Chapter 1

646words2026-02-09 09:52

Tonight was the night Marco took over as the Don. It was also the night he promised to announce me as his Underboss and his fiancée.
Many important figures from the underworld attended. Marco dressed formally but looked nervous. He kept glancing at the entrance, waiting for someone.
I walked over, intending to fix his tie.

Marco impatiently dodged my hand.
"Don't touch me," he snapped. "There are VIPs coming. Don't embarrass me."
I was stunned. He had never been rough with me before. I assumed it was just nerves.
I tried to return to my seat, but I was told the chair next to the Don didn't belong to me.
Just then, the doors swung open.
Sophia, the principessa of the Romano family, walked in. She wasn't even on the guest list.

Yet, Marco eagerly rushed over and welcomed her to the seat beside him.
The soldatos below started whispering.
I frowned and approached Marco. "What the hell is this?"
Before Marco could speak, Sophia answered.

"Elena, didn't you know?" Sophia smiled at me. "Marco said he's announcing me as the new madre of the house tonight."
I looked at Marco.
He wouldn't meet my eyes.
Instead, he spoke into the microphone.
"Everyone, let me introduce Miss Sophia Romano. She is the sole heir to the Romano family and my future wife."
The crowd exploded.
" The Romanos? That's old New York royalty!"
"They're broke, but the bloodline is pure."
I understood.
Marco wanted her name; Sophia wanted his money.
"So," I stared coldly at Marco. "You're breaking our engagement for a title?"
"It's not just a title!" Marco hissed, lowering his voice. "Elena, you don't get it. Without the Romano backing, I'm just a thug. Sophia makes me legitimate. What can you offer me? You only know violence."
Before I could retort, Sophia interrupted us.
"Marco, Elena can't stay on as the family Consigliere! We can't have the family honor ruined by a dirty woman!"
Marco paused. "What do you mean?"
Sophia pulled a stack of photos from her bag and slammed them into my face.
"See for yourself! She's been sleeping around to get intel!"
Marco picked one up from the floor.
In the picture, I was leaning into a man's arms. It was my brother, the Don of the Corleone family. He was dressing my wound that day.
Sophia whispered in Marco's ear, "Look at his hand on her ass... Marco, she sold her body for those resources. "
He smashed his wine glass on the floor and pointed at me.
"Elena, you make me sick."
"Move!" Sophia shoved me.
I hit the corner of a table, pain shooting through my waist. Sophia grabbed a glass of red wine and splashed it in my face.
"Sober now?" Sophia smirked. " Stay away from him, you filthy woman."
I wiped the wine off my face and looked at Marco.
"You believe her over me? Just because of some photos?"
Marco sneered and pulled a banishment order from his jacket, throwing it at me.
"Sophia is right," Marco looked down on me."I always knew you were lowborn, but I didn't realize you were this cheap."
Sophia leaned into Marco's arms and pointed at the big screen. The screen started displaying the so-called "evidence."
"Look, everyone. This is your star Consigliere. Sneaking out of mansions late at night, clothes disheveled."
The crowd started jeering, pointing fingers at me.
"Get out!" Marco pointed at the door. "Elena, you are exiled from the family. Never let me see you again."
"Marco," I said. "The man in the photo is my..."
I wanted to say he was my family.
But Sophia screamed over me.
"Your sugar daddy! Elena, stop pretending. You're a gutter rat from the slums, where would you get a powerful relative? Were you going to claim that's the Corleone Don?"
The crowd burst into laughter.