My Second Marriage with the Mafia Kingpin

Thanks to Ashley’s packed lunch and bento snacks, Primo gained friends—if that was what this relationship could be called. After all, those two kids just wouldn’t leave him alone after eating their fill of his snacks and lunch.

But the thought of a "mother" lingered in Primo’s mind.

"Primo!"

Primo paused near the pick-up area at the call. He looked up and saw Ashley waving widely at him, one hand gripping a bike.

"Primo, is that your mommy?"

Out of nowhere, the girl’s voice echoed from his side.

Primo almost jumped in surprise. When he turned, the two children were still beside him.

The boy stared at Ashley, eyes twinkling, cheeks slightly pink. "She’s so pretty. I want to marry her."

Primo frowned, and it deepened when the girl added,

"If you marry Primprim’s mom, you’ll be his dad."

The boy gasped in horror and looked at Primo. Seeing the look on Primo’s face, he quickly covered his mouth. He didn’t mean it, but Primo’s eyes already warned him not to even think about calling him son.

Primo huffed and jogged toward Ashley.

Behind him, the two children waved happily.

"Primprim, see you tomorrow!" the girl grinned. "Let’s have a picnic again!"

"Bye-bye, Primo!" the boy added. "His mommy looks so young."

The girl nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe she’s not his mommy. Maybe she’s his big sister. I want a big sister as pretty as her too!"

As they spoke, a strange, cold aura crept over them.

They turned and saw their classmate—the one who had told them to welcome the new student.

"Sammy!" the girl called sweetly. "Where did you go? You were right! Primo is nice! I’m so glad you told us to say hi!"

The boy chimed in, "He’s kinda cool too! I want to be friends with him!"

Sammy frowned deeply at the childish duo, clearly unimpressed.

"What do you mean, friends with him?" Sammy clicked his tongue. "He’s one of those."

"Huh?"

"People like that tend to leech off others. If I were you, I’d be very careful—hmph!" Sammy huffed and walked away, just as his nanny approached to carry his things to the car.

The two kids tilted their heads.

"Sometimes I don’t understand Sammy," the boy pouted. "Does he have a period?"

The girl blinked. "A period?"

"Whenever my mommy is grumpy, my daddy says it’s because she’s on her period," the boy explained.

The girl nodded in understanding.

They glanced at Sammy again... and nodded.

Ah. He must be on his period.

*****

Meanwhile, Ashley waited excitedly for Primo. When he reached her, she leaned down toward him.

"Primo, were those your friends?" she asked eagerly. "Did you make friends? On your first day? I mean—how was it?"

Primo looked up at her, studying the excitement in her eyes. Just as expected, she was more thrilled about the idea of friends than he was.

He sighed and walked toward the bike, glancing at it. His brows furrowed as he tried to figure out where he was supposed to sit. It didn’t look like his bike. It was too big.

"Hehe. Right. Give me your things," Ashley said quickly, kicking the stand. She helped him take off his bag and tossed it into the basket in front of the handle, then tapped the cushion at the back.

"Here’s where you sit," she beamed.

Confusion flickered across Primo’s face as he looked between the seat and Ashley’s excited expression. It wasn’t that he had a problem with it, but from what he knew, he should be the one riding a bike when possible.

He didn’t have time to think it through. Ashley had already helped him onto the back and started pedaling.

His small hands clutched her waist as cars passed by them on the roadside.

"Primo, did you make friends today?" she asked while pedaling.

Primo lowered his head slightly and nodded.

"I see," she smiled in satisfaction. "Did you share your lunch with them?"

Again, he nodded. Then he signed,

[They liked it.]

Ashley’s smile widened when she caught it through the rearview mirror. "Then I’m really glad."

She had never had a reason to thank the Di Carpios for neglecting her and working her to the bone. But today, she was grateful for the things she learned to survive—like cooking for herself—because now she could use them for someone else.

Even if it was something as simple as this.

"Should I make it again tomorrow?" she asked, picking up her pace. "How should I do it next time? Should I make bigger portions? Maybe I should start making Lu’s lunch too? The big boss works so much, he always eats late."

The only time Lucian ate on time was when he was home.

As she kept talking, Primo slowly lifted his head, watching her with quiet curiosity.

*****

Later that evening, Primo tried to ignore the thoughts in his mind, but they never left.

So when he saw an opportunity, he quietly went downstairs while Ashley was in the shower.

"What is it?" Lucian, seated on the couch, looked at the boy in front of him.

Hesitation was clear on Primo’s face as he glanced around. When he finally gathered the courage, he lifted his drawing pad.

[Is she my mom?]

Lines formed on Lucian’s face as he read the question.

Primo looked at what he wrote, then shook his head and crossed it out, quickly writing again.

[Can I call her Mom?]

Silence filled the room until it was piercing. The father and son stared at each other, as if neither had ever expected this conversation.

Lucian parted his lips, but no words came out.

Ashley would easily call herself Lucian’s wife, even if Lucian wouldn’t say it outright. But she had never claimed Primo’s mom, nor encouraged him to call her "Mom."

Just as Lucian was about to speak, Ashley’s voice cut in.

"Lu, is Primo in there—"

Both of them turned toward the stairs. Meanwhile, Ashley froze mid-step, a towel wrapped around her hair.

"There you are! Haha!" she laughed, walking toward them. "Let’s watch a movie!"

Her brows lifted when she noticed them staring at her.

"What is it? Is something wrong?"

"Nothing," Lucian said, snapping out of his thoughts.

"You guys sure?" she asked.

They both nodded.

Ashley studied them for a moment before shrugging and plopping onto the couch beside Lucian. She gestured for Primo to join, but instead of sitting in the middle, Primo took the far side, leaving her between them.

That wasn’t a problem... not yet.

But as the movie played, Ashley couldn’t focus.

Because instead of watching the movie, Primo and Lucian were both watching her.

She leaned back, glancing left... then right. It made her gulp because the way they stared at her felt like they needed a confession.

"I swear," she confessed nervously, "I swear to the heavens that giving Gustav early-onset hypertension is not my main goal."

She cleared her throat when they kept staring.

"It’s... a side quest."