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Chapter 4

Penulis: Soda
The group chat went dead for a full two seconds.

Then came the notifications.

Silas's best friend frantically unsent his messages.

He followed up with a pathetic cover-up: [Sorry,wrong group.]

Before I could even laugh,Silas's name flashed on my screen like a threat.

I pressed answer.

There was no warmth in his voice.

There was only an icy command.

"Apologize in the chat. Now."

I thought my ears were playing tricks on me.

My chest ached with heavy pressure.

"What did you say? You want me to apologize to the people who just humiliated me?"

"Cleo,stop acting like a feral cat."

Silas loosened his tie with pure frustration.

His impatience cut right through the phone.

"You're not a prize,Cleo. You don't get to please everyone. The guys in that chat are my brothers. We grew up together with Gia. We've spilled blood together. It's normal that they don't accept you yet."

"Just say you don't care in the chat. Move past it. Gia is crying her eyes out right now. She thinks this is all her fault."

I didn't say a word.

He lost his patience.

"It’s just a text, Cleo. You won't die. Gia is different. We've always ruined her. Plus, you don't want my soldiers turning on you before the wedding, do you?"

A wave of pure absurdity washed over me.

My eyes burned red.

I tilted my head back.

I forced the tears down.

She cried,so I was the one in the wrong.

She felt guilty,so I had to humiliate myself to save her perfect little conscience.

"What if I say no?"

I gripped the phone.

My knuckles went white.

"We're getting married today. Why are you throwing another princess tantrum?"

Silas scoffed.

His voice was full of arrogant certainty.

He knew he owned me.

"Look at what day it is. I don't have time to baby you. Cleo,if we call off this wedding,your family loses my protection. Without me,you are nothing."

Seven years of tied interests made him absolutely sure.

He thought I didn't have the balls to flip the board.

"You're right," I interrupted him.

My voice was so calm it terrified me.

"I shouldn't throw a tantrum right now."

"Good. I want to see you at the chapel back door in half an hour."

He hung up.

He sounded satisfied.

The dial tone buzzed in my ear.

The noise shattered my final illusion of him.

Back when he loved me, he never made me bend to his schedule.

One whisper from me about feeling sick?

He’d postpone a hundred-million-dollar weapons shipment.

No questions asked.

I’ve seen him love me. I know the standard.

That’s why his lazy excuses today are a sick joke.

Seven years of companionship and sacrifice meant nothing.

To him,I was just a chip he could play anytime.

I turned around.

I looked at myself in the mirror.

My wedding dress was stained gray by the exhaust.

There were only three hours left before the nine o'clock vows.

I didn't cry.

I barely breathed.

I raised my right hand.

Slowly and firmly,I slid the heavy diamond ring off my ring finger.

It was engraved with the Valenti family crest.

It was the symbol of the Godmother.

Silas Valenti, I'm done playing your Godmother. You can keep the title.

Clack.

I tossed the ring onto the cold nightstand of the hotel suite.

It made a sharp,echoing sound.

I ripped off the heavy wedding dress.

I changed into sleek,all-black casual clothes.

A black getaway car pulled up silently at the hotel back door.

I opened the door and stepped inside.

The window rolled up slowly.

It shut out the noise of the city.

It shut out that ridiculous wedding completely.

The entire North American underworld royalty was walking into the hall.

The ceremony was about to start.

Right at that moment,I turned off my phone.

I vanished from their world completely.
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  • No Sloppy Seconds   Chapter 10

    Three months later, the underworld bloodbath settled completely.That nationwide scandal was the final nail in the Valenti family’s coffin.Silas’s high-ranking loyalists were purged down to the last man.To save the family from getting torn to shreds, the Old Godfather teamed up with the three Elders. They stripped Silas of his Don title and branded his face with the traitor's mark.As for Gia—the woman who tried to ruin my face with acid—she was captured alive under the Dark Web’s highest bounty.After getting disfigured herself, she became the lowest servant in an underground casino, barely surviving day and night.Using the Moretti family’s heavy firepower and my own mastery over laundering networks from the past seven years, I swallowed Silas’s core territory in a flash.My new luxury antique auction house opened right in the heart of downtown.Photographers flashed. The top elite gathered.First-day sales shot straight past ten million dollars. Business was booming!Sunlight drif

