My Second Marriage with the Mafia Kingpin

Today, listening to Lucian, Ashley finally managed to find the words that had eluded her from the beginning.

All those things he had made her do and acquire — like getting a diploma — were unnecessary for Dominion. Other conclusions had crossed her mind, like perhaps Lucian was ashamed that his wife and the madam of Dominion was illiterate.

That was why he had been pushing her so hard.

In this lifetime, it was the same... although he hadn’t forced her yet. But she knew he would, eventually.

Now, that question that had always lingered at the back of her mind resurfaced. Finally, she could put the right words to it.

I thought it was just who he is, Ashley thought. That he fixes things before they become a problem.

However, it was becoming clear to her that it wasn’t as simple as that anymore. If anything, it didn’t look like a mere habit.

I might be wrong, she told herself. But he does... sound desperate.

If one just paid close attention.

"Lucian, why are you trying so hard to fix problems that haven’t happened yet?"

Silence stretched between them as they held each other’s gaze. A brief look of surprise surfaced on his face, as if he hadn’t expected such a question.

Ashley tilted her head to the side, moving closer to him. "Why?"

"..." His lips parted as he caught the deep curiosity in her eyes.

It made his heart race, panic settling beneath his skin. With her eyes gleaming with curiosity, it felt as though if she stared long enough, she would find out. That she would read him like an open book.

And for the first time, Lucian felt... fear.

Not of her finding out, but of what would come after.

"Lucian?" she called once more, snapping him out of his thoughts. She blinked innocently. "You look a little pale. Are you okay?"

Instead of answering, he blurted out quietly, "I can’t answer that," Referring to her first question.

She frowned. "Huh? Why?"

"Because..." he breathed out, choosing his words carefully. His eyes assessed her expression, and then Nolan’s reminders rang in his head on repeat.

He knew that open communication was important. Nolan had said so, and the enormous, messy misunderstanding had proven it. But it was too soon.

Too soon for this.

"I need... time," he whispered, watching her brows rise. "If I answer now, it’ll be a lie."

And he didn’t want to lie.

If she found out now, her reaction was the least of his concerns. It was the things she would probably do for him. The worry, the mental load he didn’t want her to carry. There was a lot at stake, and he... would never forgive himself if he put her through all of that.

Ashley blinked slowly and drew back a little, her eyes never leaving his face before she finally nodded in understanding.

"Okay," she breathed out and smiled softly. "Don’t lie. Take your time."

Lucian almost sighed in relief — and yet he couldn’t. If anything, it felt as though he had just lodged a thorn in his throat that would stay there for a long time.

Ashley leaned comfortably against the headboard. Shooting him a sideways glance, the corner of her mouth hooked into a playful smile.

"Lucian, you’re making it sound like a scary thing," she joked, bumping her shoulder against his. "Why? Are you dying or something?"

He turned to look at her, making her bite her tongue.

"Heh." An awkward chuckle escaped her. "Sorry. I said I was going to give you time. I’ll wait until you’re ready."

"I’m sorry," he said, waiting for her to look back at him. "I said I would be truthful and maintain open communication."

She chuckled. "It’s kind of hard, isn’t it?"

"Hmm?"

"Communicating," she said. "Saying the things in your head and letting someone in. I don’t even know how people do it... but I suppose the world we grew up in is partly to blame. It’s not really something we’re used to."

She smiled. "Lucian, let’s take it slow. I’m not good at it either, but after seeing Primo tonight, I thought to myself — I still have so much to learn." She winked at him. "We still have so many things to learn. So don’t beat yourself up if you need time."

"..." Lucian just stared at her, listening to every word that slipped past her lips.

Deep down, he was relieved she was so understanding. But at the same time, it piqued his curiosity.

"But what if I am?" he asked, which sounded like a non sequitur.

She tilted her head. "Hmm?"

"What if I am dying?" he asked. "And I only have a few years left to live."

"Are you dying?" she returned almost instantly, only to earn a steady look from him. "Well. Let’s see."

Ashley tilted her head back in thought.

In her previous life, Lucian had died. Counting from this timeline, he would be assassinated in five years. But even before the assassination, he would have suffered grievous injuries — multiple times over.

He had been practically half dead by the time he finally let her go.

But back then, she had been too blind to see how beaten down he had been just to stay alive. Just to protect Dominion, just to keep those who depended on him safe.

I don’t like thinking about the Lucian I knew... or the person I used to be.

Lucian studied her side profile, wondering what was going through her mind.

Then she spoke.

"You can’t." Ashley turned to him, facing him squarely. "Lucian, you’re not allowed to die."

His brow furrowed as he caught the seriousness on her face.

"You have to live," she said firmly, thinking this might push him to hold on, especially if unforeseen events lay ahead. "For a very long, long, long time."

He tilted his head slightly. "Why?"

"Why?" she snorted and clicked her tongue.

Ashley scooted to his side and pulled his arm up to make room for herself, then let it rest across her shoulders.

"What do you mean, why?" She looked up at him, resting her arms casually around him. "Because if you don’t, who’s going to run Dominion? Primo? I’ll kill you myself if Primo has to get involved in all of this at that age."

She rested her head against him. "And I’m not going to run Dominion. If you die, I will ruin it with passion. I hired Betty for that reason: Betty Domination. So don’t you dare."

[Poor Betty, who was quietly doing some audits in Dominion mansion, shivered out of the blue.]

"..."

A brief silence settled between them before she exhaled calmly.

"But seriously," she whispered, resting against him and letting her body relax. "Does Primo know that you’re actually his uncle?"

He didn’t answer immediately, his fingertips brushing idly along her arm. "Maybe."

"Maybe?" she looked up. "What does that mean?"

"He’s a smart boy," Lucian answered. "I’m not sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d already figured it out."

He paused, his fingertips continuing their slow path along her arm. "It doesn’t matter." He glanced down at her. "He’s my son."

Not just on paper — in his eyes, Primo was his.

Lucian might not be perfect, but everything he had done until now was for Primo and his future.

Ashley smiled softly and chuckled, sliding down a little.

"I guess you’re right," she murmured as she yawned. "It doesn’t matter. He’s... he’s our kid."