Chapter 3

The next day, I checked out of the hospital, enduring the sting of my abrasions and the dull ache in my lower abdomen.

I did not go home. Instead, I went straight to the family headquarters.

That accident… I could not decide whether it had been fortunate or cruel.

Fortunate, because I had only suffered minor injuries.

Cruel, because I had lost that child forever.

Then, all I wanted was to end everything as quickly as possible and leave Vincent behind.

Ten years ago, when Vincent took me in from the orphanage, I had been covered in wounds, unable even to speak.

Back then, the headquarters had been nothing more than a small bar.

Then, it stood in the most luxurious club in Palermo City and he had become the most powerful Don in the region.

I thought it was enough. However, every time I brought up marriage, Vincent would shake his head. "Not yet, Bella. I need the Costa family's cooperation. I'll take the family to the next level, and then I'll make you the most honored Donna."

I believed him.

I did not want to pressure him. Even two months ago, when my biological mother found me, I never wavered. I thought that if I just waited a little longer, everything would change.

However, no matter how long I waited, happiness never came.

Only betrayal did.

I found the consigliere and handed him my leave request. "I need to go home for a while."

He looked surprised. "Home? Aren't you…"

He stopped himself mid-sentence.

For the past ten years, everyone had believed I was just an orphan Vincent had taken in.

Whenever he showed me favoritism, he would smile and say, "I raised her. Of course I take extra care of her."

No one knew that I was his shadow, or the woman who shared his bed.

"I found my family," I said.

The consigliere froze for a moment, then broke into a smile. "That's wonderful. Don will be thrilled to hear—"

Before he could finish, I heard familiar footsteps.

Vincent walked in, dressed in a black suit, his expression icy. His gaze fell immediately on the paper in my hand.

"Family?" His voice was low. "What family?"

"It's nothing," I said quickly, cutting in before the consigliere could speak.

A faint crease appeared between his brows as he was about to press further.

"Vincent!"

A bright, spoiled voice cut through the room, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

Sofia walked in with a smile, her red dress hugging every curve. She leaned against him as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Something shifted in Vincent's expression. For the first time, I saw a gentleness and indulgence I had never received.

He wrapped an arm around her waist and addressed the room. "This is Sofia Costa, my new Underboss."

The hall fell into a brief silence.

Someone glanced at me, then quickly looked away, forcing a welcoming smile.

"Welcome, Ms. Costa!"

I did not clap, I simply lowered my gaze to the calluses on my hands.

All those years, I had fought and bled for the family, completing one dangerous mission after another.

Everyone had heard Vincent say, "Once Bella matures a bit more, the position of Underboss will be hers."

Then, with a single casual sentence, he had crushed what was meant to be mine.

Sofia approached me with a victor's smile and extended her hand.

"So you're Isabella? Vincent mentions you often. He says you may not be very smart, but you work hard and you're loyal."

There was no attempt to hide the contempt in her eyes. It did not sound like praise. It sounded like judgment from someone looking down on me.

I lifted my head and met her gaze, my eyes icy. I did not take her hand.

"Enough."

Before she could react, Vincent reached out and took her hand himself.

"Don't waste time here. I'll take you to see the underground casino. It's been newly renovated just for you."

A blush spread across her face as she smiled sweetly. "Alright."

The atmosphere around us immediately shifted.

One of the bolder members spoke up with a teasing grin. "Don, Miss Sofia is more than just the Underboss, isn't she?"

Vincent turned back, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Of course.

"She's my future Donna."

For a moment, the air seemed to freeze. Then the room erupted into cheers, whistles, and applause.

"We have a Donna!"

"Congratulations, Don! Congratulations, Miss Sofia!"

"A perfect match!"

Sofia covered her lips with a laugh, proudly displaying the ring engraved with the Russo family crest on her finger.

"The engagement banquet will be next week. You all have to come."

People crowded around her, offering their congratulations.

Vincent stood at the center, accepting it all with ease, satisfaction shining in his eyes.

In that moment, my world fell completely silent.

The pain in my lower abdomen intensified until it was hard to breathe.

I had waited ten years for Vincent to acknowledge me in public.

He never had.

Then, after only a few days, Sofia had received his open declaration and the family ring.

"The Costa family's principessa… Don really struck gold this time."

"Isabella… no matter how capable she is, she's still just an orphan…"

"People are born into different fates."

The whispers, though hushed, pierced through me until my vision began to darken.

Vincent… his gaze never once lingered on me.

At last, one of the older members spoke up for me.

"Isabella has done so much for the family. She's always the first into every firefight. That Underboss position should have been hers."

Someone beside him immediately pulled him back, lowering his voice.

"Shut up. Do you want to die? Sofia is the Costa family's principessa. An alliance with that family opens the northern arms routes for us. What does Isabella's contribution even count for?"

"Besides, Don never said he loved her, did he? Who he marries is his choice."

I tightened my grip on the leave request in my hand. Then, without a word, I tore it into pieces.

Rising to my feet, I walked steadily toward the underground casino.

I was done pretending everything was fine.

That day, I would leave the family for good.