Substitute Wife for the Mafia King R18-Chapter 279: Lurking Danger

Desmond seems to consider my words. By that time the desserts had started to taste sour in my mouth instead of sweet because I had lost all of my appetite. The prince’s gray eyes focused on me just as I placed my utensils down.

“Don’t you feel that something has changed around you?” Desmond asked as he stared directly at my face from across the dining table.

I wasn’t sure what he was referring to so I replied by shaking my head from side to side. In truth it would be more accurate to say that there were so many changes that had happened around me that I wasn’t even sure which change he was exactly referring to.

“You’ve caused quite a bit of trouble as of late. I’m sure that your parents aren’t so pleased about it, not to talk about a few other people,” the prince commented before grinning wryly my way.

I felt my core tightened as a disturbing feeling swirled around in my belly at his words.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I denied although I didn’t sound so convincing.

Desmond let out a long sigh before he directed his gaze back to my face.

“When you piss off the wrong people, it can lead to some dire consequences for you. I’m worried about you, Dahlia,” he said solemnly as if he were lecturing a child that had misbehaved.

“I thank you for your warning and concern, but I think I will be fine,” I replied although I had started to lose my confidence just a little.

“Has anything happened while I wasn’t around?” The prince asked.

“Nothing could have happened, although I’m not sure what you’re fearing. Because of the...fraud scandal...I was locked inside of my house for quite some time,” I replied honestly.

“I guess that is good in a way. It wouldn’t be good if someone were to start following you like that time,” the prince said.

“That time?” I repeated his words questioningly before I suddenly realized that he must have referred to that time when I thought I was being followed by someone during his birthday party. My eyes narrowed when I suddenly realized that someone really has been following me that day and it wasn’t just my own imagination.

“If you keep on doing troublesome things to trouble people, there could be dire consequences, Dahlia,” the prince warned quite sternly.

I could tell that he wasn’t threatening me but rather he was genuinely worried about me. My eyes narrowed at his words while I wondered if I was in any kind of danger unbeknownst to me. By that time, I knew that I had done many scandalous things, whether it be on my own personal accord or to cover for my sister’s misbehavior; however, I didn’t think that there would be any consequences beyond all the slander and rumors that circulated about me in the media.

My skin had definitely gotten thicker on that front and most of the news didn’t even bother me anymore. If anything, I just found them amusing to read and listen to as a pastime. So to hear the prince warn me so seriously about the consequences of my actions if I were to piss off other people made me pause to think.

“Is someone out to kill me or something?” I asked quite bluntly before letting out a scoff at the ridiculously unrealistic idea.

“Some people are only kept alive because they are useful. It is unfortunate and definitely inhumane, but it can be true and because of that, I urge you to be careful,” the prince replied as he kept his eyes on me.

I felt a cold lump form in my throat as a hollow feeling filled my stomach at his blunt and direct warning. If someone was really out to get me, I wasn’t sure who it would be. However, if I were to consider the many people that I had pissed off and the many toes that I have stepped on whether directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, then I guess there could be quite a list of people who might want me gone. When I considered that spooky incident when I was followed, I began wondering if it was out of pure coincidence that I ran into the prince.

“Did you know that someone was following me that day during your birthday party? Was that why you magically appeared to save me?” I asked.

“I just had a feeling, so when I saw you leave the room, I thought that it would be a good opportunity to talk to you in private,” the prince replied casually.

He just happened to have a feeling?

“Thank you for the warning but it’s probably too late for me now to change my ways,” I replied with a careless shrug on my shoulders.

I didn’t think that it was too late for me to change my ways from my end; however, it was already too late for me to patch up my reputation and correct what other people thought of me. Regardless of the reason, it felt like it was already too late for me to turn things around.

“All the more reason why you need proper protection,” the prince said with the firm nod of his head as if he had been waiting for this opportunity all along.

I wondered if all of our talks before were merely to lead me to this very moment.

“And you’re saying that you’re the one that can provide me with ‘proper protection’?” I asked as I arched a brow upwards skeptically.

“Of course. I’m absolutely certain that I’m the best person in this country that can protect you, Dahlia,” the prince said with utmost certainty.

Had it been someone else, I would have doubted his words and that he might be overestimating himself, but that wasn’t the case with Desmond. The scariest thing was that I felt that what Desmond was saying held true and made a lot of sense. If one day I were to be in danger, I couldn’t imagine my parents stepping up to save me in any way. It was just as Desmond had said, some people are kept alive only because they are useful and one day, my use might come to an end. I didn’t even want to imagine what might happen had Desmond not suddenly appeared that day to save me.

–To be continued...