My fiancé, Marco Rossi, had been missing for three years on a dangerous smuggling operation.

He came back with his pregnant mistress.

“Isabella was with me through the hardest times,” he’d said, unable to meet my eyes. “I can’t abandon her.”

His parents demanded I accept it. To be a good girl for the sake of “our family.”

Then, he had the nerve to ask me for a favor.

“Amelia,” he begged, “I can only rest easy if I know you’re here, watching over the family.”

He wants me to babysit his new life. He thinks I'm a pawn. A trophy wife in waiting.

He forgot I am a Falcone.

I made one phone call.

Now he has a new mission. A five-year deployment to a war zone he won't survive.

He thinks the order came from the Commission.

He’s about to find out the order came from me.

————————

1

“Amelia, the Commission has already approved it.”

Hearing Aunt Sofia’s words was all the reassurance I needed.

“But are you absolutely sure?” she pressed. “You and Marco are still engaged, after all. One of you in South America, the other in New York… that’s a hell of a distance.”

As if distance ever stopped him before. He was at sea, I was on land, and he still managed to betray me, didn’t he?

“Auntie, I heard the ‘Colombia Initiative’ needs a leader, an assignment that will last five years. You represent the Falcone family on the Commission. I want you to propose Marco's name. Let it be your ‘recommendation’.”

“That’s easy enough. I’ll take care of it. It’s just… he’s only just returned after being missing for three years, and now he has to leave for another five… Can you bear it?”

I smiled faintly.

“Marco is a man who always puts the Family’s interests first. His position depends on it.”

Those were close to the exact words Marco had used three years ago.

We had just gotten engaged.

I begged him not to go on that smuggling run, but he insisted.

“Amelia, the Family’s honor is above all else! I’m a Made Man now, I have to obey orders to keep my place!”

“I’m leaving the family in your hands… When I get back, we’ll get married.”

Then his ship went missing. His parents were overcome with grief, so I moved into the Rossi estate, using my family’s—the Falcone family’s—resources to support them. My family is based in Sicily, but our influence is everywhere.

I waited and prayed, day after day, for three long years.

But I never expected… this.

I had just hung up with my aunt when a questioning voice came from behind me.

“Who was on the phone?”

A flicker of tension crossed Marco’s face. He walked over, placed his hands on my shoulders, and looked directly into my eyes.

I sidestepped his touch, murmuring a vague excuse.

Marco’s eyes burned into me.

“Amelia, you’ve lived here for three years. I will never forget your support for our family.”

“Even with Isabella between us now, you will always be my fiancée, the future matriarch of the Rossi family.”

He emphasized the words, as if he feared I wouldn’t believe him.

“Trust me, my heart will always belong to you, Amelia. It’s just… fate dealt us a bad hand.”

I let out a bitter laugh.

“Then what about Isabella?”

Marco froze.

“She will be my wife. And of course, I will love her, too.”

I understood then.

He was pure greed, right down to his bones.

Just then, Isabella returned from a shopping trip, her arms laden with bags from luxury brands.

I glanced over and saw that she and Marco were wearing matching silk shirts.

Isabella cradled her belly, her voice a coy, saccharine whisper.

“Marco, this baby outfit is so cute! Our baby will look adorable in it!”

Marco smiled dotingly and pinched her cheek.

“Of course. As beautiful as you.”

Then, Marco looked at me.

“Amelia, you’re going to be the godmother. Remember to prepare a gift for the baby.”

The godmother. He wants me to accept his mistress.

So my three years of waiting, and my family's immense support, had earned me nothing more than the 'privilege' of being the woman forced to share her husband.

Suddenly, a tightness gripped my chest, and I feigned a violent cough.

Isabella theatrically covered her nose and took a step back.

“Oh my God, Amelia, are you sick? A pregnant woman can’t risk getting an infection!”

Marco’s brow furrowed. He hustled me out of the master bedroom.

“Amelia, are you not feeling well? Isabella is pregnant, her immune system is weak.”

He pointed to a remote guest room at the far end of the estate.

“Why don’t you stay in the guest room for a few days? You can come back when you’re better.”

Hearing this, I gave a cold laugh and looked up at him.

“And if I say no?”

