Forced To Be The Mafia King's Bride (by Oma Green) novel Chapter 208

Gianna's POV

We stood in a secluded corner of the garden, away from the main party but close enough to watch it unfold.

A waiter appeared beside us, offering fresh glasses of wine from his tray.

Estelle took one with a gracious nod, then Vera, and I followed suit, the cool glass smooth against my palm.

"Well," Estelle said, drawing my attention back.

She raised her glass slightly. "At least we can get some fun out of a party that cost Roberto and me thousands of dollars."

Vera laughed, taking a sip. "The men do love their business discussions."

"And my son?" Estelle's voice was filled with frustration. "Missing from his own birthday party. Can you believe it? We plan all of this, spend a fortune, and he's nowhere to be found."

"He'll show up," Vera said with a shrug. "He always does."

"That's not the point." Estelle took a long drink. "It's his party. He should be here. But this is what he's become since he grew up. Uncontrollable. We don't see him for weeks sometimes. Just parties and God knows what else."

Her voice dropped, tinged with guilt. "It's my fault, really. I spoiled him. He's our only child, and I gave him everything. No limits, no boundaries. What else was I supposed to do?"

"Don't blame yourself." Vera patted her shoulder.

"Who else is there to blame?" Estelle's fingers tightened around her glass. "I created this. Now I don't know how to fix it."

I found myself leaning forward. "Maybe it's not too late."

Both women turned to me.

"I mean..." I hesitated, then continued. "He's young, and partying might come with his age, I get that. But there are younger people out there taking on real responsibility. Maybe if you set some limits for him? Credit card restrictions, reward systems, things that give him structure without making him feel trapped."

Estelle's eyes widened slightly. "That's... actually brilliant."

"You're so smart," she continued, studying me with new appreciation. "You and Matteo should be around the same age, shouldn't you? But you speak so maturely."

I felt my cheeks warm. "I just think structure helps, even when you're trying to enjoy yourself."

"We've given Matteo everything he's ever wanted," Estelle admitted, her voice softer now. "No questions, no limits. He might react badly to this. He's not used to being told no."

"That's exactly the problem," I said gently. "It will be hard at first. He will push back, test the boundaries. But it works. Eventually, he'll understand it's not punishment, it's preparation."

Vera turned to face me fully, impressed. "Listen to her. An old soul in a young body."

Estelle nodded slowly, considering. "You really think it would work?"

"It won't be easy," I admitted. "But yes. Consistency is key. Set clear expectations, follow through on consequences, and reward progress. He will resist at first, but if you do not give in, he will adjust."

"Thank you, Gianna." Estelle reached over and squeezed my hand. "Truly. I'll talk to Roberto about it."

Ahead of us, the younger crowd had completely let go. A girl in a sequined dress threw her head back laughing, her friend shouting something in her ear over the music. Two guys hoisted another onto their shoulders, nearly taking everyone down with them.

Vera gestured toward them with her glass. "At least they are enjoying themselves."

"Young people," Estelle sighed. "Loud music, short dresses." She exchanged a look with Vera. "God, remember when that was us?"

"Barely. That was a lifetime ago."

"Speak for yourself," Vera said with mock indignation. "I still have it."

"Of course you do, darling." Estelle reached over and squeezed her arm. "But would you actually want to be out there? With all that energy? All that enthusiasm?"

Vera considered it, then shuddered dramatically. "God, no. I'd need a week to recover."

They both laughed, and I found myself smiling.

"That's why we're standing here," Estelle said, gesturing to our little hiding spot in the garden. "Old enough to appreciate the party from a distance."

"Wise enough," Vera corrected.

Another waiter passed by, and Vera exchanged her empty glass for a full one without missing a beat.

Ahead of us, a guy had a girl pressed against him, her body moving with his like they had already decided where the night was ending.

His mouth found her neck first, then her jaw, and then she turned and kissed him fully, her fingers twisting in his shirt.

There was no holding back, just two people completely lost in each other, the crowd pressing around them as if they were not even there.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify