The Mafia Lord's Revenge Possession [Life Of A Substitute Bride]

Mia's pov.

My forkful of sticky rice got frozen mid air as soon as father's next words echoed around the dining table.

"One of you is getting married to Mr. Romero the Third of the Romero family, an underboss of the mafia in a few days." His voice was void of any kind of emotions as usual, but the authority behind those words wasn't absent. I glanced up at my identical twin, Maeve, who was sitting directly before me at the table, she had her knife frozen in the air while her mouth was parted in nothing but shock.

I slowly placed my fork on my plate, feeling my hands tremble a little as I dragged in a deep breath and glanced at the head of the table where father was seated at. He has carried on eating like what he had just said wasn't something heart shattering in the slightest way.

My heart was thudding hard against my ribs as I glanced at mother whose lips were quivering as she made to speak. I beat her to it, knowing that I was automatically crossing a line this way.

"Which one of us?" I questioned in a small whisper. He glanced up from the chicken he was about to cut and pointed his knife at Maeve.

"Your twin sister of course, she's the one who's getting married off to the underboss." He spoke, then regarded me with a scoff. "She's fit for that role and position, unlike you."

The breath I hadn't realized I had been holding in, eased out of my chest slowly on a long, relived sigh. For once in my life, immense relief rushed over me for being the least favorite twin.

That relief was cut short when I blinked my eyes open and noticed the look on my twin's face, she looked so much like she was about to faint, and I instantly felt bad for feeling relived that I wasn't the one getting married off.

I watched as Maeve pushed her chair backwards and rose up abruptly, slamming her hands down on the table so loudly, that the sound made me flinch– not because it was too loud, but because I knew that it was going to make father angry, and getting rather angry was a dreadful thing one could ever do.

Father halted his cutleries movement to pin Maeve with a hardened gaze, and I felt my heartbeat quicken instantly.

"Why do I have to get married?" She cried out and I found myself wincing, noticing mother doing the same thing as well. No one ever questions father, except they wanted to get 'disciplined' by him, because it's a sign of disrespect.

With my heart in my throat and my hands starting to tremble again, I watched as father slowly dropped his cutleries. He shook his head a little before speaking.

"Are you questioning me, Maeve?"

And that's it, I already knew this wasn't going to end well.

Maeve didn't seem like she cared about respect anymore before she shoved her plate of food till it crashed on the floor, as she cried out louder this time.

"Why do I have to get married? Why do you have to decide that for me? I don't wanna get married to that ugly, old disgusting creep!" Maeve's voice was loud as she spoke and I flinched as I pushed myself out of my seat, while silently wondering why Maeve was doing this, knowing quite well that father's mind was literally impossible to move.

"Maeve, that's enough." Mother chastened as she got to her feet as well, but father shook his head. "No, let the child be, let her run her mouth, since that's what she wants."

I gulped in fright, while silently wondering how Maeve wasn't quivering in terror right now. Father's voice held so much promise for discipline, that even mother was clearly frightened on Maeve's behalf.

I knew this was going to one day happen, after we had both clocked eighteen. Arranged marriage was very common and it's automatically expected of every girl child who comes from a noble family, to get given to a man from another noble family in marriage, regardless of the man's age. I had been in fright since I had clocked eighteen, dreading this coming day, and now that it was here, in as much as I was glad that it wasn't my turn yet, I felt so much pity for Maeve right now.

Maeve continued to question father in a loud, pain-filled voice. It was as if she was blinded by her pain. I whispered her name at a point to try getting her to stop, and even walked around to attempt dragging her away, but father's voice made me drop her hand instantly.

"Let her go."

I watched as father finally pushed himself to his feet, towering above Maeve and I and then my mouth fell open in horror when he began to loosen his belt, which made me take some steps backwards in fright.

The fact that father was taking out his belt, meant that he was very furious. Maeve was still screaming questions at him until the first whip of the belt landed on her, which made me jolt and clutch my chest instantly.

Maeve finally stopped talking just as the second whip of the belt landed on her hard, making a ragged sob break out. She attempted speaking but a loud slap on her face made her stumble into the dining table, making more plates fall off and crash.

Father was furious and it was obvious. He beat Maeve until she was a sobbing mess, curled up on the floor, while horrified tears slid down my cheeks. Mother attempted to intervene at a point, but as expected, he hit her with the belt as well.

