking at Ashley across from him. Unlike the anxiety-stricken servants, he was clueless about Ashley’s intentions at the moment.

As for Lucian, he faced his wife and knitted his brows ever so slightly.

"You want to go?" he repeated, confused. "Where?"

"With Primo," Ashley answered without a second’s hesitation. "Oh, not just me. You and me."

Again, the entire room went still. This time, however, Primo’s cluelessness shifted into confusion like everyone else’s.

She wanted to go... with me?

Ashley huffed and glanced at Primo. "Primo is still young, and I don’t feel comfortable sending him away all by himself."

Then, she faced Lucian again. Her expression was stern, looking him straight in the eye.

"Let’s move in with him," she suggested, only to hear Nolan blurt under his breath.

"Move into the dorm with him?"

She frowned. "Nolan, the dorm is not like a hotel."

Nolan pursed his lips and lowered his head. "Apologies for interrupting your conversation."

"It’s alright," she waved dismissively, eyeing Lucian. "What I’m saying is, instead of letting him stay in the dorm, why don’t we move near the school? If a normal life outside Dominion is what we want to give him, isn’t it better that we’re close to him?"

Lucian tilted his head to the side while Primo just stared at her with slight surprise.

"In any case, Primo can still go to school, but come home to us," she added in a knowing tone. "That way, he can truly experience life outside of Dominion."

Ashley turned to Primo, facing him. "That’s just my suggestion, but it’s still up to you if you want us to move with you."

As she said those words, her eyes shone, clearly screaming,

Say yes, say yes! So there are two of us who can convince this guy!

For a moment, there was nothing but silence in the dining room. Everyone stared at Ashley’s figure, conflict swirling in their eyes. But then, they discreetly shifted their attention to Lucian, hoping he would agree.

They all understood that Primo would be fine on his own. The young master was a mature kid, and he was very smart. However, it also pained and worried them that he would be tossed into the outside world all by himself.

Well, he would have bodyguards working undercover to protect him, but it was still different.

Nolan smiled subtly at Ashley before snapping his gaze to Lucian.

Primo, on the other hand, felt his heart thud against his little chest. His cheeks warmed, his eyes fixed on Ashley.

Did he want Ashley to move in with him?

The answer was already too obvious.

Primo nodded slightly, watching how her lips stretched from ear to ear in a grin. Then, he and Ashley turned their heads toward the head seat where Lucian sat.

Lucian raised his brows, catching Ashley and Primo’s expectant, twinkling eyes. When he glanced at the servants around the dining room, all of them were... looking at him with pleading eyes. Even Nolan’s eyes were twinkling, quietly urging him to agree.

Getting attacked from all sides is something I thought I got used to, he thought, scanning everyone’s faces until his attention landed on his wife and son.

I’ve never felt so outnumbered.

A shallow breath escaped Lucian before the corners of his mouth curled into a subtle, amused smile. Not long ago, his command was absolute in this place. They wouldn’t even look at him so directly—they wouldn’t dare.

But now, it was clear his wife had managed to earn far more support than him in this household. With hers and Primo’s combined, it only showed that Lucian was the least favorite member of this family.

"I’ll think about—"

Before he could finish, Ashley suddenly swatted his hand and grabbed it.

She widened her eyes, her voice low—like one possessed by a hundred vengeful spirits—as she said, "Decide now."

And yet, despite her actions, everyone’s faces simply twinkled. Even Nolan was giving him those unpleasant puppy eyes that didn’t suit him.

Lucian cleared his throat and lightly pinched her hand with his thumb.

"Okay." He paused, studying her expression, then glanced at Primo. "Anything else?"

Hearing that directly from him, Ashley and Primo’s faces slowly brightened with excitement. The duo whipped their heads toward each other, their smiles stretching into wide grins.

Everyone else heaved a sigh of relief, smiling happily at the pair at the table. Nolan nodded in satisfaction, pleased with Ashley and Primo’s victory.

Meanwhile, Lucian could only shake his head as he watched everyone smile so victoriously as if they had won a war, not just a battle. Quite a big reaction to something so simple.

However, that was the point of all of it.

Experience the simplest things in life. Experience the normal, menial things.

Even if it were as simple as this.

*****

Ashley tucked Primo in, smiling from ear to ear as she cupped her cheeks, her elbows resting on the edge of the bed, sprawled comfortably with her feet up. Primo was already lying down, ready to sleep.

"Primo, are you excited?" she asked happily.

Primo pressed his lips. If he were being honest, he wasn’t—at least, not until this dinner. He nodded.

"Me too!" she intoned, giggling. "Don’t worry about anything, okay? We’ve got everything under control."

Again, he nodded.

"Now, off to sleep," she said, reaching out to ruffle his hair. "Want me to read you a bedtime story?"

I’m a little... old for that, was what he wanted to say, but before he realized it, he had already nodded.

"Okay!"

With that, Ashley jumped out of bed and rushed to get a children’s book he hadn’t touched in years. Then, as if the bed were hers, she squeezed beside him and tucked herself under the blanket.

She leaned against the headboard and glanced at him with a smile. Primo pursed his lips, shrinking slightly as if to hide half his face, until she began reading him a story he had already heard countless times. Nolan used to read to him, after all.

And yet, even though he knew the story by heart, he still listened as if it were the first time. Her voice—even when she stumbled over some words—was soothing, gently lulling him to sleep.

At the same time, Lucian peeked through the door and caught Ashley reading Primo a bedtime story. His eyes softened at the sight, his heart full and tender. He could watch this scene all night.

Lucian lingered for a moment before closing the door reluctantly. Then, he turned to Gustav, who was waiting for his orders.

"Find us a place near Primo’s school," he ordered quietly but with finality. "Dominion is moving."