The Mafia’s Substitute Bride

The van barreled down the road, its destination unknown to Sofia. She had been thrust into this situation without any clue of where they were taking her. Rena had promised to deliver her to a place that Leonardo couldn’t reach, but Sofia couldn’t help but doubt it. In the short time she had spent with him, she had witnessed the extent of his capabilities.

“Oh no, they’re chasing us,” Enzo suddenly exclaimed, breaking the tense silence.

“Who is chasing us?” Sofia asked, her confusion evident as she strained to catch a glimpse of their pursuers through the windows.

Enzo didn’t respond to her inquiry but instead cast a horrified glance at Rena, his expression filled with dread.

“Faster!” Rena instructed the driver urgently. Then, turning to Sofia, she asked in an unexpectedly harsh tone, “Do you have any tracker on you?”

Sofia, taken aback by Rena’s abruptness, replied, “No, I don’t have anything like that.” She realized that they had made her abandon her phone earlier on the road, leaving her disconnected from the outside world.

“Who is following us?” Sofia questioned once more, trying to make sense of the unfolding situation.

“Your husband, Sofia,” Rena yelled, shocking Sofia with her response. “I don’t understand how they tracked our location and caught up to us so quickly,” Rena muttered, more to herself than to Sofia.

“But why are you shouting at me, Rena?” Sofia asked, her annoyance starting to seep into her tone. Rena didn’t reply but scowled in frustration.

Sofia glanced back and noticed several cars tailing them, confirming Rena’s claims.

“What do we do now?” Sofia anxiously inquired, hoping for answers from her companions.

They remained silent, their attention focused on their phones as they rapidly tapped away. Enzo placed a call, seeking assistance from someone.

“They’re still behind us. Yes, we need help,” Enzo spoke into the phone urgently, his voice tinged with desperation. Sofia’s suspicion grew. They were withholding information from her, and she hadn’t anticipated this veil of secrecy.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

“Who are you asking for help?” Sofia probed, her persistence increasing.

“It’s nothing, Sofia. We have contacts who are aiding us in your escape from Leonardo’s clutches,” Enzo replied nonchalantly as if it were a trivial matter.

“And who are these contacts?” Sofia pressed further, recognizing that if they were capable of opposing Leonardo, they must possess comparable power and wealth.

“You will find out very soon. Don’t worry. We have got help,” Enzo assured Sofia, his tone relatively polite.

Rena’s anger reverberated through the vehicle, her screams filling the air. “Why the hell are they chasing us? God! You fucking idiot, drive faster!”

Sofia was taken aback; she had never seen Rena like this before. Normally calm and polite, this new side of Rena shocked her to the core.

“Relax, Rena. We will think of something,” Sofia tried to soothe her friend, but Rena seemed too agitated to pay attention.

Looking outside, Sofia noticed they were heading towards the hillside. Confusion furrowed her brow. “Guys, why are we going towards the hill? How will we escape from there? We need to leave this town as soon as possible.”

Sofia couldn’t fathom their plan; going towards the hillside seemed foolish and would leave them with no escape route.

“We cannot leave this town, Sofia. Your husband is behind us, and he will not let us leave so easily. Do you trust us?” Enzo asked in a soft, reassuring voice.

Sofia found herself at a loss for words, unsure about whom to trust in this chaotic situation. The sudden shift in her friends’ behavior left her feeling awkward and uncertain.

In an attempt to reassure her, Enzo gently held Sofia’s hand and gave it a slight squeeze. “Sofia, we are your friends as well as your well-wishers. Remember, you asked us for help. Don’t worry. We will aid you in escaping from your cheater husband,” he said, trying to justify their actions.

Feeling conflicted, Sofia pulled her hand back and gazed outside, lost in thoughts about whom to place her trust in. The stakes were high, and she knew she had to make a crucial decision that could change her life forever.

A car appeared out of nowhere, swerving suddenly in front of them. The driver slammed on the brakes, causing everyone to jerk forward. Sofia instinctively clutched her stomach, fearing for the safety of her unborn baby.

“Shit!” Rena and Enzo cursed in unison.

“Is help coming?” Rena asked Enzo, who quickly checked his phone and nodded.

“We need to run, Sofia,” Rena urged, and both Rena and Enzo covered their faces with masks, preparing to leave the car.

Without hesitation, they opened the doors and stepped out, immediately breaking into a sprint in opposite directions.

