Chapter 1

I am the most secret Principessa of the Sicilian "Shepherd" Mafia.

For my safety, my identity was a closely guarded secret since birth.

I lived in the shadows, leaving the outside world entirely ignorant of my true standing.

Most of the time, I stayed in our family's fortress deep in Sicilian countryside, secretly handling European mafia affairs.

When I came of age, my family arranged a marriage to the heir of the "Lion" family, Matteo Leonardo.

The "Lion" family is a rising power in the Naples region, with businesses ranging from port smuggling to casinos and hotels.

However, to be honest, this family's influence is like a child's toy compared to our "Shepherd" family.

According to tradition, the night before the wedding, the groom must meet the bride face to face to discuss ceremony details and exchange covenant tokens as a sign of respect.

I sat in the designated guest room, from sunset to midnight, but Matteo Leonardo never showed up.

This public snub made my family guards' faces darken with anger.

Near midnight, the door opened, but it wasn't Matteo.

A tall woman with short red hair walked in.

She sized me up without courtesy, her eyes assessing me like cheap merchandise.

"You're that Sicilian Anita, aren't you?" she said arrogantly.

"Mr. Leonardo is busy tonight and doesn't have time to see you. He sent me to tell you that for the ceremony, all you need to do is show up on time. Got it?"

"According to tradition, he should come personally," I stated calmly.

She snorted,looking down on me. "Tradition? Here, Mr. Leonardo's word is tradition. He put me in charge of all the wedding formalities."

She was Carla, Matteo's personal bodyguard and... his serect mistress.

Carla continued, "Hand over your family token. Matteo delegated this to me."

As she spoke, she spotted the pair solid gold pocket watches in my hand—the supreme token crafted by "Shepherd" family artisans over a full year, Its intricate mechanisms contained the encrypted coordinates for future weapons trade routes.

She sneered, snatching it away roughly and examining it with disdain. "No wonder you're country bumpkins. To be marrying into the Leonardo family and only bring out something as outdated as this token."

Before I could react, she tossed one of the gold watches to the Doberman Pinscher lying at her feet.

The beast immediately began pawing and chewing at the golden case.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" My voice was as cold as ice.

Carla looked up when she saw me, revealing an undisguised smirk of contempt.

She shook the other pocket watch in her hand. "Oh, you mean this? Matteo said he could dispose of your token however he pleased. He thought bringing out mass-produced trash from some insignificant country family like yours would just invite ridicule."

I forced down my rage. "This marriage is an alliance. You should show me some respect."

Carla scoffed, walking toward me as she looked me up and down in my simple wedding gown. "Matteo said a woman like you just embarrasses the Leonardo family when standing beside him. The woman at his side needs to be powerful enough—like me."

I almost laughed from the sheer audacity "Are you seriously this stupid?" I shot back. "Your Don need to take responsibility for your impolite behavior"

With that, I didn't wait for her reply.

I took out my satellite phone and directly dialed Matteo's secure line.

"Matteo," I said enunciating every syllable, "Regarding the destruction of the covenant token, you owe me an explanation."

Our wedding was the result of multiple high-level negotiations between our families. If my family learned how the "Lion" family was treating their Principessa, the consequences would be catastrophic.

If Matteo apologized now, there might still be room to turn things around.

"An explanation?" Matteo's voice was slurred with hangover and undisguised arrogance. "I don't need to explain myself to some country bumpkin. You should be grateful I'm even marrying you. You don't get to tell me what to do—and you should consider it an honor that your little gift is good enough for my dog to play with."

I said, calmly, enunciating each word, "I am the bride your father agreed to. What you're doing is an insult to me and my family..."

Before I could finish, all I heard from the other end was a busy tone.

He'd hung up.

Carla deliberately kicked the watch still under the dog's paw with the tip of her high heel.

"Anita, I'd suggest you know your place," she said. "Being allowed into the Leonardo family is already a favor from Matteo to your family. "

Seeing my silence, she thought I was afraid and became even more audacious. "Look at you, so plain. Probably never even held a gun, have you? Matteo needs a woman who can help him handle 'problems. Not some burden who needs protection."

I looked down the corridor, where two men in black suits stood—people my family had assigned there.

Carla followed my gaze, showing no fear.

"Anita, don't be a dreamer. This is Leonardo territory. Do you really think those two guard dogs you brought can walk out of here alive? Matteo won't blame me for dealing with someone as insignificant as you."

She continued, "I'm warning you for the last time—either just stay away now, or..." she glanced at the Doberman chewing on the watch, "I'll make you just like that watch—broken trash, fit only for a dog to chew on"

Since coming of age and participating in family affairs, no one had dared to threaten me to my face.

Anger boiled inside me, but my face remained calm.

"I. Don't. Think. So." I articulated each syllable.

Several waiters and low-ranking Leonardo members in the corridor gasped in shock.

"Is she crazy? Talking to Carla like that?"

"Mr. Leonardo clearly doesn't care about her..."

"How dare that underwater family challenge Carla?"

The surrounding chatter made Carla even more excited.

She tried to slap my face, but I turned my head to avoid it.

"Did you hear that? A useless ornament like you, still want to be our Mamma? Dream on!"

I wasn't bothered by the taunts.

"Carla," I said coldly, "I'll warn you once more. Pick up the watch, then get out of my sight."

"Fucking bitch! " Carla was completely enraged by my attitude, She cursed and grabbed my collar, threwing a punch to my face.

"Is the Leonardo family’s dog, only good for using its fists?" I blocked her arm, my movement swift.

I easily parried several of Carla's attacks .

Frustrated, she pulled out the dagger from her waist. "You fucking bitch! Stop moving! Do you want me to carve up that pretty face?"

Faced with her waving dagger, I didn't confront her directly, only dodged back.

Our Consigliere's words echoed in my ears—it was still not the time to reveal my strength.

Seeing that I was still only defending, not attacking, Carla thought I only knew a few basic moves and grew bolder.

Just as the dagger tip was about to touch my clothes, an impatient shout came from the end of the corridor.

"Stop! What all the noise about?"