CHAPTER 008

CHAPTER 008

Sophia paced back and forth in the dim room, her heels creating an unhappy snick on the polished floor. Her fingers clenched and unclenched at her sides, and every now and then she glanced toward the door as if she could allow Lucia to appear. It was hard having so much jealousy burning inside of her. It was all becoming too much.

Lucia was everywhere. She had wormed her way into the Roselli family, into Matteo’s life, and now she was beginning to worm her way past all of Sophia’s defenses. The closeness between Lucia and Matteo wasn't just what bothered her. No, it was more profound than that; it gnawed at her whenever she saw them together. Lucia was too perfect, too calm, too composed. She hated Sophia being jealous; it made her feel small, smaller, and insignificant.

She had to do something. She was going to have to stop Lucia before it was too late.

The plan was simple. Expose her as a fraud. She will expose herself as merely exploiting Matteo to ascend the family hierarchy and manipulate everyone. Sophia was always the true heir of the Roselli family and couldn’t bear the idea of Lucia getting what was rightfully hers.

-

It was buzzing in the ballroom. The chandeliers softly lit the elegantly dressed guests, enhancing the glitter of the champagne glasses. An event that was supposed to build up the Roselli family’s name was a deal with other mafia factions to strengthen them. These things weren't foreign to Sophia, but she didn't feel right tonight. She could feel them breathing down the back of her neck; she could feel the pressure in the air, a tension pressing down on her chest. It was all because of Lucia.

Across the room, Sophia saw her standing next to Matteo. Of course. Lucia had hardly stepped away from her the entire night, and Matteo had barely left her side. The situation perfectly matched the life she was gradually embracing. Sophia’s stomach knotted. It was time to act.

She had seeded enough doubt. In hushed tones, he casually mentioned Lucia's past. The whispers had already begun, but they needed to intensify. Sophia, her heels soft against the marble floor, moved towards the center of the room. Moving towards her, she kept her eyes on Lucia.

Sophia turned her head, her smile wide and unbothered, as if she knew precisely what Sophia was thinking.

Sophia's voice was sweet as honey, but with that subtle bitterness her grey eyes held, that was so Lucia. "Oh, I am glad you could attend tonight.”

Lucia’s face didn’t change. She replied smoothly, “I wouldn’t miss it.” "He was hard to resist, especially on a night like this."

Matteo caught Sophia's gaze, causing the crease at the corner of her left eye to narrow slightly. As she said this, she had this playful edge to her tone and said, 'I hope you're not taking all the attention away from me, Lucia.' “I wouldn’t want you to be too obvious about trying to steal the spotlight.”

But there was no humor in her eyes. She chuckled softly. She said, "I don’t think I’m stealing anything.” “If you’re worried, I can just step aside.”

For a second, Sophia’s anger flared. “You should,” she snapped. Before she could say another word, a loud voice broke in.

The deal was about to begin. Mr. Roselli, whose presence loomed like a shadow, was among the heads of several mafia families who moved to the front. He greeted the guests with a warmth that only comes from knowing he controlled them all. Lucia stepped aside, letting him have room, and Sophia rushed after her.

Sophia observed Lucia whispering something into Matteo's ear, as time seemed to pass slowly. His hand brushed against hers, and the way he smiled at her sent a wave of discomfort. It was obvious. She had forgotten about Matteo, and he started falling for Lucia.

Sophia let out a deep breath. She couldn’t wait any longer. It was time to act.

-

The evening took a turn when chaos erupted just as the deal was about to close. Suddenly, a group of men dressed in black suits and guns drawn entered the ballroom. People screeched as they charged for the exits. Before Sophia could react, a cold hand grabbed her arm and pulled her back into the crowd.

The men pulled Lucia and Sophia out of the ballroom. With the men pulling them, Lucia’s eyes darted around her face, pale. They shoved them both into a van parked outside, its engine already running, and moved quickly. The door shut behind them, and she heard Sophia’s heart pounding in her chest.

“What’s going on?” Her voice shook with fear and anger, Sophia demanded.

