Don Fiorenzo Ricci saved me and brought me home, raising me for seven years.

During the day, he was refined and restrained, treating me the way a true father would. At night, he was endlessly inventive, making me his and his alone.

I drowned myself in this twisted love, naively believing I was the only one for Fiorenzo.

Then he turned around and married another woman, made her the Madre of the mafia family, and forced me to watch them together.

I was done being a piece in their twisted games.

The first time I ran, he nearly killed the maid who helped me. The second time I ran, he shot the gardener dead on the spot.

The third time, and the last, I jumped into the ocean right in front of him.

I did it all for freedom, even if it was only the freedom of my soul after death.

A bishop from a distant parish stood reciting his blessings over the grand wedding.

I let out a cold laugh.

Everyone turned to look, including Don Fiorenzo Ricci, the head of the mafia family.

The broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted man stood beneath the mistletoe in the church, preparing to kiss his bride.

I walked slowly toward Fiorenzo and used scissors to cut open my pure white custom gown.

"Clarissa, enough." His voice was low, but I knew he was angry.

"Not enough, Fiorenzo." I cut through the last strip of fabric as I spoke.

When my body, covered in kiss marks, was exposed before everyone's eyes, chaos erupted in the room.

"What is she doing?" The bride looked at Fiorenzo in horror.

"Take Signorina Diamante away." His tone was calm but carried an oppressive weight.

"Fiorenzo, these are the marks you left on me last night!" I struggled free from his men's grip.

Fiorenzo's expression remained calm. "You should call me Papa."

"But you're only nine years older than me," I shot back.

"Regardless, I am your guardian. That will never change.

"Today is my wedding, Clarissa. You should be offering blessings, not standing here embarrassing me like this.

"But I don't blame you, because you will always be my Principessa."

Then he gestured for his men to bring a sedative. He injected it into me himself. I lost consciousness immediately.

This small disturbance was smoothed over by Fiorenzo's composed jokes.

When I woke, I was back in my room, changed into a fresh white nightgown. Fiorenzo had chosen it. He loved seeing me in white. He said it was pure and sacred.

Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, I could see Fiorenzo dancing with his new bride at the center of the crowd.

The bride's name was Gianna Moretti. She was the daughter of one of the family's elders.

Gianna's father had taken a bullet for Fiorenzo and died. Fiorenzo said he owed the elder a debt, so he married her. The family members all praised their new Don for his loyalty and righteousness.

Only I stood on the top floor of the manor, swinging an axe and destroying the piano he had given me.

The night before the wedding, Gianna came to Fiorenzo with a sweet smile. "I want to throw my bouquet to Clarissa."

I looked at Fiorenzo without showing any emotion, listening as he answered, "Alright."

I stared at him in disbelief. "Do you know what that means?"

"It means you will be the next bride."

I stared into his green eyes, enunciating each word. "Whose bride?"

"Clarissa, you deserve the finest person in the world. I will help you find him."

In that moment, I felt like a clown.

"Fiorenzo, I need to go rest." I made an excuse to leave.

Then I heard Fiorenzo say, "You should call me Papa. After Gianna and I are married, I expect you to remember how to address me every single time."

I left in silence, planning to deliver his wedding gift later.

That night, I put on a red nightgown and pushed open Fiorenzo's bedroom door, pressing myself against his body like a snake. His breathing remained steady.

Disappointed, I was about to climb out of bed when a pair of burning, powerful hands locked around my thighs.

My heart raced as I looked up and met his deep gaze.

"What are you doing?" His voice was low and husky.

"Congratulations on your wedding." My fingertips traced circles on his Adam's apple.

"Do you know what you are doing?" His voice began to take on a tone both foreign and familiar.

He had never spoken to me this way before, but I knew this was the voice he used to flirt with his mistresses.

"You once said I would be your most beautiful bride." I whispered near his ear.

"That was just a joke, Clarissa."

Fiorenzo's tone was helpless, as if I truly were a troublesome little daughter causing her Papa grief.

"From the day I brought you home, I announced to everyone that you're my adopted daughter." He looked at me tenderly.

"Now you have grown up. You are my most perfect creation. I will not allow anyone to defile you, not even myself."

My heart was already riddled with holes from his words, but I stubbornly pressed on.

"Fiorenzo, you are the Don of a mafia family. Your hands are stained with blood. You are not that sacred.

"But even if you were God, tonight I would drag you down into sin with me."

"This is the last time I will indulge you." He sighed.

Then his hand moved with practiced ease, slipping between my legs, fingers moving in rhythm inside me.