  • No Sloppy Seconds   Chapter 9

    "Is she really that fucking innocent? Why don't you see for yourself?"I stood on the stone steps in my high heels, looking down at Silas sprawled in the dirt with a cold sneer. I threw my phone straight at his face.On the screen, a leaked video titled The Mafia Godfather’s Absurd Wedding had already blown up the internet. It was sitting comfortably at number one on both the Dark Web and the Syndicate’s internal network.The video didn't just expose all the filthy messages in their high-level group chat trash-talking my family—it contained a crystal-clear, encrypted audio clip!I tapped play. Gia’s sharp, toxic giggle exploded through the quiet air:"I stole her wedding car on purpose, and that bitch still insists on showing up! You guys wait by the entrance of the hall. The second she gets here, throw acid right in her face! Let’s see how she walks up that altar then!"A thug’s hesitant voice came through: "Miss Gia, she’s the future Godmother...""What are you scared of?! If anyone

  • No Sloppy Seconds   Chapter 8

    "Let him yell." I didn't even look up, calmly taking a sip of my coffee. "Keep the gates locked."The old butler bowed slightly and backed out of the room.On the laptop screen, the Dark Web progress bar finally hit one hundred percent.[Vivian: Done! The underworld hitmen across North America are going crazy right now. The Syndicate’s secrets are up for open bidding. Silas is officially ruined.][Cleo: Thanks.]I shut down the laptop and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window on the second floor.Outside the main gate, dozens of black Lincolns completely blocked the mountain road.Once upon a time, a sight like this would terrify every gang in North America.Now, those luxury cars looked like paper toys. Empty and hilarious.By noon, the sun burned hot overhead.The butler knocked again: "Miss, Mr. Valenti sent all his men away. He’s standing outside the gate alone... He’s been out there for three hours."I put down my newspaper, my face completely cold.When I walked downstairs, Dad w

  • No Sloppy Seconds   Chapter 7

    "Seize my parents’ estate?" I gripped my phone, my eyes turning to ice. "Silas, who the fuck do you think you are?"I hung up in his face and powered off my phone.The world went dead quiet.I tossed the phone onto the desk and picked up the heavy Blood Oath Medal again.The sharp metal edges dug into my palm, bringing a dull sting. That pain washed away every last bit of my seven-year foolishness."Cleo, sleep easy tonight," Mom said, running her hand through my hair, her voice dripping with unconditional love. "If the sky falls, your father and I will hold it up.""No, Mom." I raised my head, a bloodthirsty smirk curling up my lips. "This time, I’m handling it myself."Back in my bedroom, everything felt familiar yet strange. The sheets were still as clean and crisp as the day I left seven years ago.I blinked back the heat in my eyes, took a quick hot shower, and tucked the three armory keycards against my skin.I slept like a baby that night.The next morning, sunlight streamed thr

  • No Sloppy Seconds   Chapter 6

    Late at night. A black Cayenne pulled up silently in front of the Moretti estate.The gates were massive and cold, flanked by stone pillars carved with mafia totems.I dragged my heavy suitcase out of the car. Standing before the keypad, my fingers trembled violently in the air.I didn't have the courage to punch in the code.Seven years ago, I fought my parents over Silas. They hated the match, but I walked away and cut them off completely.Look at me now. Covered in dirt. Wrecked. A homeless stray. What right did I have to come back?I took a deep breath, bit my lip, and turned away."Cleo?"An old, disbelieving voice called out from under the porch lights.My whole body went stiff. I whipped around.Under the warm light of the porch, my parents stood there frozen.The lit cigarette slipped from Dad’s hand, sparks flying on the pavement.Mom dropped her soup bowl. Porcelain shattered into pieces, splashing broth everywhere."Dad... Mom..." My throat was raw. Tears spilled instantly.

  • No Sloppy Seconds   Chapter 5

    8:59 PM. The heavy iron doors of the Bunker’s Grand Hall swing open.Cold candlelight cuts through the dark. Chicago mafia bosses, New York top hitmen, and West Coast kingpins are all waiting in silence for the new mob queen to step out.Silas stands at the altar in a flawless black tuxedo. He adjusts his cufflinks with smooth, arrogant grace. Always in control.He checks his watch."She’s late," his cousin mutters beside him. "Is the princess really throwing a fit tonight?"Silas sneers. A cold, mocking smirk touches his lips. "Just a bratty little drama. She thinks I’ll chase her."He raises his chin, his voice icy and dead certain. "She has nowhere else to go. The Moretti family is dead broke. Three minutes. She’ll walk through that door and sign the blood pact on her knees."9:00 PM on the dot.The side door slams open. A hotel server bursts in, drenched in sweat, almost slipping on the slick marble floor."Mr... Mr. Valenti!" The server’s voice shakes so bad it pierces the de

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