Crawling from the Gallo Family

Julia was Marco's childhood friend. After discovering my fatal childhood allergy to a rare shellfish extract, she slipped it into my seafood risotto.

The moment I swallowed, a burning tightness seized my throat. My breathing grew ragged as the allergic reaction tore through me, every nerve screaming.

In a panic, I reached for the life-saving epinephrine in my handbag—a special auto-injector my father had prepared for me years ago, just in case.

But the medication inside had been replaced with a useless saline solution.

The color drained from my face, and all strength fled my body. I collapsed, clutching desperately at my fiancé Marco’s leg.

"Please—I'm having a reaction. That shellfish extract… you have to help me—"

Marco hesitated.

But Julia just crossed her arms and purred. "Marco, your fiancée is such a drama queen. It's just risotto. I've been around this family for years; no one reacts to a meal like that."

The other family members chimed in. "Stop making a scene! It's just a bite of food." "She's just jealous of Julia, trying to ruin Marco's big night."

Marco's expression hardened. "Julia grew up with me. If there were something wrong with the food, she would know. You'll be fine."

I stopped begging. With the last of my strength, I shakily pressed the emergency call button on my phone—a direct line to my father, the Don of Chicago, Alessandro Volkov.

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1

"What the hell is she doing?"

"Her fingers are moving—look at her phone! She's calling for backup!"

The moment I connected with my father, Julia's best friend shrieked.

They seized me, pinning me to the floor to stop me from calling for help.

Marco, my fiancé and a Soldato in the Gallo family, strode over, his face a mask of cold disappointment.

But I couldn't care about any of that. My vision tunneled, the edges blurring to black. I clutched my chest and fell to my knees before him.

"I didn't do anything! Marco, it’s the shellfish toxin… from when I was a child. It’s happening again. Please, take me to the hospital!"

Marco finally noticed my agony. He reached out to help me up, but Julia pulled him away.

"Marco, your fiancée is so thoughtless. The entire family is here to celebrate you becoming a Made Man, and she's trying to ruin it all out of jealousy."

Julia pouted, her voice trembling with feigned hurt. "I know Anya has never liked me. I only invited her to try and mend our relationship. I never thought she'd be so ungrateful. I should have just invited you alone."

Her words turned the crowd against me. Taunts and accusations flew from all directions.

"Anya, you're really something else. Next time, save the drama for the stage at your design school."

"You're only targeting Julia because she's kind—accusing her of poisoning you!"

Breathing was becoming more and more difficult.

I could hear my own ragged gasps. It felt like something was squeezing my chest, wringing out the last bit of air.

I knew this family had never accepted me. To them, I was an outsider—unworthy of being the fiancée of their most promising Soldato.

Julia was the one they wanted him to marry.

Their resentment peaked when Marco insisted I was the only woman he wanted.

Julia took every opportunity to come between us.

I had warned him about her so many times, but he never took me seriously.

"Julia is like a sister to me. You're overthinking this."

When Marco and I were on a date, Julia would show up uninvited, inserting herself into our lives and openly criticizing my lifestyle.

Whenever I showed the slightest bit of displeasure, Julia would mock me for being petty and jealous. And because of it, Marco grew increasingly impatient with me.

A wave of pain pulled me back to the present.

Julia stared at my agonized face, one eyebrow arched in triumph.

"I get it now, Anya. You're used to being the center of attention at your design school. Today the spotlight is on Marco, and you can't stand it—so you're faking an allergic reaction to get sympathy."

The family members at the dinner sneered. They laughed at my suffering. Someone even took out their phone to record me.

Marco's cold expression hardened.

"Anya, I know you don't like Julia. I've kept my distance, haven't I? For you. It's one dinner. Can't you just put up with it for a few hours? For me?"

The pain in my chest became unbearable.

I couldn't even answer him. I bit my lip, using the sharp sting and the taste of blood to stay conscious.

I started crawling toward the restaurant's exit.

Maybe someone outside would help me.

Julia's cold laughter echoed behind me.

"What's wrong? Your little trick was exposed, and now that Marco isn't protecting you, you're trying to run?"

The room erupted in laughter.

Marco's expression grew even darker.

Just as I reached the doorway, Julia grabbed my hair and yanked me back.

Already weak, I slammed into a serving cart. It tipped over, drenching me in hot, sticky risotto.

Julia pinched her nose in disgust, savoring the moment.

"Always the victim, aren't you, Anya?" she sneered. "Look at you—so pathetic. You're a disgrace to our family's Soldato!"

Marco glared at me. "Anya, that's enough! Stop the act and get up!"

Then he froze.

My face was as white as a sheet. My clothes were soaked with risotto and sweat. The scalding liquid was blistering my skin.

And I was too weak to make a sound.

"How is she so weak? Hot food doesn't do that… unless… she’s really having a reaction?"

Marco stared at me, frozen in shock.