Sophia's POV

"Mom..Aunt Katherine…medicine.." Angelina's last words echoed amidst the cold walls of the hospital.

I could feel the weight of my five-year-old daughter, Angelina's hand slipping out of mine. My daughter's lifeless fingers were still holding those medicines tightly.

I never thought that my husband Lucas Williams, one of the most influential mafia, would be the reason for his own daughter's death.

If he hadn't sent Angelina to get allergy medicines for his girlfriend Katherine that night then she would have never been hit by a motorcycle and left battling for her life.

"Lucas…pick up the call!!" I frustratedly said through my gritted teeth.

I had almost lost the hope that I would be able to connect with him but his sudden voice broke my trance.

"Where the hell Angelina is? I asked her to bring the medicine for Katherine. She is waiting. Send her!"

And then he disconnected. Moreover, when I called back, he blocked me.

"If that's the case, then let Katherine be buried with my daughter!"

…

The whole day, I was busy arranging my daughter's funeral. And that too without her father. No one came.

Not one person associated with Lucas. Not one mafia associate. No one dared. Moreover, Lucas didn't know. Even the hospital staff was sympathetic towards my daughter.

Two days passed, but still, Lucas didn't say a word. And here, I was standing in the middle of the William Mansion, ready for the inevitable storm.

Finally! He walked in. The fury in his eyes was instant. For the first time, I didn't feel anything in his presence.

Maybe my feelings of ten years for him flew away when my daughter died in my arms.

"Where's Angelina?" He shouted at the top of his lungs, pulling off his suit jacket. At that moment, the heavy scent of Katherine's perfume hit me like a tight slap.

"Do you even know how many hours before I asked her to bring medicine for Katherine?"

His eyes were blazing with fire as he paced across the room. "Do you even care how much pain she had to endure?"

Ignoring him, I opened a drawer and swallowed a tablet. When Lucas saw that, he laughed sarcastically.

"So now you want to act like Katherine? She is allergic to alcohol, not you. Remember that you are not her and you will never be."

Those words were like a dagger in my conscience. After swallowing my tears, I cleared my throat, my fingers trembled as I clutched the divorce papers tightly behind my back.

I was so angry about the fact that he was still thinking about that woman rather than being worried about his daughter.

At that moment, I decided that he didn't deserve to know about our daughter's demise. At Least not yet.

"Sophia?" Lucas growled, turning more dangerous as he stepped closer. "Aren't you listening to me? Where is Angelina?"

I exhaled slowly, keeping my gaze fixed on him, struggling to hold back everything I wanted to scream. "She is…she is not coming back right now."

Lucas gritted his eyes, not understanding the meaning behind my words. "Stop testing my patience, Sophia. Katherine had been waiting for that medicine for hours, covered in rashes. Moreover, she is still talking in favour of her."

"Lucas…" I started but Lucas interrupted me, "You are standing here like nothing happened. Where is the medicine?"

Now I couldn't suppress the bitter laugh that was at the corner of my lips. "You don't care about anything except Katherine, do you?"

Lucas's jaw tightened. "I care about what I need to take care of, Sophia," he snapped. "I asked just a simple thing from Angelina. She can't even do that. She is spoiled, and now she needs discipline."

"Discipline?" My eyes narrowed. I barely registered his words as his cell phone started ringing.

He picked it up, moving away. His tone instantly shifted to something darker. More dramatic. It wasn't the voice of my husband but the tone of Lucas, the mafia boss.

"You found him? Good! He is threatening to harm my family- Lucas William's family. Make sure he will learn a lesson." His eyes shifted towards me, but I stayed still, pretending not to hear.

"Take care of it. Now."

The call ended.

Threatening to harm the family? Did they plan Angelina's murder? Wasn't it a road accident?

Many thoughts clouded my mind. Meanwhile, Lucas's focus was back on me. I took a deep breath.

That phone call was a reminder- it was a reminder of the world me and my daughter were living in.

"Where were we?" Lucas asked, slipping his phone back into his jacket. His eyes were cold again. "Angelina has been spoiled by you. Now she is going to learn that there are consequences."

I bit my lower lip in anticipation to stop myself from screaming. Meanwhile, Lucas didn't notice the change in me.

"Now stop with your drama, and tell me where she is. I'm not going to let her off so easily."

