If you would have a good wife, marry one who has been a good daughter.

-Thomas Fuller

Coco Spencer's POV

I stared at the three-story mansion as I slid out of the car. We have a very busy day ahead of us as Rafe told me last night and he wasn't lying. After we retire early from the party yesterday and making out of the wall of the room our own party didn't end there. Once we were on the bed he kept seducing me again and again and again throughout the night.

I peeked at him while he slid out of the driver's seat. How could this straight-laced Sicilian man be a wild beast in bed? I asked myself silently. From his appearance today no one would think how wicked that mouth of his when he wanted to. I felt myself blushing at the thought of him and his mouth doing exploration in my body last night.

"Are you okay?" He asked concernedly, but I could see deviltry in his light brown eyes. From the smirked in his face he knew what's going on inside my head right now.

"Okay?" I asked tartly, narrowing my eyes in his direction. "You didn't let me get a decent sleep last night. You kept on making love to me until the wee hours of the morning."

He laughed heartily. He didn't feel any remorse about his action last night. "So now you have a fair warning not to play with my jealousy, my love. I will not let you sleep again if you made me jealous again with other men."

"I didn't talk to them to make you jealous, honey," I informed him, rolling my eyes. "It was just your own assumption."

He shrugged indifferently, walking towards the trunk of his car to get our luggage. "Maybe not intentionally but you let Leila generate something evil and play with my jealousy. You don't know well the Sicilian men, mia moglie. We are very jealous when it comes to our wives. You have to keep that in mind."

I scowled at him openly. "Why are you accusing Leila about this? She's innocent to your action last night."

Rafe laughed dryly which made me cringe. "Leila? Innocent? Forgive me, Signorina. It's just I cannot comprehend the word Leila and innocent together. That woman is anything but innocent. When fate spills evilness in mankind Leila is in the front row."

"You are so harsh with her, Rafe." I chided him. "She is not that bad. A little mischievous maybe, but nothing more."

I saw him shook his head regretfully. "You are really fallen to her trap."

I didn't have time to protest his claim since he led me to the entrance door of his childhood home. A maid opened the door for us and I was amazed when I saw their receiving room. The Mediterranean-style mansion of the Moretti family, a combination of white and beige color in the wall and ceiling around the house to give contrasting color of red and brown for their furniture.

"Beautiful home," I commented looking around the area. It gives you a welcoming aura unlike the cold aristocratic feel of Spencer manor.

"My father built this house for my mother when they are starting their married life together." He said with such pride in his voice but with a hint of sadness. "And this is the only property left in our family after our company broke down. My mother couldn't let this home go. She loves this so much."

"Rafaelle!" The voice of a middle-aged woman sounded on the staircase. We both turn around and saw a beautiful woman deciding on the stairs.

I saw Rafe broke into a smile. "Mama."

I took a deep breath and prepared myself as the woman approached us. How am I supposed to greet my mother-in-law? I asked myself silent. This was the first time meeting her. Would she be glad that I am her only son's wife? Does she expect me to be a good Sicilian wife to Rafe? Suddenly I felt nervous upon meeting her. I didn't have enough time to prepare myself for this encounter.

"Is this her?" She asked Rafe with accented voice, once she reached us in the receiving area.

"Sí, Mama," Rafe answered, as he drew me forward so his mother would have a good look on me. I don't think I like the attention his mother paid to me right now. "This is Coco, my wife."

"Nice to meet you, Coco." She surprised me when she enveloped me with a hug. "I am Gina Rafe's mother."

When she back, I smiled at her. "Glad to meet you too, Mrs. Moretti."

"Gina is fine, dear." She said kindly. She looked at her son pointedly. "Rafe, mio figlio. Why don't you leave me and your wife alone so we could have a good chat? I'm sure you have lots of business to attend today. Coco and I will be fine."

I don't think I want to be alone with her. I thought silently.

"Are you sure?" My husband asked no one in particular. It seems that there's a silent communication passion between mother and son. And I have a strong feeling that I was the subject of their silent communication.

"Yes," His mother reassured. "We will be fine. We will just get to know each other more. Don't worry. We will be here in the living room. After you're done with your stuff, feel free to fetch your wife here anytime."

"All right," The bastard had said, placing a kiss on my forehead he tried to smile at me. "Have a good chat with Mama, okay? I will just need to call few people in the study room upstairs."

But what choice do I have? I don't want to be cowed by his mother. It seems that she wasn't that bothersome like my Aunt Clarrisa. So I smiled at him with a silent warning in my eyes hoping that he would take heed stating as clearly as the sunshine outside you'd-better-fetch-me-here-real-quick-or-I-will-kill-you look.

