Mafia Boss Discovers His Bride Is a Virgin… He Thought His Innocent Bride Was…
Chapter 1
The first thing Matteo Romano noticed about his new bride was that she wouldn’t look at him.
The second was that her hands were shaking.
And the third was the small scar above her left eyebrow.
He had memorized that scar before the wedding.
Not because he was interested in her.
Because a Mafia boss did not enter a marriage without knowing every detail about the woman sitting beside him.
Her name was Isabella Moretti.
Twenty-four.
Educated.
Quiet.
Daughter of a powerful family.
And, according to the reports Matteo had received, experienced enough with men to understand exactly what kind of marriage she had just entered.
Their wedding had been arranged to end a war between two families.
There had been no romance.
No courtship.
Just signatures, witnesses, and a promise that neither side would betray the other.
Matteo accepted that.
Isabella seemed to as well.
The ceremony ended at midnight.
Now they stood inside the master suite of his private estate.
Isabella remained near the window.
“You can sleep in the guest room,” Matteo said.
She finally looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because I won’t force you to share a bed with a stranger.”
Her expression softened slightly.
“Thank you.”
Matteo removed his jacket.
“You don’t have to thank me.”
She was silent.
He looked at her again.
“You’re afraid.”
“No.”
“You are.”
She lowered her eyes.
“I’ve heard stories.”
“About me?”
“Yes.”
“Most are true.”
She swallowed.
“That doesn’t make me feel better.”
“It wasn’t supposed to.”
For the first time, the corner of her mouth moved.
Almost a smile.
Matteo turned toward the door.
Then Isabella spoke.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you marry me?”
He stopped.
“Because our families needed peace.”
“And if they didn’t?”
“I wouldn’t have met you.”
She looked down.
“I see.”
He studied her.
There was something strange about her.
Not fear exactly.
More like she was carrying guilt that didn’t belong to her.
“Isabella.”
“Yes?”
“Did you want this marriage?”
She hesitated.
“No.”
The honesty surprised him.
“Neither did I.”
She nodded.
Silence returned.
Matteo left the room.
He expected the marriage to remain cold.
Temporary.
Practical.
Until the two families no longer needed them.
But later that night, Matteo received a message from his oldest lieutenant.
Boss, there is something wrong with Isabella’s background.
He frowned.
Another message arrived.
Her medical records don’t match the report we were given.
Matteo’s expression hardened.
He read the final line.
She may have been deliberately misrepresented to you.
He looked toward the bedroom.
For the first time that night, his new wife no longer looked like a political arrangement.
She looked like a mystery.
And Matteo had built his empire by learning one rule.
The truth was always more dangerous than the lie.
