I Gave My Mafia Fiancé to My Evil Stepsister

I froze, slowly turning my head. Edmund, dressed in a black, tailor-made suit, was standing right there, his presence chilling the air.His gray eyes were locked on my hand, still on the bartender's chin."Chloe, I just remembered my mom's waiting for me. I gotta go!" My friend's face went white. She grabbed her purse and practically sprinted out of there.Edmund stepped closer, his gaze shifting from my hand to the young bartender."Get out."The bartender practically scrambled away. The other patrons sensed the danger and cleared out, leaving our section of the club completely empty.Edmund closed the distance, his long fingers wrapping around my wrist like a vice."Tell me what you were just doing."I yanked my hand away, glaring back at him. "What I do is none of your business."Before I could even react, he moved. One second I was standing my ground, the next I was thrown over his shoulder. I beat on his back and screamed at him, but he ignored me and strode out of the club."Let

My words hit a nerve. Laura exploded. "That's not true!" she hissed. "When Edmund finds out, he'll be relieved he's getting the better wife! I'm just waiting to give him a surprise on our wedding day!"She glared at me, her voice dropping to a venomous whisper. "You better keep your mouth shut. If you ruin this for me, I'll make you regret it."I smirked. "Don't worry. I can't wait for you to be his problem."In the end, I was dragged to the party.Two hours later, we arrived at The Wilson, Chicago's most luxurious hotel. I had deliberately chosen a flashy purple dress with a plunging neckline and a thigh-high slit that sparkled under the lights. Laura, in contrast, wore a modest black gown. The two of us couldn't have been more different."Dammit," Edmund's face clouded over the moment he saw me. "I told you to change, not to find something even more revealing.""This is the most conservative thing in my closet," I said, feigning innocence. I was enjoying getting under his skin.Laura

I don't know how long I was out. I woke up in my own room.Turning my head, I was shocked to see Edmund sitting in a chair by my bed, holding my hand."You're awake," he said softly, a gentleness in his voice I'd never heard before.I snatched my hand back. "Shouldn't you be with Laura? She was so terrified, after all."Edmund frowned. "You are my fiancée.""Oh?" I scoffed. "Then who was it that asked another woman to dance in front of everyone? Who burned my mother's paintings for another woman?"He was silent for a moment. "I'll replace them with more valuable art. I can buy you a Monet, a Picasso, a Van Gogh, whatever you want.""And you think that can replace my mother's work?" I stared at him, my heart filled with hate."Alessia, if I hadn't done that, your father would have punished you far more severely. I was protecting you.""Besides, you're going to be my wife. You need to have the dignity of a Schroder—""Enough!" I couldn't stand to hear one more word about his damn family

I lay alone in a pool of my own blood. The agony from my hand was so intense I kept blacking out.Just when I thought I might actually die there, the butler, taking pity on me, called a private doctor.I was rushed to the hospital for surgery. When I woke up, the doctor told me, "The fractures are severe. You'll need to rest it completely. Otherwise, you might not be able to perform any strenuous activities with it again..."I clenched my left fist. "I understand," I managed to say.My plan had been to endure one more day, then leave this hellhole for good.But Laura had other ideas. She posted on Instagram: "My Painful Childhood - The Truth About My Sister's Bullying."I skimmed the post, every word a knife to the heart."My whole life, I've lived in fear. My sister Alessia was jealous of the attention I got from our father, so she would bully and threaten me when no one was around... And her mother, the so-called 'political heiress,' used her family's power to steal my mother's fianc

(Edmund’s POV)Holy Name Cathedral was decked out like heaven itself today.White roses and lilies wrapped around every stone pillar. Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows, casting colorful shadows on the floor. The air was thick with incense and flowers.All the big names in Chicago were here. The Godfathers of every major Family sat in the front pews, while the city’s political and business elite filled the rows behind them.Everyone was dressed to the nines.I stood at the altar, a white orchid pinned to my chest.Alessia preferred red roses, I knew, but I insisted the orchid was more fitting for today.No matter. Once we were married, I would teach my wife how things were done.I watched the bride in her white veil walk slowly toward me, a rare, satisfied smile touching my lips.Her hand was trembling slightly. Nerves, I figured."Don't be nervous. You look perfect today," I said gently as she reached my side.Under the veil, Laura's heart was about to pound out of he