My Second Marriage with the Mafia Kingpin-Chapter 44: Hug, Hug!

"Hahaha!"

Betty’s frown deepened as Ashley’s laughter echoed.

"Madam!" she called through clenched teeth, her face already red. "Why are you laughing? This is not a laughing matter!"

"But it’s so cute!" Ashley laughed, only to hiccup in surprise. "Huh? Am I getting drunk? The heck!?"

She picked up the wine bottle and examined it closely, as if trying to figure out how it could affect her. It shouldn’t have—after all, it was just wine. Besides, Ashley could usually hold her liquor well, having been raised in an environment like the Di Carpios.

As for Betty, she could only sigh.

"Madam, aren’t you worried about Miss Nicki?"

"Why would I worry about her?" Ashley shot her a disinterested glance. "It’s way more fun listening to how you stood up to those people. Hehe... Betty, I never thought I’d say this, but I’m making a mental note of it."

"Madam..." Betty sighed, unsure if telling Ashley had been the right decision. Her cheeks flushed even more—whether from the wine or embarrassment, she couldn’t tell.

I shouldn’t have told her... if I knew she’d just laugh like this.

"Haha!" Ashley cleared her throat and shook her head, trying to steady her spinning world. "This wine is strong."

"That’s because you drank almost all of it!"

"But it tastes so good," Ashley pouted. "I didn’t know it had such a strong kick after a while."

Betty let out a shallow breath and shook her head. "I can’t believe you’re this carefree, Madam. This is Dominion. And... aren’t you threatened by Miss Nicki?"

"Why would I be?" Ashley tilted her head, genuinely confused. "Who is she?"

"Madam... you don’t know her?" Betty blinked, then realized something. When Ashley first arrived, Nicki hadn’t been around.

"Right," Betty cleared her throat. "Miss Nicki is the daughter of a former partner of Dominion. She’s been here since the early days, and rumors say..."

She glanced around, then leaned closer and whispered, "She was the master’s first love."

"..." Ashley slowly rocked her head as she watched Betty pull back. "Betty... are you drunk?"

"What?"

"I don’t think you’d say something like that so casually. That kind of thing could start an argument between the master and me."

Betty froze.

"Oh, no!" she clamped a hand over her mouth. "What have I done? Oh no! I’m saying everything out loud—I can’t stop!"

"Pfft—" Ashley tried to hold it in, but failed, slapping her thigh as laughter burst out. "Goodness... look at you. You’re so cute."

Betty’s face turned even redder as she pressed both hands over her mouth, trying to stop herself from talking further. She thought Ashley would be the one drunk, but compared to her, Betty had a much lower tolerance.

"Don’t worry, don’t worry!" Ashley waved it off. "It’s not like that at all. Lu and I are solid—unbreakable! Even if a woman strips naked in front of him, she’d be lucky to get kicked out alive and not carried out in a body bag."

Betty’s brows rose.

"As for Nicki... Nicki..." Ashley hummed, looking up as if recalling something.

It wasn’t that Ashley had forgotten her.

How could she? 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Nicki was one of the people who made her life in Dominion a living hell.

That woman had been loved by everyone—respected far more than Ashley ever was. And she had never missed a chance to rub that in Ashley’s face in her previous life.

But like the unhinged demon Ashley had been back then, she did what she did best once she reached her breaking point.

She killed her.

At the time, Ashley thought Nicki’s death would hurt Lucian—after all, they were rumored to be "lovers."

But she had been wrong.

Lucian hadn’t even spared Nicki’s body a second glance. He did arrange a funeral, out of respect for her service to Dominion.

But that was all.

"Heh," Ashley smiled and flashed it at Betty. "Don’t worry about her. I’ll deal with her—just like I’ll deal with those maids."

"Madam?"

"Betty, thank you for standing up for me," Ashley said, leaning closer before pinching her cheeks. "But remember—you’re my person. You represent me. Your actions and words are extensions of mine."

Her expression softened slightly as she let go, patting Betty’s cheeks.

"If someone mocks you, they mock me. And if they mock me..." she smiled faintly, "they’re mocking Lucian and Dominion too. Don’t let that happen, okay?"

"Anyway, I’m off! I’m tipsy, and I should sleep it off—actually, I’m a little drunk," Ashley added, dusting off her clothes as she stood.

Once upright, she looked down at Betty and grinned.

