The Mafia King's Substitute Bride

he day. A time when we'd all gather around the lavish dancing table, chatting, laughing a

ion, several varieties of food spread out before me, I c

ed with the harsher things of life, as I sat absentminded

ommand a room without saying a word, her presence was so out there and captivating that at most times, it was impossible to look

hat, because, if I had been more like her,

hrough my thoughts, pulling me back to the present. I looked up t

in truth, I had no idea what he had b

nobtrusive, much like a marionette. Alecia however, was the star, shinning bright and excelling at things she didn't ev

g his attention back to Alecia. "As I was saying, I've made arrange

er me in seconds an

glancing between my father and Alecia,

her throat. "Nice Joke papa. Sadl

ating, but the look on our father's face t

rrow," My father repeated, meeting Alecia

it registered in Alecia's mind that this w

For a second, I could see hesitancy written on h

nswered, his tone b

n't fully registered. Then, as understanding dawned, her eyes widen

voice was a mix of incredulity and ind

responded with a cool finality t

rying Alecia off to the most da

from him, reminding me of my place, was a

. "This is not up for debate, Alecia. You will

losive. "Marry him? Are you insane? I'm

dangerously. "You will do as I say, Alecia. This m

a shot back, her voice rising. "D

family's best interest is endangered,"

by the situation. Father never snapped a

uca Caruso has promised to help us extend the debts

th anger. She was more focused on the subject of marriage

, Papa. I refu

ith sarcasm. "Run off with that useless boy you've been seeing

'd rather be with someone I love than b

aware of her relationship, but she had refused to introduce him to us

rst time I had seen her so determined, so resolute. There was a part of me that admired her

ed he might strike her. But instead, he leaned back

en," he said in a low, dangerous voice. "This marria

pleading. "Papa, please, there has to

, silencing her instantly. He turned to me, his expressio

as his favorite, the daughter he had always pinned his hopes on. I, on the other hand, wa

g grown used to. Or

ofter now, almost pleading. "Valentina

, you are the face of this family. You are the on

trapped in a situation she wanted no part of. And yet, despite the tension, I could feel a strange sen

elief was

"If you think Valentina is so useless, why don't you just have her

y stomach drop. I opened my mouth to protest, but no sound came

able, rattling the silverware. "That is enough, Alecia!" he thundered,

isn't it? You're trading me off like some piece of bargain chip because yo

ared the argument would escalate into something far worse

at brooked no argument. "You will marry Luca Car

r feet. "I won't do it," she declared, her voice sh

ned silence in her wake. My father sat motionless, his eyes boring into the space where Alecia had j

ow if there was anything I could say that would make a difference. All I fel

under a great weight. "She doesn't understand," he muttered, mor

aze shifted to me, his eyes filled with a mixture of resig

" he said quietly, his tone c

there was nothing I could have done, that Alecia had always been headstro

was easier that way, easier than trying to explain the co

f a headache. "This isn't how things were supposed to go," h

Alecia's marriage to Luca Caruso, our family's future was in jeopardy. The debt we owed

the possibility. Like my father had said, I want much use to this family and Alecia woul

to creep into my mind. What if she didn't come to her senses? What if she remained headstron

ended in one

clearing the table. But even as I went through the motions, that

ght, I couldn't shake the feeling t