The Mafia Devil's Contractual Wife

Alina

The clock read 10:15 p.m. when I pulled into the driveway of Ashford Road.

A cool wind rattled the trees, sending a shiver down my spine as I stepped out of the car.

Shaking it off, I made my way to the front door. Tomorrow, this house would be my home, the place where Ethan and I would start our life together.

Marrying Ethan Lockwood, the man I had loved for five years since college and my best friend’s cousin, felt like a dream come true.

Tonight, we were following the age-old wedding tradition of spending the night apart. Ethan was here in our new home while I was supposed to be at Jade’s apartment.

But as I was double-checking my things, I realized I had forgotten something important.

My late mother’s necklace, the one I planned to wear tomorrow and the one she had given me on her deathbed.

I had left it on the dresser in the master bedroom yesterday while I was packing.

Instead of calling him, I thought it would be a sweet surprise to drop by. After all, in less than twenty-four hours, he would be my husband.

I smiled to myself as I turned the key in the lock and pushed the door open.

The house was quiet.

I slipped off my heels and padded inside. The air smelled strongly of Ethan’s cologne.

Then suddenly I heard soft, breathless sounds.

I froze.

That’s an unmistakable moan of a woman.

A chill shot down my spine.

No. That couldn’t be right.

The bedroom door at the end of the hall was slightly open. I heard another sound, deeper this time.

Every instinct screamed at me to turn around, but my feet moved forward.

The door creaked as I nudged it open, only to be welcomed with the greatest shock of my life.

A tangle of bodies, twisted sheets, and clothes strewn across the floor.

A blonde head lifted from the pillows, and my stomach plummeted.

Jade???

My best friend and sister in everything but blood.

And there she was, in bed with my fiancé. Her own cousin.

My jaw hit the floor instantly, and a cold shiver ran down my spine.

For a moment, I couldn’t speak or react. I just watched in horror.

Jade was sprawled across the mattress, Ethan’s body half-covering hers, their limbs tangled together, skin slick with sweat.

The air in my lungs vanished.

For a moment, everything blurred.

I could barely hear past the blood roaring in my ears.

Then Jade turned her head and saw me.

Her lips parted in surprise, but it was brief and fleeting before a slow, wicked smirk curled her mouth.

That small, smug curve of her lips shattered the last of my restraint.

A broken sound escaped me. A gasp? A laugh? I didn’t even know.

Ethan sighed, running a lazy hand through his disheveled hair.

“Alina. You should have knocked. Why are you even here? Can’t you listen to simple instructions?”

I