Claimed By The Mafia Rogue King (Snow and Cupid) novel Chapter 1

Snowflakes

“Don’t freak out, Snow. Check the pictures I sent you.”

That text soured the mood of my snowy night. Dove, my best friend, had sent it.

The pictures were of my husband, Ares Bani, naked in office with his so-called secretary, their bodies tangled tightly.

My husband and I are already trying to conceive. And I was told by doctor today that I was healed and ready to get pregnant. Once Ares return home, I’ll tell him the good news. How could him betray me now?

I could have dismissed it as just a picture, but this wasn’t the first time suspicion had gnawed at me regarding him and that secretary.

I grabbed my coat and hat, snatched my car keys, and descended the spiral staircase, passing through the living room where Ana, the maid, was tidying up.

“Oh, Madam, you are going out?” she asked.

“Yes.”

One syllable. No explanation. I was already out, driving through the snowy night. The sound of jingle bells and the faint scent of Christmas hung in the air. Traffic was light, and by the time I arrived at my husband’s company, it was late.

I parked in the garage and stepped out, pausing on the walkway to gaze up at the massive structure before me.

Frosty Airline and Resort. Ares’ legacy built from nothing. He was a business tycoon who excelled at everything he touched.

I lowered my eyes to the ring around my finger, clutching my bag, and walked into the lobby. Passing the receptionist without a word, I made my way to the executive floor.

When I stepped out of the elevator, I saw her. The secretary, at her desk just outside the CEO’s office. She was scribbling on a document, but when my heels announced my presence, she paused and slowly looked up. Our eyes met, and she jolted in shock.

Silence fell. I read her face, her composure, her reaction, and something inside me twisted.

She looked exactly like my sister Viviana… only younger.

This was the first time we’d meet, and already her emotions betrayed her. My heart sank. I prayed Dove was wrong, but seeing her, I realized she wasn’t. Dove Mane is a reporter and any news she carried have got to be legit.

I let my eyes roam her face, finally stopping at the name tag on her chest: Valencia.

She was new, confident, almost fearless, like a woman staking her claim. Her gaze told me as much, yet somehow, I can tell she didn’t recognize me.

“You think I would marry Snow if it weren’t to stop her investigating the case four years ago?” Ares’ voice echoed, and I froze.

What?!

Four years ago, I was attacked, it made me difficult to get pregnant. And from their talk, it’s completely a murder?

“But still, I think it’s unsafe to have a Viviana lookalike, Ares. What if Snow finds out you’ve been sleeping with a Viviana lookalike for four years, all while waiting for your true love to return?”

My fingers went cold around the doorknob, and I pulled back, stunned.

Ares laughed.

“That’s not a problem. Snow is very easy to please. She won’t notice anything. Besides, she’s focusing on becoming pregnant. She’s dependent on me. That way, she won’t have anywhere to go.”

“Good choice. If you hadn’t coerced her into giving up the case, the Frost brothers would’ve investigated and discovered that it was Vivian who ordered for her to be raped and stabbed.”

There I stood, pale and white as the snow falling around me.