Chapter 17

The car slowed to a stop in front of Marco’s mansion. 

Marco stepped out, his expression unreadable as his gaze swept over the estate. 

Delilah followed, stepping out cautiously, her eyes trailing up the impressive stone façade. 

The place was grander than she had imagined, a testament to the wealth she knew Marco possessed but had never seen up close.

Without a word, Marco turned and strode towards the entrance. 

Delilah followed, her shoes clicking softly against the polished marble as they crossed the threshold.

Inside, Marco greeted a middle-aged woman with salt-and-pepper hair, dressed in a neat uniform. "Delilah, this is Mrs. Hayden, the housekeeper."

Delilah offered her a polite smile. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Hayden. You’ve done a lovely job here."

Mrs. Hayden smiled warmly in return, but before she could respond, Marco cut in, his tone brisk. "You’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other later. For now, we have more important matters."

Delilah rolled her eyes as she followed Marco deeper into the mansion. 

They climbed the sweeping staircase, his footsteps purposeful. 

He led her to a bedroom at the far end of the hall, pushing open the door to reveal a sleek, modern space centered around a massive king-sized bed. 

The room was spotless, with a simple design that spoke of luxury.

Delilah walked in slowly, her gaze trailing over the furniture. 

Her hand drifted to the dresser as she traced the smooth surface. 

She could feel Marco’s eyes on her, watching her every move. 

He likely thought she was growing comfortable here, maybe even appreciating the wealth that surrounded her.

"You should make yourself comfortable," Marco said from the doorway. His voice carried a strange mix of casualness and command.

He left without another word, the door clicking softly behind him.

Alone now, Delilah’s curiosity got the better of her. 

She opened one of the drawers. 

Inside, she found a collection of golden wristwatches, each one more expensive than the last. 

Her eyes sparkled with interest. 

She slid open another compartment, revealing diamond-studded timepieces.

A smirk tugged at her lips. 

Her husband was clearly quite wealthy—wealthy enough to buy her the golden wristwatch that Gaga had worn, the one that had caught Delilah’s eye. 

She wasn’t planning to steal anything. 

No, she was simply admiring. 

Marco could certainly afford to spoil her if he wanted.

The door creaked open behind her. Delilah turned quickly, expecting Marco. 

Instead, Mrs. Hayden stood there, her expression calm and composed.

"Ma’am," Mrs. Hayden began, "Sir Marco ordered me to assist you with your dress."

Delilah raised an eyebrow. "Dress?"

"Yes, ma’am. Elder Donato will be arriving shortly, and Sir Marco wishes for you to be dressed beautifully, with my help."

Delilah let out a small laugh under her breath. "Ah, so that’s why he was in such a hurry." 

She crossed her arms but nodded. "Alright, Mrs. Hayden."

The housekeeper led her to a suite where the closet held an array of dresses. 

Within minutes, Delilah was dressed, her reflection in the mirror showing a woman transformed.

The black dress hugged her curves perfectly, the deep V-neckline drawing attention to her figure. 

It was high-waisted, accentuating her silhouette in all the right places. 

The fabric was luxurious, clinging to her as if it had been tailored specifically for her. Her auburn hair fell in loose, flowing curls, while her makeup was soft, highlighting her eyes and lips. 

She had an almost sun-kissed glow, the kind of effortless beauty that looked both natural and enticing.

As she made her way downstairs, Delilah’s eyes roamed the mansion. 

It had been cleaned and decorated since their arrival. 

Additional guards stood at attention near the entrance, and she noticed surveillance cameras discreetly positioned along the walls. 

Refreshments were laid out, and soft music played in the background.

Delilah frowned slightly. 

This was no casual visit from Elder Donato. 

The mansion looked prepared for an event, a gathering of some sort. Her brow furrowed as she wondered, "Is there a party I don’t know about?"

She reached the bottom of the stairs just as Marco finished a quiet conversation with Gino. 

His head snapped up at the sound of her footsteps, his eyes locking onto her. 

For a moment, he said nothing, simply taking in the sight of her.

Her dress wasn’t overly extravagant, but it was striking. 

The way it clung to her figure, the way it seemed to bring out her confidence—Marco felt his pulse quicken. 

His eyes lingered on her curves, the way the fabric accentuated every part of her.

He swallowed, the Italian words slipping from his lips almost unconsciously. 

"Che donna bellissima..." he murmured under his breath, his voice laced with admiration. ("What a stunning woman.")

Gino glanced over, his eyebrows lifting slightly as he took in Delilah’s appearance. 

He hadn’t expected her to clean up this well. 

"She looks… incredible," he muttered, clearly impressed.

Instantly, Marco’s gaze snapped to Gino, sharp and dangerous. 

His eyes darkened, his jaw tightening as he fixed his right-hand man with a glare that could cut through steel.

"That’s my wife you’re talking about," Marco said, his voice low and edged with warning.

Gino froze, his smirk faltering as he felt the shift in Marco’s mood. He gulped, swallowing down the nervousness rising in his throat.

"Wife?" Gino raised an eyebrow, his expression shifting to confusion. "But, Boss... you never really considered her as your wife before."

Marco’s gaze didn’t waver. "That doesn’t change the fact that she is."

The room seemed to grow still for a moment, the weight of Marco’s words hanging between them. 

Gino’s casual attitude dissolved as he realized the seriousness of Marco’s tone. He glanced briefly at Delilah, then back to Marco, trying to gauge what had shifted.

"Well, if that’s the case..." Gino muttered, not finishing his thought as he straightened up, his eyes darting away from Marco’s intense stare.

Marco turned his back on Gino, his focus shifting back to Delilah, who had been observing the exchange from a distance. 

His mind churned, realizing how protective he felt in that moment. 

Whatever this arrangement had been before, there was a change now—something different that neither he nor Gino fully understood yet.

"Prepare for Nonno's arrival," Marco ordered, his voice clipped. "No more distractions."

Gino nodded quickly and moved away, casting one last glance at Delilah before disappearing to fulfill his orders.