Wife of a Ruthless Mafia Boss

CHAP 3

The party went on. The audience began to dance with their partners, just like Valjerome's parents. I couldn't help but smile and feel jealous of the couple. Today was their 50th anniversary, yet the love in their eyes was still intact.

"You're drinking too much," a deep voice whispered beside me.

I slowly glanced at him and smiled. "Are you going to stop me from this too?" I laughed and shook my head as I drank the whiskey that I was holding.

I guess I'm really drunk because I can now answer him in a pedantic way without feeling nervous. Well, I am always like this when drunk. It was like I was opening a door from a room I was locked in.

I do not know how many shots I've had. All I know is that I'm pouring all my frustrations right now into drinking—with my husband, with this necklace, and with our lives together.

"Oh, son. Why don't you dance with Jazzie? It's getting late. It would be a pity if you did not make the most of coming here," asked Valjerome's father when they returned to our table.

It was already dawn.

"Jazzie's tired, Dad," Valjerome replied simply as he gently put his arm around my shoulders.

I wanted to scoff, but I refused to. He just didn't want to dance with me.

"Excuse me, I'll just go to the restroom," I politely said to everyone, including my husband.

"I'll go with you," he said and quickly supported me as I stood up.

"I can handle myself," I snapped and pushed him slightly to put some distance between the two of us.

Even though he still wore a mask, I could feel the tension in his clenched jaw. "I will go with you," he said in a dismissive tone and guided me as we walked.

I just bit my lower lip and drifted along as he pulled me. When we reached the bathroom, he just let me go and leaned against the wall as if he were telling me that he would wait for me.

I was relieved and did what had to be done. I peed and then retouched my makeup a bit. Although I do not always want to put makeup on my face, I have no choice because I am carrying a reputation. After retouching, I decided to go out of the bathroom. As much as my knees shook at the sight, I smiled bitterly and began to walk away—leaving my husband kissing another woman.

Instead of going back to the table where Valjerome's parents were, I went directly to the minibar counter at the side. I immediately asked the bartender for a margarita and quickly gulped it down once he filled the glass. Not minding the lime or the salt.

I continued drinking until my surroundings were already spinning. I laughed for a moment because minutes had passed, but my husband still wasn't looking for me.

Can't he see me?

Or is he just not looking for me because he is doing something disgusting right now?

With that thought, I drank another shot. I was about to order again when a man approached my side and offered his hand to me. I stared at him with dizzy eyes. Half of his face was behind a black mask, but that didn't make me mesmerized by him. His ocean-blue eyes captured my entire attention.

"Why don't you dance with me, gorgeous lady? I swear it's more fun than drowning yourself in alcohol," he uttered in a manly voice.

I couldn't answer right away and just kept staring into his beautiful eyes. I was about to speak when a strong arm wrapped around my waist possessively. I just closed my eyes and leaned on him. I already knew the presence of my husband by his scent.

"You're hitting on my wife, mister," Valjerome said in a stiff tone.

Silence prevailed between them. I only heard the music throughout the place, so I slowly opened my eyes. I saw the guy staring at me instead of talking to my husband.

"You do not deserve someone like him," he said and walked away.

I could feel Valjerome's hard grip based on his heavy breathing. I could assure myself that if I wasn't leaning on him, he would have quickly followed the man and killed him right away. I just closed my eyes again and let myself be jailed by his body.

I felt him carrying me carefully, so I slowly opened my eyes again. Our eyes met. I couldn't read the emotion on his face, but I just chose to smile briefly.

"No one deserves you better than me," I whispered and finally drifted into oblivion.

I woke up as if my head had been hit by a loader. "Fvck!" I cursed and massaged my temples.

I slowly opened my eyes and was so shocked when I saw Valjerome standing beside my bed. One of his hands was in his pocket, and I could see the slight tension in his jaw.

"Get up and eat. I'm going to work," he said in an emotionless way.

I blinked and stared at him several times.

What?

Am I hallucinating?

Is he talking to me now?

"Aren't you going to speak?" he asked, frowning.

I fell silent and averted my eyes. "Be careful," I stuttered in a low tone.

I heard him scoff. I was surprised when he suddenly bent down and held my chin, turning it towards him.

"Is that all?" he asked while staring at me.

I swallowed. "A-what..." I trailed off.

What should I say?

"Souvenir?" I added.

He raised an eyebrow and released me slowly. I heard him curse silently as he brushed his hair through his fingers.

"What will you do today? I heard you cleared your schedule," he casually asked.

I looked away when I remembered the reason why I had cleared my schedule for this week.

"No. I'm just going to rest here. I got tired from the consecutive shoots," I lied.

He stared at me.

"W-What... I'm going to get ready and go down for breakfast." I quickly got up and went to the bathroom to avoid him.

I looked in the big mirror, and my face turned red when I noticed that I was already home.

He dressed me again!

I jumped a little when I heard a knock outside the bathroom.

"Why?" I asked, curiously biting my lip.

"I'm going," he informed me.

I could not answer immediately. I heard his footsteps as he left, so I quickly opened the door. He stopped walking and frowned at me.

"A-ahm... Are you coming..." I bit my lower lip and met his gaze. "Home early?" I carefully asked.

He didn't answer. He just kept staring at me like I was a puzzle he was trying to solve.

"I'll try," he answered briefly and then finally left my room.

I couldn't help but smile as I went back inside the bathroom.

Maybe he also remembered what we have today. That's why he was acting nice.

I happily took a shower and groomed myself. I was still in my room, but I was already planning what I should cook for tonight. Valjerome might be a mafia boss, but he still had his legal company to take care of. He was running a company named ABCD Construction Corporation—a leading engineering and infrastructure firm here in the Philippines.

I blow-dried my hair and finally went out of my room. I was happily whistling as I walked down the hallway when I was interrupted by a woman coming out of my husband's room. All the joy and happiness I had felt disappeared so quickly. My memory from last night came back to me when I stared at her face.

She's that girl. She was the one he was kissing last night.

I secretly smiled bitterly and reluctantly continued to walk. I even met Valjerome's right-hand man, Jaime, climbing the stairs. I knew at that moment that Valjerome had ordered him to kill the girl.

"Oh, hija. Eat all of these. I cooked a lot today," Manang greeted me with joy.

I forced a smile and sat on the chair. I couldn't swallow my food. Manang seemed to notice my lethargic aura, so she sat in the chair next to me and gently caressed my shoulder.

"Are you alright?" she inquired worriedly.

I lazily curved my lips into a smile and nodded.

"Did your husband greet you?" she asked cautiously.

I stopped scooping my food and tremblingly dropped the spoon I was holding. I glanced at Manang and smiled again despite the lone tear that fell down my cheek.

"I guess he doesn't even remember our wedding anniversary today..."