When he finally stopped, he was breathing hard while the rest of us were crying.

"You're getting married to Mr. Romero in a week, and that's final. He's definitely going to train you into curbing this stupid rebellious attitude of questioning your elders stupidly that's inside of you, just like I did to your mother." He spat out angrily and then he stormed out of the dining room angrily, but not before hitting mother and myself with the belt all because he could, like we had also done something wrong.

I was at Maeve's side in an instant, cradling her body in my arms as she sobbed into my chest while clutching my hand.

"I don't wanna get married, Mia." She sobbed shakily into my chest and I sobbed along with her, because there was nothing else I could do.

"Mother, can you try talking to him later tonight? Maybe try to change his mind?" Even as I asked that question, I already knew what the answer was going to be.

Mother was sobbing as she crouched down beside us, with a painful regretful expression crossing her face as she responded. "I can't. I'm sorry but you know I can't, I can't change his mind and you both know that. He's just going to hit me instead."

Mother's voice broke at her last answer and I found myself sobbing harder, not just for my twin, but also for my mother, who had to get married off to someone as cruel as my father.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't prevent this from happening, I'm so sorry for being unable to protect you." Mother finally whispered in a croaked voice as she took Maeve into her arms. Maeve knew mother was being honest, we both knew that. Maeve didn't respond, and only chose to bury her face in mother's bosom as she cried on and on, the dinner long forgotten.

Mia's pov

Later that night, after Maeve had quieten down, we had all headed upstairs, leaving the mess for the maids to take care of, and I was glad that none of those broken plates managed to hurt Maeve.

As we prepared for bed that night, brushing out teeths alongside each other in the bathroom we both shared, was when I began to feel the changes. I tried to push that nagging feeling aside, coming to the conclusion that she was probably seeming emotionless because of all what she had gone through tonight.

I hugged her tightly that night and reminded her of how much I loved her before retiring to my bedroom, and even though she had hugged me back just as tightly, I still had that nagging feeling of something being off about her.

That feeling only got more intense the next morning, that was when it was obvious that Maeve had turned into a completely different person overnight.

Her smile was nowhere to be found, the light in her eyes was completely out and a dull pain lingered in its place. She barely ate, barely spoke and went about her duties robotically.

I tried getting her to speak, but that didn't work because she kept reassuring me that she was okay countless times, when it was very obvious that she wasn't.

The days went by in a blur, just as Maeve's detachment got worse, and just as the wedding date grew closer. When I was told to accompany Maeve to try on her wedding dress, I did it without questions, already knowing that Maeve was going to appreciate my presence there.

Even though we didn't exchange a word all through the process of trying on different dresses, I knew she appreciated my presence there because she kept staring back at me, as if to remind herself of my presence. I reached out to grab her hands at any chance I could, and she was always quick to clutch on my hands as if drawing invincible strength from that moment.

When the designers finally agreed on a dress, which was also a perfect fit, I felt my breath catch in my throat as the sheer beauty of the dress was drop dead gorgeous. The back of the dress was almost non-existent and the front revealed a good amount of Maeve's cleavage. There were what I'd undoubtedly term as real diamonds littered on different spots of the flare part of the dress, while smaller diamonds designed the bust of the dress. The waist of the dress was also transparent, with only diamonds littered on that expanse of net covered skin in a single line, like a chain of diamond clinging on one's waist.

I was standing behind a very stunning and breathtaking Maeve, who was perched on a dressing stool, before a wide expanse of mirror. Maeve's eyes met mine in the mirror while the designers fussed over the dress, and I noticed when two trails of tears slowly slid down her cheeks, with our eyes still locked in the mirror. She finally wiped the tears away as she averted the gaze, and even though the designers noticed the tears, they barely reacted to it... probably because they've witnessed this kind of heart wrenching scene countless times.

A dress was picked out for me as well which I tried on and ensured it was a perfect fit. When we finally arrived home, I attempted cornering Maeve in order to talk, but she was quick to lock herself in her bedroom. She refused to come down for dinner like she had been doing ever since the night where that disaster had occurred.

Maeve and I barely talk anymore, we barely share secrets and joke around, Maeve never smiles any longer. The bruises which father's belt made on her were already thankfully starting to clear off her skin, which was a good thing, but it wasn't like that could magically erase that day from her memory.

