REBORN My Second Life I Became The Villianess (Nyxara) novel Chapter 92

The quiet gave me a chance to breathe. For the first time in weeks, there were no emergency calls, no sudden threats on the horizon, and no hidden pieces waiting to trip us up. My father had claimed me publicly, the families were tied to us through an unbreakable alliance, and Carlton was safe and untouched, completely unaware of the massive storm we had managed around him.

I walked over to the tall windows overlooking the back gardens, watching the wind rustle through the dark green trees. Dario stepped up behind me a moment later, wrapping his arms securely around my waist and pulling me back against his chest. He rested his chin on my shoulder, his warm breath brushing against my neck.

"What are you thinking about?" he murmured.

"Just thinking about how quiet it is," I whispered back, leaning my head against his shoulder.

"Enjoy it while it lasts," he replied, a faint, dark edge of amusement in his tone. "In two weeks, my mother is going to descend on this house with a thousand wedding guests, three different catering teams, and a live orchestra, and the quiet living room is going to look like a war zone." he said.

I let out a soft laugh, turning slightly in his arms to look up at him. "Let her try. If I survived a week of planning with Elena Valteri and a southern coming-out party on live television, I can handle a wedding." I said with a smile.

"That's my wife," Dario said, his lips curving into a slow, sharp smirk as he leaned down and pressed a warm, deliberate kiss against my mouth.

That night at dinner, the long dining table was packed with the whole family, the noise of the house finally settling down after the trip. I picked at my food for a minute before looking around the table at the faces of my new family.

"I'm going to be speaking to Carlton tomorrow," I said, my voice cutting cleanly through the quiet chatter. Around the table, everyone paused. Vincenzo gave a single, firm nod from the head of the table, Elena, and Grandmother all nodded too, their expressions serious.

"Be careful," Vincenzo said, leaning back in his chair. "He's going to have questions."

"I know," I answered quietly.

I looked down at my plate, turning my fork over once. "Is there somewhere I can talk to him? I didn't want to do it in public or right here at the house where it could get messy." I said quietly. Dario looked up from his seat beside me, his dark eyes steady. "You can use my penthouse downtown. It's empty, secure, and it's not far from Cipher Core." he said.

"Okay," I said, feeling the tension in my shoulders loosen just a fraction.

That night, sleep didn't come easily. I lay awake in the dark for hours, staring up at the ceiling while Dario's arm held me close against his chest. My mind kept looping through every possible way the conversation with Carlton could go, replaying the years he raised me, the quiet routines we shared, and the inevitable reality of what was coming.

The next morning, the pale light of dawn cut through the window blinds. Dario shifted beside me, propping himself up on one elbow as he looked down at my face.

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