Secretly Cherished: From Forgotten Bride To The Mafia Boss's Queen

"Speaking strictly in terms of anatomy, the proportions are actually ideal," Ashley said without thinking.

As soon as the sentence left her mouth, the atmosphere inside the car dropped into an uncomfortable chill.

A sharp darkness settled into Elijah's gaze, heavy with restrained anger.

She had pushed him too far.

Within this territory, Elijah held absolute authority, and people feared him for his cruelty and lack of mercy.

Getting under his skin was never a smart decision.

Realizing her mistake, Ashley felt her pulse race, yet she forced a tight smile and narrowed her eyes, hoping to undo the damage. "That is not what I meant, Mr. Fletcher. What I wanted to say is that you are remarkable, far more capable and impressive than anyone else I have seen."

Some of the hostility in Elijah's eyes eased, and it was clear that her words had caught him off guard.

Moments earlier, she had stood her ground without fear, but now she wore a gentle smile that looked almost harmless.

That sudden change in her attitude stirred an unexpected sense of irritation within him.

"Such a sharp mouth," Elijah said as he let go of her and struck a match for his cigarette, his tone low and compelling. "Stay close to me, and do not go anywhere on your own."

"Understood, Mr. Fletcher." Ashley gave a compliant nod before adding, "Please drop me off at the next junction. I need to stop by my place to collect a few necessities."

Instead of answering, Elijah motioned for her to take the phone.

Catching his meaning at once, Ashley accepted it and saved her number without hesitation.

Everything she did was careful and obedient, making it hard to believe she was the same person who had spoken so boldly earlier.

After the car reached the downtown area, the driver slowed and stopped at the side of the road so Ashley could step out.

Before she closed the door, Elijah spoke again. "Once you are finished, come find me at the shop on No. 1 Northway Street."

"Alright, I am heading out now." Ashley's eyes curved into a sly yet charming smile.

Soon after, she climbed into a taxi and gave the driver the address for Heights Residences.

Upon arrival, she went straight upstairs, pulled out her keys, and unlocked the door to condo 1609.

She had purchased the place before leaving the country and later rented it out, keeping only a single room for storage.

After stepping inside, Ashley collected several sets of clothes along with a few everyday essentials.

While she was packing, Ashley's eyes drifted toward a bag she had not touched in years, and she recalled that it held a picture of the man along with the bank card he had given her.

In truth, they had crossed paths only once, and she could no longer remember his face clearly.

From what she recalled, he was tall and broad, wore a thick beard, and gave off the impression of being difficult to deal with. She doubted he was particularly attractive.

With that thought lingering, Ashley pulled out the picture.

Unfortunately, moisture had seeped into the paper, and the folds had stuck together, leaving the image impossible to make out.

Without much concern, she placed the picture back into the bag, slipped the bank card into her pocket, and resumed packing her things.

At the same time, Elijah stepped into an upscale boutique filled with luxury items.

After browsing carefully, he chose a diamond necklace that featured a clean and timeless design.

Over the years, he knew he had failed to fulfill his role as a husband, so he believed that a thoughtfully chosen gift could serve as a quiet apology.

Above all else, he wanted his grandmother to see that he was making an effort to hold the marriage together and that his distance from his wife had never been intentional.

He believed that showing genuine effort might persuade the woman to accept a divorce with less resistance.

Once he left the jewelry boutique, Elijah drove straight to Heights Residences without delay.

Outside the building, he stepped out of the car, and his tall figure stretched a long shadow across the ground.

Inside the elevator, he pressed the button for the sixteenth floor and soon found himself standing in front of condo 1609.

Reaching the door, Elijah lifted his hand and knocked firmly.

From within, the sound of heavy footsteps grew closer before the door finally swung open.

Looking up, Elijah realized at once that the woman he expected was nowhere in sight.

In her place stood a tall man who had a bathrobe loosely secured around his waist.

Water still clung to the man's hair, and the lingering freshness of a recent shower surrounded him as he stared at Elijah with clear caution and suspicion.

Impatience colored his tone as he asked, "Who are you here to see?"

Shock hit Elijah all at once, and his pupils tightened as every line he had prepared vanished from his mind.

So this was the reason she had not reached out to him in three long years.

At that realization, a surge of humiliation and anger swept through Elijah, and it erased the last trace of restraint he had been holding onto.

Even without affection between them, the law still bound her to him as his wife.

What he had just witnessed felt like open and undeniable betrayal.

There was no reason for this marriage to continue.

Holding that thought steady, Elijah spoke with a voice stripped of warmth. "Sorry, I must have the wrong condo."

