The Husband She Never Asked For

Chapter 1

The wedding bells were never meant for her.

Yet there she stood.

Under golden marigold decorations, wearing a red bridal lehenga too heavy for her trembling shoulders, staring at the stranger beside her.

A stranger who looked more dangerous than death itself.

Killian King.

Tall. Sharp jaw. Black suit. Cold gray eyes that held no emotion at all.

The whispers around the hall never stopped.

“That’s him…”

“The Italian mafia…”

“Why is he here?”

“God save the girl…”

Kasia D’Cruz could barely breathe.

One hour ago, she had been peacefully painting near the church courtyard while humming old Bollywood songs.

Now she was married.

Married.

To a man carrying a gun beneath his coat.

Her eyes slowly shifted toward him.

He looked terrifyingly calm while the priest continued the ceremony.

As if forced marriages happened to him every Tuesday.

Kasia swallowed nervously.

This had to be a nightmare.

A horrible, dramatic, unbelievable nightmare.

And somehow…

It all started because of her cousin’s stupidity.

“YOU DID WHAT?!”

Kasia stared at her cousin Mia inside the church dressing room.

Mia looked seconds away from fainting.

“I-I didn’t know the groom was connected to the mafia!”

“You ran away from your wedding!”

“I panicked!”

“And now they think I’m the bride!”

“Well… technically you do look prettier…”

Kasia grabbed a cushion and threw it directly at her cousin’s face.

“This is not a movie, Mia!”

But unfortunately for Kasia…

It absolutely felt like one.

Because outside the room stood dozens of armed Italian men in black suits.

And in the center of them—

Killian King.

The underground ruler of Italy.

The man nobody dared to cross.

People called him Il Diavolo Nero.

The Black Devil.

Cold-blooded.

Violent.

Untouchable.

A businessman in daylight.

A monster in the shadows.

And somehow…

He had silently decided:

“The wedding will continue.”

Kasia wanted to cry.

Now she stood beside him before the sacred fire, hands trembling.

The priest smiled warmly.

“You may hold the bride’s hand.”

Killian finally looked at her properly.

Kasia immediately looked away.

His gaze was intense enough to burn cities.

Slowly, his large hand reached toward hers.

Warm.

Surprisingly gentle.

Not rough.

Not forceful.

Just careful.

As if he already knew she was scared.

Kasia blinked in confusion.

This dangerous mafia man…

Was holding her hand like she was made of glass.

The rituals continued.

Flowers.

Sacred vows.

Seven circles around the fire.

And finally—

The mangalsutra.

Killian stared at the black-beaded necklace in silence for a moment before placing it around her neck carefully.

His fingers accidentally brushed her skin.

Kasia shivered.

Not from fear this time.

Something else.

Something strange.

Something warm.

Then came the sindoor.

The entire hall fell silent.

Killian picked up the vermillion powder.

His cold eyes rested on her trembling face.

For the first time…

His expression softened.

Just slightly.

Enough for her heart to skip.

And then—

He filled her hairline with sindoor.

The marriage was complete.

Kasia D’Cruz became Mrs. Kasia King.

And the most dangerous man in Italy…

Had just gotten married in an Indian church because the wrong bride showed up.

That night, Kasia sat nervously inside the massive hotel suite.

The silence was unbearable.

She kept staring at the fruit bowl because looking anywhere else felt dangerous.

Especially when Killian King himself stood near the balcony, removing his watch calmly.

Without the wedding crowd around him…

He looked even scarier.

His broad shoulders.

Tattooed hands.

Sharp expression.

A man built for violence.

Kasia clutched her dupatta tightly.

“I-I can explain everything…”

Killian looked at her.

One glance.

That was enough to make her soul leave her body.

“I know,” he said calmly.

She blinked.

“You… know?”

“You were not the original bride.”

“Oh.”

Pause.

Another pause.

“Then why did you still marry me?!”

Killian stared at her quietly before answering something completely unexpected.

“Because you looked at me without greed.”

Kasia froze.

His voice remained calm.

“Everyone looks at me with fear. Or money in their eyes.”

“But you looked angry.”

“…I was furious.”

A tiny smirk appeared on his lips.

Tiny.

But devastatingly handsome.

Kasia immediately looked away.

Oh no.

Why was the mafia husband attractive?

This was bad.

Very bad.

Three weeks later—

Italy.

Kasia stood outside Killian’s enormous mansion with wide eyes.

Or rather…

Fortress.

There were guards everywhere.

Men carrying rifles.

Black luxury cars.

Security cameras.

Even the gardeners looked dangerous.

Kasia slowly turned toward her husband.

“…Do your flowers also carry guns?”

One of the guards accidentally coughed trying not to laugh.

Killian looked at her blankly.

Then—

“They only attack on Sundays.”

Kasia stared at him.

“…That was a joke.”

“Yes.”

“You’re horrible at joking.”

“But you smiled.”

She immediately stopped smiling.

Killian’s eyes softened slightly.

He loved when she smiled.

More than he should.

More than a dangerous man like him deserved.

That night, thunder echoed across the mansion.

Kasia quietly walked downstairs searching for water.

But the moment she saw armed guards changing shifts in the hallway—

She panicked.

Her breathing became uneven.

Too many guns.

Too many unfamiliar faces.

Too much fear.

Suddenly—

A warm hand gently held her wrist.

Kasia gasped softly.

Killian stood behind her.

Still awake.

Still wearing his black shirt with sleeves rolled up.

His expression immediately changed seeing her frightened face.

Without saying anything, he guided her closer carefully.

“You’re safe with me.”

His deep voice was calm.

Steady.

Protective.

Kasia looked up at him slowly.

“Promise?”

Killian rested his forehead lightly against hers.

A dangerous mafia king lowering himself only for her.

“I would burn this entire world before letting anyone hurt you.”

And for the first time since arriving in Italy…

Kasia stopped feeling afraid.

Because somehow—

The most dangerous man alive…

Loved her gently.

...****************...

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***