Tanya, Mi Madre

The second time Luciano met Tanya, it was during the family banquet.

The family estate would host a banquet at the start of every month, and she stood in the entrance hall welcoming guests.

Anyone in the Ascrofi family with ulterior motives had long been eliminated. Paolo's remaining brothers were the ones willing to submit to him, while the elders had lost all interest in who would inherit the mantle. All they cared about was whether the family and its business continued to thrive.

The latter was tied directly to their income, while the family's value lay mainly in whether it still could allow them to flaunt their power and status.

That was why they hated Tanya, the supposedly bad woman who caused a commotion.

In a pale teal dress, she waited by the door with a soft smile, perfectly balanced between modesty and reserve.

Yet, a few doddering old fossils weren't buying it.

Tanya rarely showed her emotions, but she briefly revealed a flicker of helplessness, as if a crack had opened in her mask.

It made her look fragile.

Even so, her back remained straight, like a magnolia in late spring.

When Luciano approached her, everyone shot them with vicious and mocking looks. Plenty of them were waiting to see the underboss give her the cold shoulder.

That was what Luciano initially had in mind, too.

Yet, when he came to a stop in front of Tanya, she surprisingly cast him a subtle look of dependence, barely perceptible yet unmistakable.

Her eyes seemed enchanted, as if touched by some divine magic.

Any thought Luciano had of giving her a show of authority vanished the moment their eyes met.

Luciano was Paolo's only son now. If nothing went wrong, he would be the next Don.

Meanwhile, Tanya was just a pitiable woman. All that would remain of her, aside from a useless title, was a tarnished reputation.

Oh, well. After all, he was a gentleman.

So, he strode forward, dark and imposing. Fixing his gaze on her, he gave a polite bow. "Madre."

"Luciano, you're here." Her eyes curved into a faint smile as she welcomed him in relief.

Luciano didn't see her again until after he took his seat.

Once everyone had gathered, she came in behind Paolo. Her dress was a little disheveled, but she no longer looked uncertain as before. She now looked composed.

There was even a hint of smug satisfaction in her eyes and brows, with a lingering flush still coloring her cheeks.

A cold smile curled at the corner of Luciano's lips.

Perhaps he had gotten one thing wrong. His stepmother wasn't as fragile as he had imagined.

How interesting. No wonder Paolo was so infatuated with her.

After Paolo exchanged a few casual words with everyone, the family banquet began orderly as usual.

The only difference was that there was an extra person sitting across from Luciano.

Every time he lifted his head, he would see her.

Tanya ate with restraint, using her utensils elegantly. Most of the time, she chewed, smiled, chatted, or served Paolo food. She even wiped the corner of his lips carefully.

Paolo seemed accustomed to Tanya's attentive care. That old thing had incredible luck.

At the end of the banquet, when it was time to see the guests off, Tanya's legs gave way next to Luciano. He instinctively supported her.

The soft, sweet scent of her perfume, tinged with jasmine, drifted into his senses sharply.

Tanya was surprised, then lowered her gaze and stepped backward. "Oh, how clumsy of me. Thank you, Luciano."

Her scent reached him even before her voice.

Luciano had to admit he liked seeing her like this, a tiny crack of vulnerability showing through her otherwise flawless mask of control and compliance, even if only for a fleeting moment.

That way, he could see Tanya in a way that Paolo never did—a helpless and adorable Donna, so different from her usual flawless allure.

When she stood up straight, strands of her hair brushed across his Adam's apple without her realizing it.

Something felt itchy, not just at the throat.

Luciano sighed out loud.

Sleep might elude him tonight, he presumed.