Although my heart was shattering, I forced a smile."Don't worry! She isn't going to trouble you anymore, Lucas."

Then I looked straight into his eyes. "You don't have to worry about Angelina again."

Lucas narrowed his eyes at my cryptic words. "What do you mean by that?"

Within seconds, I pulled the divorce papers from behind my back and handed them to him. "It means you got what you wanted. Now we are out of your way."

Without delay, he took out a box from his suit jacket and threw it in my direction.

I frowned and opened that box. Well! It was the set of the same perfume whose scent was lingering on his jacket a few minutes ago.

It meant he brought the same for Katherine too. There wasn't a pretence now. He casually brought the same gift for me too.

I was always allergic to alcohol so I never used his previous gifts whereas Katherine who used to say that she was also allergic to those perfumes he brought was obsessed with them.

But Lucas wasn't going to read between the lines. Alas!

Previously whenever he brought anything for me, I valued them no matter what. It was out of love. Meanwhile, Lucas never cared about me or our daughter, Angelina.

While thinking of Angelina, I repeated my words, "Sign these papers, then I will be out."

Lucas's eyes were fixed on me. He cleared his throat and said, "You are putting this nonsense due to Angelina. Let me make one thing clear- she isn't going anywhere. Ever. Do you hear me?"

At that moment, something clicked inside my head. Before I knew it, my hands went to my waistband, and I pulled out a metallic pistol.

The cold weapon shone in the dim light. I directly aimed at his chest.

"You wouldn't dare," Lucas said, pulling me into his chest. He snatched the pistol from my hand and shoved me to the floor, his strength overwhelming me.

"If you ever repeat this stunt," he warned, towering over me."I will forget that you are my wife."

Then he turned his back and walked towards the stairs. "When I wake up, I want you and Angelina in front of my eyes. Furthermore, don't forget I'm Lucas Williams, I get what I want."

…

I didn't say a word as his figure retreated into his bedroom. I shook as I stood up, the divorce papers were lying on the floor.

As I was walking towards the door, I collided with someone. It was Antonio, Lucas's right hand. His eyes darted on me, his expression unreadable.

"You're leaving, Mrs. Williams?" His voice was emotionless.

I nodded my head in agreement, my voice barely audible. "I have to leave."

Then I walked away from the house where I had lived for five years, unknown to the upcoming storm brewing in my life.

Sophia's POV

Cold air swept over my skin as I held Angelina's urn (a metallic container used for ashes) close to my chest. Her ashes- ashes of my little girl. It would take three days for the Cemetery plot to get ready.

So, I wasn't ready to leave her anywhere else. Not yet.

The dim light from the corridor flickered, barely illuminating the path of my old apartment.

The place where I grew up with my mother, Jennie Wilson, the head butler at William Mansion. She always showed her loyalty towards the William Family.

She served them for half of her life. But in the end, they couldn't save her.

It was during their mall visit when the attack happened. The rival mafia group stepped in, aiming to kidnap Delia William, the mother of Lucas Williams.

Seeing that, my selfless mother didn't care about her own life and fought them. The attackers didn't expect her to be as fierce as she was at that time.

But then they stabbed her. Not once, or twice but for uncountable times. I could only imagine her pain and fear. It was not for herself but for me, her only daughter.

Even though she was breathing her last breath, she was still worried about me. She begged Delia to make me Lucas's bride, a final desperate wish that trapped me in this marriage which was no less than a prison.

Eventually, Delia had no choice but to promise her. Tears were falling from her eyes. And then, my mother died. At that moment, I was left with nothing but her heavy sacrifice.

Everybody thought that I gained power and wealth through this marriage but I was left with loneliness.

My father left us early, all I had was my mother. Moreover, now the cold title of "Lucas William's Wife" was accompanying me.

On the other hand, Lucas never wanted me. He was in love with Katherine, always had been. But he did as his mother said, just like a dutiful mafia heir.

On our wedding day, Delia took a deep breath and whispered, "Finally! Your mother can rest in peace now."

She did everything to ease her guilt but it didn't ease mine. Although I had a crush on Lucas for the last five years my mother knew I never knew when my dream would turn into reality, it would be so painful.

I still remember the first night alone with Lucas. I hoped that maybe things would change. But his cold words wounded me sharper than stabs from a knife.

"I married you just for my mother's sake. I am in love with Katherine." He paused. "I will play my part of being your husband in public but don't expect anything from me."

