ella

we unlocked the door to our cramped apartment, the storm had seeped into our very bones. The old radiat

father, Arturo, slumped onto the worn sofa, his face buried in his hands. The sheer exhaustion and humiliation

ntom heat of a roaring i

's lies. I had walked into the Velasquez estate thinking I was saving my family, only to find myself locked in a gilded cage that quickly turned int

n a mafia power play ignited a dark, consuming fire in my chest. I would rather walk straight into the Romero family's S

s red-rimmed. "Elzada Velasquez is known as a pious philanthropist. It's a Capo's family. If Isabella marries her son, she'll be protected.

eight of the mafia hierarchy suffo

ree cups of hot tea, and carried them to

old girl. "If this marriage is such a monumental blessing

teacup halting halfwa

d, sitting across from them. "She wouldn't let a golden opportunit

an't speak of yo

secretly honed as my shield. "Elzada's biological son isn't a young prodigy. He's a severe drug addict who already has a bastard child with a stripper f

my mother's face. "No

dered the Capo's first wife to take her place, and right now, she is embezzling millions from the family's casinos. The original wife's eldest son, Javie

d loudly in the su

ccountant; he knew exactly what happened to the collateral damag

of my mother's illusion shatter into dust. "Grandmother and Aunt Bette are throwing m

ng reality set in. The Hobbs family didn't see her as a daughter or a sist

ing so hard a muscle ticked in his cheek. The hesitation