"Clarissa, call me Papa."

"Papa." I was lost in desire.

I did not know how much time had passed when a knock came at the door.

"Darling, are you asleep?" Gianna's voice came from behind the door.

Fiorenzo carried me into the closet while I was still trembling from climax.

"Don't make a sound." He kept his voice low.

Through the gap in the closet, I watched Gianna walk in and pull him into a kiss. Then they had sex frantically all over the bedroom.

The sounds of Gianna's moans tortured me. Only after Gianna exhausted herself and fell asleep did Fiorenzo pull me out of the room.

"Go back now. And don't wear red again. It doesn't suit you."

Later, that red nightgown truly disappeared from my wardrobe; Fiorenzo still controlled every aspect of my life. However, he no longer kissed me or touched me.

The morning after the wedding, I went to the dining room for breakfast and saw Gianna wearing my red nightgown.

She acted as if nothing was wrong, her tone cheerful. "Clarissa, want to try the breakfast I made?"

I saw the vivid kiss marks on her neck. I saw the ring on finger, the one that symbolized her position as Madre of the mafia family.

Once, Fiorenzo had slipped that same ring onto my finger.

For a moment, my blood felt like it had frozen solid.

Fiorenzo spoke in his usual tone. "Go sit down."

I sat down stiffly and lifted my teacup, draining it in one gulp. Instantly, scalding water tore down my throat.

A flash of satisfaction crossed Gianna's face before she put on a helpless expression. "Does it taste bad? But Fiorenzo said you would like it."

Fiorenzo took a sip as well. His expression was relaxed. I understood then that only my tea had been that hot.

"Clarissa, I've been too lenient with you. I've let you forget how to show kindness." Fiorenzo looked at me with disappointment.

The pain in my throat left me momentarily speechless. All I could do was pick up the hot tea and throw it at them.

Gianna screamed. Fiorenzo's man Matteo Conti rushed in reflexively, but Fiorenzo gestured for him to stand down.

"Does it burn? What I just drank was even hotter than this." I left those words behind and walked toward the main door.

This was Fiorenzo's true face. The Don, not my Papa. I knew he could kill me in his rage at any moment.

While he still did not want me dead, I had to leave this place. I had to escape this manor that had imprisoned me for seven years.

Seven years ago on Christmas Eve, my parents and I had just left a shopping center when we ran into a gang shootout. They were killed by stray bullets.

Fiorenzo found me among the bodies. He said he had already dealt with the people who killed my parents.

He brought me to the manor and gave my family the most magnificent funeral. He hired the best tutors for me.

He personally taught me piano. He taught me how to hold a gun.

He said, "Clarissa, you are my one and only Principessa. In this world, no one can replace you."

At least before Gianna appeared, he was attentive to my every need. It made me sink into our twisted relationship.

He denied that his feelings for me were romantic love between a man and woman, yet he even controlled what style of underwear I wore.

I carried my packed luggage toward the manor gates, preparing to turn back and say goodbye to this place.

The second I was about to step through the gate, Matteo's respectful but cold voice sounded behind me.

"Signorina Diamante, Don Ricci requests your presence in his study."

Under the blazing sun, I shivered.

Matteo brought me to Fiorenzo's study. Fiorenzo stubbed out his cigar and glanced at me.

"Clarissa, who gave you those clothes?"

This outfit was something I had traded for with a diamond necklace to a housekeeper named Maria Rossi, but I did not answer.

Suddenly he stood and pulled me firmly by the shoulder to the floor-to-ceiling window. Down by the fountain, Matteo was shoving Maria's head into the water over and over again.

"Stop! Stop it!" I said angrily to Fiorenzo.

He acted as if he had not heard me. Not until my voice turned to begging.

He called out loudly toward the door. "Tell Matteo to revive her.

"Clarissa, you must remember this. For the sake of the family's interests, I will not allow anyone to leave with our secrets."

Fiorenzo pulled me into his arms. I felt his kiss fall on the top of my head.

The warmth of his body made me think of him tangled up with Gianna. Instantly nausea rolled through me.

I shoved him away hard and ran out of the study.

Downstairs, I found Gianna looking up suspiciously. I walked down the stairs anyway. Just as I was about to brush past her, she bumped into me.

"Clarissa, stop trying to seduce Fiorenzo."

"I think you should say that to your husband. Your husband is the one who keeps seducing me!"

I mocked her without mercy before turning to leave but Gianna blocked my way.

"My papa was an elder in this family. Even though he's dead, his influence remains.

