My Second Marriage with the Mafia Kingpin-Chapter 11: Should we go on a date?

Ashley giggled as she made it back to her room, almost as if she hadn’t been scolded. Those who had seen Lucian storm into Primo’s room couldn’t help but knit their brows upon seeing her.

"She’s still smiling?" one of the maids whispered. "Has she really lost her mind?"

"After everything she’s done, do you really think she’s been in her right mind?"

Another one snickered. "I heard that since she’s a bastard, her father didn’t even send her to school. Instead, she had already been working for their organization."

"From what I heard, she learned assassination first before she ever learned to read."

The maids quietly laughed as their gossip grew harsher and harsher, enjoying dragging Ashley’s name through the mud.

But one of them, who was quietly doing the final sweep of the floor, glanced at the other maids. She pressed her lips into a thin line and looked away, avoiding joining the conversation.

Even though the Madam and the Master’s relationship was complicated, how could they keep talking like that behind the Madam’s back?

"Hey, Betty!"

Betty, the maid who was quietly finishing her work for the night, flinched. Her first thought was whether she had spoken her thoughts aloud.

"Why are you just cleaning that area?" one of the maids snickered, her brow arched. "This hallway is long. Or are you planning to clean this entire hallway the whole night?"

Betty sighed heavily, watching the group of three continue to gossip as they walked away.

"Tsk," she clicked her tongue faintly. "There are four of us, but they keep throwing the work at me."

Still, she shook her head and continued working, expecting to spend a couple of hours finishing.

*****

Meanwhile...

Ashley happily showered for the night and jumped onto the large bed. Her body bounced on it, making her lips stretch wide until her eyes squinted.

"Hehe," she giggled. "Whether this is the real deal or not, at least I’ll wake up with fewer regrets."

Her eyes cracked open as she stared at the ceiling. Her smile faded just a little, her heart feeling slightly lighter.

Ashley was desensitized to most things. And to be honest, even when she wanted to hold on to this phenomenon, there was a small voice in the back of her head asking quite a few what-ifs.

For instance, what if this was just part of her life flashing in her mind?

More like a glimpse of what could’ve been if she had been less doubtful?

Growing up in the underworld, trust was a costly matter. It was the most expensive thing in their world. Hence, Ashley’s failure to trust Lucian’s words in their first marriage. She couldn’t trust him and was easily manipulated by others.

"But that’s all on me," she hummed, nodding to herself. "Even if I don’t wake up tomorrow... at least I was a little less mean to him."

To the man whom she never truly understood—the man she hurt and betrayed, yet who held on to her until the very end. And to the child she neglected.

"I wonder... if Primo also... died?" she trailed off and closed her eyes, drawing a deep breath. "Don’t even think about that anymore."

She shook her head and snapped her eyes open, forcing a smile.

"I’ll just sleep it off tonight and see what happens." She mentally nodded, convinced that no matter what, her regrets would be a little less.

It left a bittersweet taste in her heart, but what else could she do?

But if I wake up tomorrow and I’m still here... I could do more, she thought as she closed her eyes, letting her body relax.

"I should’ve asked him to sleep here now," she whispered, her eyes still closed. "What’s the use of the master bedroom if the master doesn’t sleep in it?"

When they got married, they shared the same bedroom. But over time, Lucian moved to another room, giving the master bedroom to her since she made a huge fuss about it.

"I should... tell him that tomorrow," came another whisper. "Tomorrow... I’ll fix the migraine I’ve caused to begin with."

There was hesitation lingering in the back of her mind, but she didn’t want to dwell on it for now.

No regrets.

That was what she told herself as she let sleep take her into a rollercoaster of nightmares.

Meanwhile, the mansion slowly grew quieter as the night deepened. Like any other night, it passed in silence, holding the secret whispers of what tomorrow would bring.

*

*

*

The next day...

Ashley’s brows crinkled as her face scrunched up slightly. Her eyes slowly cracked open, squinting when the sunlight hit them. She raised a hand to shield the side of her face, blinking as she took in the ceiling.

"..."

Like a zombie, she suddenly sat upright with wide eyes. She touched her cheeks and body, looking down to see the same pajamas she wore.

"I’m still here?" She gasped, looking around with her bed hair sticking out everywhere. "What date?"

Ashley hurriedly checked the bedside table and grinned, jumping out of the bedroom.

"I’m still here," she muttered with restrained excitement, running down the hallway until she reached the mezzanine.

When she clasped the railing, she looked down and saw Lucian and Gustav talking near the main entrance.

"Whoa..." she laughed, unintentionally interrupting the two men.

Her eyes twinkled at the grand chandelier and the beautiful interior of the mansion. "This place... this gorgeous place...!"

Lucian and Gustav paused as they looked up, their brows crinkling upon seeing Ashley’s bright, awed expression. Her hair was a mess, as if she hadn’t dried it properly before sleeping last night.

"I’m still here!" she declared happily, making the other maids in the area also look up at the second-floor mezzanine. "I’m still—hahaha! It’s not a dream!"

Ashley squealed with happiness, almost jumping as she couldn’t contain her excitement. Ignoring all the confused stares she was getting, she stepped away from the railing and jogged down the stairs.

When she stopped in front of Lucian and Gustav, her smile brightened even more. Just as Gustav—Lucian’s right-hand man—opened his mouth, Ashley raised a finger and placed it on his lips.

"Shhh, Gustav," she hushed, pressing a finger to his lips until they looked slightly deformed. "I know you hate me, but keep it up. Good job."

Then she turned to Lucian and giggled like an evil witch.

"Good morning, darling," she blinked coquettishly, hugging his arm. But when his lips parted, Ashley suddenly jumped away. "Oh, wait!"

She raised a finger at them. "Give me a minute."

With that, she released Lucian’s arm and ran outside. She wasn’t supposed to step out of the house, but it wasn’t like they would stop her unless she headed for the gates.

Running outside and hopping down a few steps to the driveway, Ashley stopped and looked up at the bright blue sky.

"No taking this back, alright?!" she shouted at the sky, pointing at it as if someone were up there. She then spread her arms wide open, grinning. "If you’re going to take it back, then take it now! Come on! I’m giving you one last chance—I’m ready!"

Ashley hurried onto the concrete driveway and lay flat on it, staring at the sky and waiting for the heavens to take her soul. As she did, she shut her eyes, only to peek when nothing was happening.

Meanwhile, Gustav and Lucian stepped outside, watching her lose her mind. Even the guards looked on in utter confusion.

"Master," Gustav called under his breath, narrowing his eyes at the crazy woman arguing with no one. "Please don’t fall for this. Since she probably realized all her efforts were for naught, she’s resorted to acting insane."

But Lucian remained quiet, watching his wife lie on the concrete as if she were waiting for something. Then, a minute later, she jumped to her feet and turned to face his direction.

"Lu!" she yelled, then felt around her body as if looking for something.

Both Lucian and Gustav watched her curiously until she seemingly took something from her side, only to reveal her fingers forming a heart shape.

"Heh," she chuckled mischievously, while Gustav’s curiosity was quickly replaced with a frown.

As for Lucian, he merely let out a shallow scoff as he muttered, "Insanity or not, she better not let me catch her lie."

"Master—" Gustav called, but Lucian had already walked toward her.

His frown deepened when Ashley suddenly jumped in front of Lucian and wrapped her arms around his waist.

She tilted her head back, grinning from ear to ear as he stared straight into her eyes—bright, shameless, and completely unafraid.

Lucian just stared at her, and for the first time... he couldn’t read her.

His thoughts halted when she suddenly suggested,

"Should we go on a date?"