Beranda / The Don Was Only a Smoke Screen / Bab 1 - Bab 9

Semua Bab The Don Was Only a Smoke Screen: Bab 1 - Bab 9

9 Bab

Chapter 1

My phone lit up with a test message from Dad, Paolo Carozza."The bet is still on. The Carozza family will always be supporting you."His reply was brief yet powerful.I stared at his words, a bitter taste rising in my mouth. The joke we'd cracked just three years ago turned out to be real after all.I replied, "You don't have to intervene this time. I'll handle everything myself."Dad replied at once."I'll send Leo to assist you."Leo Giordano was Dad's Underboss, and he was someone to be trusted.I gripped the phone tightly in my hands as I stared at the string of numbers on the screen, feeling my fingers running cold.In the past three years, my husband, Carlos Zappa, had been incredibly attentive to me. He spent millions of dollars on buying jewelry for me, tens of thousands of dollars on private fireworks displays, and even burned his contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars just to light up my cigarette.It didn't matter if it were money, power, or love—if he ha

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Chapter 2

The next day, as I walked into Zappa Finance with a lunchbox, I overheard two Soldati whispering to each other."Anna messed up the order slip for the smuggled shipment and angered Don Zappa so much that he chased away all the Soldati on his floor, saying that he was going to interrogate her alone!"Who'd ever dare to go up there now and risk getting into trouble with him?"Yet, I went up to the top floor without any hindrance from anyone.I approached the door that was left slightly ajar, seeing Carlos comfort Anna in his arms and wiping away the tears on her face with a handkerchief."You don't have to be afraid. It's not a huge loss for the Famiglia regarding this smuggled-in shipment. I'll take care of everything."I watched the jarring scene and dug my nails into my palm as I struggled to contain my anger. Then I waited until they finally separated before knocking on the door.Carlos instinctively shoved Anna off and looked at me with a hint of panic in his eyes.Meanwhile

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Chapter 3

The Zappa Famiglia gathering was held at the manor where Carlos and I lived.All eyes were on us when we descended the stairs, hand in hand. However, there was a sudden commotion arising in the crowd, drawing everyone's attention over.Anna had just walked in amidst the astonished gazes of the guests. The haute couture gown she wore and the sapphire ring gleaming on her ring finger were the gifts that Carlos had promised to give me for my birthday last month.But he'd just told me yesterday that the gown and ring wouldn't be ready for pickup for a while.But now, it turned out that it wasn't that he hadn't received them yet—rather, he'd just given them to someone else.I released Carlos' hand."Can you explain why Anna is wearing my gown and my ring?"This was the last chance I was giving him. His answer would determine everything between us.The noise in the banquet hall gradually subsided as Carlos' face turned grim.He shielded Anna behind him, his tone frustrated as he sai

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Chapter 4

While Carlos and Anna saw the guests off, I slipped into the study and inserted the decryption USB drive Leo had given me earlier.The computer screen showed the encrypted data being transmitted point-to-point to the Carozza Famiglia's server at an astonishing speed. The progress bar shot forward, going from 0% to 78%, then 85%, then 92% within seconds.Just as it was about to complete the transfer, I suddenly heard the sound of the doorknob turning.My heart stopped, and I quickly yanked the USB drive out just a split second before the door was pushed open.Carlos and Anna then walked in."You're here, babe. We've been looking everywhere for you," Carlos said, his voice full of concern.Anna spoke up right after him in a tearful voice. "I'm sorry, Donna. Whatever happened at the banquet was all my fault… Carlos has already told me off for it. Please don't be angry at him anymore."Carlos echoed, "I'm sorry too, Sofia. I never should have lost my temper with you in front of the

