MARRIED TO THE DON, DESIRED BY HIS BROTHER

“No, Mama! I don’t love him—I don’t even know him! He’s an old man!” I cried, tossing my pillows across the room in fury.

“He is not an old man. He’s only thirty-nine,” my mother tried to lighten the mood.

I gave her a death glare. “He’s old enough to be my father, not my husband!”

“You don’t have to love him. He’ll provide and take care of you. That’s all that really matters. I didn’t love your father when I was married off to him, but now I couldn’t imagine life with anyone else.”

“Papa isn’t eighteen years older than you!”

“Sofia!” she scolded, sharp and stern. “Your father would be disappointed to hear you speak this way.”

“Then he should’ve thought about that before marrying me off to some cruel old man!”

My mother sighed and sat down beside me as I sobbed.

“It’s a privilege that you’re getting married to him. He’s the Boss of the Giordano Famiglia. He controls more than half of Chicago. You’ll be a queen.”

I scoffed. “If he’s so high and mighty, then why not pick a willing woman his age? I have my whole life ahead of me, and I don’t want to be anyone’s wife right now—especially not Enrico Giordano!”

“Oh, princess… many women his age are either married or no longer virgins. It’s tradition for the Capo to marry a virgin and present the consummation sheets and a hundred pieces of gold to the bride’s family.”

My stomach turned. The thought of Enrico Giordano deflowering me made me want to vomit. This couldn’t be happening.

“So that’s what Papa is selling me for? A hundred pieces of gold?”

“Your father will gain more respect and better business deals once you're married to Lorenzo Giordano. It will make him proud. Please, dear daughter, do this for us.”

Of course. It was never about me—it was always about image. Status. Reputation. My father—the ever-respected man of the state—wanted more stars pinned to his name.

“It’s not like I have a choice,” I muttered and turned away from my mother, burying my face in my hands as the tears came harder.

“You won’t regret it, I promise you,” she said, then immediately left my room.

As I lay on my bed, drowning in despair, my mind wandered—desperately seeking a distraction. And somehow, it landed on Derek.

I met him at a friend’s brother’s birthday party just after I graduated high school. I was eighteen; he was twenty-three. A mysterious guy with a killer dirt bike and even more killer dimples. He was everything I dreamed of—tall, strong, dark hair, blue eyes. We dated for a few months, and those months were the best of my life.

Then one night, he disappeared. No goodbyes. Just gone.

I still think about him sometimes. Wonder if I’ll ever see him again.

But now? None of that mattered. I was getting married.

All my life—my dreams—my world was about to crumble. I was going to be the bride of a dangerous don. I was still lost in thought when I heard a knock at the door.

“Miss, your father requests your presence,” I heard a maid say from outside.

I sighed heavily as I lazily stood up from the bed. I adjusted my black shirt—it was already riding up, showing the lower half of my butt.

I made my way out the door. From the stairs, I could hear my dad talking to someone on the phone.

“We’ll wait for you. We don’t mind.”

He must’ve been talking to Enrico. He always did whatever he wanted.

“Dad, you called for me?” I said, trying to act strong. He didn’t care how I felt anyway.

“Come and sit, dear,” he said, patting the seat beside him.

I smiled sorrowfully and sat close to him.

“Enrico Giordano will be here for dinner. I expect you to be on your best behavior.”

My eyes were red, and anyone could see how unhappy I was, But he didn’t care.

He never did,We were never close anyways.

“You’ll be doing this family proud,” he said.

I didn’t feel like a daughter. I felt like merchandise.

“All right, Dad,” I said, struggling to accept my fate.

“This is 4:30 p.m. We only have two hours left. Go and get yourself ready.”

I quickly stood up from the couch and ran to my room. I couldn’t hold the pain any longer. I cried my eyes out in silence.

Then I got up and headed straight to the bathroom. I had made up my mind to face this problem—gradually—until I found a solution.

“Miss, your clothes are on the bed, and Sir said you should get ready. Don is on his way”

“Please, I need to—” I paused as I heard a bang on the door. She had already left.

I needed my mum here. I came out and noticed the yellow dress on the bed.

Bang! The door was aggressively pushed open I quickly turned it was my mum, I sighed showing how frustrated I am.

“You’re still in your towel? Come, come. I need to dress you up myself today,” she said.

I could see the mixed emotions in her eyes. But just like me, she couldn’t go against my dad.