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Fate

ผู้เขียน: Jolie
last update ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-03-10 04:19:53

# The Viewpoint of Laïs

I felt my stomach churn, and my mood was very different from the sunny spring morning. They would come to pick me up, and I would finally leave the walls of this convent to go to my wedding. However, contrary to what my novice friends thought, I was not freeing myself; I felt like I was leaving one cage only to enter another—I would never be able to fly freely like a bird. I didn’t know what awaited me at this wedding, and I feared it would be worse than the endless days of prayer and fasting. I heard a knock at the door and got up from the bed.

“You can come in.” I swallowed hard, but the lump in my throat didn’t go down; it just stayed there, making my breathing anxious and difficult.

“Hello, Laïs.”

“Hello, Sister Antonella.” I rubbed my hands together, trying to rid myself of the cold sweat.

“You can just call me Antonella.” She removed her veil, and I was astonished to see beautiful, well-kept blonde hair, very different from the short hair or shaved heads I had expected.

“You’re not a nun, are you? I may not have had access to much information, but I’ve always been a pretty smart girl.”

“No.”

“You were here because he sent you, right?”

“Exactly. Someone had to take care of you.”

“Why not him, himself?”

“Mr. Bellucci is a very busy man; you’ll see.”

“And what is he going to do to me after the wedding? Send me back here?”

“No, you’ll live in the mansion, with Mrs. Bellucci.”

“Does he have another woman?” I opened my big brown eyes. It was hard not to show my surprise at this information. I knew I could expect anything from the mafia, but I thought they at least had some respect for the religion that ruled the city and the entire country, where marriage was sacred.

“No, silly. The Mrs. Bellucci I’m talking about is his mother.”

“Oh!” I gave an embarrassed smile.

“The team should be on the way to get you ready.”

“Am I going directly from here to the church?”

“Yes. Would you like to go to the chapel and say your prayers first?” I shook my head and crossed my arms. I had prayed a lot over the years to be more than just a puppet in the hands of a gangster. I hoped to wake up one day and see my destiny changed, but that hadn’t happened, and I didn’t expect it to at the last minute.

I was going to marry Marco Bellucci, as had been decided over ten years ago without anyone consulting my opinion, and there was nothing I could do about it.

# The Viewpoint of Marco

“You look handsome.” I noticed her hands smoothing the lapel of my collar and adjusting my tie.

“Thank you, Mother.” I took her hands in mine before facing her.

I was thirty-six years old, eagerly awaiting the moment I would be united with a woman in the eyes of my family and society. This wedding was nothing more than the sealing of an agreement made years ago. I knew it was coming, and I had time to prepare for this moment; everything would go exactly as planned. No surprises.

“You’re looking more and more like your father.” She fixed a wayward strand of hair that had escaped the gel that molded my perfect hairstyle.

“I’m getting old, Mom.”

“No way, Marco! You’re still a boy.”

“In your eyes, I always will be.” I laughed, and so did she.

“Listen, my son.” My mother took a deep breath, and I wasn’t sure I was ready to hear what she had to say next, but I had no escape. Even though I was the Don and the most powerful voice in this mansion and all of Rome, Rosimeire Bellucci was still my mother.

“I’m running out of time.” I looked at the hands of my watch. There was just under an hour left before the wedding, which would take place in the Basilica of San Clemente, an ancient and important church in Rome. The truth was, I just wanted an excuse to get away from the subject with my mother. Love was business, and so was smuggling; I didn’t care what she thought about it.

Speaking of business, my relationship with the church should also apply here. The interests of the mafia and the Vatican, especially those who govern it, often went hand in hand, making us very likely allies.

“I know these are just empty words to you…” she began, and I frowned, looking at her.

“I know the circumstances aren’t the best, but marriage is much easier to manage if you learn to love her.”

“I hope you get along well with her.” I shrugged.

