The Don Postponed, I Disappeared

The call abruptly ended. The dial tone was piercing in the empty room.I tossed my phone onto the sofa.Two seconds later, the screen lit up. A text from Marcello."Cora, stop making a scene, okay? Just do me this one favor.""I know these three years will be hard on you. I swear, I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you."I stared at the text and smirked.The rest of his life?I’d already given him my youth, my love, and my blood. Eight whole years.Nearly three thousand days and nights. Hiding in sewers to evade rival gangs, taking bullets for him in the crossfire.And now, he was going to hold another woman’s hand and make vows in front of a priest. It was the sickest joke I’d ever heard.Before I could reply, the screen flashed.He unsent the messages.A new text popped up."Unsent those. Gia gets insecure, she might overthink if she sees them. Let's just not talk for these three years."Because of his mistress's "insecurities," he wouldn't even leave an empty promise in

"Fine, I'll do it."My tone was so eerily calm it surprised even me.To secure my escape and avoid extra trouble, I just agreed.Marcello was visibly taken aback.He hadn't expected me to agree so easily. A flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes before he breathed a sigh of relief."Glad you understand." His voice softened. "Your birthday is in a few days. I got your gift early.""Wait here, I'll go get it from the car."With that, he walked out of the boutique.Leaving just me and Gia in the showroom.The moment he was out of earshot, she tilted her chin, her arrogance on full display."Cora, you really are pathetic! You know I'm already his wife, and you still want to play pretend at a wedding?""So what if his mother hates me? She can't stop him from marrying me!""Tomorrow is my wedding! Marcello is my man!""And you’ll just be the homewrecker everyone despises!""Don't dream about him divorcing me for you in three years either, because..."She patted her flat stomach, smiling wick

He truly was madly in love with her.I laughed so hard tears came to my eyes, finally spitting out three words:"I am sorry!"Marcello let go, dropping a document in front of me to sign.It was laughable. Did he really think a signature on a piece of paper meant I'd actually bear a child for Gia?But I wanted out as fast as possible, so I signed it.Seeing my quick compliance, Marcello frowned deeply, a flash of irritation in his eyes."Take her down to the basement!" he ordered coldly. "No one lets her out without my say-so. Bring her straight to the church tomorrow morning!"His guards grabbed my arms.The basement was dark, damp, and smelled of mildew.I sat quietly on an iron chair, not fighting back, just silently counting down the minutes.At 4:00 AM, the guards changed shifts.I slipped a fine steel wire from the lining of my coat and picked the old iron lock in seconds.After eight years in the mafia, authenticating art wasn't my only skill.With a clean chop to the neck, I kno

"The hospital? No... I'm not going to the hospital!"At Carmela's words, Gia shrieked, her eyes rolling back as she slumped limply to the floor."Gia!" Marcello reached out instinctively to catch her, but Carmela barked an order."Wake her up!"Carmela wasn't buying the act for a second. She grabbed a pitcher of ice water and dumped it ruthlessly over Gia's head."Ahhh!" The freezing water and ice cubes slammed into her face. Gia shrieked and bolted upright, her perfectly styled bridal updo instantly ruined, looking like a pathetic drowned rat.Seeing that playing dead wasn't working, Gia threw all caution to the wind.She held up her hand, flashing the ring. "I am already Marcello's legal wife! We signed the marriage certificate! It's legally binding!""I am the lady of the Cartel! None of you can kick me out!"Slap!A sharp crack echoed through the cathedral.Carmela slapped Marcello hard across the face."You idiot! You signed papers with this cheap trash?!"Carmela trembled with ra

Marcello’s knees buckled, and he dropped heavily into the muddy puddles of the dark alley.Mud splashed onto his incredibly expensive custom trench coat, but he didn't seem to notice. He just tilted his head up, staring at me with the desperate eyes of a dying man."Cora, I took care of Gia.""I had my men break her hands and sever her Achilles tendons. We threw her out of Cartel territory. She's going to spend the rest of her life rotting in the slums like a piece of trash."He actually thought this kind of bloody revenge would move me. He was desperate to prove his repentance."I was really fooled by her! I lost my mind! But I swear, I never had any real feelings for her. You are the only one in my heart, truly, just you!"The sight was so pathetic, I actually laughed."Never had real feelings?" I looked down at him as if he were a clown. "Then how did you manage to be so deeply invested when you were sleeping with her? How did you look at her with such adoration in the bridal shop?