My Second Marriage with the Mafia Kingpin-Chapter 71: Deserved!

Click! Click! Click!

Primo pursed his lips, lowering his head even more as Ashley fawned over him. She kept taking pictures with her phone, making one wonder if she actually wanted photos of him or simply missed using her phone.

With every click, Ashley jumped from one spot to another, striking different angles just to capture him.

No wonder famous people hate paparazzi, the boy thought, trying to focus on his pot while ignoring the overly enthusiastic paparazzi named Ashley.

"So, so cute!" Ashley cheered, immediately sending one of the photos to Lucian since she didn’t really have anyone else to send it to.

She had been wanting to document everything about the plantation and garden, and she couldn’t resist taking photos of Primo—especially since this was one of the rare times he didn’t look like an old man in his usual old-fashioned outfit.

Meanwhile, as she reviewed the photos, three maids newly assigned to the plantation secretly glared at her from a distance.

"What in the world is happening?" one of them grumbled. "How did she and the master make up just like that?"

"It’s because she got the young master’s favor—how else?" another scoffed.

Just then, they spotted Betty approaching Ashley alongside the head contractor.

"Tsk. Look at her, acting like she’s some important figure," one of the maids sneered. "How does someone like her get to act all high and mighty while the rest of us are covered in dirt?"

"Even the young master has to get his hands dirty, and yet her shoes are barely touched."

The maids hissed in dissatisfaction. They were already upset that Ashley had forced them into this hot, dirty, and exhausting work, yet Betty got to walk around like some supervisor.

"Well, she oversees the plantation," one of them said, waiting for the other two to look at her. "What do you think will happen if the plants don’t grow... and die instead?"

The other two maids raised their brows, the corners of their lips slowly curling into smirks.

*****

"I see," Ashley nodded as she listened to Betty and the head contractor explain the adjustments to the plan.

According to them, since the space wasn’t as large as expected, they needed to widen the gaps between each plant to ensure proper growth. Thanks to Betty’s efforts and the gardeners’ input, they decided to bring this up, even if it meant altering Ashley’s original plan.

Ashley’s goal had been to plant as much as possible, but that would also require expanding the garden. After all, they were planting trees, not just flowers. Space—and time—were both limiting factors.

Their solution was to optimize the current layout first, then expand once everything stabilized.

Ashley’s smile widened as she looked at Betty and the contractor appreciatively. "Then let’s go with that. You guys are the experts."

"Ahem!" Betty lowered her head, hiding the blush on her cheeks. "Madam, I’m not the expert. He is."

The head contractor laughed. "That’s not true. I’m just a contractor. If not for you, my gardeners wouldn’t have had the courage to voice their concerns!"

After all, this was Dominion. With Ashley as the lady of the house, everyone knew they were expected to deliver—no questions asked.

But Betty had been persistent. In just a few days, she had learned quickly and earned their trust.

Ashley smiled proudly and raised her chin. "Primo, did you hear that? Betty’s becoming popular. My secretary is amazing!"

"...."

Primo looked up at Ashley, who was acting like she was the one being praised. Then he glanced at Betty, who was meekly trying to stop Ashley from announcing it to the world.

He nodded and raised a thumbs-up in approval. After all, Betty wasn’t bad. When he was sick and Ashley went out with Nolan, Betty stayed by his side the entire time—just as Ashley had instructed.

That sincerity was something Primo acknowledged.

"See, Betty? Even Primo approves!" Ashley chimed.

Betty glanced at Primo and gave him an awkward smile.

"Betty, you should be proud—just like the madam!" the head contractor laughed along. "You deserve it!"

"Deserved!" Ashley echoed, her laughter filling the air.

Betty stood there, conflicted.

It was the first time she had ever been recognized for her work. She didn’t even know how to respond. All she could do was glance at Ashley, cheeks flushed, her heart overwhelmed by a feeling she had never experienced before.

After all... it felt like Ashley was the proudest of her.

And somehow, that made Betty believe... it was something worth being proud of.

Amid all this, one of the manor maids rushed toward Ashley.

"Madam?"

Ashley’s laughter halted as the servant approached and whispered, "Your sister is here, and she insists on seeing you."

Ashley’s brows rose as she studied the maid’s conflicted expression.

Knowing Lucian, he allowed Isabella in simply because she was Ashley’s sister—half-sister. Besides, Lucian wasn’t the type to blame others so easily. If anything, he would blame himself for trusting Isabella without verifying her claims.

Even so, what happened didn’t just grant Ashley her freedom and a chance to fix her marriage.

It also closed the doors of Dominion to Isabella.

When Lucian shut someone out, it meant a warning had already been given. And his patience only stretched so far.

Ashley smiled. "Ah... okay. I’ll go see her."

She turned to Betty and Primo. "Look after Primo for me for a bit. I’ll just see my sister."

With that, they watched her leave alongside the maid.

Seeing her go for that reason, Primo and Betty both frowned. Primo definitely didn’t like the sound of that. Even the head contractor seemed displeased.

"Did no one tell her who caused that problem?" he wondered because even he was aware of what had happened. How he found out was because he received a memo that the work would be put on hold, then another to ignore the first one.

Primo stared in the direction Ashley had gone before standing up and tugging on Betty’s sleeve.

"Yes, Young Master?" Betty quickly masked her expression.

Primo tugged again.

"Do you want to go somewhere?" she asked.

He nodded.

"Alright then."

Betty smiled politely at the head contractor before excusing herself and following Primo.

To her surprise, she soon realized where Primo was heading — Lucian’s office.