“You don’t think you’ll leave her here and disappear, do you?” I didn’t answer, and my silence was enough for my mother to be certain that was exactly what I intended to do. Obviously, I would visit her one day or another, and having a child or two with her wouldn’t be a bad thing, since I still had no heirs, and that was also a sovereign’s role. I admitted I didn’t care much about it, as with my brothers by my side, I knew they could replace me in a crisis. However, with a beautiful young woman, getting her pregnant was the perfect excuse to take her to bed.

“I don’t expect to be the best husband in the world, and I hope she isn’t naive enough to think she has the right to demand that from me.”

“But you can be, and I hope she’s smart enough to know how to handle you.”

“Please, Mother. Don’t fill her head with nonsense, or it could be bad for both of you.”

She took a breath but didn’t dare continue that conversation. It was for the best, and thankfully, my mother had the wisdom to realize the moment wasn’t right. My father had fallen in love with her, but that didn’t mean his children would have the same fate.

I took the box with the rings that was on my bed (which would soon witness a virginity being taken), and I went downstairs, closely followed by my mother. In the living room, my brothers were waiting to escort us, along with the soldiers, to the church.

This shouldn’t be a big event in my life, just the fulfillment of an agreement, like several others. I just hadn’t planned that everything could spiral out of control.

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  • A mafia romance    Runnig

    # Laïs's Perspective"Get up, my dear." The hairdresser tugged at my hand shortly after placing the veil on my head. I nodded and moved toward the mirror, stopping to gaze through the sheer fabric at my beautiful hairstyle and princess-like gown. The dress was voluminous, adorned with lace and gemstones. The crystals sparkled like mermaid scales. A stunning tiara rested on my bun, matching the heavy earrings that dangled from my ears. I had no idea how much they cost, but I imagined they were very expensive given their weight and the number of stones."You look magnificent," Antonella commented beside me. It still shocked me that this woman had been watching over me for ten years, but I tried not to dwell on it since it was all coming to an end, and there was nothing I could do.In truth, I had never been able to do much in my life. Every step I took was monitored, and I didn’t expect that to change now. I suspected many women would be immensely happy on their wedding day, but I was n

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-10
  • A mafia romance    À mariage

    "Come in, come inside!" She pointed to a small door."What do you want?""Just come in, my daughter!"I realized they could arrive at any moment and catch up with me. Without thinking, I stepped inside and found myself in the back of a small bakery, where wood was burning to heat a brick oven, just like the one at the convent."Take off that wedding dress.""What?" My eyes widened at the unexpected command from the woman."Do you want to escape or not? The dress attracts too much attention. Hurry, take it off! I'll help you." I turned my back to her as she unbuttoned the pearl buttons. I stepped back, feeling exposed in just my underwear. Thankfully, I was at an angle where I couldn't be seen through the windows. The woman took what remained of the immense, luxurious wedding dress and tossed it into the clay oven. It was quickly consumed by the flames and reduced to ashes."Thank you, but I can't run in the street like this.""Come with me. You're thin, but I should have some old clo

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-12
  • A mafia romance    Where is lais?

    MARCO'S POINT OF VIEWThe church was packed. A massive circus was about to take place, and a suitable audience was essential. I was getting hot in this suit and feeling restless, anxious to be precise, but I maintained my composure. It had always been crucial for someone in a dominant position like mine. Great leaders could never appear desperate, as everyone depended on them to remain calm.Though I tried to keep my gaze fixed on the altar, I could still see a few heads turning toward the enormous double doors at the entrance. Like me, they must have been wondering when the bride would walk through. This was one of the highlights of the wedding, and impatience was becoming increasingly evident on everyone's faces.I tried not to check my watch to avoid showing any discomfort. She was late, but I couldn't tell exactly how late.I noticed Afonso, my fiancée's father, was also growing impatient. I wanted him to hold it together, but he didn't. When he stood up from the pew and approache

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-12
  • A mafia romance    I was leaving Rome

