They Forced the Maid to Marry the Mafia Boss Who Had Driven Away Six Wives, but She Was the One Woman He Couldn’t Let Go
They Forced the Maid to Marry the Mafia Boss Who Had Driven Away Six Wives, but She Was the One Woman He Couldn’t Let Go
Lydia hesitated.
“My mother depends on them.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
“No.”
Something moved in his expression.
Very small.
But real.
He turned toward the officiant.
“The ceremony is postponed.”
Margaret rushed forward.
“You can’t do that. The agreement—”
Cassian faced her.
“I can do anything I want with your agreement.”
Then Lydia made the mistake that changed her life.
She grabbed his sleeve.
Every armed man in the chapel reacted.
Several hands moved beneath suit jackets.
Cassian looked down at her fingers.
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Lydia released him immediately.
“Please.”
His eyes met hers.
“If I go back with them, my mother loses everything.”
Margaret hissed, “Lydia.”
Cassian ignored her.
“Where is your mother?”
“On their property.”
“Is she sick?”
“Yes.”
“How sick?”
Lydia forced herself to answer.
“Enough that moving her suddenly could kill her.”
Cassian’s jaw tightened.
Then he looked at Margaret.
“The debt remains.”
Margaret’s face collapsed.
“But the marriage—”
“I’ll honor it.”
Everyone stared at him.
Including Lydia.
Cassian continued.
“Under one condition. The bride’s real name goes on every document.”
Lydia’s heart slammed against her ribs.
“What?”
He looked at her.
“You asked for protection.”
“I didn’t ask to marry you.”
“No. You asked me not to send you back.”
“That’s different.”
“It is.”
For the first time, his voice softened.
Barely.
“You can leave this chapel now, Lydia. I won’t stop you. I’ll even have someone drive you to your mother.”
Hope rose so fast it hurt.
Then he added, “But the Aldridges will remain free to do whatever they legally can with their property and foundation. I can protect you permanently only if I have a reason they cannot challenge.”
“A marriage.”
“Yes.”
“That’s insane.”
“Most useful things in my world are.”
Margaret looked furious.
Lydia looked toward the rain beyond the windows.
Then at Cassian.
“Will my mother be safe?”
“Yes.”
“Will you hurt her?”
“No.”
“Will you hurt me?”
Silence.
He could have lied.
Instead he said, “I don’t know what you’ve heard about me. Some of it is true. Some of it is worse than the truth. But I do not hurt women because they disappoint me.”
“What happened to your six wives?”
A murmur moved through the chapel.
Cassian’s face became stone.
“They left.”
“Why?”
“That answer takes longer than a wedding ceremony.”
Lydia almost refused.
She wanted to.
But then she remembered her mother coughing through the night.
Remembered the empty medicine bottle beside the kitchen sink.
Remembered Margaret’s smile.
Lydia lifted her chin.
“Put my real name on the papers.”
Cassian watched her carefully.
“You understand what you’re doing?”
“No.”
Something that almost looked like sadness passed through his eyes.
“Neither did I the first time.”
Twenty minutes later, Lydia Carter became Lydia Vale.
By midnight, she was locked inside the east wing of Cassian’s enormous stone mansion.
Not metaphorically.
Actually locked.
She tried the door twice.
Then three times.
A security guard stood outside.
Lydia turned when Cassian entered from the adjoining study.
“You said you wouldn’t hurt me.”
“I’m not hurting you.”
“You locked me in a bedroom.”
“For tonight.”
“That has another word.”
“Protection.”
“Prison.”
His expression tightened.
“There was already one attempt to breach the property after our wedding became known.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m a prisoner.”
“You know nothing about my enemies.”
“I know I don’t like locked doors.”
Cassian stared at her.
Then, without arguing, he removed a key from his pocket and placed it on the table.
“There.”
Lydia blinked.
“You’re giving it to me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you asked.”
She didn’t know what to do with that.
He turned to leave.
“Wait.”
He stopped.
“My mother.”
“She’s being moved.”
Lydia’s blood ran cold.
“What?”
“To a private rehabilitation center fifteen minutes from here. Cardiologist, physical therapist, private room.”
“I can’t afford that.”
“I didn’t ask you to.”
“I don’t want your charity.”
“It isn’t charity.”
“What is it?”
Cassian’s eyes moved to the wedding ring on her finger.
“My responsibility.”
The answer should have made her angry.
Instead it made something inside her ache.
“You arranged all that already?”
“Before dinner.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You were busy telling my security staff you’d break a window with a lamp if they didn’t unlock the door.”
“They deserved warning.”
His mouth moved.
Just slightly.
Lydia stared.
“Did you just smile?”
“No.”
“You did.”
“Good night, Lydia.”
He walked away.
Three days later, Evelyn Aldridge arrived at the mansion.
Lydia was in the library wearing jeans and one of the plain sweaters a staff member had purchased for her when yelling erupted downstairs.
She stepped into the hall.
Evelyn stood beneath the chandelier in a cream designer coat.
Perfect blond hair.
Perfect makeup.
Perfect rage.
“You.”
Lydia stopped.
Evelyn crossed the room.
“You stole my life.”
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Lydia almost couldn’t believe it.
“You ran away.”
