My Second Marriage with the Mafia Kingpin-Chapter 37: Woods Of The Gods

It wasn’t like it was a big deal that there were now designated smoking areas in the territory. It was just a hassle for everyone, who usually just went out to an open area to light a cigarette and take the edge off.

And it was just too abrupt for everyone.

Red and his group quietly smoked their cigarettes while their minds spiraled over this sudden change. Amid their silence, one of their colleagues came running in their direction.

"Red!"

Red and the others whipped their heads toward him, their brows knitting upon seeing the look on his face.

"What in the world is it this time?"

And before they got an answer, a bad feeling was already crawling up their spines.

*

*

*

Moments later, Red and the others on his team—along with some servants, Nolan, and a few bodyguards—stood around the ruined garden, where Ashley was basically taking Primo hostage.

No, she wasn’t holding the young master at gunpoint or anything like that.

What was she doing?

Ashley was gasping, her hands clasped over her gaping mouth, eyes twinkling at Primo. Why? Because the young master was dressed in adorable gardening attire, while she wore a jumper to make herself look like a farmer, complete with a straw hat perched on top of her head.

"What the... is that why she had to make a reroute for that hat?" Red scrunched up his nose in dismay, remembering the short and unpleasant backstory behind that straw hat.

"Oh my gosh! You are so cute~!" Ashley fawned over Primo, who was looking down to hide the blush on his cheeks.

Just moments ago, Ashley had been lecturing him. After that, she beamed at him as if she had just thought of a wicked idea. Before Primo knew it, he was already staring at himself in the mirror, dressed in the outfit she had forced him to wear.

"Madam?" Nolan stepped forward, stopping Ashley from making Primo too uncomfortable. "What is going on?"

"Ah!" Ashley clapped. "Right. Primo said he wants to rebuild the garden with me."

Everyone: "..."

Primo: I did?

"I told him the idea I got from Auntie Liza, and he said it was a good one! An exciting one, too!" she grinned, stretching the lie.

When she gazed down at Primo, the latter blinked innocently. But alas, all Primo saw was the smug smirk on her lips.

She didn’t say it outright, but the look on her face alone was enough for the little boy to understand what she wasn’t saying:

How are you going to clear your name when you can’t talk?

Primo pressed his mouth into a thin line, unsure what to feel about it. All he knew was that he finally understood why she had hidden his drawing pad and told him he didn’t need it.

When everyone else was patient with him and wanted him to talk, here she was, taking advantage of it.

Ashley stood proudly, hands on her hips as she eyed everyone.

"And he also said he’ll sing if you guys help us," she added, making the little boy jolt while the others just looked at her in utter confusion. "Right, Primo?"

Primo didn’t answer—not a nod or anything. He didn’t need to, though, because she had already reached out and guided his head into a nod.

"See?" she tilted her head with a playful glint, as if everyone was dumb.

For a moment, everyone just stayed quiet, looking at each other. Then, they shifted their eyes back to her before Nolan stepped forward again.

"Madam, we have professional gardeners," he reasoned. "It would be best if you tell them the design and the plants you want..."

But Ashley was already shaking her head.

"I already told the gardeners to help," she said, shooting the group of gardeners a look. "However, we need more manpower for what we’re planning here."

The lines on everyone’s faces deepened at the excited look on her face.

"After all, what we’re going to grow and plant here is sacred!" she announced, making everyone pause and listen attentively out of pure curiosity.

She smirked, studying everyone’s expressions. "Have you heard of the tree called the Wood of the Gods?"

No one answered while she chuckled.

"Of course, you don’t know that," she snickered, and somehow, Nolan glanced at the gardeners for answers.

Their expressions only confused him further, as they all looked a little conflicted.

Just then, another servant came into the ruined garden, heading straight to Ashley.

"Madam, there’s a delivery for you," said the maid, making Ashley light up even more.

"Great!" she exclaimed, flashing everyone an enthusiastic grin.

Somehow, everyone who saw that look on her face knew whatever this delivery was, it would be a lot of trouble. And they were right—because what arrived in the Dominion’s territory were not just seeds or plants or anything like that.

What arrived were a few fully grown trees.

GROWN TREES!

*****

Meanwhile, Lucian sat in a swivel chair with a teacup in his hand. It was the same tea Ashley had traded with Liza, and he had been drinking it as a replacement for coffee and cigarettes. It wasn’t the best substitute, but the meaning behind it was enough for him.

He had his head turned toward the window, watching the members of the Dominion help the delivery workers move the trees that had just arrived.

Standing near the desk, Gustav was also watching the scene outside.

"Master, are those trees that important?" Gustav asked.

Despite knowing a bit about it, he was still confused and curious.

Even Lucian hadn’t known its value until their trip. Tommy had told him—and so had his new ally.

"That tree is highly regulated, from what I’ve heard, Gustav," Lucian said calmly, his eyes still fixed outside. "It’s illegal to grow them without proper documentation, and the cost to legalize those documents is enormous. On top of that, people kill for even a fraction of it. There are even organized groups that hunt these trees and rob those who own them. Sometimes, they kill them too."

Gustav furrowed his brow and shifted his attention to his boss. "It’s that complicated? Did the Madam Hotel owner help her with the documents?"

Hearing that, Lucian let out a shallow chuckle. He glanced at Gustav and tilted his head slightly.

"We don’t have papers for it," Lucian said, implying that this was illegal. "That’s why she’s planting them in our territory."

Gustav’s mouth fell open, rendered speechless. The next thing he knew, the only thing that came out of his mouth was,

"And she’s dragging the young master into this illegal activity?!"

Lucian didn’t answer. He simply looked away, his eyes glinting with intrigue. Soon, he spotted Ashley and Primo off to the side with Nolan, ordering people around as if she truly meant it.

"Gustav," he called, the corners of his lips curling slightly. "What do you think she’ll do next?"

"Huh?"

"Right now, that’s all I can think about," Lucian muttered as he raised his teacup. "These days, she’s becoming more interesting... and I find myself intrigued by what she’ll do next."

Gustav pressed his mouth into a thin line, studying his boss’s expression. He didn’t say it, but deep down, he could only think of one thing:

I just hope it’s not another escape plan.

If only they knew Ashley wasn’t just rebuilding the garden, she was rebuilding something far more important: Lucian’s trust.

And she was prepared to wager her entire life on the next major event—one that was fast approaching.