Mistakenly Yours: Contract Marriage With The Billionaire-Chapter 130: A mafia boss?

"We can have Crème Caramel," Sara told Luca, looking at the dessert menu.

"Sure," Luca agreed easily. He then gazed at the coffee options and ordered a latte for both of them along with the Crème Caramel.

As the waiter left, Luca turned his head, only to find Paulina walking determinedly toward their table.

"If you want, I can send her away right now," Luca offered, his hand resting near Sara’s arm, ready to move.

"Let’s see what she has to say to me," Sara opined, a steely resolve in her eyes, choosing to face her mother rather than flee.

"Sara, you misunderstood me earlier. Can I sit with you?" Paulina asked, looking at her. "It’s been long since we have a meal together," she added, trying to look remorseful.

"I have no interest in sharing a meal with you," Sara stated. "Also, there was nothing to misunderstand. You met Frida. That explains how much you care for me," she taunted. "Why don’t you tell me what you want from me that you appeared after so many years?"

Paulina curled her fingers tightly beneath the table. She had to pretend to stay calm even though the attitude Sara was throwing at her was giving her a searing headache.

"Why do you talk like this with your own mother?" Paulina finally questioned, trying to sound wounded.

"You’re not my mother," Sara corrected her coldly, without hesitation. "Don’t bother me ever again." She firmly averted her gaze from Paulina, signaling the end of the conversation.

Luca finally stood up, towering over Paulina, and turned to look directly at her. "Don’t create a scene here. People are watching you, Mrs. Montes. And you’ve heard exactly what my wife just said. Don’t bother her." His statement sounded not like a request, but a clear, final warning that brooked no argument.

Paulina did not step away immediately. ’I apologize to you, Sara,’ she thought, repeating the words Frida had told her she needed to use. It was her only chance to make things right, or at least, seem right, between them. She recalled Frida’s instructions, mentioning how she had to beg and say a few good words.

"Sara, I’ll go on my knees if you want," Paulina pleaded, trying to look desperate. "But please listen to me just once. It was your grandmother because of whom I had to leave that house. She is the reason we got separated," Paulina accused Katherine falsely, following Frida’s advice, realizing this was the only way to trigger Sara’s powerful devotion.

"Leave," Sara snapped, though she kept her voice dangerously low. "Don’t you dare lie to me and accuse my grandmother! I wasn’t young enough to forget how you always stayed away from home. You always wanted to leave me behind! And now, when you’ve got nothing truthful to say, you have to accuse my grandmother like this!" Her patience had completely broken. She had wanted to enjoy the evening with Luca, but her mother had literally destroyed it.

"Mrs. Montes, please leave now," Luca said sternly, his patience exhausted.

Paulina saw how the people from the other tables began watching them with interest. Swallowing her anger and disappointment, she finally turned and left the cafe.

Luca finally settled back onto the chair and poured a glass of water for Sara. "Drink this, love," he said, pushing it forward gently.

She took a few sips on his insistence, feeling marginally calmer. "I wonder if Frida told her to say things like this to me," Sara murmured, her fingers brushing against the rim of the glass.

"It’s extremely strange that your mother and Frida met at all," Luca stated, confirming his suspicion.

"Frida must have contacted her. Dad is divorcing Marcella, so Frida is clearly maneuvering to secure her position. Frida is cunning, and after seeing myself how she schemed against me, I can bet that Frida is using my mother. But my mother isn’t an innocent victim either. She definitely needs something from me. Her forced expressions and the way she acts and speaks gave it away," Sara remarked shrewdly.

The waiter returned with the orders, asking them to enjoy. The rich, creamy Crème Caramel sat beautifully between them, accompanied by their lattes.

"The dessert looks delicious," Luca said, smiling warmly, making a deliberate effort to shift the atmosphere back to peace and joy. He took a spoonful from the side of the custard and brought it straight to Sara’s mouth. "Take the first bite, love," he opined.