Marco was stunned for a moment, then his face hardened with impatience.

“Amelia, don’t be childish. For the baby’s sake, please?”

Without waiting for my reply, Marco turned and went back inside. A few minutes later, a maid emerged with my bedding and a few pieces of clothing, shoving them into my hands.

“I’ve had the guest room prepared. Just make do for a few days.”

I stood there, frozen, as Marco shut the door without a backward glance.

Through the crack in the door, I saw his parents, Carlo and Elena Rossi, sitting on the sofa, their brows furrowed. But they said nothing to contest their son’s outrageous behavior.

My heart turned to ice.

I knew Marco was a bastard, but I never thought his parents were cut from the same cloth.

For three years, they had relied on the Falcone family’s protection to live in peace. And now, with a simple “for the baby’s sake,” they had forgotten even basic respect?

Three years of devotion couldn’t compare to three days with his new flame.

I saw them. I finally, truly saw them for who they were.

This family had never, not for a single moment, regarded me as their future.

“Amelia, come on. A few of the family’s Capos are taking us out for drinks tonight.”

I frowned.

“I’m not feeling well. I’m not going.”

Marco grabbed me, ignoring my protests.

“A little air will do you good. What are you afraid of… You never used to be so delicate.”

He dragged me to the family’s club, leaving me no room to resist.

Inside the private room, Marco and Isabella were the center of attention, surrounded by a fawning crowd. I sat in a corner, scrolling through my phone.

“To Marco! Cheated death and brought back a beautiful wife and child! It’s a double blessing! Come on, a toast!”

Everyone raised their glasses in agreement as Isabella shyly stroked her belly.

Marco turned to me, his tone leaving no room for refusal.

“Amelia, Isabella can’t drink. You drink for her. A gesture of… acceptance.”

He slid a glass of whiskey in front of me.

So that was it. He’d brought me here to publicly legitimize Isabella.

He had truly forgotten that I never touched hard liquor.

I had tried it once when I was younger and nearly died from alcohol poisoning. It was he who had rushed me to the family doctor.

I looked up at him, my eyes cold.

“I don’t drink whiskey. Have you forgotten?”

Marco frowned, lowering his voice.

“It’s one glass, Amelia. Don’t make a scene.”

Impatiently, he pushed the glass toward me again.

I stared at him, and then, a slow smile spread across my face.

“Fine.”

I took the glass. As everyone watched, I flicked my wrist and poured the amber liquid onto the plush carpet.

“This one is for the men who didn’t make it back.”

The room fell dead silent. The dull thud of the glass hitting the floor was deafening.

One of the Capos gave a dry laugh, trying to smooth things over.

“Yes, to the brothers we lost… But our Marco is a lucky man, coming back safely with a wife and child!”

His eyes darted toward me. Seeing my impassive face, he quickly added, “Ah, listen to me. Marco is a fortunate man, having two such fine women!”

Marco proudly wrapped an arm around Isabella.

“It’s fate, all fate!”

Isabella leaned into Marco’s shoulder, shooting me a provocative glance.

I let out a cold laugh, stood up, and said in a clear, loud voice, “You’re wrong. Marco has only one wife, and that is Isabella.”

“He’s a Made Man; he respects the rules. He would never bring shame upon the Family with a scandal like bigamy.”

I let the word “shame” hang in the air.

Marco’s face changed instantly. Isabella’s smile froze, and the others exchanged uneasy glances.

“Right, right, Amelia is right. My mistake.”

“Miss Amelia is so gracious! She has the air of a true matriarch!”

No one dared mention drinking again. A short while later, Isabella suddenly clutched her stomach, her face contorting in pain.

“My stomach… it hurts so much! The water… there was something wrong with the water…”

Tears instantly welled in her eyes as she pointed a trembling finger at me.

“It was her… she poured me that water.”

The room erupted. All eyes shot to me.

Someone quickly picked up Isabella’s water glass, sniffed it, and frowned.

“This water tastes bitter!”

“My God, could it be poison?”

Rage contorted Marco’s features. In two quick strides, he grabbed me by the collar, and the sharp crack of his hand across my face silenced the room.

“You vicious bitch! Harming a pregnant woman!”

My head snapped to the side, blood trickling from the corner of my mouth.