With one last smile, he left me with his mother. We watched him ascend on the staircase and I was left alone with his mother in the living room.

"So," His mother started. "How are you...?"

NEXT MORNING...

Rafe Moretti's POV

I didn't have any idea what was the topic of my mother and Coco yesterday when I left them in the living room. My wife refused to tell me anything. When I woke up I automatically search for the next person sleeping with me. I frowned slightly when I saw that Coco wasn't around anymore.

I glanced at the clock. It was only past six in the morning. Where was she? I asked myself silently. She's not a morning person other than the morning after our disastrous wedding night. I never saw her woke up before seven.

Curious where was my wife? I rolled off the bed and search inside the house barefooted. Moments later, I saw her in the kitchen wearing an apron and cooking...?

"What are you doing?" I asked with a frown on my face.

"Oh my," She said, placing her hands on her chest. "You scared the hell out of me, honey. At least, make yourself know nicely."

My eyes narrowed at her bandage fingers. I walked briskly in her direction and grab her hands to examine them fully. "What did you do to your hands?" I asked angrily when I saw her cuts were from the knife and she also has light burns. "Remind me again why are you cooking breakfast early this morning? Did my mother tell you to do this?"

"No," She denied it fiercely, snatching her hand from me but I held them tightly. "No one told me to cook breakfast. This is my initiative. Besides, this is what people expect as the wife of a member of the traditional Sicilian family."

I sighed deeply. I knew my mother put this nonsense in her head yesterday. I guessed I need to have a word with my mother about this. That custom was ages ago she couldn't expect my wife to be the same. Where the hell were the maids of this house? "Do you even know how to hold a knife, Signorina?"

"Yeah," She answered arrogantly. "Once or twice back in college."

I shook my head in resignation. A woman who was never been in the kitchen before trying to cook breakfast was unbelievable. She could have had slice away her fingers like a piece of meat with those sharp kitchen knives. I let go of her hands and pulled out something on the drawer near the breakfast table.

"Come here. I commanded angrily. I pulled the chair and sat on it as I opened the first aid kit to search for bandages and ointment. She turned off the stove and approached me reluctantly. I knew it wasn't her fault that she cut herself trying to cook breakfast for us. But I could help but to get mad at the idea of her being hurt. "Sit down," I said, and she sat on the chair next to me. "Here," I gestured my lap.

She looked around as if trying to see if someone was around. "Is that necessary? Where are your manners? We are at your parents' house, honey."

I glared at her pointedly. "I don't particularly care if we are in my parents' house or whichever place, mia amore. You will sit here in my lap or I will put you here, myself? Which one do you like I am fine either way?"

She returned the glare at me but I didn't really care. All I want to do right now was nurse her cuts. Finally, after a glaring contest between us, she gave in and went to my lap. I gently took her hand and slowly removing the bandages on her fingers. I tried not to wince when I saw how deep the wound was on her index finger was. I would not let my mother get away from this if she was responsible for this nonsense.

I apply a small amount of ointment to the wounds. I noticed how hard she tried not to wince it must hurt like hell. I blew her finger lightly to ease the sting of the medicine before placing a bandage. I couldn't help but feel anger inside me.

"From now on, you are banned to cook in the kitchen," I told her while taking care of her other cuts. Such shame that her beautiful hands suffered like this.

"But Rafe..."

I glared at her again. "Listen to me, Coco. I am your husband. I only want what's best for you? How can I face your parents again if they see your hands? I didn't marry you so you can do a domestic job and play a good Sicilian wife for me."

Her eyes filled with hurt. My anger got intensified. I didn't want to see hurt in her eyes ever again. "This is my fault." She said, fighting off her tears. "I want to be a good wife for you. I should have study how to cook before instead of partying."

I took a deep breath, staring deep into her blue-grey gaze. "I don't care if my wife doesn't know how to cook. I may be poor but I can still support my wife. I can still hire a housekeeper so she will not worry about cooking again."

She surprised me suddenly hugged me tightly, her arms wound around my neck. I could smell sweet-scented golden hair. "I am really right with my choice of a husband. You are the best husband in the world, honey. Handsome, gentleman, and most importantly you accepted my flaws and all."

"I am far from being the best husband, Signorina." I chuckled, enjoying the scent of her hair. I didn't know if it was from her shampoo or her unique smell. "But I will try to be for you."

When she drew back, I placed a light kiss on her lips before tracing her bottom lip. "Enough of this cooking. Get dress I have a surprise for you."

"What is that?" The gleamed was back in her eyes.

I kissed her again. "It's a surprise but you will like it, I think."