When the day for Maeve arrived for her to meet with her future husband for the first time, I remained in the sitting room, waiting for her to come home so I'd quiz her on how it had went, but she dashed into her room as soon as she returned, locking the door in my face before I could speak.

I got tired of chasing after Maeve over and over again, but refuses to give up because I know I'd have reacted worse than her if I had been in her shoes, except I wasn't sure I was that bold enough to outrightly question father the way she had done.

Soon enough, it was a day to Maeve's wedding. Mother was busy with some last minute preparations and I was left to take care of my twin, but it wasn't like she'd let me. I managed to corner her in her bedroom that night.

"You've been avoiding me." It wasn't a question, it was a statement. A pained expression crossed her face for a moment before she finally sniffed, and I felt bad for her all over again.

"That's because I have nothing to say." Her voice was shaky as she spoke. I reached out and grabbed her hands, which she reciprocated instantly.

"I'll always be here for you, Maeve. No matter what, okay?" I said as I gripped her hands tightly. It was unexpected when she reached forward and pulled me into a tight hug, whispering how much she loved me into my ears.

That wasn't unusual for us, the unusual part was her doing this after avoiding me and barely talking to me for days. I didn't question it, because I was desperate for any kind of emotion from her, other than the usual silence.

"How do you feel?" I finally asked after breaking the hug. Maeve shrugged one shoulder.

"I feel scared, that's only what I can feel right now."

"I'm so sorry, Maeve." I whispered apologetically, knowing there was nothing else I could do.

"It's not your fault, stop apologizing." She whispered in response as she shifted on her bed.

"I can't help it."

We fell into an awkward silence after that, the wedding happening tomorrow looming above us like a dreadful plague.

"I'm going to miss you so much, I don't know if I can survive here without you." I whispered honestly and watched as Maeve chuckled bitterly as she huffed out.

"I don't think married life is going to look good on me though, especially with Mr. Romero."

I remained silent, not knowing what to say to that.

When I finally retired to my bedroom, I made sure to hug Maeve long and tightly, reassuring her that everything was going to be fine even though I knew I was literally lying through my teeth. I also made sure to remind her countless times that I loved her so much, and tears beaded my eyes when I finally pulled out of the embrace, mirroring her wet eyes effortlessly.

"I don't deserve your love." She whispered quietly as she blinked her wet lashes a little, but I huffed out a breath with an eye roll.

"Don't be silly, I love you so much and you deserve all the love I give you, okay?" Was the last thing I said to her as her bedroom door closed in my face.

Mia's pov

I made sure to wake up early the next morning, because it was finally Maeve's wedding. Even though I wasn't the one getting married, I was filled with nerves, and a deep feeling of sadness, because I know I might not get to see her in a really long time after she gets married.

I also decided to wake up early because I wanted to be there with her, and spend some private time with her before the designers and make up artists shows up, in case we share a private moment or incase she needed to draw emotional strength from me.

I washed my face after brushing my teeth, and then I headed straight for her bedroom, still dressed in my nightgown and a robe wrapped tightly around my body.

I knocked lightly against her door and ended up pulling the door open after getting no response for over two minutes. The room was empty when I made my way into it, she was probably in the bathroom, I thought to myself as I closed the door behind me.

I glanced around the room and sighed sadly, the reality that my twin was indeed getting married off today was starting to sink in deep right now, which made my eyes start to sting a little. There were three big boxes all lined up alongside each other, filled with new clothes and everything else that Maeve was going to need in her new life in her husband's home, mother and her sisters had been the one to take care of all of that.

I made my way deeper into the room and sat on the bed, and then I called out to Maeve. The bathroom we both shared was connected into each other's rooms, and when she still didn't respond after a couple of calls, I pushed off the bed and walked towards the bathroom.

I pulled open the bathroom and frowned on finding it empty, right before I closed the door softly.

"Maeve?" I called out once again, swallowing emptily a little as I slightly began to wonder where she was right now.

The probability of her being downstairs in the kitchen was slim to none because I knew she'd rather starve than to be mistakenly run into father, but regardless of that, I still pushed her door open and head downstairs, calling out to her as i accended the stairs.

Mother's head pop out of the kitchen. "Are you calling for Maeve?"

I nodded while gripping the banister of the stairs firmly.

"She's not here, she hasn't come down this morning." Was mother's response, which made my frown deepen in concern.

"She's not in her bedroom." I breathed out while shifting my weight from foot to foot. Mother's brows furrowed a little.

