No More Unloved Wife: The Mafia Queen Returns

nsion when night had al

seeped through every layer of her clothes. The house before her, once called a home, now stood wi

he second floor where Edric's room was. It was pitc

her feet still moved

to the kitchen and be

air. Red wine–braised beef, cream of

dishes h

She still remembered every word from that conversation, the way they had both agreed to study each oth

was ready, she

clock, she

for dinner? I ma

age stay

, he did

d wine before her. She wasn't sure if she was waiting for E

fic faded. Inside, the clo

e in the lav

chopsticks down

wine. It was

more terrifyin

ach plate carefully. By the time she was done, the cl

Her steps stopped befor

never once entered this room.

ntract could never create closeness. What good

at down on the bed, and wrapp

ike the surface of a la

photo still stood on the nightstand, two people smiling, pretending to be happy. Edric was look

the door

For a moment, she thou

nd persistent. She hurried d

his long-time secretary. The streetlight cast a faint glow ac

im, yet when his gaze met hers, somethi

dric... he drank a bit too much tonight. I ma

murmured. "I'll

arm. His weight pressed do

, letting her g

ind them, cutting of

ound of breathing, and a heav

ed him to

some water?" s

t smile, weary bu

ll call

fr

all you som

n from somewhere deep. "We're husband and wife, are

y had gone rigid at the unf

ingered on

led, her eyes shimmered wi

alm was warm, startlingly so. Two years of marriage, and this was the

old?" he whispered. "Why do

, but he caught her wr

them dissolved. Th

faint jasmine fragrance of her hair, creati

breathed. Her

d, low and close. "

There was depth in them now, a sh

m, so lightly it felt as if

tood f

t know wh

o escape and being unable to move at all. Her

his eyes, and in them, she saw only herself. Small

s touch

was gentle, painfully so, as if he were

es flutte

eemed

wo hearts, two breaths, and t

back, his forehead

e hoarse, "how long have I t

ic

aid no

wine. Yet the warmth of his hand was r

faintly,

t be d

voice tight in her thr

d, drawing her closer. His large hand settled ag

ith me

, yet they made

rder. No

d with everything she had long

Their eyes met i

hing else, she could not tell. B

though the world had shru

racts. No co

er illusion that mig

gain, softly, o

still being her

nod

e ask, "What a

dy knew the answe

this wa

rmth. A gen

lonely wife

ed him u

s steadier now. When she laid him on the bed, she l

is hard features looked gen

trand of hair fr

s light, almos

, knowing that by morning, he woul

well,

man who seemed deeply asle

. Their bodies met, and his lips found hers again, fierc

ot refuse h