    LAÏS'S POINT OF VIEWThe woman pulled back the curtain of the room and looked out onto the street. She surveyed everything very carefully before turning to face me."They're no longer on the street. You need to leave. I don't even want to think about what could happen to me if they find out I helped you." She ran her clammy hands through her thinning, almost white hair."Then why are you helping me?" I couldn't contain my curiosity, even in such a desperate situation."I know very well what it's like to spend your life married to a man you don't want."I looked at her expression and felt sorry for her, even though my situation wasn't the best either. I wanted to ask what had happened to her, to hear her story, but I didn't have the time. As the woman herself had said, the mafia could punish her severely if they discovered she was sheltering me."May I know your name?""Ana.""Thank you so much, Ana. My name is Laïs.""Let's go!" She motioned for me to follow her down the stairs."I'll

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-12
  • A mafia romance    She’s just a girl

    MARCO'S POINT OF VIEWI slid the glass across the table before bringing it to my lips and taking a few sips of the strongest single malt whisky I could find in my bar. This was certainly not how I expected to end my evening. I would be lying if I said I was looking forward to this wedding, especially since it was merely a pawn in the political game I was playing. The frustration that everything wasn't going exactly as I had predicted was immense.Ten years ago, I had made a commitment to marry Laïs Barbosa. I had left her in a convent and waited until she turned twenty-one. It should have been a circus, but an easy one to manage. What I hadn't anticipated was that Laïs would be capable of turning the tables and escaping me. If there was one thing I hated, it was losing control of a situation."Are you very angry?" I heard Mateo's voice.I took another sip of my whisky and looked out the window before placing the glass back on the table and turning to face my brother."I'm not angry; I

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-15
  • A mafia romance    Call

    "Have a good night, my friend." He hung up, but his laughter lingered in my mind for a few moments. "Damn son of a bitch!""Who was that, Marco?" My brother closed the door and approached me."Benjamin Costas.""What did he want?""To remind me how fragile our relationship with the Barbosas is, especially now that Lais left me at the altar.""What a jerk!""They're after Lais, and they're going to kill her.""He said that?" My brother's green eyes widened in shock."Not directly, but he emphasized how advantageous it would be for them to do business without her. He even offered me an obedient wife. If they eliminate Lais, they could take the port and ally with us.""But we don't have much to lose. We could still smuggle our contraband through Portugal.""Just our reputation and a deal we made ten years ago.""And what do you plan to do?""Get that idiot before the Costas put a bullet in her head.""I hope we're the first to find her.""For the girl's sake, I hope so." I scratched my c

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-15
  • A mafia romance    She is only 11 years old."

    **Ten Years Ago...**The sun burned fiercely on the car's windshield that summer morning. If there were several things I hated in life, heat was one of them. It was irritating, made me sweat, and gave me a headache. However, it was a day when I couldn’t let something as trivial as the weather bother me.It had been a week since my father was killed in an ambush by a rival family, and I had quickly had to take over the family business. Even though I had been prepared for this my whole life, as a prince trained from childhood to take charge of a kingdom, nothing was quite like practice. A traumatic event, like the death of a parent, suddenly thrusts you out of the shadows and makes you an emperor.Fortunately, I had my younger brothers by my side. They might say it was foolish, but I entrusted them with my own life. Theo and Mateo were with me when I got out of the car in front of a large mansion in Almada, a town near Lisbon.I slammed the door, hearing the impact before my strength, a

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-10
  • A mafia romance    To prétend

    "Have you finished your morning prayers yet?"The sister asked, pulling me out of my daydream and making me look at her."Yes, I have.""You seem distant, my child.""It's just your impression, Sister." I lied. I didn't want to tell her that I was thinking about my inevitable marriage. I was tired of being told that it was God's will and that I should do it with joy. How could God want me to marry the head of the largest mafia family in Italy? Not that anyone had told me directly, but I had always been listening and eavesdropping on conversations, especially those concerning my life."Come on, you need to have your breakfast and help the others clean the convent." I just nodded and followed the sister down the hallway to the refectory where the other novices were gathering to eat a mushy and unappetizing porridge.I moved away from the sister and sat in the open space between Felicia and Nina."Good morning!" I smiled at both of them, alternating my gaze from one to the other."Three

