The Mafia’s Substitute Bride

Carlo stood there, his heart heavy with a mix of emotions betrayal, anger, and heartbreak. His mind couldn’t grasp the fact that Emma, the woman he loved so deeply, could be capable of such cruelty. He felt like he had failed to fulfill her every wish, questioning himself if he had ever been enough for her. A surge of guilt washed over him, making him wonder if he could have done something differently to prevent this situation.

His love for Emma was so profound that he would have willingly sacrificed his life if it could satisfy her desires. But now, seeing what she had done kidnapping Sofia, his precious daughter Carlo knew that Leonardo, whoever that was, would show no mercy to her. The anger within him boiled, and the word “fucking” slipped out as he struggled to comprehend the gravity of the situation.

Carlo took a deep, heavy sigh, trying to gather his thoughts and calling Emma on the phone. But to his dismay, her phone was out of reach, leaving him feeling even more helpless.

He gently led Kat to a corner, needing answers. The desperation in his voice was palpable as he pleaded with her. “Kat, please, tell me honestly if you have any idea where your mother is. I need to find her before Leonardo gets to her. No one can save her from his wrath, and I can’t bear the thought of losing her.”

The love he felt for Emma had blinded him, and he had unquestioningly followed her lead. Every word she spoke was like gospel to him, and he never once doubted her intentions. But now, faced with this horrific act against his own flesh and blood, he couldn’t fathom how Emma could even think that he didn’t love Sofia. He loved both his daughters, Kat and Sofia, with all his heart, and he would never want either of them to suffer.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

He regretted how he had treated Sofia in the past, believing Emma’s claims that she needed strict discipline due to her mother’s “bad blood.” Emma had convinced him that Sofia required behavior treatment, and he blindly followed her instructions, never questioning her judgment. He had been cold and distant towards Sofia, thinking that Emma was taking care of her in her own way, shaping her into a better person.

But now, as he reflected on it, he realized how wrong he had been. He should have paid attention to Sofia, showered her with love, and shown her the same affection he had for Kat. Emma’s manipulation had clouded his judgment, and he deeply regretted not being there for his daughter when she needed him the most.

Carlo’s heart ached with profound regret as he realized the extent of the harm he had unknowingly caused Sofia. He couldn’t believe he had let himself be manipulated by Emma’s jealousy, following her instructions without question. The truth hit him hard – Emma’s actions were driven by envy, but he couldn’t fathom why she felt that way. He had always placed Emma on a pedestal, making her the center of his world, and fulfilling her every wish without hesitation.

“Why, Emma? Why were you so jealous of Sofia?” His thoughts echoed with frustration and confusion as he struggled to understand the motives behind Emma’s malevolence. It pained him to know that she had harbored ill feelings towards his daughter, even after Sofia was no longer living with them.

In his mind, the turmoil intensified, and he couldn’t contain his emotions. “Why did you want her to suffer when she was out of your life?” he silently shouted, the turmoil within him turning into an inner storm of emotions.

Now, Sofia had moved on and was married to Leonardo, which should have put an end to the source of Emma’s jealousy. But to Carlo’s dismay, the bitterness and hatred didn’t seem to have dissipated. Emma’s grudge against Sofia remained strong, even in her absence.

Carlo turned to Kat, his eyes filled with concern and urgency. “Kat, please try to contact your mother immediately. Tell her not to harm Sofia, not for my sake, but for her own good. If I find out that Sofia has been harmed in any way, I won’t hesitate to take action. Please, persuade her to bring Sofia back home. Keep trying to get in touch with her, and let me know the moment you can talk to her.”

With his heart heavy and determined to find Sofia, Carlo set out on his mission to locate his daughter and bring her back safely.

********************

“Lana, are you ready? Today, we must act on our plan, and once we proceed, there’s no turning back,” Emma warned, her voice filled with determination and a touch of urgency. Lana, however, seemed to be on the verge of freaking out at the weight of the moment.

This was the culmination of their dark scheme. Emma’s eyes gleamed with ambition as she spoke about reclaiming the Ricci Empire. To achieve this, they had to kidnap Sofia from her wedding, making it look like she had run away, and then eliminate her after coercing her into signing certain documents.

Lana took a deep breath, trying to steel herself for what was to come. “Okay, I am ready. I want my revenge, and I want Leonardo to suffer just as I am suffering,” she declared, her voice laced with bitterness and hatred.

Emma felt a surge of relief, knowing that Lana was still committed to their sinister plan. She couldn’t afford any last-minute hesitations or doubts. This was a critical moment, and she had meticulously planned every step.

She remembered how they got Sofia out of the wedding hall. They waited there, observing the bridal chamber entry. Then Emma saw the makeup artist leave the room, leaving Sofia all alone inside.

Knocking on the door of the bridal chamber, Lana and Emma waited anxiously for Sofia to open it. When Sofia finally appeared, her expression turned to one of shock and disbelief. Emma tried to deceive her, saying they were there to take her to the altar, but Sofia wasn’t convinced. She reached for her phone, intending to call for help.

Emma’s heart raced with fear of her plan being jeopardized. She couldn’t afford any witnesses or interruptions. Time was of the essence, and this was the moment she had been waiting for so long.

In a swift and ruthless move, Emma retrieved a cloth sprayed with chloroform and pressed it against Sofia’s nose. Within seconds, Sofia succumbed to unconsciousness. The adrenaline surged through Emma’s veins as she knew they had to act quickly to escape without being noticed.

With calculated precision, Emma had paid off some men to divert the attention of the bodyguards for a few crucial minutes. This would allow Lana and Emma to sneak Sofia out of the building unnoticed, making their escape before anyone could realize what had happened.

Their plan had worked flawlessly, successfully sneaking Sofia out of the wedding venue amidst the chaos of preparations and guests. Emma’s heart pounded with both excitement and nervousness as they brought Sofia to their secret location, where they tied her securely to a chair. She couldn’t help but revel in the thought of Leonardo’s anticipation for his bride, completely unaware of what was unfolding.

Waiting for Sofia to regain consciousness, Emma felt a rush of adrenaline. As Sofia groaned and blinked her eyes open, the room’s dim light revealed her confusion and fear. Her gaze settled on Emma, and her eyes flared with anger as she struggled against the ropes that bound her hands and legs.

Emma couldn’t help but smirk at Sofia’s futile attempts.

“Stop wasting your effort, Sofia. There’s no use struggling. You’ll only hurt yourself,” Emma said dismissively, enjoying the control she had over her captive.

Panicking, Sofia demanded answers. “Why have you brought me here, and why am I tied like this? Today is my wedding, dammit. Leonardo will be waiting for me at the altar.”

Lana turned toward Sofia with a cold expression as she spoke with conviction, “You will never get a chance to marry my Leonardo. You don’t deserve to be a bride.”

Sofia was taken aback, trying to comprehend the reason behind this cruel act. “What do you mean?” she asked, bewildered by the sudden hostility.

Lana, unable to control her rage, lashed out at Sofia, revealing the motive behind their actions.

“I mean, Leonardo and you have to pay for killing my husband, you slut, you bitch,” she cursed, delivering a sharp slap to Sofia’s face.

Emma winced at Lana’s outburst, knowing that her impulsive anger could jeopardize their carefully laid plans. She shot Lana a stern look, motioning for her to step back, and then turned back to Sofia, adopting a more composed demeanor.

“Listen, Sofia. I don’t want to hurt you,” Emma began, her voice surprisingly calm. “But I was hoping you could sign the papers of the Ricci Empire. After that, I will release you, and you can return to your wedding.”