Sara opened her mouth and had the bite. "Mmm... It melted right away. It’s so yummy," she exclaimed, her tension easing with the sweet distraction.

~~~~

In the car, Paulina slammed her hand against the steering wheel, her composure completely shattered. "Damn it! I can’t believe Sara has seen right through me. What kind of insolent daughter she is!" she fumed.

She quickly pulled out her phone from her purse and dialed her son’s number. However, the call went unresponsive, adding a fresh layer of frustration to her already foul mood.

"What kind of kids I’ve given birth to?" Paulina cursed aloud in her car, her anger escalating. "Both of them don’t want to help me. I thought Joseph would at least understand me, but he’s the worst. And now, I have no idea how I should pay him." She was furious at his lack of familial support. "How can he even ask his own mother for the money? He already is damn rich, yet he wants money from me!" She cursed out in utter frustration, her fingers gripping the phone.

Suddenly, her phone rang loudly, startling her, and she saw the call was from Joseph itself.

She answered the call and quickly brought the phone to her ear.

"Mom, it’s good you called me. I have to ask you something," Joseph said curtly from the other side. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"Yes?" Paulina asked, trying to sound calm.

"Are you in Madrid?" Joseph asked immediately.

"H-how did you find out?" Paulina stuttered, instantly defensive and confused.

"A person approached me earlier saying you’ve been bothering his boss’s wife," Joseph replied, his voice laced with annoyance. "Are you again into something illegal? Have you not forgotten the prison term you served that you started pestering others now?" His temper was snapping as he pinched the skin between his brows on the other end of the line.

"I’m not doing anything illegal, son," Paulina insisted weakly. "But who approached you? I am not pestering anyone either. When did this unknown man meet you? You better stay away from dangerous people," she warned him, trying to shift the focus.

"Luca De Augustino’s secretary met me earlier today. He mentioned that you’re bothering Sara, his wife."

The colors instantly flew away from Paulina’s face. Luca approached her son! She had never mentioned Luca or Sara to Joseph. Then, how did he find the connection?

"And who is this Sara? She is only a few years older than me," Joseph stated, confused by the age difference yet sensing the severity of the warning.

"Josh, you don’t need to know," she murmured, trying to sound dismissive. "Also, I’m not doing anything wrong here. I just decided to go away from Barcelona for some time."

"Return home," Joseph demanded, his patience thin. "I don’t want you to cause trouble for me or my flourishing business. I’ll send Iria tomorrow to Madrid. Give me your address as well," he affirmed, taking control of the situation.

"I am not returning yet," Paulina stated defiantly. "It’s not like you’ll stop asking me for money if I return. I have to find a way to return the money I owe you."

"And how are you going to do that in Madrid, harassing strangers?" Joseph scoffed. He grabbed an envelope from his side and looked at the document inside. Then he delivered the shocking ultimatum to her. "Don’t go near Luca if you want to stay alive."

"What do you mean?" Paulina frowned, utterly bewildered and suddenly frightened.

"Don’t you know he’s a mafia boss?" Joseph chuckled darkly, sensing his mother’s shock.

Paulina’s eyes widened to learn the truth about the man Sara had married. "Are you sure?" she whispered.

"Yes. I did my research after his man contacted me. His secretary gave me a clear warning about his nature. So, you better return to Barcelona. I’ll give you more time to return the money, but only if you come home," Joseph stated, using the threat of Luca as leverage.

’It is not like Sara is going to help me. Now, Joseph is offering me time, I shouldn’t let this chance go,’ Paulina thought.

"Alright. I’ll come back tomorrow. You don’t have to send Iria to me," Paulina told her son.

"Okay." Joseph hung up the call as Paulina put her phone on the passenger seat. "Why did Sara marry a mafia? But De Augustino Family is quite rich. I read it myself. Luca runs a successful business, then how he can be a mafia boss?" she murmured with a frown.