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-10

บทล่าสุด

  • A mafia romance    Call

    "Have a good night, my friend." He hung up, but his laughter lingered in my mind for a few moments. "Damn son of a bitch!""Who was that, Marco?" My brother closed the door and approached me."Benjamin Costas.""What did he want?""To remind me how fragile our relationship with the Barbosas is, especially now that Lais left me at the altar.""What a jerk!""They're after Lais, and they're going to kill her.""He said that?" My brother's green eyes widened in shock."Not directly, but he emphasized how advantageous it would be for them to do business without her. He even offered me an obedient wife. If they eliminate Lais, they could take the port and ally with us.""But we don't have much to lose. We could still smuggle our contraband through Portugal.""Just our reputation and a deal we made ten years ago.""And what do you plan to do?""Get that idiot before the Costas put a bullet in her head.""I hope we're the first to find her.""For the girl's sake, I hope so." I scratched my c

  • A mafia romance    She’s just a girl

    MARCO'S POINT OF VIEWI slid the glass across the table before bringing it to my lips and taking a few sips of the strongest single malt whisky I could find in my bar. This was certainly not how I expected to end my evening. I would be lying if I said I was looking forward to this wedding, especially since it was merely a pawn in the political game I was playing. The frustration that everything wasn't going exactly as I had predicted was immense.Ten years ago, I had made a commitment to marry Laïs Barbosa. I had left her in a convent and waited until she turned twenty-one. It should have been a circus, but an easy one to manage. What I hadn't anticipated was that Laïs would be capable of turning the tables and escaping me. If there was one thing I hated, it was losing control of a situation."Are you very angry?" I heard Mateo's voice.I took another sip of my whisky and looked out the window before placing the glass back on the table and turning to face my brother."I'm not angry; I

  • A mafia romance    I was leaving Rome

    LAÏS'S POINT OF VIEWThe woman pulled back the curtain of the room and looked out onto the street. She surveyed everything very carefully before turning to face me."They're no longer on the street. You need to leave. I don't even want to think about what could happen to me if they find out I helped you." She ran her clammy hands through her thinning, almost white hair."Then why are you helping me?" I couldn't contain my curiosity, even in such a desperate situation."I know very well what it's like to spend your life married to a man you don't want."I looked at her expression and felt sorry for her, even though my situation wasn't the best either. I wanted to ask what had happened to her, to hear her story, but I didn't have the time. As the woman herself had said, the mafia could punish her severely if they discovered she was sheltering me."May I know your name?""Ana.""Thank you so much, Ana. My name is Laïs.""Let's go!" She motioned for me to follow her down the stairs."I'll

  • A mafia romance    Where is lais?

    MARCO'S POINT OF VIEWThe church was packed. A massive circus was about to take place, and a suitable audience was essential. I was getting hot in this suit and feeling restless, anxious to be precise, but I maintained my composure. It had always been crucial for someone in a dominant position like mine. Great leaders could never appear desperate, as everyone depended on them to remain calm.Though I tried to keep my gaze fixed on the altar, I could still see a few heads turning toward the enormous double doors at the entrance. Like me, they must have been wondering when the bride would walk through. This was one of the highlights of the wedding, and impatience was becoming increasingly evident on everyone's faces.I tried not to check my watch to avoid showing any discomfort. She was late, but I couldn't tell exactly how late.I noticed Afonso, my fiancée's father, was also growing impatient. I wanted him to hold it together, but he didn't. When he stood up from the pew and approache

