My Second Marriage with the Mafia Kingpin novel Chapter 176

Chapter 176: Don’t cut off your line.

"I will carve your heart out... and no one will ever know you’re gone."

Emma’s shoulders stiffened as her neck grew taut, staring wide-eyed at the person before her. The first time she saw Ashley, she had looked so unassuming that Emma had mistaken her for a maid.

The second time was when she watched the trio from afar. Emma had thought then that Ashley was truly a warm person, and she understood why Primo and Lucian were drawn to her. A kind-hearted person like her was like a flame to moths.

But now, she could feel a sense of dread creeping up her spine.

Ashley was not taller than her, and yet she felt herself shrinking under her gaze. Her shoulders trembled as her heart thudded. The person standing before her was just as dangerous as Lucian. Perhaps more.

Ahh...

Emma nodded inwardly with the realization.

I forgot this woman is not just Luka’s wife. She’s... she’s the madam of this cursed Dominion.

Emma drew a deep breath, swallowing the rising tension in her throat. She tried to smile, but failed.

"You are right," she nodded. "There are a lot of things I should apologize to Primo for."

She exhaled heavily, hoping it would ease the weight in her chest. "But the reason I decided not to attend is that... I realized Luka is right."

"I don’t have a place in Primo’s life anymore. The day I let him take my son, I gave up every right I had. And each time I chose a pill over him, I..." she trailed off, shaking her head, telling herself there was no point dwelling on it now.

Emma clutched her handbag tightly, steeling herself as she met Ashley’s eyes once more.

"I’m sorry for all the trouble my presence has caused," Emma said with a bitter smile. "I mean that. Which is why... I’m leaving."

Ashley’s brows drew together, but Emma’s smile only widened slightly.

"I have no place in Dominion, and I no longer have a place in my son’s life. I thought about it all night, and... I realized my son is already in a good place without me," she let out a short, bitter laugh. "If anything, my being here only confuses everyone and affects Primo."

Emma mustered every ounce of courage she had and reached out to take Ashley’s rough hand. Thankfully, Ashley let her, which made her smile softly.

Tears glistened in her eyes as she lifted her gaze.

"Thank you." She nodded, holding back her tears. "Thank you for being there for Primo and for Luka. I may be overstepping by saying this, but thank you. Especially for Luka."

Emma tried to stop it, but she couldn’t, and tears fell down her cheek. Her glossed lips trembled, pressing into a conflicted smile.

"I may not know my own son well, but my brother... he’s a piece of work. He’s emotionally closed off, but that’s because of the kind of family he came from." She paused, unsure if she should even continue.

Ashley might not need to hear any of this, but Emma felt compelled to say it. At the very least, she could do something for the brother who had always helped her in his cold, unaffectionate way.

"And also because trust has cost him the lives of people he cared about," she added. "I’ve never seen him love anyone aside from Primo. But I think if it’s you... my brother might learn how to be human again."

She squeezed Ashley’s hand. "I’m rambling. What I’m trying to say is — please be patient with him. Some things, you’ll have to spell out for him. But once you do, you won’t have to say it again. He’s the kind of person who remembers, even things said in passing."

"Ashley," Emma’s voice softened as she wiped her tears with the back of her hand. "I hope... your marriage will be filled with nothing but happiness. For you, for Luka, and for... Primo."

Finally, she released Ashley’s hand. "Thank you for letting me ramble and for sparing me your time."

With that, Emma took a step back and dipped her head. She turned on her heel to leave, having already said everything she came to say.

But after a few steps, she paused when Ashley spoke.

"Don’t cut off your line."

Her brows knitted as she looked back. "What?"

"Eight years," Ashley said with a quiet, resigned sigh. "You weren’t in Primo’s life for all those years. It’ll take time to make up for that. Don’t add more years to it. So don’t cut off your line. Call him once in a while. Come by on holidays or on his birthdays."

Emma’s lips quivered as the tears she had been holding back gathered in the corners of her eyes. Ashley smiled softly.

"Don’t worry about what Lucian will say. He feels so guilty about me that he’d give me the moon if I asked," she winked.

Tears finally fell from Emma’s eyes as the weight wrapped around her heart began to loosen. She tried to stop crying, but she couldn’t. All she could do was stare at the soft smile on Ashley’s face — the woman who had shown her two very different sides of herself.

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