I slowly raised a hand to wipe it away, my eyes glaring at him.

“Marco, you don’t even ask? You just assume it was me?”

Marco roared, “Who else could it be! You’re jealous of Isabella! You want her to miscarry, don’t you?”

The people around us began to whisper, their eyes filled with scorn.

“You really can’t judge a book by its cover…”

“After waiting three years, she must have gone insane.”

The wail of an ambulance siren grew closer. Isabella was lifted onto a stretcher, her eyes filled with tears as she was carried away.

“Marco… our baby…” she whimpered, looking as if she’d suffered the world’s greatest injustice.

While the doctors were examining Isabella, Marco’s parents, Carlo and Elena, rushed into the hospital.

I went to them, certain they would believe me. For three years, they had praised my nobility and kindness to anyone who would listen because of my support for their family.

But before I could speak, Elena seized my arm, her nails digging into my flesh.

“You bastard! You dare poison my grandson! You vicious woman!”

She raised her hand and slapped me with all her might.

Carlo, seething with rage, gave me a violent shove.

“If anything happens to Isabella, I’ll kill you!”

He turned to his son.

“Marco, a woman like this will destroy us! Make her pay for what she’s done, then get rid of her!”

A ringing filled my ears. I was so furious I almost laughed.

My three years of devotion were truly wasted on dogs.

Just then, the doctor came out with the report.

“The baby is perfectly fine. The mother just has a case of acute gastroenteritis.”

They all let out a collective sigh of relief.

I sneered and threw my handbag on the floor.

“You accuse me of poisoning, you strike me without a second thought, and now I’m taking this to the Don! To my father, Don Falcone! If you can prove I poisoned her, I will accept the Family’s punishment!”

I pointed at their embarrassed faces.

“But if you can’t, then Isabella is guilty of framing the future matriarch, a grave crime in the Family! And you are all her accomplices!”

“I wouldn’t stay in this rotten house for another second!”

Marco’s parents’ faces were ashen, their lips trembling, but they couldn’t utter a word.

Marco stepped forward and grabbed my wrist, his tone pleading.

“Amelia, just let it go. Apologize to Isabella, promise it won’t happen again, and we can put this behind us.”

I violently shook him off, pointing to my swollen cheek.

“Apologize? I did nothing, I get slapped around by all of you, and you want me to apologize?”

Seeing my defiance, Carlo trembled with anger.

“Marco, let her go! We have Isabella and our grandson, that’s enough. We don’t need this curse!”

But Marco held on to me, lowering his voice.

“My parents were just anxious about their grandson… We have so many years of history, Amelia. I trust you.”

“Just swear you didn’t do it, and I’ll believe you.”

I stared at him, and then I laughed.

“Fine. I swear, if I poisoned her, may my soul be damned to hell when I die.”

I glanced at Isabella.

“Your turn, Isabella. Do you dare swear on the cross that if you framed me, you and your child will both die?”

A dead silence fell over the room.

Isabella’s face went white, her fingers twisting the hem of her clothes.

“I… I only saw you pour the water… I didn’t see clearly if you put anything in it…”

I was so exasperated I burst out laughing, then spun around and slapped Marco hard across the face.

His head snapped to the side. Before he could react, I slapped him again, and then a third time.

Marco clutched his face, glaring at me with fury.

“Are you insane?”

I looked at him with a cold smile.

“The first was to pay you back. The other two… those were for your parents. It’s only fair.”

Elena shrieked and feigned a heart attack, her body swaying.

“Come after me! Don’t touch my son!”

Seeing this, Marco rushed to support his mother, his heart aching for her.

Elena wouldn’t let it go, crying and pushing Marco away as she pointed a trembling finger at me.

“It’s my fault! I shouldn’t have hit you! I’ll kneel, is that what you want?”

Elena’s health was already frail, and in her agitated state, she stumbled and fell, looking even more pathetic.

Furious, Marco gave me a hard shove.

Bang!

I crashed into a decorative cabinet. Glass shattered, and shards sliced into my arm, blood instantly welling up.

Marco only had eyes for Elena. He cried out, his voice pained and hoarse.

“Fine, go!”

“It wasn’t me who betrayed you! It’s you who has no respect for my family!”