My Second Marriage with the Mafia Kingpin novel Chapter 213

Chapter 213: Make It Worth My While

Even if Ashley cried and put on that pitiful look, there was no way Lucian would agree. He had no plans to take her home; she should recover in the hospital.

But if she put it that way, how could he refuse — especially when Lucian, of all people, deeply understood her reasoning?

It was not about him or her, but rather the world and life Lucian had been painstakingly building for Primo and Ashley — a life they could truly live in. Now she wanted the same goal, not for herself but for Primo.

"Let’s... let’s just go home to Primo."

Silence settled between them as they stared at each other longer than they should have. After a beat, Lucian let out a shallow breath and walked toward her bed.

Lucian sat on the edge, draping an arm across her lap while planting his other hand beside her. He leaned forward slightly, looking her in the eye and studying every gleam in them.

"Is that really what you want?" he asked, his voice low.

Ashley pursed her lips and nodded. "That’s what I want."

"Lucian," she added with a deep breath, taking her time as she gathered her thoughts.

As she did, she studied his expression. She could not read him, but she knew he wasn’t angry — not even close.

She wanted to tell him she was already used to tending to her own wounds. That this was nothing, that she could endure it. But deep in her heart, she knew saying so would only make things worse.

"I... want to get rid of the Di Carpio mentality," she continued under her breath, holding his gaze. "And by that, I mean I want to protect what is actually worth protecting. I’ve done a lot of things for the Di Carpios — things that have reserved me a spot in hell."

And no amount of prayers, repentance, or justification could ever erase what had already been done.

"And if I’m already going to hell, I might as well go there a legend," she added, reaching for his shirt and clutching it tighter. "Make it worth my while."

Another silence fell over them until Lucian sighed heavily.

No — that was the answer he wanted to give her. Because his plans were the same as hers for Primo. But the determination in her eyes told him one thing: whatever realization she had during the incident, there was no turning back.

Again, Lucian wondered: what had he done?

"Don’t you trust me?" Her question snapped him out of his thoughts, making his brows lift. "Am I being too greedy by asking you... that I no longer want this empty title?"

"It was never empty —"

"I know," she cut him off. "That’s why I’m telling all of this to you. Because... I am your wife, the madam of Dominion."

Ashley drew a deep breath, wincing a little at the dull ache in her back. "And as your wife, I want to go home."

"..." Lucian pressed his lips into a thin line, noting that she had been speaking with unusual seriousness — no trace of her usual playfulness or nonsense.

Was he really being greedy? He wondered as he nodded mildly.

Was he being too idealistic to believe he could create a place — a world, or even just a temporary illusion — where he could save her from this world of violence? Had he deluded himself into thinking Ashley could put down her weapon, wash the blood from her hands, and live the life she had always dreamed of?

Was marrying her a mistake?

He had never thought of it before, but now he could not help but wonder.

Was he protecting her... or destroying her? He could no longer tell.

"How I wish I could read you," she mumbled while studying the look on his face, watching his gaze refocus on her. "At the same time, I’m glad I can’t. Something tells me whatever is going on in your mind would upset me."

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