The Mafia Queen's Gambit

In the arena, I fought fiercely against my opponent and finally claimed the honor of ten consecutive victories.

I turned around and heard my fiancé's beloved clinging to his arm, mocking me. "How could a crude, low-class woman like her ever be worthy of you?"

I instinctively looked at Roderick Hudson, expecting him to sharply rebuke her insolence.

But the man who had been gentle and caring toward me just yesterday fondly tousled her hair and chuckled softly. "Are you jealous? Relax, you're the only one in my heart."

Watching them flirt so brazenly, my heart grew colder by the second.

Crude and low-class?

I sneered and dialed my father, the mafia boss. "Dad, put the engagement on hold. I want a new match."

...

The crowd slammed the iron bars, shouting wildly. "Break her arm!" The tin roof trembled faintly under the roar of their voices.

My right fist grazed my opponent's brow, slamming into the ropes.

The referee leaned in, counting down. By "seven," the other fighter struggled but couldn't rise.

"You won!" My coach's furrowed brow relaxed instantly as he rushed onto the stage, beaming with pride as we celebrated the tenth victory together.

From the second-floor stands, Erica Fuller gripped Roderick's arm, her eyes locked on me, surrounded by the cheering crowd. "Look at her, all sweaty and reeking, with blood smeared on her gloves."

Her voice dripped with venom as she leaned closer to his ear. "How could a woman like that ever deserve you? Why did your parents' will insist you marry some brute who only knows how to throw punches?"

Roderick's gaze dropped, his fingers brushing her delicate wrist as a soft chuckle escaped his throat. "Are you jealous?"

The arena erupted in cheers, but he tilted his head, his fingertips lifting Erica's chin. "You're the only one in my heart. All that attention I gave her was just to get the elders to hand over more control of the company."

Erica relaxed her grip, leaning into his embrace.

Her sidelong glance caught me pulling off my mouthguard to drink water, and her lips curled into a harsher sneer. "It just infuriates me. She's not even fit to polish your shoes."

"Yeah." Roderick's response was curt as he reached out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Don't worry. Once this match is over, I'll find a way to make her leave on her own."

As they schemed to break off the engagement, I had already packed my things and headed straight to Molly Robin's house.

Since I was three, relentless training had tormented me day and night.

Only fighting in the ring and Molly's kindness brought any warmth to my icy heart.

"My dear, you're hurt again?" Molly saw the bruise on my lip and gently touched my face, her eyes full of concern.

When I was a child, overwhelmed and breaking down, I would hide in the bushes behind the villa and cry.

Molly, a neighborhood cleaner, always spotted me weeping, offering a big hug and slipping me a piece of candy.

I started to see her my mother because I had no mother, but she gave me a mother's love.

"It's nothing, Molly, just a small bruise." I hugged her tightly, playfully asking for some pastries.

As we started to head inside, a familiar male voice called out from behind. "Sophia, is this your home?"

Roderick appeared in the hallway, holding a handkerchief to his nose.

I was thrilled, thinking he had come to meet my family.

I reached for the car keys in my pocket, a surprise I had prepared for him—a limited-edition supercar worth a fortune.

But then Erica peeked out from behind him, her face twisted with disdain as she looked at me. "This place is so shabby, Roderick. Hurry up and tell her clearly. I feel like a rat could scurry out any second, and you know I'm terrified of rats."

Seeing them together confused me, and I froze mid-motion.

I lied, telling Molly they were friends and asking her to go inside.

"Let's talk outside."

Downstairs, Roderick didn't stand by my side as usual but joined Erica.

Erica spoke first. "You're too lowly to be a match for Roderick. He needs someone refined, from a good family, like me."

I was too shocked to speak. Just yesterday, Roderick had taken me to an amusement park, promising to make up for all my childhood regrets.

Now he stood with Erica, saying these things to my face.

I stared at him in disbelief. He cleared his throat, avoiding my gaze, and spoke coolly.

"I hope you're sensible enough to cancel the engagement yourself. Of course, I'll give you a generous compensation package."

Money could make up for his deception? How absurd.

Clearly, his parents hadn't told him my true identity before their accident.

I swallowed my pain and replied coldly. "The engagement was my father's decision. I only follow his orders."

At the mention of his parents' wishes, a flicker of hesitation crossed Roderick's eyes.

But seeing Erica beside him, he doubled down on ending the engagement.

He signaled his assistant to pull out a checkbook and scribbled a figure. "You can take a look at the compensation amount before deciding."

Erica eagerly took the check, sashaying forward to hand it to me. "Look closely. You'll never earn this much in your lifetime."

I was curious to see what kind of fortune made them so arrogant in front of me.

I reached for the check.

But the moment my fingers brushed it, Erica let it slip from her hand.

She tilted her chin smugly, gesturing for me to pick it up from the ground.

I wanted to punch that smug look off her face.

But remembering my father's orders, I clenched my fist and exhaled sharply.

I crouched down and picked up the check.

"Ten million? This is supposed to buy off my feelings?" I held the check, my voice dripping with mockery.

"Don't think marrying me will get you more. I'll have my lawyers draft a prenup. Even if you insist on the wedding, I've promised Erica I won't touch you." Roderick's tone sounded like a warning.

Hearing his firm stance, Erica gleefully hugged him, kissing his cheek loudly, completely ignoring me, his rightful fiancée.

I stared at their intertwined hands, my voice cold as ice. "Have you forgotten? Your parents' will clearly states that if you dare not marry me, you won't get a single cent of their fortune!"