"The position of Madre isn't for some little girl who's barely dry behind the ears. You don't even know how to please Fiorenzo. All you know how to do is spread your legs like some fragile pillow princess."

At her words, I realized Gianna knew I had witnessed her and Fiorenzo having sex from inside the closet that night. But I no longer felt angry at what she said.

I only replied calmly, "Signora Ricci, wait, no. Madre, I sincerely wish you and my Papa all the best."

I turned to walk away. Suddenly Gianna threw herself backward.

She screamed. Then came the massive sound of something heavy falling.

The entire world became eerily quiet. I felt cold all over.

I looked up. Fiorenzo stood at the second-floor railing like a god, his eyes dark and unreadable as they looked down at me.

I was locked in confinement. Aside from Cesare Esposito, the staff who brought my meals each day, I had no contact with anyone.

Still, I had to get out of this room before I could plan my escape.

I asked Cesare to relay messages, but he always said Fiorenzo was not at the manor.

I knew Gianna was behind this. I decided to take a gamble.

One rainy night, I confirmed that Fiorenzo's Rolls-Royce Cullinan had not left the grounds. Cesare delivered my dinner through the small window in the door right on schedule.

Just as he was about to leave, I called out softly, "Cesare!"

He seemed to know what I was going to say and answered without hesitation.

"Signorina Diamante, Don Ricci is not at the manor today."

"It seems Gianna has given you plenty of incentive, but if I die, do you think Fiorenzo won't take his anger out on you?"

Then I broke the porcelain plate and slashed at my wrist. Blood poured out, dripping onto the expensive handwoven wool carpet.

I smiled at Cesare through the blood, a smile that said I would get what I wanted.

Through my fading consciousness, I heard Fiorenzo's anxious voice. He had nearly lost all the composure and elegance befitting a Don.

"Listen, I don't care how hard it's raining right now. The blood I need must arrive immediately.

"String up Cesare and hang him in the basement.

"If anything happens to my Principessa, everyone will pay a terrible price!"

When I opened my eyes again, I heard him say tiredly, "You're awake. Looks like I'll have to replace all your dishes with plastic ones."

"No, Papa. I've come to my senses." I lowered my eyes, showing just the right amount of vulnerability.

Fiorenzo studied me, weighing my words.

"If I disappoint you, you can confine me anytime."

In the end, he gave in.

For the first time since the wedding, he kissed my forehead. His tone was as helpless and indulgent as always.

"Clarissa, you know I can never say no to you."

After regaining my freedom, I learned to hide my time. Fiorenzo took the doctor's advice and allowed me to walk in the manor gardens to clear my mind.

I walked alone in the garden, thinking of ways to escape, when a familiar figure entered my line of sight.

It was my piano instructor from two years ago, the one I had left without saying goodbye.

"Signor Lombardi, it's been a while." I greeted him.

"Signorina Diamante."

Luigi Lombardi's awkward movements drew my attention to the fact that he was now missing several fingers.

"What happened to your hand?" I walked over, concerned.

"It's nothing. This is the price of gambling debts. Now Don Ricci has me working here as a gardener." He moved his hands behind his back.

My instincts told me there might be more to this story.

"Out for a walk?" He changed the subject.

"Yes, but it's just as boring. If only I could leave this place forever." I shrugged with disappointment.

"Perhaps I can help you." Luigi looked at me with certainty.

I had not expected an opportunity to come this quickly.

"That's wonderful. How?" I said quietly, my voice excited.

"We can use the delivery truck to get out. The driver is from my hometown. Today is his last delivery here. I'll go talk to him."

Luigi's blue eyes lit up as he ran toward the truck unloading flowers.

"Clarissa, you're flirting again! I'm going to tell Fiorenzo and see how your Papa punishes you!"

Damn it! Gianna appeared out of nowhere.

She thought she had caught me red-handed, but as she brushed past me, she accidentally pushed me into a mud puddle.

At that moment, Fiorenzo's voice also carried over from the distance. "Have you seen Clarissa?"

"Tell him I'm not here. I'll go clean myself up!" I said in a low but stern voice.

Not wanting to anger Fiorenzo, Gianna hurried past and intercepted him behind a row of small pine trees. I breathed a sigh of relief.

Luigi helped me onto the truck. I said to him, "We need to hurry."

Everything went so smoothly that it felt suspicious. Though I did not want to think too much. I just wanted to get away from Fiorenzo's land as quickly as possible.

Luigi and I pawned my jewelry and bought a secondhand yacht. Finally, we sailed toward the shores of freedom.