  • A mafia romance    À mariage

    "Come in, come inside!" She pointed to a small door."What do you want?""Just come in, my daughter!"I realized they could arrive at any moment and catch up with me. Without thinking, I stepped inside and found myself in the back of a small bakery, where wood was burning to heat a brick oven, just like the one at the convent."Take off that wedding dress.""What?" My eyes widened at the unexpected command from the woman."Do you want to escape or not? The dress attracts too much attention. Hurry, take it off! I'll help you." I turned my back to her as she unbuttoned the pearl buttons. I stepped back, feeling exposed in just my underwear. Thankfully, I was at an angle where I couldn't be seen through the windows. The woman took what remained of the immense, luxurious wedding dress and tossed it into the clay oven. It was quickly consumed by the flames and reduced to ashes."Thank you, but I can't run in the street like this.""Come with me. You're thin, but I should have some old clo

  • A mafia romance    Runnig

    # Laïs's Perspective"Get up, my dear." The hairdresser tugged at my hand shortly after placing the veil on my head. I nodded and moved toward the mirror, stopping to gaze through the sheer fabric at my beautiful hairstyle and princess-like gown. The dress was voluminous, adorned with lace and gemstones. The crystals sparkled like mermaid scales. A stunning tiara rested on my bun, matching the heavy earrings that dangled from my ears. I had no idea how much they cost, but I imagined they were very expensive given their weight and the number of stones."You look magnificent," Antonella commented beside me. It still shocked me that this woman had been watching over me for ten years, but I tried not to dwell on it since it was all coming to an end, and there was nothing I could do.In truth, I had never been able to do much in my life. Every step I took was monitored, and I didn’t expect that to change now. I suspected many women would be immensely happy on their wedding day, but I was n

  • A mafia romance    Fate

    # The Viewpoint of LaïsI felt my stomach churn, and my mood was very different from the sunny spring morning. They would come to pick me up, and I would finally leave the walls of this convent to go to my wedding. However, contrary to what my novice friends thought, I was not freeing myself; I felt like I was leaving one cage only to enter another—I would never be able to fly freely like a bird. I didn’t know what awaited me at this wedding, and I feared it would be worse than the endless days of prayer and fasting. I heard a knock at the door and got up from the bed.“You can come in.” I swallowed hard, but the lump in my throat didn’t go down; it just stayed there, making my breathing anxious and difficult.“Hello, Laïs.”“Hello, Sister Antonella.” I rubbed my hands together, trying to rid myself of the cold sweat.“You can just call me Antonella.” She removed her veil, and I was astonished to see beautiful, well-kept blonde hair, very different from the short hair or shaved heads

  • A mafia romance    To prétend

    "Have you finished your morning prayers yet?"The sister asked, pulling me out of my daydream and making me look at her."Yes, I have.""You seem distant, my child.""It's just your impression, Sister." I lied. I didn't want to tell her that I was thinking about my inevitable marriage. I was tired of being told that it was God's will and that I should do it with joy. How could God want me to marry the head of the largest mafia family in Italy? Not that anyone had told me directly, but I had always been listening and eavesdropping on conversations, especially those concerning my life."Come on, you need to have your breakfast and help the others clean the convent." I just nodded and followed the sister down the hallway to the refectory where the other novices were gathering to eat a mushy and unappetizing porridge.I moved away from the sister and sat in the open space between Felicia and Nina."Good morning!" I smiled at both of them, alternating my gaze from one to the other."Three

  • A mafia romance    She is only 11 years old."

    **Ten Years Ago...**The sun burned fiercely on the car's windshield that summer morning. If there were several things I hated in life, heat was one of them. It was irritating, made me sweat, and gave me a headache. However, it was a day when I couldn’t let something as trivial as the weather bother me.It had been a week since my father was killed in an ambush by a rival family, and I had quickly had to take over the family business. Even though I had been prepared for this my whole life, as a prince trained from childhood to take charge of a kingdom, nothing was quite like practice. A traumatic event, like the death of a parent, suddenly thrusts you out of the shadows and makes you an emperor.Fortunately, I had my younger brothers by my side. They might say it was foolish, but I entrusted them with my own life. Theo and Mateo were with me when I got out of the car in front of a large mansion in Almada, a town near Lisbon.I slammed the door, hearing the impact before my strength, a

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