The Mafia Alpha's Hired Bride

Chapter 9

The restaurant was silent, lit only by crystal chandeliers that cast a soft glow across the entire room. Deeya stepped inside alongside Jasper, her eyes wandering with admiration mixed with awkwardness. There were no other customers, as if the entire establishment had been reserved exclusively for the two of them.

A waiter approached with deep reverence and led them to a beautiful table set to perfection. Gleaming porcelain plates, crystal wine glasses, and meticulously arranged silverware made Deeya feel as though she had stepped into another world.

"Now, your practice session is about to begin," Jasper said calmly, his gaze piercing.

Deeya stared at the knife, fork, and spoon lined up in front of her. She swallowed hard, feeling small in the face of rules that seemed trivial yet utterly intimidating.

"Ugh... rich people are so boring. It's just eating. Why does anyone need to learn how to eat properly?" Deeya complained, her voice quiet but clearly audible.

Jasper narrowed his eyes dangerously at her, that cold stare making the hairs on her nape stand on end.

"You don't need to know the reason. All you need to do is learn it," Jasper answered firmly.

"Okay, I don't have any other choice, do I?" Deeya said, shrugging in resignation.

"Good that you know," Jasper replied curtly. He then walked to her chair and pulled it back with elegance. The gesture reminded Deeya of a true gentleman from the movies. "Now, let's begin."

Deeya drew a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heartbeat, then sat down in the chair. No problem... I can handle this, she thought, though a trace of nervousness lingered.

Jasper began demonstrating the basic rules one by one. "First, remember: start eating with the outermost utensils, then work your way inward according to the order of the courses. For example, the small fork on the far right is used for salad. After that, use the main fork for the meat."

Deeya nodded, watching closely. Her hands trembled slightly as she picked up the fork, but she tried to mimic Jasper's movements.

"Hold the fork in your left hand, the knife in your right. Cut the meat calmly, don't rush," Jasper explained while demonstrating. His movements were so graceful, so commanding, as if he had been born with aristocratic manners.

Deeya copied him. She carefully cut a small piece of steak, then brought it to her mouth. The moment the meat touched her tongue, she froze.

This... tastes so familiar. Like I've done this before, a long time ago, Deeya thought in wonder, her brow furrowing slightly.

Jasper, seated across from her, lifted his glass of red wine and sipped it with elegance. His gaze remained fixed on Deeya.

"You learn very quickly," he remarked.

Deeya smiled faintly. "Yeah... it's not that difficult."

Jasper nodded, his gaze seeming to weigh something. "You got through it with far more confidence than I expected."

His tone sounded like a compliment, but moments later he set down his glass, crossed his arms over his chest, and regarded Deeya with a sharp stare.

"But... look at yourself. Eating in a beautiful gown. You're a lady now."

Those words made Deeya's breath catch. Though they sounded somewhat stiff, this was the first time Jasper had genuinely complimented her without a condescending undertone. Her heart trembled.

Deeya then set down her knife and fork with elegance, exactly as Jasper had just taught her. She looked at him with a faint smile, trying to maintain her poise.

"Is that so? Then, sir... am I considered qualified like this?" she asked, her tone teasing.

Without thinking, her high-heeled foot moved forward under the table, brushing softly against Jasper's calf.

Jasper's eyes immediately darkened. "Is that a bribe?" he asked, his voice low, nearly dangerous.

Deeya straightened her posture slightly, smiling with pure challenge. "What if it is?"

"That's enough," he said with a cold stare.

Jasper picked up the napkin from the table, wiping his hands calmly before turning to her. His gaze was sharp, his smile cold.

"You merely did your job well. Now you certainly look the part." He paused for a moment, then emphasized the next words deliberately. "But... you are nowhere near my ideal Luna."

Deeya's smile froze. Her chest felt squeezed by that sentence. A sharp, stinging pain crept into her heart.

"Really? But you're clearly responding to me. That means... at least your body likes me," she said, trying to sound light even as she faltered inside.

Jasper's expression shifted. His dark eyes swept over Deeya, and his voice dropped to a low, pressurized tone.

"Woman... your body is indeed captivating, I won't lie. But as I've told you before—" Jasper leaned forward, his stare piercing. "That's merely my wolf responding to his mate."

Deeya blinked, then squared her shoulders. She smirked faintly, trying to hide the wound his words had inflicted. "Oh, that's enough. At least you like my body."

Jasper furrowed his brow, staring at her for a long moment, as if searching for something in Deeya's gaze that refused to crumble.

"Don't play coy. You'd better remember that this is just a fake relationship," he said coldly, every word like a knife stabbing deep.

Deeya froze. Then, with whatever strength she had left, she smiled bitterly. "I always remember that very well, sir. I think... you're the one reminding yourself, by constantly repeating it to me."

Jasper's eyes narrowed dangerously. His dominant aura immediately filled the space, making the air around them tighten. Deeya knew she had touched the edge of his patience. But instead of retreating, she only smiled faintly, then picked up her napkin and dabbed her mouth with grace as if nothing had happened.

