The Mafia King's Bride
This is the continuation of MARRIED TO THE MAFIA KING AFTER MY WEDDING WAS RUINED. you can get the chapter one from my profile @emberquilljoyce
The cathedral fell into complete silence.
Every pair of eyes was fixed on Aurora Bennett and Alessandro Moretti.
No one dared to whisper.
No one dared to breathe.
Aurora stared at the powerful man standing before her, convinced she had misheard him.
"What... did you just say?"
Alessandro's expression remained unreadable.
"I asked you to marry me."
A nervous laugh escaped Aurora.
"This isn't funny."
"I don't joke."
His calm response sent a shiver down her spine.
She searched his face for any sign that this was some kind of cruel prank, but there was none. His gray eyes were unwavering, almost daring her to question him again.
"But... you don't even know me."
"I know enough."
Her heart pounded wildly.
"I was just abandoned at the altar."
"I saw."
"My life is already a disaster."
"I can change that."
Aurora blinked.
"You don't understand."
"No," Alessandro replied. "You don't understand."
Before she could ask what he meant, the cathedral doors swung open again.
Richard walked back inside.
Vanessa was nowhere to be seen.
He looked flustered, almost panicked.
"Aurora!"
She turned, her eyes instantly filling with tears again.
Richard hurried toward her.
"I made a mistake."
The guests exchanged confused glances.
"What?"
"I... I wasn't thinking clearly."
Aurora frowned.
"You just left me at the altar."
"I know."
"You humiliated me in front of everyone."
"I know."
"You chose another woman."
"I was confused."
Aurora let out a bitter laugh.
"So now you're suddenly not confused?"
Richard reached for her hand.
"Please... let's finish the wedding."
Before his fingers could touch her, Alessandro stepped between them.
His towering frame blocked Richard completely.
"You've already made your choice."
Richard's face hardened.
"This has nothing to do with you."
"It does now."
Richard scoffed.
"Who do you think you are?"
A cold smile tugged at Alessandro's lips.
"The man standing where you failed."
The room erupted into whispers.
Richard finally recognized the man before him.
His face drained of color.
"A-Alessandro Moretti..."
He instinctively took a step back.
Everyone in New York knew that name.
The man who controlled businesses, politicians, and an empire that stretched far beyond the city.
The Mafia King.
Richard swallowed hard.
"What do you want?"
Alessandro answered without taking his eyes off Aurora.
"Her."
Richard laughed nervously.
"You can't be serious."
"I've never been more serious."
Richard turned to Aurora.
"You wouldn't actually marry him."
Aurora looked at the man who had shattered her heart without hesitation.
Just moments ago, she had begged him not to leave.
Now he was begging her to stay.
Funny how quickly things changed.
"You didn't think about me when you walked away," she said quietly.
"I said I was sorry."
"Sorry doesn't erase what you did."
Richard's expression tightened.
"You don't love him."
Aurora looked at Alessandro.
She didn't love him.
She barely knew him.
But she knew one thing.
She could never trust Richard again.
Alessandro suddenly spoke.
"If you marry me, no one will ever humiliate you again."
His voice wasn't loud.
Yet every word carried certainty.
"I will protect you."
"I will respect you."
"And anyone who hurts you..."
His eyes shifted briefly to Richard.
"...will answer to me."
Richard stiffened.
Aurora searched Alessandro's face.
There was no pity in his eyes.
No mockery.
Only unwavering confidence.
For the first time since her world had fallen apart, she felt... safe.
Her uncle stepped beside her.
"Sweetheart," he whispered, "this decision is yours."
Aurora closed her eyes.
She remembered every broken promise Richard had made.
Every lie.
Every excuse.
Then she opened her eyes again.
Slowly...
She placed her trembling hand into Alessandro's.
A collective gasp swept through the cathedral.
Alessandro gently tightened his grip, as though promising he would never let go.
Richard's face twisted with disbelief.
"Aurora!"
She didn't look at him.
"I'm done being someone's second choice."
Richard clenched his fists.
"You're making the biggest mistake of your life."
"No," Alessandro answered coldly.
"The biggest mistake was leaving her."
The officiant, still stunned, cleared his throat.
"Mr. Moretti... are you certain?"
"I am."
"And Miss Bennett?"
Aurora inhaled deeply.
"Yes."
The ceremony began again.
Only this time...
There was a different groom waiting at the altar.
Within minutes, vows were exchanged.
Simple.
Brief.
Yet somehow more sincere than the promises Richard had ever made.
"I, Alessandro Moretti, take Aurora Bennett to be my wife."
Aurora looked into his gray eyes.
"I, Aurora Bennett, take Alessandro Moretti to be my husband."
The officiant smiled nervously.
"By the authority vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife."
Silence filled the cathedral.
"You may kiss your bride."
Aurora froze.
She hadn't expected that part.
Alessandro stepped closer.
"I won't force you," he murmured so only she could hear.
"But if we are going to convince the world this marriage is real..."
She gave a tiny nod.
His hand gently cupped her cheek.
Instead of a passionate kiss, he brushed a soft kiss against her forehead.
The unexpected tenderness caught her off guard.
A round of applause slowly echoed through the cathedral.
Some guests clapped in disbelief.
Others simply stared.
Richard stood rooted to the spot, watching the woman he had thrown away become the wife of the most powerful man in New York.
Alessandro intertwined his fingers with Aurora's.
"Come home with me, Mrs. Moretti."
Aurora looked at the grand cathedral one last time.
She had walked in expecting to begin a life with the man she loved.
Instead, she was leaving as the wife of the Mafia King.
She had no idea what awaited her beyond those cathedral doors.
But one thing was certain—
Her life would never be the same again.