The Empire I Claimed

In the emergency room, the doctors worked frantically to save the child inside me.

I kept dialing Vincent Russo's number over and over again.

"Pick up… please… just pick up…"

The blood beneath me kept spreading, warm and unstoppable, as my vision slowly blurred.

On the nineteenth try, the call finally connected. However, the first thing I heard was Sofia Costa's soft, teasing laughter. "Vincent, that little stray dog you keep is barking again."

His voice came next, low and lazy, still thick with satisfaction.

"Don't bother with her. She can't live without me. Even if she suspects something, she won't be able to make a scene."

"However, she's so annoying."

"Then I'll just turn off my phone." He chuckled softly. "Be good. Let's continue. At your birthday banquet next week, I'll ask your father, Don Costa, for your hand in marriage."

Her delighted scream rang through the line. "I'll make sure you secure cooperation with the Costa family!"

The call ended.

At that exact moment, I felt something leave my body completely.

The doctor's voice was low, almost regretful. "I'm sorry."

I closed my eyes, forcing back the tears.

Just like that, I knew my relationship with Vincent had come to an end.

What they did not know was this.

The true principessa of the oldest and most powerful mafia family, the Costa family, was me. Sofia was nothing more than a counterfeit, someone who had taken my place.

Two months ago, Donna Costa found me. She pulled me into a tight embrace, her eyes brimming with tears. "My daughter, come home with me. The whole family is waiting for you to take your place and inherit everything."

I refused.

Because Vincent had told me he would marry me and make me his Donna.

However, when I opened my eyes again in the hospital room, I picked up my phone and called my mother.

"Mother, I've changed my mind.

"I want to come home."

Her voice lit up with joy on the other end. "Good! I'll send someone immediately. No, your father and I will come ourselves. We'll hold the grandest homecoming banquet."

"No, Mother," I said softly. "I want the announcement to be made at Sofia's birthday banquet next week."

I wanted to cast her out of the family at the very height of her glory.

"And one more thing," I added. "Terminate all cooperation with the Russo family, especially the arms deals."

"Alright. Everything you ask," she agreed without hesitation. "Those partnerships only existed to help us find you in the first place."

After thanking her, I hesitated before asking one final question.

"The person who switched me with Sofia back then, can I deal with her myself?"

"Of course." Her voice turned ice cold. "If it weren't for that nurse, Sofia's mother, who swapped the babies while I was unconscious, you would never have suffered like this. That woman is already in prison. She, and Sofia, will be yours to deal with."

I had worried that even if Sofia was not her biological daughter, years of affection might make my mother hesitate. However, she agreed so quickly, her heart entirely with me.

My nose stung as emotion welled up. We talked for another half hour before I finally hung up.

Just then, a message popped up on my screen and wiped the smile from my face.

[So you're still alive. I have to admit, I'm a little surprised. Which hurt more, the car that hit you, or the two stab wounds you got last month? Oh, right. Vincent was in a hotel just down the street that night, spending it with me.]

My breath caught.

Another message followed immediately.

[This car accident was just a warning. Touch my man again, and next time, you won't survive.]

Sender, Sofia.

So it really was her.

I clenched my teeth, my whole body trembling with rage.

After a long moment, I finally calmed myself down. Then I took a screenshot of the messages and sent it to my mother's consigliere.

"Find out everything about the accident. She killed my child and I will make her pay every last bit of it."