As he said, he played his part dutifully but behind doors, there was nothing between us. Just a void. The distance never lessened but always increased.

And one day, Angelina came into our lives. I thought that now things would change. Change for the better. But when she was born, the only words that came out of Lucas's mouth were, "Now me and my mom don't owe you anything."

Those words were still echoing in my mind as the door of my apartment burst open. I trembled as loud footsteps approached me and Lucas stormed in.

His eyes were blazing with fire. In addition, his men followed him like a shadow. But it was Katherine, who caught my attention. Her face was covered with a white mask.

Even though she was standing behind Lucas, I could see the smug satisfaction in her eyes.

The next moment, Lucas grabbed my collars and asked, "Where's Angelina? Ask her to come out."

My heart accelerated with the highest speed. I instinctively tightened my hold on the urn. "Don't mention her name. You don't deserve it!"

Lucas knitted his eyebrows together. "Now get out of my place with your mistress," I added further.

After listening to those words, Lucas's eyes darkened and jaw tightened. "Watch your words," he warned, his voice a deadly whisper. "Or you'll regret it."

I knew the power of a man who was standing in front of me. Lucas, the most feared mafia boss, demanded fear and respect. Fear was building inside me. But now I had nothing to lose.

My daughter was dead, now what else would he do to me?

"Let it be, Lucas," Katherine's soft voice echoed in the air. "Maybe Angelina didn't understand. Maybe she didn't know…"

Hearing that, Lucas lost his temper. "Katherine, stop speaking for that brat. Sophia must have asked her to ruin your face. Stop trying to save her. It will ruin her more."

"Are you mad, Lucas?" I stepped forward, speaking through my gritted teeth. "Angelina is your daughter. What exactly are you trying to do to her for this bitch?"

The next moment, Lucas's hand went down towards his waistband where he kept his gun. I took a deep breath as I knew how far he could go.

With a swift move, he pulled out the metallic weapon and rested it against my temple.

"I told you to behave. Nobody taught you anything since your mother died?"

Tears were threatening to fall on my cheeks but I didn't let them. The cold metal burnt against my skin. My heart pounded. For a moment I thought that he was going to pull the trigger.

Instead, he grabbed my arm, brutally twisted behind my back and pulled me with force.

"How dare you ask Angelina to put alcohol in Katherine's skin care. Don't you know that she is allergic to it? How can you involve her in this malicious plan?"

The next moment I put all my strength and freed myself from his hold.

"Angelina is just a five-year-old. She doesn't even know what alcohol is. How can you blame her when an older person who can easily smell it, still applies it on her face despite her allergy?"

His grip on the gun tightened. But something flickered in his eyes- doubts, maybe.

"Except for her, there was no one at home." He growled. "If it wasn't Angelina, then who?"

I didn't have an answer. But before I could say anything, one of his men walked in.

"Boss, he's demanding to meet you!"

Lucas lowered the gun slightly, but he didn't step back. "Who?"

"The man who was threatening to harm your family."

I gasped. My body went cold. Threats against Lucas weren't uncommon, but this one felt surreal.

Maybe this man killed my angel.

The next moment, his hand tightened around the gun. His face had an indescribable emotion.

"Where is he?" He asked.

"In the warehouse."

"Bring him here. I will deal with him myself," he ordered.

I swallowed hard as this wasn't the end. There was more to the story. There were threats, secrets and that serial killer.

"This isn't over, Sophia," Lucas said, turning his gaze towards me.

I was clueless about the whole incident, so I kept my mouth shut. But my eyes were fixed on the gun that was again pressing my temple.

"The surveillance recorded everything. The culprit will be severely punished, no matter what."

Sophia's POV

I took a deep breath, and asked in disbelief, "Surveillance? Show it to me then. Nobody has a right to tarnish my daughter's image."

He lowered the gun, his eyes were still fixed at me. The air was heavy, and the tension of the unsaid threat was floating. The next moment he tapped a few times on the phone.

A video began to play on the screen. The footage was a little bit blurry, captured by one of the house cameras.

On the screen, a small figure was moving. There was a crimson-coloured dress that grabbed my attention. It was the same dress which Angelina was wearing on her last day.

A small figure, the same petite as Angelina, was on the screen. She was even wearing a matching hat and moved into a bedroom.

