My Second Marriage with the Mafia Kingpin

"Hello, I’m Emma... Primo’s mom."

For a moment, Ashley’s brain tried to process the words and the presence before her. Her eyes darted to the woman’s beautiful, delicate face, her soft curly hair, her light dress, and then down to her heels.

How... glamorous, she thought, before snapping her eyes back to the woman’s face. But why is she here?

Ashley forced a smile, catching the guys across the street craning their necks curiously.

"Come — come in," she cleared her throat, opening the low gate for the woman.

Emma smiled as she walked in, pausing on the short pathway to the doorstep as she looked up at the small house. A brief flicker of conflict crossed her eyes, which she quickly kept to herself.

"Ah, sorry — I didn’t know anyone was coming today," Ashley said, rushing to open the front door and let the woman in.

Emma maintained her smile, nodding. But with every step she took, her eyes swept over every corner of the humble home.

It was smaller than she had imagined. Or at least, smaller than anywhere she had been in a long time.

As she took it all in, she couldn’t help but ask, "This is where my son lives? What is Luka thinking?"

"Huh?" Ashley, who had been trying to hide the mess she’d made in the middle of whatever she was doing, paused. "Ah, yeah. Sorry, it’s a little messy — just take a seat. I’ll be right back!"

Emma’s brows rose as she watched Ashley sprint away, and she tilted her head to the side.

As for Ashley, she rushed into the bathroom and pulled out her phone.

"What the hell?" she gasped, peeking out the door before shutting it again. Her face scrunched. "Didn’t Lucian say she was staying at a hotel in the city? He knows I don’t know how to receive guests. What is he thinking, sending that woman here—"

She nearly bit her tongue, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"This is not the time to get worked up," she told herself, shaking her head and breathing until she felt calmer. She clutched her phone tightly, staring at her message thread with Lucian.

But instead of calling him, she let the idea go and walked to the sink.

Ashley splashed cold water on her face until the flush faded. When she looked at herself in the mirror, she gave herself a firm nod.

"That is still Primo’s mom," she said quietly. "Be nice, Ashley. Be nice."

She pointed at her reflection as a final warning, mouthed be nice one last time, and headed back to the living room.

Thanks to Nolan, there were snacks and freshly reheated tea already set out — Ashley only needed to bring them over. Mimicking everything she had learned so far, she welcomed Emma as warmly as she could, even if it came out a little stiff.

"Am I early?" Emma wondered, glancing down at her wristwatch. "I thought Primo would be home by now."

"Ah." Ashley tilted her head. "He should be here in about ten minutes... or so."

Emma was indeed early, if Primo’s dismissal time was anything to go by.

"That’s alright," Emma said, flashing Ashley a bright smile. Then her eyes settled on Ashley with quiet curiosity.

That look made Ashley furrow her brows just before Emma spoke.

"What are you still doing here?" Emma asked, a little awkwardly. "It’s alright. You don’t have to stay and keep me company. I’ll just wait for Primo and Luka."

She chuckled and reached over to pat Ashley’s hand lightly. "Don’t worry. I won’t tell your boss you were doing that instead of cleaning."

And with that, it finally dawned on Ashley: Emma had no idea who she was.

"Luka can be very strict, so just make sure you don’t leave any evidence," Emma chuckled, perking up at the sound of a honk outside. "Oh, I think they’re here!"

She jumped up from the couch and hurried to the window, sliding it open. With the fence being low, she easily spotted the car outside and Lucian stepping out.

Emma’s smile stretched wide, her face lighting up, eyes twinkling.

Meanwhile, Ashley stood a few steps behind her, watching the warmth bloom across that beautiful face.

"Primo! Luka!" Emma called out excitedly, rushing to the door even in her heels to meet Lucian, Primo, and Nolan at the gate.

Ashley followed, then stopped short as Emma flung herself at Lucian.

"Luka!" Emma exclaimed, wrapping her arms around him so tightly that anyone watching could feel the breathlessness of it.

Nolan’s brows furrowed as he studied the woman who had come from the house and was now clinging to Lucian. That was certainly not the madam.

Lucian, for his part, frowned instantly. He looked down at her coldly, raised his hands, and gripped her shoulders, peeling her away from him. Disgust was clear in his eyes, but for Primo’s sake...

"Ah," Emma flinched slightly and let go, stepping back.

When she finally looked up at his face, she bit her lip. "Sorry. I was just so happy to see you again," she said softly before her gaze dropped to the boy standing beside Lucian.

Her smile crumpled into something far more complicated. Her eyes reddened, a lump rising in her throat at the sight of him.

"Primo," she reached out, but Primo instinctively stepped back and tucked himself behind Lucian.

"Master," Nolan called quietly, puzzled. He had never seen this woman before. Even so, with his many decades of experience, he had a suspicion.

But before he could say anything, Lucian shot him a sidelong glance. Nolan understood immediately, lowering his head.

"I’ll be right next door if you need anything," Nolan said, stepping back and making his way to the house next door.

Once he was gone, Lucian looked between Emma and Primo.

"Let’s go inside first," he said. Emma nodded, while Primo tightened his grip on Lucian’s leg.

They made their way inside, only for Lucian to stop just inside the doorway. Primo stilled beside him as they both looked around.

"Where is she?" Lucian asked, his eyes cutting back to Emma.

"Hmm?" Emma tilted her head, oblivious. "She? Oh — you mean the maid?"

The moment those words left her lips, a layer of frost settled over his expression, and he fixed her with a cold stare.

*****

Meanwhile, Nolan walked back to his place, deep in thought. But the moment he stepped inside, he stopped.

There, hunched in the corner by the kitchen, was Ashley — sitting on the floor, knees pulled to her chest, making a sandwich.

Deep lines creased Nolan’s face. "Ma — Madam?" he called. She startled, then looked up at him. "What are you doing here?"

Ashley blinked a few times, then smiled. "Ah. Making a sandwich."

"On the floor? Why are you making a sandwich on the floor like you’re hiding—" Nolan stopped as it clicked, and he turned toward the window. Through it, he could see them next door — Lucian, Primo, and Emma.

He looked back at Ashley, who was calmly taking a bite of her sandwich, watching him with that guileless expression of hers.

Having caught pieces of Ashley’s story over time, Nolan understood now. She was hiding. The way she must have hidden in the Di Carpios’ home whenever her own family came around. Something about that realization made his eyes sting because the person sitting on that floor wasn’t the madam.

In his eyes, she was no madam—just a little girl who had learned to make herself scarce.

Nolan swallowed the tightness in his throat and crouched down in front of her. "Madam, I brought some juice from the market. Would you like to try it?"

"Haha. Sure!"

"Alright." He pushed himself to his feet, but instead of going to the fridge, he crossed the room and quietly drew the curtain shut.

Then, he turned back to Ashley, offering her a bright smile... as if nothing outside that room existed.