My Second Marriage with the Mafia Kingpin novel Chapter 398

Chapter 398: It’s his entire being

"How did they get in here?" Lucian leaned toward Ashley as they reached their table.

Ashley sighed as she watched him pull out a chair and sit beside her.

"He’s a partner of Swift Logistics," she answered under her breath, clicking her tongue.

Now that the lights had dimmed and most of the attention was focused on the stage, Ashley could no longer hide her irritation. The last thing she wanted was for anyone from the Di Carpios to be here. And Isabella? She definitely wasn’t part of the plan.

Lucian studied her quietly, trying—but failing—not to feel a sense of satisfaction. He knew this irritated her, but he was relieved to see she wasn’t affected by June at all. It calmed him one way or another.

June, after all, had once been a problem in their marriage.

The last time Lucian thought Ashley had slipped away, he’d assumed she had gone to meet June. It turned out she had simply been standing in a long queue with Nolan for Primo’s game.

"Should I have our men quietly escort them out?" he asked, leaning closer to whisper into her ear while the host enthusiastically addressed the audience through the microphone.

Ashley pursed her lips before glancing at him. Then she let out a long sigh.

"I wish," she muttered, keeping her eyes on the stage. "But I need Swift Logistics to handle shipments to several ports. Unfortunately, it’s the best logistics company in the region... and it has strong political ties, which can help us hasten the process of meeting the requirements for documentation."

She pinched the bridge of her nose.

"I should’ve realized that the partner is from a political dynasty."

From what Ashley had heard, June’s grandfather was running for president and had the strongest chance of winning.

She wouldn’t be surprised if Marshal and Carmella were already pushing Isabella to hold on to June. June himself might be a well-behaved puppy, but his family certainly wasn’t. If they were saints, they wouldn’t be shaking hands with a mafia don like Marshal.

It was still surprising that June had turned out so differently from them.

"Had I known the partner my guest was talking about was June, I would’ve told him to forget about it. Damn it." She clicked her tongue. "And he just had to bring that ticking time bomb here."

Ashley folded her hands in her lap, unable to focus on the host’s presentation.

The host was showcasing the company’s accomplishments—its impressive headquarters, the projects Ashley had spearheaded, the vast acres of farmland and plantations she had established through strategic partnerships.

Tonight was supposed to be a celebration.

Instead, all Ashley could think about was whatever scheme Isabella was planning. Knowing her, she was undoubtedly plotting something.

The most irritating part?

Ashley couldn’t do anything yet.

She had a reputation to protect, especially in a room filled with influential people. Most of them wouldn’t know—or care enough to understand—the history between her and Isabella.

Ashley couldn’t make the first move.

Doing so would damage her reputation far more than Isabella’s.

As her thoughts raced, trying to anticipate Isabella’s next move, Lucian suddenly clasped her hand.

Ashley blinked back to reality and turned to him.

"Don’t bother," he said, leaning close enough for only her to hear. "It’s normal."

He pulled back slightly.

"Sitting in the same room as people you’d rather erase from the face of the earth is just one of the many things we have to endure for obvious reasons," he said with a faint smile. "Take the High Chamber, for example."

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