The next moment she walked to the vanity, pulled out a bottle of liquid from her bag and poured that into a skincare product.

I shook my head as a cold laugh escaped my lips. Impossible. That wasn't my daughter, but then who was it?

The footage abruptly ended there. Meanwhile, I glanced at the timestamp. It was two days ago. Angelina had already been cremated by then.

The thought was enough to create a feeling of havoc in my mind. Afterwards, a cold laughter escaped my lips as tears were making their way out.

At that moment, Katherine stepped forward and decided to intervene, "Sophia, I just want to know why Angelina did this. It's not too late to teach her a lesson. She should not do such horrible things."

That overly sweet voice and fake concern ignited a fire in my mind. Before saying anything, I spat on Katherine's face which was full of red masks and rashes.

"Don't dare to blame my daughter, Katherine. You don't even know who the girl in that video is and here, you are busy framing Angelina. Do you want the title of Mrs Williams that bad?"

Seeing that, Lucas's body trembled with rage. His eyes darkened, and in a blink of an eye, he exploded. He kicked me hard in my lower abdomen.

I screamed, my body folded in on itself and my grip on the urn loosened up. Within seconds, the lid popped off, and Angelina's ashes scattered across the floor like water.

My mind froze as I saw the sight. There was no pain and anger left now but the realisation that my daughter was scattered on that dirty floor made it worse.

Before I could react, there was a sharp knock on the door. Lucas's assistant Antonio entered.

"Boss," he said, his voice urgent. "We brought him here."

Lucas shot a sharp glance to Antonio, his anger momentarily diverted. He turned, gesturing for him to continue.

"The bastard is the part of that rival group who had attacked your mother five years back," Antonio added further. "He is outside. Should we bring him in?"

I was stunned. Five years back, when Delia was attacked, it was my mother who rescued her. Not only was that man ill my mother that day but might be the reason for my daughter's death.

I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't know when a man who was covered with bruises stood in front of me.

"Boss," the man mumbled. "It was a mistake. I didn't mean to–"

"Shut up!" Lucas walked, putting the gun inside that man's mouth. He was no longer my cold husband but the head of the William Mafia Family, the most feared man in the city.

"You think you can threaten my family and live," Lucas said through his gritted teeth and then punched and kicked him harshly.

Afterwards, he ordered Antonio to take him back to the warehouse.

I was terrified. As my eyes were lingering on the ashes on the floor. Lucas walked on it.

Then a scream left my mouth. The sound echoed in the whole hallway.

Ignoring the cruel gaze of my husband, I knelt and tried to collect those ashes.

"Now?" Lucas's eyes locked onto mine. "Where's Angelina?"

Before I could make another move, two bodyguards grabbed me. They lifted me, dragging my feet uselessly. Still, my eyes were fixed on the ashes.

I tried to speak twice but no words came out of my mouth. It seemed as if I was underwater, drowning in grief.

The next moment, Lucas stepped forward and asked me again, "Where's Angelina? I'm giving you one last chance."

I wasn't able to say anything. My eyes were still fixed on the ashes on the floor. It was my daughter.

"Fine!" He exclaimed, his anger intensifying. "You like ruining people's lives?"

Then he gestured through his fingers. His men understood and handed him a bottle of medical alcohol.

Without warning, he poured it on the ground and mixed it with Angelina's ashes till the time it turned into a muddy paste.

The next moment, he scooped the paste into his hands and put it on my face. As I was allergic to alcohol, the pain was unbearable.

I screamed as the liquid stung her skin. My tears were uncontrollable. Still, Lucas continued to rub the paste on my face.

"Do you like it? Want more beauty treatment? Speak!"

His words were cold and merciless. Despite his words, I could feel pain. My face burnt, and the pain was increasing every second. So, I shouted at the top of my lungs.

A loud sound echoed in the room as Lucas slapped hard across my cheek.

"You want a divorce?" He pulled me, leaning at my side. "Fine! You will get one. But you will never see Angelina again."

Afterwards, he wiped his hands from his men's jacket, then pulled out his phone and said, "Get the lawyers on the line. Ask him to draft the divorce papers. Custody of Angelina will be with me."

On the other hand, a voice echoed, "Mr Williams…Angelina's already gone. She..she died. The reason is a motorcycle accident. It was the same night when you and Mrs Katherine were at dinner. The burial…is today."