"I believe we're done learning etiquette for today," Deeya said calmly. "Now... you can tell me where you've taken my son, Jace."

A brief silence hung between them, filled only by the ticking of the grand clock on the restaurant wall. Jasper finally rose, his voice low but undeniable.

"Fine. Let's go."

They exited the restaurant and climbed into the black car waiting outside. Throughout the drive, Deeya remained silent, staring out the window, concealing the turmoil inside her. While Jasper, as usual, sat composed cold, utterly in control.

Before long, the car stopped at the edge of a trail leading into the forest. Jasper walked with steady strides, pushing through the path filled with green bushes and wildflowers. The forest air felt cool, fresh, and pristine, making Deeya momentarily forget all the tension that had just unfolded between them. But her eyes were busy searching, looking for the small figure who had filled her heart with longing all this time.

Then her gaze landed on Jace.

The boy seemed absorbed in playing with something that made Deeya's eyes go wide. A ball of fire glowing, spinning like a small torch the size of a turkey egg rested in the grip of his tiny hand. Skillfully, Jace moved it back and forth, as if playing a simple game.

But the ball suddenly slipped from his grasp and struck a pile of dry grass, setting it ablaze in an instant.

"Oh my God!" Deeya exclaimed reflexively, half afraid, half shocked.

The sound made Jace turn around. The moment he spotted his mother, the child immediately gathered his fire energy back. In less than a second, he was standing right in front of Deeya, showing off a little performance a ball of fire spinning between his fingers.

"Mommy, look at that!" Jace said gleefully, his eyes sparkling with pride.

Deeya immediately crouched down, cupping her son's face with both hands. "Yes, Mommy sees it! You're amazing, my darling!" she said with full enthusiasm.

Jace beamed, but then his eyes shifted past Deeya's shoulder, landing directly on Jasper who stood a few steps behind.

"Oh... did Mommy and Daddy just come back from a date?" he asked mischievously, with that cheeky grin typical of children.

Deeya immediately glanced at Jasper. Strangely, this time the man didn't show his usual sulking or cold expression. Instead, there was a flicker of something neutral on his face.

"Uh... something like that," Deeya answered awkwardly.

"Did you kiss too?" Jace asked again, growing more troublesome.

Deeya instantly panicked, her face heating. "Uhh, no..." she answered quickly, remembering that Jasper had indeed never once kissed her.

Jace rubbed his chin, pretending to think deeply, then looked at them both with great consideration. "Alright... if you really didn't kiss. But it's okay too if you decide to give me a baby sister or brother."

"Jace, what on earth are you talking about?!" Deeya cried out, increasingly panicked, while her face turned bright red.

Jasper only remained silent, offering no response. But Deeya caught how his gaze shifted, how his eyes dimmed, as if something was pressing down on his emotions.

Jace seemed oblivious to the change. He kept walking ahead of them, playing with another fireball in his hand.

"Mommy, you know what, Mommy? I'm not a little kid who doesn't know anything," he said seriously.

"Oh, my sweet Jace..." Deeya drew a long breath, then looked at her son earnestly. "You've misunderstood, sweetheart."

She swallowed hard, feeling her heart being squeezed as she spoke the next words. "Listen, Jace. Jasper is not your father. Mommy doesn't love him... and Mommy will never have a child with him. Okay?"

The moment those words slipped from Deeya's lips, a cold chill seemed to crawl down her spine.

Slowly, she turned to look behind her. And sure enough—Jasper was staring at her. His gaze was cold, piercing, filled with a darkness that made Deeya's breath catch.

"That sounded like you won't be faithful to me," Jasper said, his voice as low as a growl.

Why does he look displeased? I didn't say anything wrong, did I? Deeya thought, cold sweat beginning to dampen the back of her neck.

She tried to smile awkwardly, rubbing her nose gently. "I don't think... I used the word 'hate' just now, did I? Sir, you know, I like you..."

Jasper let out a short scoff. "You like my money and my power. I know. Every woman who tries to seduce me says the same thing."

"But I'm special, at least. And I'm your mate. Right?" Deeya shot back quickly, her voice firmer this time, as if challenging him.

Jasper fell silent. There was a brief flash of surprise in his eyes, as if he hadn't expected Deeya to say it so bluntly. Slowly, he walked closer, staring at Deeya with eyes full of complexity—something unspoken lingered there.

"Yes. You are of higher quality than them. But..." his sentence trailed off.

Suddenly, his expression shifted. A cold, sharp aura immediately enveloped him. In an instant, Jasper's body blurred, positioning himself in front of Deeya and Jace, his stance alert.

Deeya jumped, her heart pounding in panic. "What's wrong?"

Jasper didn't look back. His eyes swept the surrounding forest, full of vigilance, his nose lifting slightly as if scenting something.

"I smell vampires," he said quietly, but sharp as a blade.

Deeya froze in place. That single word was enough to make her blood run cold.