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Chapter 5

Leo pressed the barrel of the gun against Carlos' forehead.Carlos trembled violently, but he still refused to give up as he continued to fight."I-If you kill me, you'll never get the passcodes to the Zappa Famiglia's secret overseas accounts!"I looked down at him with a sneer on my face. "Did you really think that I care about your Famiglia's spare change?"However, you are still somewhat useful to me."I then pulled several documents from the folder Leo handed me and threw them directly in Carlos' face.They were the share transfer agreements that would appoint Carlos as the chairman of Zappa Finance in my place. On top of that, he would also replace me as the chairman for several other shell companies that were used to launder money for the Carozza family as well."Sign these," I said. "From today onward, you will not only be the CEO of Zappa Finance—you'll also be the owner of these multinational trading companies."Carlos looked at the documents with suspicion, completel

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Chapter 6

At my behest, several large sums of illicit funds from South Merunica and East Yewrope were continuously deposited into the shell companies that were now under Carlos and Anna.Carlos' fear was quickly overwhelmed by greed as he looked at the vast amounts deposited in the bank accounts.He began to indulge in the thrill of handling billions of dollars. The illusion of such power had made him feel invincible again.He thought that he would be able to do whatever he wanted in the Yewropean business industry as long as he had the Carozza family backing him up.I saw from the surveillance footage that he even began secretly trying to use a complex money-laundering process to siphon off a portion of the funds as his own private stash.He was most probably planning to escape my control with all of the money he'd set aside this way.Yet, he never thought about how naive and laughable his actions were to me.I looked at him on the screen with a cold smile playing on my lips. Once the la

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Chapter 7

Soon, there was international breaking news reporting that a joint Yewropean police operation had successfully dismantled a massive transnational money-laundering network, with clues subtly pointing to Zappa Finance.Carlos began to panic and came to ask me about it.I told him calmly, "Our accounts are clean. They won't be able to find anything."At the same time, Anna had inadvertently discovered an Interpol mole in the company and got so spooked that she packed her things to flee that very same night.Yet, Carlos personally led a whole team of people to capture her and imprison her in the manor's basement to stop her from leaking out any sensitive information.He then came over to me with a boastful look on his face, trying to get me to praise him for a job well done."See, Sofia? I've already eliminated the only threat. You're the only one I'll be loyal to from now on."I looked at his fawning expression and found it simply laughable.Leo soon brought me news that the Inter

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Chapter 8

Carlos jolted awake, instinctively reaching out for the spot beside him, but realizing belatedly that it was empty and icy-cold.Panic gripped him and he jumped out of bed. However, he saw a note on the bedside table that I'd written in my own handwriting."This is the Famiglia's final test for you. Make sure you handle it properly. Sofia."Because of this note, Carlos naively thought that this was just another one of the Famiglia's "tests" to prove his worthiness as the next heir.In fact, he even straightened his pajamas, preparing to calmly face the "actors".The door was violently thrown open with a loud bang.A large team of fully-armed Interpol agents burst in through the door, and dozens of gun barrels were pointed at Carlos.Carlos raised his arms in mock surrender, still trying to project the air and mannerism of the future Carozza Famiglia heir."Do you know who I am? I want to see my lawyer! Tell Sofia to come here!"The officer in charge slapped a red warrant for h

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Chapter 9

Three months later, the shocking news of Zappa Finance dominated the headlines of all major Yewropean newspapers.Carlos and Anna became universally condemned as the criminal couple and were immortalized as such in the hall of shame.Meanwhile, because of my "selfless act" of turning against my own husband and actively cooperating with the police, I didn't just get away with successfully laundering the largest sum of illicit funds belonging to the Carozza Famiglia from Zappa Finance—I even won a precious opportunity for the Famiglia to continue operating legitimately in public.In other words, I was the biggest victor of this war.I paid a visit to the prison once. It was the meeting that Carlos had dreamed of day and night ever since his imprisonment.I finally caught sight of him through the thick, bulletproof glass.He excitedly rushed up to the glass as soon as he saw me."Sofia! I knew that you cared about me! You still love me, don't you? You've come to rescue me, haven't

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