Semua Bab Betrothed To The Ruthless Mafia : Bab 171 - Bab 180

Alberto's grip on the locket tightened as he opened it, his heart racing with anticipation. But what he found inside shook him to his core. Instead of a single picture of the woman Carlotta claimed was his mother, there were two images. The woman's picture remained, but the second one... Alberto's blood drained from his face as he realized it was the same man from the newspapers—the Mafia Lord.Memories flashed back to when Carlotta first showed him the locket years ago. She had used her thumb to cover the second picture, concealing the truth. But why? Why did she lie to him? Why did she hide the Mafia Lord's picture? What connection did she have to him? Had Carlotta been truthful about the locket's origins? Was the woman in the picture really his mother? Still clutching the journal, Alberto immediately opened it to the page where the locket had fallen out. To his surprise, he found additional entries, but they were dated and written in Italian. Fortunately for him, Carlotta had enrol

Carlotta wiped her tears, her expression filled with sadness. "She wanted nothing, but for you to be safe and protected. She was dying and knew she wouldn't be there to shield you from the world you were born into. She wanted you to live a peaceful life, free from the dangers and secrets that came with your family name.""But my father, the Mafia Lord..."She walked closer to him. "She didn't trust he would protect you enough""I'm his heir...""Your father already had a son with his Mistress and was grooming him to take over. Your mother feared the deadly power struggle that would ensue, and didn't want you to be dragged into it." Carlotta gripped his arm, her eyes pleading. "Do not engage with them, I beg of you. Do not let your mother's dying wish and all my efforts to protect you be for nothing. You've built a peaceful and successful life here, you do not need to go back there. Do not risk all you've worked so hard for, everything you've accomplished. Most of all, do not risk your

"It's a miracle!" The Doctor exclaimed, snapping him out of his thoughts. "The Don is awake, and we owe it to these two little champions"A sudden shiver ran down his spine, as though a cold breeze had swept through the room. But it wasn't the temperature that caused the shiver—it was the unmistakable sensation of being watched.He could feel a pair of eyes digging into his back, boring into his skin. The sensation was familiar, yet it sent a trail of shivers down his spine. Without turning around, Sergio listened to the Doctor who continued talking. As Sergio finally turned to face the room, his breath hitched in his throat. His eyes locked onto Rosana's, and time seemed to stand still. She was standing just a few feet away, her teary blue eyes fixed on him with an intensity that made his heart skip a beat. The children were with her, but his gaze was drawn only to Rosana—his Bambolina.In that moment, nothing else mattered. Not the questions, not the doubts, not the fears. All that

The leather strap cracked against Alberto's back, the sound echoing through the room. His cries were all that was heard, his pleas for mercy drowned out by the relentless cracking of the belt. "You should have taken the throne," Sergio repeated, each word punctuated by another strike. His expression remained impassive, his eyes glinting with cold intensity.In rapt silence, the men who had been ordered out of the meeting room and the soldiers watched, witnessing Alberto's public downfall. They all knew Sergio was merely toying with him. An actual fight would've ended in minutes, with Alberto broken and covered in bruises. But instead of using his fists, the Don had chosen to wield his belt as a tool of discipline.The measured strikes, the steady pace, and Sergio's unruffled demeanor served as a potent reminder of his unshakable power and authority. This wasn't about vengeance, neither was it a punishment. It was a deliberate showcase of his supremacy."Please... forgive me! I am you

NEXT MORNING~Lucretia stood at her kitchen sink, bracing herself against the cool countertop. The trembling of her hands subsided slowly as she gripped the edge of the sink, her head bowed in exhaustion. She couldn't sleep the whole night as the image of the men who had attacked her kept flashing in her mind, including the mysterious man who had saved her. Her thoughts swirled, reliving the terror of the alley. Each memory triggered a fresh wave of fear that made her stomach churn. She retched, but nothing came up. Her fingers instinctively went to the tender skin of her neck where Domingo had gripped her and she winced at the haunting memories it brought back.Enzo should've killed her at once, instead of letting her live. She had felt the life draining out of her when he encircled his fingers on her throat, but then his hands had fallen limp as he slipped away.Attempting to calm her racing heart, she forced herself to breathe deeply. If not for the mysterious stranger, she'd be g