Every Mafia's Favorite Girl novel Chapter 70

Chapter 70: "I’m Home"

Mrs. Pecora stood silently, staring at the hard cooler resting atop the kitchen island.

Inside were sixteen containers of ice cream, freshly made that Sunday morning. Packed neatly alongside them were several ice packs, carefully arranged to keep everything chilled during the journey from the Sartori estate to the Lombardi estate.

Aren wrapped both hands around the sturdy handle and drew in a determined breath. She strained with all her strength, her arms trembling visibly as the cooler lifted perhaps two centimeters off the marble countertop.

Unfortunately, gravity won the battle.

The heavy container landed right back where it had started.

Thud!

Aren frowned.

This had already been her sixth failed attempt.

She blamed it solely on how weak her muscles were, not how unrealistically heavy a cooler could get when packed with that much premium dairy.

Mrs. Pecora quietly sighed to herself at the pitiful display.

"Ahem, my lady," she began politely, "are you quite certain you won’t require assistance with the ice cream?"

"Well..." Aren glanced toward her. "I might have to ask the driver for help. The two of us could probably manage it together."

Mrs. Pecora shook her head with quiet disapproval.

"But you’ll also need to carry the flower bouquet for your father, my lady," she pointed out before gesturing toward the line of maids patiently waiting nearby. "I truly recommend bringing one or two maids with you instead. They can carry the cooler while you focus on presenting the flowers."

"But, Mrs. Pecora," Aren replied earnestly, "you’ll need them here for the housework. I’m sure the driver and I can manage."

A reluctant smile softened Mrs. Pecora’s face.

She stepped closer, smoothing the wrinkles from Aren’s shirt that had formed during her repeated attempts to lift the cooler.

"I’ve managed this household for fifteen years, my lady," she said gently. "I can certainly survive without two maids for a few hours."

She finished straightening the fabric before looking Aren in the eyes.

"But you..." Her voice grew noticeably softer. "You haven’t returned home in a very long time. You should look your very best for your father. It would be far nicer for him to receive flowers from your hands than to watch you wrestle a cooler up the front steps alongside the driver."

Aren fell silent, carefully considering the advice. The more she thought about it, the more sensible it sounded.

"...Alright," she finally conceded with a reluctant nod. "But... may I take Daria with me?"

Mrs. Pecora blinked in surprise.

"Daria?"

"Yes." Aren smiled. "She’s usually assigned only smaller household tasks. Besides, she invited me to a bakery café the other day. We never got to go because Mister Castellano interrupted us. I wish to take her today."

"I see."

Mrs. Pecora considered it briefly before nodding.

"In that case, take Daria and Alice."

She gestured toward one of the maids standing nearby.

"Alice is one of my most capable and trustworthy maids."

Turning to Alice, she instructed,

"Return to the servants’ quarters and fetch Daria. Tell her to dress appropriately and report to the waiting room. You are to accompany Lady Ariana back to the Lombardi estate together."

"Yes, Mrs. Pecora."

Alice bowed respectfully before hurrying from the kitchen. Only a moment later, the kitchen doors swung open once again.

A maid entered carrying a beautifully arranged bouquet of white tulips and blue hydrangeas.

"Lady Ariana," she announced as she approached, "your flower delivery has arrived."

Aren accepted the bouquet with wide, delighted eyes.

The finished arrangement was even more beautiful than the version Daria had tried with the florist days earlier.

Fresh droplets of water still clung delicately to the petals and glossy green leaves, making the flowers look as though freshly gathered from a morning garden.

She turned toward Mrs. Pecora, unable to hide her excitement.

"Look at them, Mrs. Pecora," she said, holding them out proudly. "Aren’t they beautiful? Thank you so much for your advice."

Mrs. Pecora looked first at the flowers, then at Aren’s radiant smile.

A quiet warmth spread unexpectedly through her chest.

’Lady Ariana has changed so much.’

’She’s like a little child now.’

’Like my own child.’

The unexpected thought caught Mrs. Pecora completely off guard.

A faint blush crept across her cheeks before she discreetly cleared her throat, quickly suppressing any outward trace of it.

"It was only my duty, my lady," she replied with practiced composure.

─ •✧• ─ ✿ ─ •✧• ─

Not long afterward, they arrived in the waiting room. Daria was already there alongside Alice, both dressed neatly as instructed.

The instant Daria saw Aren enter with Mrs. Pecora, she lowered her head respectfully.

"Lady Ariana. Mrs. Pecora," she greeted, sounding every bit as eager and flustered as ever. "It is my pleasure to accompany Lady Ariana back to her home."

Mrs. Pecora gestured toward the large cooler now being carried by two waiting maids.

"You and Alice will assist Lady Ariana with this. She intends to present it to her father."

"Yes, Mrs. Pecora."

Daria bowed obediently, looking sincerely grateful for such a simple assignment.

Inside, however, an entirely different emotion bloomed across her chest.

’Goodness... I didn’t even have to lift a finger.’

’The poor little prey walked straight into my hands.’

’What a waste of all those nights spent planning the perfect excuse.’

Not a trace of those thoughts reached her face.

Instead, she maintained the same warm, attentive smile of a diligent young maid.

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