Marrying the Mafia King

Tonight was the tenth anniversary of my relationship with Felix Valentino. This was supposed to be the night he'd finally propose.Instead, here I was, talking about marriage plans with his archenemy, Harold Bonanno, don of the Bonanno family."Sylvie, once you're my wife, your life will be all about me. Got it?"After I agreed, he began flooding my phone with texts, insisting on confirmation every few minutes. When I finally gave him the answer he wanted, he wasted no time in having his underboss send me a ten-page catalog of wedding gowns.Each dress was handpicked from the world's most elite designers, shimmering with diamonds worth a fortune."These were all custom-made in Pavlune, Miravella, Neoverta. Pick whichever catches your eye."When I didn't respond to Harold's text, he sent another."If these don't impress you, we'll go to Isperia's haute couture show in three days. You can choose your gown there."I silently scrolled through the photos of the wedding gowns. Finall

"Are you jealous, by any chance?" Felix asked. "You've always been the one telling me to look out for Lilian, especially with her health being so fragile. Now that I'm doing exactly that, you're upset with me."When I didn't respond, his tone took on a self-righteous tone. "Don't be unreasonable, Sylvie. She's your best friend. Weren't you the one who asked me to be kind to her? And now you're upset because I stayed to make a wish with her?"I was exasperated. "How incredibly noble of you, Felix."He frowned, about to fire back when his phone buzzed again. He glanced at the screen, then looked up. "I'll be out of town for a few days on business. Take care of yourself while I'm gone."I gave a vague hum in response, secretly hoping he might just stay away for good.…Early the next morning, I slipped into an elegant gown and got ready to head to Valentino Estate to say my goodbyes.In the grand hall, the family elders were gathered around the long table, engrossed in discussion

"It's nothing," I said. "Just some gossip I heard. Apparently, a guy went behind his girlfriend's back and secretly married her best friend. My friend said he's completely awful, and his poor girlfriend was totally blindsided."To my surprise, Felix reacted with unexpected intensity. "Why are you even talking about something so pointless? What if the guy didn't have a choice? What if it was some kind of fake marriage to fulfill a dying person's wish?"The self-righteous look on his face struck me as absurd. Even after more than a decade together, he remained a complete mystery to me.Felix started with his usual routine again. Pulling me into a hug, he kissed my forehead."What's going on with you lately, Sylvie? You've been so withdrawn. Don't let your imagination mess with what we've built. After all this time, how can you question how much I care about you? Once we figure out Lilian's situation, we'll get married, okay?"His hand slid under my collar, groping my bust. "Sweethea

It took Felix three days to figure out I'd vanished without a trace. He started calling like crazy, flooding my phone with messages. He even pulled strings with his mafia contacts to hunt me down across the globe.But by then, I was already done with the drama. I blocked his number and cut off every way he could reach me. If he cared so much about Lilian, why keep stringing me along?I sank into the plush cushions of the handcrafted Isperian couch, admiring the custom jewelry case Harold had made just for me. Inside lay the world's most priceless treasures—emeralds, rubies, sapphires, each worth a fortune and a testament to his devotion to me.A line of top-tier tailors stood quietly to the side, their expressions respectful as they revealed dozens of haute couture wedding gowns. Every design was tailor-made. Harold wanted to ensure I was utterly unique."Which one stands out to you?" Harold asked, his arm draped around my waist.I took my time, my eyes wandering over the lavish d

Felix's face clouded over, his expression shifting from guilt to resentment in just a few heartbeats. His mouth twisted into a sneer as he deliberately undid his cuff, exposing the jet-black skull tattoo wrapped around his wrist."It doesn't matter—not even if you're married," he said as he slowly drew a pistol, his finger idly tapping against the barrel.His eyes darted past Harold as he added, "Sylvie, I'll take you by force if I must."A blank check was flung toward Harold."You ever heard of the Valentino family?" Felix asked. "Write in any number, take the money, and get lost before I make you. Cross me again, and I'll make sure no one ever finds your body."The air went dead still. I noticed Harold's soldati, lurking in the shadows, their hands tightening around the guns beneath their suits. The tension was heavy, like a storm about to erupt.Harold turned to Felix, his lips curling into a contemptuous smirk. "This is how you win back your lover, Felix? Pathetic."The word