The Mafia’s Substitute Bride

“But Emma, what about….” Lana’s voice quivered with a mix of uncertainty and suspicion, her eyes narrowed as she questioned Emma’s true intentions. Deep down, Lana sensed that Emma might not assist her in seeking revenge against Sofia, and that thought troubled her greatly. Her doubt was evident in the way she hesitated before speaking.

Emma’s face contorted into a scowl as she impatiently looked at Lana. She couldn’t afford Lana’s impulsive actions jeopardizing her well-laid plans. Emma felt a pang of fear, worried that Lana’s impulsiveness might indeed ruin everything she had worked so hard for.

“Shut up, Lana, just keep your mouth shut,” Emma scolded with a hint of irritation, causing Lana’s expression to shift into a frown. She glared at Emma, offended by the harsh reprimand, but Emma simply brushed her off, unwilling to entertain any further distractions.

Then came Sofia’s quiet yet resolute voice, tinged with sadness and confusion. “Emma, if you wanted the Empire, you could have just asked me. I would have willingly signed the papers. Why did you have to abduct me from my wedding? It was supposed to be my dream day, and you’ve ruined it,” Sofia uttered, her emotions subdued but palpable. Emma’s face contorted into a grimace as if trying to hold her ground against Sofia’s emotional plea.

“Look, Sofia,” Emma’s tone grew more assertive, though she suppressed her true desire to lash out in frustration. “I don’t have time for more drama. I won’t ask you again, just sign the paper and finish all this. You can live peacefully with your husband and baby, and I will be happy to secure the Ricci Empire for my daughter.” Emma’s words were clear and direct, concealing the burning anger she felt towards Sofia.

Observing Sofia’s transformation from the innocent girl she once knew to someone more cunning and clever, Emma couldn’t help but feel a twinge of resentment. She loathed having to resort to feigned concern and politeness to manipulate her stepdaughter. Emma longed to release her pent-up frustration through force and intimidation, but she knew it would only push Sofia further away.

Sofia, having endured Emma’s torment since her childhood, had developed a resistance to such tactics. Emma recognized that she had to employ a different approach, resorting to playing an emotional card, even though it went against her true nature.

“So tell me, Sofia? Are you going to sign this or not? Because only this will decide you and your baby’s fate. Whether you are going to die or not,” Emma made her proposition, her voice laced with a chilling determination.

Sofia’s head snapped toward Emma, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief. She looked at her stepmother as if she couldn’t comprehend the heartless words that had just been spoken. Fear clawed at her, and her voice quivered as she attempted to find the strength to respond.

“No! You can’t do this,” Sofia’s voice quivered with a mix of desperation and defiance, her words ringing out in protest against the cruel fate Emma had presented.

“Don’t you dare to shout at me. Otherwise, you will regret doing that again,” Emma warned with a cold and threatening tone, her patience finally worn thin. Her eyes glinted with a dangerous intensity, making it clear that she meant every word.

Sofia’s voice trembled as she questioned Emma’s motives, her tears flowing freely now, each drop laden with a sense of betrayal and confusion. “Why are you doing this, Emma? What have I ever done wrong to you? I have served you my entire life; now, you want me to die when I am out of your life. Why Emma? I know you won’t leave me alive even if I sign this paper. I can see your killing spree in your eyes. I just want to know why you hate me so much,” Sofia cried, her vulnerability laid bare before Emma.

Emma tried to shield herself from the emotional display, her face hardening with disdain for what she perceived as a theatrical performance. She rolled her eyes, dismissing Sofia’s tears as insincere and manipulative. To Emma, it was all nonsense, an unnecessary hindrance to her plans.

“I thought of you as a mother figure for me. I followed whatever you told me to do. I thought you were doing that for my good. Why Emma? You broke my trust. You broke Dad’s trust. Please, I want to live for my husband and my unborn child. Don’t do this,” Sofia pleaded with a shattered voice, her heartrending words begging for mercy.

Emma felt a pang of guilt tug at her conscience, but she quickly suppressed it. She couldn’t afford to be swayed by sentimentality. She had her own ambitions, her own reasons for taking this path, even if it meant hurting Sofia. Still, she found it hard to face Sofia’s plea, as it reminded her of the bond they once shared.

“I will give you everything if you want to take all my empire and property. But please don’t do that. I want to live. After so many years of craving a real family, I will finally have my own family. I never had any sort of happiness in my life. I finally got this small happiness for myself. Don’t take this away from me. Please!” Sofia pleaded, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Emma’s fury intensified as Sofia’s tears and pleas grated on her nerves. She had little patience for displays of weakness, and Sofia’s emotional outpouring only served to infuriate her further. The desire to take drastic action, consequences be damned, flickered in her eyes as she fought to maintain control over the situation.

“Listen, Sofia,” Emma’s voice grew colder and more assertive, her eyes piercing into Sofia’s soul. “Crying and weeping do not affect me. I am asking you one last time whether you will sign the paper or not, and before replying, you should think about your unborn baby.” Emma’s tone carried a chilling weight as if she were ready to unleash her wrath at any moment.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

The mention of Sofia’s unborn child seemed to strike a nerve, and Sofia’s tear-stained face contorted with anguish. Emma knew she had touched a sensitive point, and she continued with a calculated manipulation.

“Do you want your unborn baby to come into this world or not? Do you want him to die in your womb? And without this baby, Leonardo will also throw you out of his life because you will be no use to him. So your life will be miserable again. Think carefully before making a decision.” Emma presented her proposition like a predator toying with its prey, using fear and uncertainty as her weapons.

Sofia’s mind swirled with conflicting thoughts and emotions, her vulnerability exposed before her tormentor. Emma’s frown deepened as she observed Sofia lost in her contemplation. She couldn’t shake the worry that Sofia might have caught onto her true motives that Emma planned to dispose of her once she had signed the paper.

Summoning her strength, Sofia took a deep breath, her voice wavering but determined.

“I am ready to sign, Emma. But please promise me you won’t harm my baby or me.” Sofia’s plea was a desperate attempt to ensure her child’s safety in the face of Emma’s heartlessness.

Emma, ever the deceiver, nodded and feigned sincerity.

“OK, I will leave you to go after you sign the papers. You need to trust me,” she lied through her teeth, concealing her true intentions beneath a mask of false reassurance.

Motioning to Lana, Emma directed her to open Sofia’s right hand to prepare for the signing. But just as Lana moved to untie Sofia’s hand, the villa door shattered, sending shockwaves through the room. Emma’s heart sank as she saw a group of armed men storming into the house.