"Have you checked the entire rooms upstairs? And the balcony? You know she goes there sometimes to clear her head." Mother suggested and the breath I hadn't realized I had been holding slowly eased out of my chest.

"Oh, that's true. I haven't checked those places. I'll be going back upstairs right now." I said as I turned around and made my way back up the stairs.

Rooms after rooms, I checked, and the balcony, but still not Maeve, which was when the real feeling of panic began to germinate inside of me.

I made my way back into her bedroom, wondering if there was something I had missed, but everything was just as I had seen them before. Her bed was like mine was this morning, slightly roughened at the spot she had slept in.

I squinted a little, and that was when I noticed it.

One of Maeve's pillows was turned sideways, which is quite unusual for someone as coordinated as Maeve when it comes to the littlest stuff. My frown deepened as I reached for the pillow and righted it, and my lips parted in surprise when that little movement made someone slide off the bed, which had been obviously placed beneath the pillow, before I had moved it.

I tilted my head as I reached down to retrieve the folded paper. I was about to shove it back beneath the pillow, because one thing Maeve hated was when her privacy gets pried or invaded, she'd prefer to tell you something whenever she was ready to, than for her privacy to be invaded without her consent.

But I was curious, and so I turned the paper around before saying a silent apology to Maeve as I parted the folded paper to check the content.

-Mia,

I know it's you reading this, so you did pry into my privacy this time, haha.

I frowned while my eyes ghosted over the first sentence, as my teeth unconsciously moved over my bottom lips. It was very obvious that Maeve had been the one to write this, If her neat hand writing hadn't already given that away at first glance.

'Don't panic, please, and don't bother searching for me any longer, because you won't find me. I'm very far away from home by the time you'd find this letter.'

My heart was thudding loudly in my ears, just as my hands began to tremble.

'I'm sorry I did this, but I just had to. I had no choice, I can't marry Mr. Romero, I just can't.

And, I'm sorry because I already know what's going to happen next.

Father's going to make you marry him in my place, and I'm sorry for putting you in this spot but I had no choice.'

My legs were shaking at this point that I wasn't even sure when I landed on the bed, my eyes got blurry but I blinked the stupid tears away as I continued to read.

'I'm so sorry, and once again, I don't deserve your love.

I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me.

-With love, Maeve.'

It was as if the whole world had craved in on me at that moment, with thousands of pitchforks pointed at me at once. I didn't even realize when I began to scream in horror, while tears streamed down my cheeks uncontrollably.

Mother's warm hands framing my face brought me back to reality, and when I blinked my wet eyes up at her, a slight movement caught my eyes– and that was when I noticed father's presence in here as well, with Maeve's letter in his hands.

His face hardened as he read on and after a few moments, he pinned me with a hard look and nodded his head at Maeve's closet.

"Start getting ready, Mia. You're taking your twin's place like she already predicted, she's just too smart for her own good like that." He finished his sentence with a face palm and a hardened gaze.

I flew off the bed instantly with tears filling up my eyes once again. "I can't get married to Mr. Romero. Please father, I can't."

Father's frown deepened. "Why not? Are you also questioning my order?"

I shook my head desperately. "No, I'm not. You said it yourself that I do not fit into that role, please don't make me get married –"

"Yes, you don't fit into that role, but you'd have to do since your stupid sister has decided to be foolish today." He responded with an irritated sigh just as I shook my head.

"No, no father, please. Don't make me marry him, please." I kept on shaking my head and kept on chanting the word 'no' until a firm slap which made me stumble into a lose my footing, landed on my wet cheeks.

"You are getting married today and that's final, if you try something stupid like your twin, you won't like what would be done to you." He thundered as he stepped out of the bedroom and slammed the door shut.

How Maeve had even managed to run away with the heavy security around the house was something I was yet to wrap my head around. I was yet to wrap my head around all what was happening this morning.

My fate had already been decided by my twin whom I had been genuinely worried about. How could she do this to me? I silently asked myself countless times as I got dressed in the stunning wedding dress which Maeve was supposed to be dressed in today.

It was a perfect fit, since Maeve and I were identical all the way to the weight, height and size.

With tears streaming down my face, I felt numb as I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my clammy gloved fingers clutching Maeve's flowers tightly.

Never did I expect that I'd be taking my twin's place today when I had hugged her goodnight last night, I thought as a single tear slid down my cheek once again.