Chapter 1 One

The ballroom of the Marino mansion glowed under the glass chandeliers that reflected light like stars. The air was filled with the scent of fresh roses from the family's private gardens and expensive cologne, mixed with the aroma of traditional Italian appetisers being served by staff who moved with precision.

Armed guards dressed in tailored suits stood at strategic points, their earpieces occasionally catching the light. They maintained their positions with military precision, a small reminder that this wasn't just a celebration, it was a display of power.

Standing on the raised platform at the head of the room was Antonio Marino. His sharp Armani suit and perfectly styled hair framed a face that could intimidate and charm in equal measure. At twenty-six, he was already a name whispered in respect and fear throughout the underworld. By his side stood Daisy Fontana, her soft blonde hair flowing freely over her shoulders, her blue gown clinging to her delicate body. She radiated beauty and elegance.

In the far corner of the room, Vincenzo stood apart, his presence commanding despite his silence. He was a man of few words. Tonight, however, his sharp gaze seemed fixed on Daisy. He barely acknowledged the greetings of the many guests who approached him, his piercing eyes studying her every move with unnerving intensity.

Antonio raised his glass, breaking the sound of conversations, and commanding attention with ease. "Thank you all for being here tonight to celebrate with us. Some of you have known me since I was a boy, you watched me grow into the man who will one day lead our family." His eyes swept the room, acknowledging the powerful families present. "Tonight isn't just about celebrating love, it's about the future of our organization."

The crowd gave a brief applause, and Daisy's heart fluttered.

He turned to Daisy and continued. "It's my pleasure to finally introduce my fiancée to our world. As expected of the next Don, I'm supposed to marry someone worthy of our name, someone who can stand beside me when I become the next Don of the Italian mafia. So allow me to introduce Daisy..."

"No!" The sharp cry disrupted the moment. "You can't possibly be serious about this farce."

The voice cut through the applause, silencing the room and drawing every gaze to its source.

Near the centre of the crowd, Sofia Fontana stepped forward. Her fiery red gown hugged her figure like a second skin, the bold colour reflecting her brash personality. Her dark eyes gleamed with something between triumph and hatred.

"You can't get engaged to her," Sofia declared, her voice filled with confidence.

"Sofia, what's the meaning of this?" Daisy asked, her voice low.

Antonio's grip tightened around the microphone, his knuckles turning white. "What exactly are you implying, Sofia?"

"Oh, I'm not implying anything." Sofia's dark eyes gleamed with malice as she moved closer to the platform. "I'm just stating facts. You're the heir to the most powerful family in Milan. You're supposed to marry someone with value, someone whose blood is worth something." Her lips curved into a cruel smile. "Not some bastard who doesn't even know who her real father is."

"How dare you..." Daisy started, but Sofia cut her off.

"How dare I? How dare you!" Sofia's voice rose with rage. "You've been parading around like you belong in our world, like you're worthy of the Marino name. Tell them, dear sister. Or should I even call you that?"

"I don't know what you think you're doing Sofia, but you're getting on my nerves," Antonio muttered.

"My father only has one daughter, and that's me, not her. I didn't say anything while you two dated because I thought you'd realise that eventually. But it seems this bitch has been making a fool of you this entire time." Sofia glared at Daisy. "So before you make any decisions you might regret, I thought you should know the truth."

Whispers spread through the crowd like wildfire. Donna Russo, wife of a rival family's capo, leaned toward her husband. "I always said the Fontanas were hiding something," she murmured, loud enough for those nearby to hear. Other mafia wives who had fawned over Daisy moments ago now turned their backs, gravitating toward Sofia like moths to a flame.

In the corner of the room, Vincenzo tilted his head, his gaze hardening. His eyes hadn't left Daisy even once, watching her reaction as if her every move was a puzzle he intended to solve.

Antonio turned to Daisy, who stood frozen, her face pale. "Is this true?"

"Antonio, please," Daisy reached for his hand, but he pulled away. "This isn't how I wanted you to find out."

But Sofia wasn't done. She took a step forward, her voice laced with mock concern. "Of course it's true. Go on, tell him how your mother couldn't keep her legs closed. Tell everyone how your mom had an affair with some random guy while she was married. Tell them how Dad didn't know you were a bastard until three months after your mother died."

Daisy's composure cracked, her voice rising. "Shut up, Sofia! Don't you dare talk about my mother!" Daisy's composure finally shattered. "At least my mother wasn't the one who broke up a marriage! Or did you forget how your mother, the maid, was screwing my father while he was still married to mine?"