With a sharp motion, he forced the jewelry box into the pocket of his coat, then turned away at once and walked off, carrying an unmistakable chill with him.

From the doorway, the man stared after Elijah, his brow tightening in visible confusion.

As the door shut, a young woman's voice drifted from inside. "Who was that?"

Shrugging it off, the man answered casually, "No one I know. He was probably here looking for the landlady."

...

Once Elijah was gone, Ashley completed her packing and made her way to the shop located on No. 1 Northway Street.

Stepping inside, she did not see Elijah anywhere, and only Darin and Luciana were there, throwing darts with several bodyguards.

The moment Ashley showed herself, the mood inside the shop tightened noticeably.

Breaking the uneasy quiet, Darin let his gaze wander over her without restraint and invited, "Dr. Scott, how about joining us for a game?"

Folding her arms, Luciana let out a mocking laugh and said, "Darin, are you putting her on the spot? Dr. Scott only knows how to win over men. Darts are clearly not her strength."

She deliberately stressed the words "win over men," and her contempt was impossible to miss.

That morning, Elijah's obvious favor toward Ashley had lodged itself in Luciana's chest like a sharp thorn.

Faced with their taunts, Ashley walked forward, and a cool smile slowly formed on her lips.

Watching her closely, Darin ran his tongue over his lips and eyed her outfit with open interest. "Here are the rules. Every missed dart means one piece of clothing comes off. From the looks of it, I do not think you have much to spare."

At his remark, loud laughter burst out from the surrounding group.

With a smug tilt of her chin, Luciana added, "If you are afraid, then just walk away. This place is not meant for someone as weak as you."

In their eyes, Ashley looked like an easy target who had stepped into hostile territory, someone they assumed would be overwhelmed at once.

Without much concern, Ashley lifted her shoulders and spoke with casual contempt. "Just make sure you do not regret it when you lose."

Reaching out, Darin placed a dart in her hand. "One round will settle everything."

Tilting her head slightly, Ashley replied, "You go first."

She turned the dart between her fingers and let her gaze drift over the onlookers.

A mocking smile crossed Darin's face as he sized up her outfit, ran a quick mental calculation, and then hurled the dart forward.

The dart struck the bullseye dead center.

Cheers and noise exploded around the room.

"Take something off already. Hurry up!" one man shouted.

Grinning crudely, another added, "I bet she is a C cup."

Leaning into the chaos, someone else said, "Those hips must be soft and full. Bet it feels amazing."

In response, Ashley only parted her red lips slightly and snapped her fingers.

In a sharp motion, her dart cut through the air, struck Darin's dart aside, and landed squarely on the bullseye.

With her eyes narrowing, Ashley let a playful yet dangerous smile show. "That makes me the winner. You are the one who needs to undress."

Shock rippled through the room as everyone froze, their disbelief fixed squarely on Ashley.

Left without a proper comeback, Darin clenched his jaw and responded, "That one does not count. We should start over."

Letting out a short, scornful laugh, Ashley spoke. "I have no patience for someone who cannot accept losing."

Reaching into her sleeve, she revealed several slim blades and sent them forward in a swift motion.

The blades cut through the air and tore cleanly through Darin's clothes while leaving his skin completely unharmed.

Such exact control drew sharp gasps from everyone watching.

Fear flashed across Darin's face as his eyes widened and his breathing stalled.

Reacting at once, Luciana pulled out a gun and aimed it at Ashley. "Are you tired of living, attacking Darin like that?"

Before the final word settled, a blade was already pressed against Luciana's throat, cold and heavy with killing intent. "Then let us find out who dies first," Ashley said.

Silence swallowed the entire space.

No one could have imagined that the doctor who appeared so mild would reveal such brutal resolve.

Out of nowhere, a powerful hand clamped down on Luciana's gun and stopped it cold.

Elijah stood squarely in front of Ashley, his tall frame blocking her from view, and the pressure he brought with him was enough to make the room feel suffocating.

In the middle of that strained silence, a bank card slipped free from Ashley's pocket and dropped cleanly onto the floor at Elijah's feet.

Lowering his eyes, Elijah noticed the familiar black card, and a sharp shock ran through him as his pupils tightened.

It looked exactly like the bank card he had handed to his wife three years earlier, right after they finalized their marriage registration.

For a brief moment, everything around them felt frozen in place.

Raising his gaze slowly, Elijah fixed Ashley with a deep and unreadable stare, and his voice carried a biting chill as he asked, "Where did you get this credit card?"