Chapter 1: The Blood Wedding

The New York sky was unusually beautiful today. The wind played with the pristine white clouds, and gentle sunlight bathed the bustling city below like a magnificent symphony welcoming a child returning from afar.

Emilia never thought she’d set foot here again after three years.

“I’ve just landed. I’ll be there soon… Of course, I wouldn’t miss your wedding,” she said softly into her phone.

Her face betrayed little emotion, but her amber eyes carried a perpetual sorrow, as if her heart had never truly been at peace.

She had returned to New York after three years away to attend her brother’s wedding. She had thought she’d never return, but she knew she couldn’t keep running. It was time to come clean with her brother... about her son.

Ray, her son, nestled in her arms. When he noticed her attention on him, his face lit up, and he began babbling excitedly. Though he could only utter simple words and unintelligible sounds, his joy was unmistakable.

Emilia smiled and gently pressed her forehead against his golden locks. His blonde hair and blue eyes bore no resemblance to hers, yet they perfectly mirrored those of that man.

She sighed, quickly brushing aside her thoughts. Leaving the airport, she hailed a taxi to the grand cathedral where her brother’s wedding was to take place.

The outside of the cathedral was adorned with alternating white and red roses, all fresh and vibrant. Ribbons tied into elegant bows swayed gently in the wind, creating a breathtaking scene.

A gust of wind lifted a strand of Emilia’s long hair. Standing before the cathedral, she took a deep breath. Under her son’s expectant gaze, she stepped inside.

Most of the guests had already arrived. While the gathering wasn’t large, everyone present wielded significant power within the city’s underworld.

It was easy to discern the factions within the room. Members of the Adonis family—the family Emilia belonged to—sat on the right, while those allied with the Russian mob boss occupied the left. Men in black suits and dark sunglasses stood discreetly throughout the space. Some were Adonis loyalists, while others were part of the Russian faction.

This was a marriage of convenience. Emilia’s brother, Curtis, the Adonis family heir, was marrying the beloved daughter of the Russian mob boss. The union was an attempt to quell the hostility between the two factions.

The source of their feud three years ago, however, was Emilia herself. Unwilling to fulfill her arranged marriage to the Russian mob boss’s son, she fled New York for Italy. Her defiance left her father powerless and gave the Russian mob boss an excuse to target the Adonis family.

The Adonis family, in turn, used the opportunity to escalate tensions. Both sides had been locked in a relentless, covert battle ever since.

Suddenly, the murmurs in the hall quieted. The groom had arrived.

Curtis appeared at the altar in a pristine white suit, accented by a blood-red flower pinned to his chest pocket. His smile and the sparkle in his eyes radiated a genuine happiness.

This was an arranged marriage, but Emilia knew her brother was genuinely content with it. He loved the Russian mob boss’s daughter.

Through their phone conversations, Curtis would often passionately express his love. Emilia couldn’t help but wonder what kind of woman had managed to captivate her brother so completely.

Lost in thought, Emilia’s gaze involuntarily drifted to the man standing beside Curtis.

He was tall, with golden hair and piercing blue eyes that, despite their brightness, couldn’t conceal the coldness emanating from him. Yet, his strikingly handsome features easily overshadowed his icy demeanor, making it hard not to want to approach him, to strike up a conversation—or even flirt.

Matthew. He still looked as perfect as ever.

Unbidden, a memory from three years ago resurfaced in Emilia’s mind—a night of too much drink. Matthew’s scorching breath brushing against her ear, his husky voice asking if she was in pain, only to claim her with undeniable passion. A night filled with ardor, the culmination of years of suppressed emotions. That unforgettable night had left her with a lasting mark: her son.

Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by another figure: her father, Adonis.

His stern face, with deep lines etched between his brows, gave him an even more rigid and harsh appearance. Emilia was certain that the mere sight of him would make Ray cry in fear.

The thought brought a faint smile to her lips, but she instinctively stepped back to ensure her father didn’t spot her. She dreaded the possibility of him berating her in front of everyone before Curtis’s wedding had even begun.

“Miss, please be careful.”

A sudden voice broke through her thoughts. Emilia turned to see a tall Russian man wearing dark sunglasses. Clearly, he was part of the security detail.

She nodded slightly but said nothing. Before she could turn away, the man spoke again.

“You look unfamiliar. I didn’t expect a regular guest to be invited to this wedding.”

His tone carried a hint of suspicion and disdain. Emilia’s expression remained impassive, but her voice turned sharp.

“And so what? Step back; you’re scaring my son!”

Without waiting for a response, she turned away, leaving the guard silent.

Emilia chose not to reveal her identity. As soon as the man was out of sight, her irritation faded, replaced by contemplation.

In her memory, the Russian mafia was not typically this nosy.

A sense of unease began to creep into her heart.

Just then, the cathedral doors swung open, and the bride entered, holding the hand of the Russian mob boss.

It was undeniable—she was stunning. In her wedding gown, she looked like an angel. While others might have their own impressions, Emilia could clearly see the infatuation in Curtis’s eyes. He was utterly smitten, standing there with his mouth slightly agape like a lovestruck fool.

Despite it all, Emilia felt genuinely happy for her brother. He was marrying the woman he loved.

The mob boss handed his daughter over to Curtis. The priest’s voice echoed through the hall, followed by the solemn vows exchanged by the couple.

“...to have and to hold, for better or worse, in sickness and in health...”

Bang!

A gunshot shattered the sanctity of the moment.

Curtis had thought this was the happiest day of his life—until he saw the woman he loved pull out a gun and aim it at his father.

He was too stunned to react. Then, as pain pierced his chest, he realized he had been shot by the Russian mob boss. At the same time, his father collapsed, killed by the woman he adored.

Curtis’s eyes widened, blood streaming from them as he stared at Alice. He died with his eyes open, unable to accept the betrayal.

“AAAAA!”

Screams erupted throughout the cathedral as gunfire rang out. The two factions descended into chaos, declaring war on the spot.

Emilia couldn’t believe what she was seeing—her brother and father lying lifeless at her feet on what was supposed to be Curtis’s happiest day.

But her mind grew sharper in the chaos. Holding Ray tightly, she turned and bolted.

Behind her, a Russian man crashed into a chair as he tried to grab her.

The scene ahead was utter bedlam, offering no clear escape route. Worse, the man behind her had drawn a gun, aiming it directly at her.

Clutching Ray tightly, Emilia couldn’t help but think this cathedral would be the death of her family.

Bang!

A deafening shot rang out. But it wasn’t Emilia who fell—it was the Russian man.

Wide-eyed, Emilia looked up. Standing against the light, Matthew loomed over her. His deep blue eyes, like the ocean’s depths, betrayed no hint of his thoughts as he gazed down at her.