The crowd's murmurs grew louder. Vincenzo's eyebrow raised slightly at this new piece of information.

Sofia smirked, unbothered. "Careful, Daisy. You're letting secrets slip that might not work in your favour. Dad's not going to be happy about this."

"Enough!" Antonio's voice cracked like a whip. He turned to Daisy, his eyes cold. "How long were you planning to keep this from me?"

"Believe me, it was never my intention, I wanted to tell you so many times, but I couldn't." Daisy pleaded, tears threatening to fall down her eyes.

"Because you're a liar," Sofia interjected smoothly. "Just like your mother."

"Please, she's always been jealous and always tried to ruin things for me. This is what she wants." Daisy's voice cracked.

"Oh, am I?" Sofia's eyes glittered dangerously. "Should we talk about the men you've been seeing behind Antonio's back? Like mother, like daughter, right?"

"That's not true!" Daisy shouted. "Antonio, you know me. You know I would never..."

Antonio raised his hand, silencing her. He stared coldly at her, as though he was seeing her for the first time. "Do I know you, Daisy? Do I?"

"Yes," she whispered, reaching for him again. "Are you gonna throw everything away just because of her?"

He caught her wrist before she could touch him, his grip tight enough to make her wince. "How many more lies have you fed me?"

"I'm not lying," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Why don't you trust me?"

His laugh was hollow. "Trust? Do you want to talk about trust? When were you planning to tell me about your real father? Or should I have waited until after the wedding to discover I'd married someone with no valuable connections?"

From his corner, Vincenzo's gaze hardened. He set his champagne glass down, his fingers tapping against the table. His stare was unwavering as if he could read every unspoken word passing between Daisy and Antonio.

Antonio's lips curled into a sneer. "I can't marry you, Daisy."

The words hit her like a physical blow.

"What?"

"There's nothing to gain from our marriage," he said, his tone detached.

The truth finally dawned on Daisy. "This... this isn't about trust at all, is it? It's about power. About connections."

"What else would it be about?" His voice was clinical, detached. "Love? Don't be naive, Daisy. How many mafia dons do you know who married for love? It's just a weakness."

As Antonio spoke, Daisy's mind flashed back to when they first started dating a year ago. He would show up in front of her with roses, promising her the world. "You're different," he had said then, his charm seemingly genuine. "You see past all this." Now, watching his mask crack, she realized she'd been seeing what she wanted to see all along.

She took a step back, her heart shattering with every word. "Y... you don't love me?"

Antonio's smirk deepened. "I never loved you. I only wanted our families to merge. You were just a means to an end."

Daisy's vision blurred as tears spilt down her cheeks. The crowd's murmurs felt like daggers piercing her skin. Antonio turned back to the room, his voice steady and commanding once more.

"I apologize for the interruption. Allow me to introduce my fiancée, Ms Sofia Fontana."

The room erupted into cheers and murmurs as Sofia ascended the platform, her radiant smile piercing Daisy's chest like a blade. She took Antonio's hand, and together they faced the crowd like a royal couple.

In the corner, Vincenzo's lips thinned. He watched Sofia with a flicker of distaste before his gaze returned to Daisy, now trembling at the edge of the platform.

"I'll make you regret this, Antonio. Even if it's the last thing I do." Daisy thought, her nails digging into her palms.

As she turned to leave, her eyes locked with Vincenzo's. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. His piercing gaze was unreadable, but it held an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. Was it pity? Curiosity? Or something more? Daisy broke the gaze and marched toward the exit, her heart pounding. Just as she stepped out into the cool night air, a plan began to form in her mind.

"I think it's high time I take that job offer," she muttered, remembering Vincenzo's proposal from last week: 'I heard you require a job. Why don't you come to work for me? I need a new assistant.' At the time, she had thought it would be inappropriate if she accepted. But now... her lips curved into a grim smile. "I just hope his offer still stands."

Vincenzo's sharp eyes caught what others missed... the slight straightening of Daisy's spine even as tears fell, the calculated pause before each step toward the exit. Unlike the trembling victim others saw, he recognized a predator awakening. In his eyes, she looked like a lioness retreating to plan her hunt.

His son had just made a grave mistake, but Vincenzo wasn't sure whether to be concerned or intrigued.

From the ballroom, Vincenzo watched her retreating form through the glass doors. For the first time that evening, his lips curved into a faint smile.