Substitute Wife for the Mafia King R18

Chapter 182: A Chance for Revenge

“How can you be so sure?” I asked as my mind started calculating the various possibilities.

It wasn’t normal for a king in this country to abdicate the throne. Usually, the succession only happens at the king’s passing and never before. Regardless of that fact, Bradon seemed very convinced that he was right.

Does he know something that I don’t?

“It should be announced soon enough. I’m sure preparations are being made right now for a flawless announcement of this fact to the public,” he said very casually.

“If the king abdicates then that would mean...” I murmured slowly.

“Crown Prince Desmond will take over as the next King,” Bradon completed the thought that I had in my mind with his own words.

“Prince Desmond...” I whispered as I felt my heart throb almost painfully in my chest.

...

**Bradon’s Point of View**

Dahlia’s face took on a strange expression that I had never seen before when she whispered the crown prince’s name. I thought that she looked slightly panicked or perhaps a little shocked. Her reactions did not make any sense to me at all because it is common knowledge that Prince Desmond would ascend to the position of King after his father. Afterall, Prince Desmond does publicly hold the position of the crown prince. Since there was nothing unexpected about that, I wasn’t sure why Dahlia was reacting the way that she was. Unless, there was something else...

Ever since the prince had invited me to bring Dahlia over to have dinner with him, I have succeeded in keeping his insistent invitations at bay. Desmond had not forgotten about it and the proof were the various messages that he sent nagging me to bring Dahlia to the palace to meet him. So far his attempts were manageable and there was no need for me to tell Dahlia about it. However, I had no idea how much longer the prince would continue to be persistent and how long I could keep on denying him.

“That’s right. Prince Desmond will become king,” I repeated.

“What kind of king do you think Prince Desmond will turn out to be?” she asked after a pause.

“What do you mean by that?” I asked teasingly.

“Well, I don’t know. Will he be...a good king?” she asked in a small voice.

I knew that her mind was busy thinking about something. She looked slightly troubled, as if she was weighing her options and carefully choosing her words.

“That depends on what your definition of a good king is,” I replied as I kept my eyes on her.

Dahlia suddenly went silent as she used her fork to poke absentmindedly at the piece of meat on her plate. I could tell that her mind was elsewhere, but I didn’t mind giving her time to digest and dissect her thoughts. If she wanted answers, I would gladly provide my view if she asked. In exchange, I was sure that I would get a glimpse of what she was thinking.

“Will there be changes?” she asked hesitantly.

“What kind of changes do you have in mind?” I asked for more clarification.

I knew that Dahlia was trying to get to something; however, I could also tell that it was something risky. It felt like she was merely testing the waters with me with most of her questions just to see how I would react. There was an element of fear and uncertainty that sprang from the risk that I may not share her views. I could have chosen to go easy on her and reveal the hand that I held, but then that wouldn’t be very entertaining for the both of us. Thus, I silently sat and watched her struggle to answer my question.

“Come over here. Come closer, Bradon...” she said in a soft seductive whisper.

I wondered what it was that she wanted as I stood up from my seat and walked over to her side. Dahlia looked like she had a secret that she would like to confess to. She beckoned to me with her hand for me to lean down so that she could whisper in my ear. I found her so amusing and I didn’t hesitate to do exactly what she wanted me to.

“I’m talking about changes that will completely destroy the powerful Alnault house as we know it...” she whispered softly yet very clearly into my ear.

The scheming look in her eyes as she smiled sweetly up at me captivated and excited me like never before. The calculating look in her eyes made her eyes sparkle with life and I could sense the determination growing inside of her like a dangerous burning flame. I knew at that moment that I wasn’t wrong in marrying her. In fact, Dahlia was turning out to be an even more fascinating woman than I had initially anticipated.

The sudden realization that our visions couldn’t have been better aligned erased a heavy burden from my chest. I had always thought that Dahlia looked very attractive but at that moment, she looked extremely irresistible. My hands reached out for her face before I could stop myself and then I was kissing her enticing lips.

...

**Dahlia’s point of view**

His sudden kiss and the way that his large manly hands cupped both sides of my cheek stunned me. It wasn’t at all what I expected him to do after I had basically given away what I had in mind. I would be lying if I said that this line of thought never existed in the back of my mind. I wasn’t such a kind and innocent person that would willingly let everything slide. After all, I did promise myself that I would get back at all of them if only I had the chance.

I wasn’t sure if Prince Desmond’s rise to the throne would create a shift in the power balance of the country that would benefit me and my goals or not, but it felt like a once in a lifetime chance for me. Fate was clearly at play, and for once, it might be sitting on my side of the table.

–To be continued...