"Don’t worry about them. I told you, didn’t I? Sucking up to someone with an empty title is still better than having none."

Having said that, she turned, waving lazily. "Sleep well. Tomorrow... is doomsday."

And with that, Ashley walked off, laughing like a maniac.

Betty watched her go, eyes following every unsteady step.

"Ma—" she stopped herself when Ashley nearly tripped, but somehow recovered.

A deep exhale escaped her before a small smile formed.

"I guess... I was worried for nothing."

[Remember, you are my person.]

Ashley’s words echoed in her mind.

"I am... under her now," Betty murmured, nodding to herself. "And sucking up to someone without a title..."

Her voice trailed off as she looked in the direction Ashley had gone.

"Madam... I’ll do my best to help you gain a title that is no longer empty."

Or one worthy of Dominion.

"Haha... I guess I’m drunk too," she laughed softly—but deep down, she meant every word.

If there was anything she could do to help Ashley... she would.

So Ashley would never have to cling to survival in Dominion again.

*

*

*

Meanwhile, as Ashley stumbled back into the residence, she shook her head violently, followed by a hiccup.

"Damn it..." she muttered, trying to steady herself. "This aftereffect is hitting hard. Now I get why Lucian buys expensive stuff... this could cure insomnia."

She dragged her feet forward, then stopped. She looked up at the figures approaching ahead. At the same time, her vision doubled. She blinked hard, standing still until they came to a halt before her.

"Madam?" Nolan called, studying her carefully.

Ashley didn’t respond right away. She raised a finger, blinking repeatedly, shaking her head until her vision cleared.

"Oh..." her face lit up. "Nolan!"

Before he could react, Ashley grabbed his face. Her palms were on either side of his cheeks.

"Thank you for everything, Nolan! You’re the best! Have I told you that?" she squealed before hugging him abruptly, nearly giving the poor man a heart attack. "The best! The best! The best in the world!"

Nolan: "..."

Gustav, standing nearby, was equally speechless.

But then, Ashley peeked at him.

The second their eyes met, he flinched.

"Hehe—Gustav!" she giggled, stumbling toward him. Before he could move, she latched onto his arm, clinging tightly. "I know you hate me. Like, really hate me. But that’s okay! This unhealthy relationship keeps things exciting. Let’s hate each other more!"

"You—what are you doing—?!" Gustav tried to pull away, panicking as she clung tighter. "Let go!"

"Nooo~" she purred, pressing her cheek against his arm. "The more you hate, the more you love. Haven’t you heard? So that means... you’re in love with me~!"

Gustav’s breath hitched. But before he could respond, he froze at the dark aura that loomed behind him.

Nolan: "..."

Gustav: "!!!"

Ashley: "Sorry, Gustav, but you have to let me go~ I’m a married woman~"

Neither of them reacted to her nonsense anymore, as there was a bigger threat behind them.

Slowly, they turned their heads.

There, Lucian stood a few steps away.

His expression was dark enough to make it seem like even Satan would hesitate. His gaze moved from Nolan, then Gustav, then to Ashley, still clinging to his arm.

"Ma—Master," Gustav stuttered for the first time in his life. "I can explain—"

"It’s okay, you don’t have to explain anything, Gustav~" Ashley hummed. "Loving me from arm’s length is understandable."

Gustav and Nolan: "!!!"

Has she gone mad?!

Nolan (internally): Madam, please—stop talking.

Gustav didn’t even dare blink or look away from Lucian. Because if he did, he might die.

"Hmm?" Ashley opened her eyes wider when Gustav stopped resisting. Even through her blurry vision, she recognized the man standing nearby.

Her face lit up, and she released Gustav instantly.

"My boo~!" Her voice turned sweeter as she skipped toward Lucian. Stopping just a step away, she raised her arms.

With a bright grin, she urged, "Hug, hug!"

"..." Lucian stared down at her coldly, then shot Gustav—and even Nolan—a lethal glance.

But when he looked back at her, he caught her fingers wiggling expectantly.

"Come on..." she chirped. "Let’s now. Your baby boo is sleepy~."

The darkness in his expression softened... just slightly. After another moment, he exhaled, defeated. Then he reached out and swept her into his arms.

"Yipee~!" she cheered, hooking her arms around his neck as she giggled.

As for Lucian, he glanced over his shoulder at the men. "Stay away," he said, voice low, before carrying her back into the residence in his arms.