My Second Marriage with the Mafia Kingpin-Chapter 26: The wives are the real deal

Soil?

SOIL?!

The members of Dominion cringed as they looked away, while some held their breath in horror. They had already assumed there was nothing good Ashley could come up with as a gift, but this was beyond their imagination!

"I knew it," one of them hissed through clenched teeth. "She’s trying to sabotage everything, and now she’s giving someone soil — she’s really an omen!"

How could anyone gift someone soil!?

Of all things, why soil?!

Was she that desperate? Hated Dominion so much to humiliate them like this?!

Even Lucian was confused as he stared at it with furrowed brows.

Then, amid their shocked reactions, they instinctively shifted their attention to Tommy. The moment they sensed his mood dropping to the ninth level of hell, they gulped.

It was over — that woman had truly ruined everything!

Tommy frowned instantly as the air around him seemed to grow heavier and darker. His expression hardened as his hold on the box trembled subtly.

Is he threatening me? he wondered, his eyes glinting. Telling me that he knows about my wife’s interests... and more about me?

Tommy snorted at the audacity. But when he glanced at Lucian and saw the man’s genuinely confused expression, his anger subsided slightly.

"Hmm?" His brows knitted together.

He doesn’t know? Tommy wondered. Didn’t he give me this as a threat, to show that he knows what others don’t?

Tommy studied Lucian’s confused expression a moment longer before his gaze dropped back to the box.

But just as he was about to dismiss it, he noticed something different about the soil. Since his wife’s interests had gradually become his own, he knew a thing or two about such things.

Tommy pinched the soil and rubbed it between his thumb and forefinger.

"This soil..." Tommy trailed off.

His brows slowly rose as he studied the grains between his fingers. For a brief moment, the entire restaurant held its breath.

Even the Dominion guards unconsciously leaned forward, waiting for Tommy’s reaction.

Tommy looked down at the soil again, rubbing it once more as if confirming what he was seeing.

Then he slowly lifted his eyes and met Lucian’s.

"Where did your wife get this?" he asked, only to see Lucian look back at him in silence.

"No idea."

Tommy laughed. "I see. Then, tell your wife that I appreciate her gift."

"She can be... playful at times," Lucian remarked as a way of apologizing on her behalf. "I apologize if this has offended you."

"Why are you apologizing?" Tommy tilted his head before letting out a laugh and shaking it lightly. "Mr. De Luca, I may not be able to help you. However, as a married man myself, let me tell you one thing."

He offered Lucian a short but genuine smile.

"We men often think we know everything. But our wives are the real deal. We see value through certain means, but they? They recognize value at first glance. They know what’s best for us even when they know nothing about what we do. They even know which clothes would look better on us."

"So tell your wife that I truly appreciate her gift," he added. "She seems like a lovely person. And I apologize that I can’t be of help to you."

Everyone present was utterly confused by Tommy’s response.

Just moments ago, he looked furious — like someone who had been insulted and was ready to retaliate. But now, Tommy sounded much kinder, as if Lucian had done something to soften him.

Then everyone’s eyes slowly fell on the box of soil in Tommy’s hand.

The soil?! They gasped mentally.

He liked the soil?! WHY?! HOW?!

Surely, this made no sense to anyone, even to Lucian. But unlike the others, Lucian simply nodded and didn’t dwell on it.

"I’ll tell her," he said. "She’ll be very happy."

To his surprise, Tommy gave his shoulder a light pat. "Take care of her."

With that, Tommy left with the gift in his hand and walked out.

Meanwhile, Lucian remained standing in the same spot, watching the man go.

As for the others, they stayed rooted in place, completely stupefied by what had just happened.

They didn’t even know if the shock came from Tommy refusing Dominion’s offer... or from the fact that the walking bad luck named Ashley had gifted a man of such standing a box of soil.

*****

Inside the car, Tommy sat in the backseat. He didn’t have any escort or security with him, as he didn’t need them right now.

He glanced at the present beside him and let out a deep exhale.

"Hah..." he breathed out softly. "If Liza saw this gift, I’m certain her eyes would twinkle like crazy."

His remark made the slightly older driver glance at him through the rearview mirror.

"Is it a valuable gift, sir?" the driver asked.

Tommy nodded.

"It’s soil from a volcanic basin where only rare plants thrive," Tommy explained. "However, this soil is even harder to obtain than jewelry. I’ve been trying to get even a small amount for a long time, but it’s that difficult."

He paused and leaned back in his seat.

"And yet Dominion has it... and just like Liza, only the Madam of Dominion recognized its value. Just like how I didn’t understand its value until Liza told me."

"The Madam would surely be happy if you gave it to her."

"She would be," Tommy nodded, only for sadness to flicker in his eyes as he looked at the box again. "However, I cannot give this to her."

Tommy let out another deep sigh, aware that he was making a selfish decision.

"It’s from Dominion, and I don’t want to risk associating with someone like him. That life is already behind us... especially after what that world put my wife through."

Lucian’s offer had truly been tempting, and Tommy had meant it when he said he wouldn’t mind joining them if he were still active.

However, Tommy had realized the most important thing in his life: his wife, Liza.

He could pass up such an opportunity for her that his younger self never would have. But he was no longer the same man the underground remembered.

His driver nodded.

"I see."

Just then, Tommy’s phone vibrated. Seeing his wife’s name on the screen, he smiled and answered.

"Yes, dear?" He listened to the other end of the line and nodded. "Alright then. I’ll get them for you before I head to the hotel."

After the call ended, Tommy turned to the driver.

"Let’s drop by the restaurant first," he instructed. "Liza said she couldn’t collect the sales today because she rushed back to the hotel."

He chuckled. "She’s truly fond of that young lady."

Well, Tommy was also fond of Ashley, which was strange, considering he had only met her today.

"Yes, sir." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

With that, Tommy covered for his wife’s duties and stopped by a few places in the district before heading back to the hotel.

It was still early, after all.

He could still meet Liza and Ashley for dinner.

But when Tommy finally arrived in front of the small hotel and stepped out of the car, he suddenly paused as another person stepped out of the car behind him.

"Hmm?" Tommy furrowed his brows as he turned before his eyes widened.

Standing outside the car behind him was the same person he had met in the restaurant just an hour ago.

Lucian.

As for Lucian, Gustav, and the rest of Dominion, they also furrowed their brows upon seeing Tommy.

"Huh?" A confused sound escaped everyone as Tommy and Lucian locked eyes in utter shock.

What in the world was going on?