A man in the van grinned at her. He sneered, “The Rosellis just became a target.” “You two are coming with us,” he said.

---

The van swerved violently on the narrow, deserted streets it headed down. Tires screeched, and Sophia's seatbelt cut into her side like the sound of the night air. Lucia remained quiet, eerily so, and her eyes narrowed in an attempt to assess the situation. Her mind raced. It was a planned attack, not a random one. These men knew exactly who they were taking.

She flicked her gaze nervously toward Lucia. She whispered, her voice trembling: Do you know what’s happening?

She met her eyes, but there was no sympathy in them. "They're kidnapping us," she replied, her demeanor cold and calm. “They want the Roselli family.” ‘They’re using us as leverage,’ they said.”

Sophia clenched her fists. She murmured to herself, "This wasn't the intended outcome." “I was going to expose you. I was going to show everyone what you are. Not this.”

Lucia didn’t answer right away, her attention now solely on the men in the front of the van. She spoke quietly, 'You should have thought that over before you moved.' Sophia, you’ve underestimated me. That’s your mistake.”

Her anger bubbled up again, and Sophia glared at her. She spat, “Don’t act so high and mighty, Lucia.” “But you’re just so above it all, trapped just the same as I am.”

Sophia felt a chill run down her spine as Lucia's smile transformed into the tiniest expression she could call a smile. “We’ll see about that.”

-

The van stopped, throwing both women forward against the metal walls. The men flung the doors open and roughly yanked them out. The air was thick with rust and mildew, and they were in a desert warehouse. Her heart raced; she understood how serious their situation was.

Lucia’s eyes scanned their surroundings, estimating. This was her moment. This was her opportunity to switch things around.

One of the men stepped toward them, barking, “Listen to me.” “Do exactly what we say if you want to stay alive.”

Sophia caught Lucia looking at the men and then back at her; her eyes were as cold and calculating as any this older man had seen. She lunged forward without warning, surprising the nearest man. She had swift, exact hands. The man grunted and crumpled to the floor, and the others froze, stunned for a second too long.

Lucia's movements possessed a grace that only comes with age. Clearly, she wasn’t an ordinary woman. She was more dangerous than anyone had thought. Before the men could even catch their breath, Lucia ran, grabbed the keys from the guard's belt, and unlocked the chains that bound them.

"I don't bet, Sophia stood, Lucia said, her voice dangerously calm as she was pulled to her feet." “Don’t make a sound, and stay close.”

Sophia didn't require repeated instructions. Following Lucia, she held onto her arm tightly, and they rushed to the exit.

The other men were realizing what had happened when they reached the front door. The door kicked open, and the two women ran out into the night, their feet pounding the pavement.

With a look of fear and disbelief in her eyes, Sophia glanced over her shoulder. She started gasping out, “What just happened?” “How did you do that?”

Her eyes focused ahead; Lucia didn’t slow down. "I told you not to underestimate me."

---

The chaos of kidnapping and escape played out in the Roselli family the following day, akin to an earthquake. The atmosphere was thick with tense tension as Matteo entered the family meeting, his eyes scanning the room until he found Sophia. He didn't even look at her, his eyes going straight to Lucia.

As she watched them talk a few quiet words, her heart sank. Then, however, Matteo did something no one expected. Turning to the rest of his family gathered there and speaking in a steady but calm voice, he said, “I’m ending my engagement to Sophia.”

The room fell silent. Sophia’s stomach dropped as she heard the reality sink in between his ears, her vision blurring. Matteo had chosen Lucia. Matteo made his decision in front of his entire family.

Lucia’s eyes flickered with something, perhaps satisfaction, but her expression didn’t falter.

The hot weight of Sophia's humiliation, burning away her fury in her chest, pushed down on her. She had failed. She had underestimated Lucia, but she was losing everything.

However, Sophia was far from finished. She wasn’t going to go down without a fight.

I felt the woman smile—a cold, calculated smile. “This isn’t over, Lucia. This is far from over.

Would Sophia destroy everything Lucia had worked for, or could Lucia hold onto Matteo’s heart?