Forced To Be The Mafia King's Bride (by Oma Green) novel Chapter 173

Dante's POV

"Selene, that fucked up stunt you pulled last night can never repeat itself again."

She didn't look at me. She just stared down at her lap, shoulders hunched forward. She sat on the edge of her bed, hair tangled and unwashed, eyes swollen beneath dark circles. The silk night robe hung loose on her frame.

"I know."

"Do you?" I stayed near the door, arms crossed. "Because this is the second time you have not just thrown yourself at me, but also put me in an impossible position."

Her head lifted slowly, brows drawn together.

"What are you doing here so early, Dante?" Her voice came out scratchy. "I thought you'd be with your dear wife."

"Selene..."

"Your precious Gianna." She pushed herself up, her legs swaying slightly as she gripped the bedpost for balance. "Tell me, is she everything you hoped for? Does she make you forget? Does she make you feel alive?"

"This isn't about Gianna."

The laugh that escaped her was bitter. "Are you here to reject me again?"

I took a step closer and guilt ate at me. In all the years I had known her, I had never seen her so broken. A part of me hurt seeing her like this. But this decision had to be made.

"Selene." My voice dropped, softening despite myself. "I'm here to free you."

Her chin lifted, eyes widening, hope etched across her features.

"Free me?"

"Yes." I took another step forward, close enough to see the way her hands trembled. "I'm here to release you from the bondage of this love you claim to feel for me. This love that is destroying you."

Her face fell instantly. Her mouth opened, then closed. "How would you do that?"

"I want you to start over somewhere far from here." The words stuck in my throat, difficult to force out. "I'll provide you with everything you need to start over. Anywhere in the world."

Her expression hardened within seconds. Sarcasm colored every word.

"Thanks for the generous offer." She straightened, letting go of the bedpost. "But my answer is no."

"Selene, I respect everything you've done for Arielle. Your years of sacrifice. Your dedication." My eyes met hers and held them. "But this is not a request. It's an order."

Her mouth fell open, eyebrows shooting up.

"You're ordering me out of your home?" Disbelief filled her tone. She took a staggering step back. "The Dante I know would never..."

Then her face shifted, her eyes narrowing as though she had come to a realization.

"Did that little girl put you up to this?"

I shook my head. "I presume you're talking about Gianna."

"Who else?" She lunged forward, palms slamming against my chest and shoving hard. "She's been here five minutes and already she's turning you against me. Against your own family."

"Gianna doesn't even know I'm here having this conversation with you." I grabbed her wrists and held them firm. "This is me taking charge of my home. This is me refusing to be emotionally blackmailed anymore. Your stunt last night almost cost me my wife. Gianna saw us."

No remorse crossed her face as she yanked her hands free, dragging the back of one across her eyes.

"Oh." Her chin tilted up. "Why hasn't she left then?"

"Excuse me?"

"If she saw us." Her arms folded across her chest. "If she's so devastated, why is she still here? Maybe because she knows this marriage is a sham."

Anger stirred inside me.

"Are you out of your mind?"

"It's the truth." She chuckled bitterly. "No matter how much you pretend, I know you, Dante. You don't forgive so easily. So there is no way you love her. Everyone knows it. You married her for revenge against Lorenzo. She's just a pawn."

My hands fisted at my sides. The realization hit me like ice water.

"It's clear this was your plan all along." I glared at her, seeing through everything now. "This was one of your manipulative tactics to make me feel bad for you. You wanted to destroy my marriage before it even started. You wanted Gianna to walk away so you could have me."

"I wanted you to see sense." She moved closer, reaching out. "To see that I'm the one who belongs by your side. Not some stranger."

Her face twisted.

"Gianna is a child herself." Venom filled every word. "She knows nothing about raising a little girl. Nothing about being a mother. She'll ruin Arielle."

"My Gia will learn, just as we all did."

"No." Her head shook violently, hair whipping around her face. "No, this is wrong. You're tearing this family apart."

"You did this," I said flatly. "When you refused to respect my wife and my rules. Letting you stay would tear my family apart."

Anger flared across her features. Her face flushed red, hands clenching into fists.

"How can you do this? After everything I've done for you? For this family? After I raised your daughter when you were too broken to even look at her?"

"Like I said earlier, you'll be heavily compensated for everything you've done." I kept my voice even. "And despite everything, I'm grateful for your sacrifice."

"I don't want your money." She rushed forward again and grabbed my arm with both hands, nails digging through the fabric.

"Please." Her whole body trembled now. She sobbed so hard she could barely speak. "Please, Dante. I'm begging you. Give me one more chance. Just one. I'll never do it again. I'll respect your marriage. I'll stay away from you. Just please don't make me leave."

I looked down at her, at this woman who had been part of my life for so long. Who had helped me through the darkest time. Who had loved my daughter when I couldn't.

My chest ached with a dull, heavy pain.

But I had to let her go.

"No." I pulled my hand from her grip and stepped toward the door. "I'm doing this for you as much as for me. I'm releasing you to live your life. It's what Esme would have wanted."

"No." She straightened, shoulders squaring, tears still streaming but fury burning behind them. "Esme would want me here with her daughter. She trusted me to take care of Arielle. She made me promise."

I grabbed her hand as she reached for me again, removed it firmly from my arm, then turned and walked toward the door.

"You'll regret this!" she screamed behind me, her voice breaking. "When she leaves you for a man younger! When you're alone and pathetic! You'll come crawling back!"

I stepped into the hallway.

I slammed the door shut behind me.