A Donna of My Own Making

By the seventh year of my cold war with my father, Don Leonardi Rossi, he finally found a way to win me over.

He introduced me to the most powerful Mafia Don in southern Ritalle—Riccardo Colombo. For my happiness, my father was willing to give me half of the family's empire as a gift.

I surrendered completely to Riccardo's love.

Four months later, I was pregnant.

Every prenatal check-up saw Bascily regions' two most influential Dons personally by my side. Everyone envied me for having two men who loved me so fiercely.

Yet, on the day of my amniocentesis, they were both absent.

"There's a new arms deal in the north," my father said, stroking my head.

Riccardo kissed my belly gently. "I'll bring you gifts when I return."

I smiled and watched them leave.

But as I lay on the examination table, my phone buzzed with an anonymous video. In it, my father wore a groom's suit, standing beside Rosa—the prostitute who had infuriated my mother to death. Their illegitimate daughter, Lina, cradled her swollen belly, proudly wearing the Colombo family crest, and clung to my husband's arm.

The announcer cried, "Congratulations to Don Rossi for reclaiming his one true love, and to Don Colombo for marrying his soulmate!"

At the video's end, my father laughed and clinked glasses with Riccardo.

"The fake crest and fake marriage certificate for Lia—you really outdid yourself. Aren't you worried she'll be heartbroken?"

Riccardo snorted. "She never let Rosa into the house, leaving Lina to grow up as a bastard. This was what she owed her."

So that was the truth.

But when I finally left with my child for the Massimo family, why did they still regret it?

I wandered aimlessly through the streets after leaving the hospital. My mind replayed the day of the engagement, when my father had lifted an auctioned antique dagger for all to see.

"This Blade of Glory is a gift for my future grandchild. In the Rossi family, bloodline is power."

Riccardo had pinned the Colombo crest onto my chest in front of everyone. "I will protect Lia and our heir with my life," he declared.

Everyone said I had forged the strongest Mafia alliance in Ritalle. I had believed the bond was love. It was all a lie.

My phone suddenly rang. Riccardo's gentle voice came through, "Baby? Have the test results come back…? Why aren't you saying anything? Don't worry. No matter what, he's my most precious child."

I let out a bitter laugh, about to demand a divorce, when a ridiculous thought struck me: The marriage certificate and crest he had given me—they were fake. I had no right to even speak.

From the background came a soft, teasing whine, "Honey… my back hurts…"

Riccardo panicked, clapping a hand over the phone.

"Lia, go home first. I'll have the doctor come over. I'll be back soon to be with you."

The call ended abruptly.

I sat in the villa's living room until late