A Donna of My Own Making

By the seventh year of my cold war with my father, Don Leonardi Rossi, he finally found a way to win me over.

He introduced me to the most powerful Mafia Don in southern Ritalle—Riccardo Colombo. For my happiness, my father was willing to give me half of the family's empire as a gift.

I surrendered completely to Riccardo's love.

Four months later, I was pregnant.

Every prenatal check-up saw Bascily regions' two most influential Dons personally by my side. Everyone envied me for having two men who loved me so fiercely.

Yet, on the day of my amniocentesis, they were both absent.

"There's a new arms deal in the north," my father said, stroking my head.

Riccardo kissed my belly gently. "I'll bring you gifts when I return."

I smiled and watched them leave.

But as I lay on the examination table, my phone buzzed with an anonymous video. In it, my father wore a groom's suit, standing beside Rosa—the prostitute who had infuriated my mother to death. Their illegitimate daughter, Lina, cradled her swollen belly, proudly wearing the Colombo family crest, and clung to my husband's arm.

The announcer cried, "Congratulations to Don Rossi for reclaiming his one true love, and to Don Colombo for marrying his soulmate!"

At the video's end, my father laughed and clinked glasses with Riccardo.

"The fake crest and fake marriage certificate for Lia—you really outdid yourself. Aren't you worried she'll be heartbroken?"

Riccardo snorted. "She never let Rosa into the house, leaving Lina to grow up as a bastard. This was what she owed her."

So that was the truth.

But when I finally left with my child for the Massimo family, why did they still regret it?

I wandered aimlessly through the streets after leaving the hospital. My mind replayed the day of the engagement, when my father had lifted an auctioned antique dagger for all to see.

"This Blade of Glory is a gift for my future grandchild. In the Rossi family, bloodline is power."

Riccardo had pinned the Colombo crest onto my chest in front of everyone. "I will protect Lia and our heir with my life," he declared.

Everyone said I had forged the strongest Mafia alliance in Ritalle. I had believed the bond was love. It was all a lie.

My phone suddenly rang. Riccardo's gentle voice came through, "Baby? Have the test results come back…? Why aren't you saying anything? Don't worry. No matter what, he's my most precious child."

I let out a bitter laugh, about to demand a divorce, when a ridiculous thought struck me: The marriage certificate and crest he had given me—they were fake. I had no right to even speak.

From the background came a soft, teasing whine, "Honey… my back hurts…"

Riccardo panicked, clapping a hand over the phone.

"Lia, go home first. I'll have the doctor come over. I'll be back soon to be with you."

The call ended abruptly.

I sat in the villa's living room until late at night before they returned. Both men wore expressions of barely concealed joy, confetti still clinging to their shoulders. They froze when they saw me.

"Why aren't you asleep yet? Oh… Daddy got too busy and forgot to bring your gift. We'll make it up next time, okay?" My father's face was full of faux apology.

Riccardo pulled me into his arms, kissing the top of my head. "Baby, are you upset we didn't go with you? Tomorrow, I will take you for another check-up, okay?"

I smelled the cloying sweetness of his cologne and felt nauseated, unable to speak. I didn't want to listen to their lies any longer. I grabbed the contract and slammed it onto Riccardo's chest.

"Sign."

He instinctively reached to inspect it, and I sneered.

"What? Do I need an audit just to buy a set of jewelry?"

Riccardo smiled indulgently. "Of course not, my little princess. Whatever you want, I'll give you."

My father jumped in, trying to compete. "I'll buy it! I should make up for missing the prenatal visit. Give me a chance to make it right."

I shook my head. "No. Only he can buy this set."

Riccardo didn't look again. He signed, then winked at my father.

"Looks like the little princess thinks her husband is more important."

They both laughed like children putting on a show.

I stared blankly at their performance.

Suddenly, both their phones buzzed. Clearly, the mother-daughter pair were calling their husbands at the same time.

My father ignored it calmly, patting my shoulder.

"A shipment at the port was held up. You should get some sleep."

He hurried off. Riccardo carried me to the master bedroom upstairs before leaving.

"There's fabric you love in that shipment. I have to oversee it too. Don't be angry. Everything we do is for you."

I said nothing.

He sighed, rubbed my head, and left.

Their acting was truly terrible.

My father now wore a new ring, and Riccardo had a boutonniere in his pocket meant for a groom. They were off enjoying their honeymoon night.

I flipped through the contract in my hands and finally relaxed when I saw the clause assigning custody to the mother. With this, Riccardo would never lay a hand on my child.

Wiping the wetness from my eyes, I dialed the committee's direct line.

"This is Lia, first in line to inherit the Rossi family. Don Colombo has voluntarily terminated the agreement. Effective immediately, all arms shipments to the Colombo family are suspended."