“Sofia!” Her name echoed through the valley. She turned to see Leonardo running towards her with his men.

“No! Don’t come near!” she screamed, holding up her hand to stop him.

Leonardo halted and motioned to his men to stay back. “Listen to me, Sofia,” he pleaded.

“I don’t want to listen to anything. Just go away. Leave me alone,” she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Why are you trying to escape from me? Sofia, what happened? Talk to me,” Leonardo implored, but she wouldn’t fall for his act this time. She refused to be fooled by his fake concern.

“No, Leonardo, you can’t deceive me this time. I’ve heard everything,” Sofia shouted, taking cautious steps backward.

“Sofia, you misunderstood. Please give me one chance to explain, baby girl,” his eyes pleaded with sincerity. Her traitorous heart wanted to believe him again, but this time, she had to think with her brain.

“No, Leonardo. I know you’re skilled at manipulating everyone. You made me believe you cared for me, but you don’t, and I know it,” she yelled as she continued to walk backward.

He began to run towards her again.

“No. Stop. I said, don’t come near me,” she cried once more, and he halted in his tracks.

“Okay, okay. Please stop crying,” he said, his voice filled with pain.

Leonardo reached out his hand towards Sofia when he noticed she was still walking backward.

“Please, Sofia, stop and listen to me. Baby, give me a chance to explain. Don’t do this,” he pleaded, his eyes filled with raw emotion that caused her heart to twist 180 degrees. She stood there, just a step away from believing him once again, tempted to run into his arms.

She shook her head. No, she couldn’t be weak this time. She couldn’t afford to look at his face, into his eyes. Determined, she turned on her heel and started running toward Rena and Enzo.

“Sofia!” he shouted after her.

“I… Love… You!” Leonardo’s voice echoed through the valley, making her turn towards him in disbelief.

Tears glistened in his eyes. Was he crying?

“I love you, Sofia. I. Love. You. So. Much. Please don’t leave me. I won’t survive without you,” he bellowed, confessing his feelings with fervor.

Oh God, she had always yearned to hear those words. And gazing into his eyes, she knew he wasn’t lying. His tearful eyes conveyed the depth of his love, matching her own.

She covered her mouth, eyes squeezed shut in overwhelming emotion. When she opened them again, she saw him shaking his head.

“Please! Don’t go away. I can’t live without you. I’ve wanted to confess this for so long. I truly love you, baby girl. More than anything in this world. More than my life. Just come back to me. I will do anything and everything you want. Just come back. Don’t leave me, please!” he implored, his lips pressed together, holding back tears threatening to fall.

The intensity of the moment enveloped them, the air filled with unspoken emotions. The gravity of his words pulled at her heart, and she felt torn between her desire to believe him and the fear of getting hurt again.

As she stared at him, Sofia could see the love and vulnerability in his eyes. It was a risk, but she couldn’t deny the connection they had shared. Her heart pounded loudly in her chest as she weighed her decision.

Taking a deep breath, she finally spoke, her voice trembling with emotion, “Prove it, Leonardo. Show me that you mean it. Show me you’ll fight for us. I need more than just words.”

He nodded, determination evident on his face. “I will, Sofia. I’ll do whatever it takes to win your trust back and make things right. Just give me that chance.”

He loved her.

He truly loved her.

Sofia was overwhelmed with happiness upon hearing those words. But as she gazed into his eyes, tears welled up in hers. She had misunderstood him so gravely. He had always loved her deeply, and she had been blind to it. He hadn’t lied. His love for her was genuine. Otherwise, the most powerful mafia king would never have stooped to his knees, shedding tears and begging before her-before his own men. The entire world feared him, yet here he was, baring his heart to her, in front of the whole world. Only a man deeply in love could display such vulnerability. Sofia berated herself for her foolishness in failing to recognize his love.

She yearned to confess her love for him as well.

“I love…” Sofia began, but her voice was drowned out by the deafening sound of a helicopter. The gusts of wind whipped up dust, forcing them to shield their eyes.

Then, the unmistakable crack of a gunshot rang out, and someone forcefully seized Sofia. She struggled, flailing her arms and legs, desperately attempting to break free from their grasp. But they carried her towards the waiting chopper, tossing her inside. Rena and Enzo swiftly positioned themselves on either side, blocking her escape, as the helicopter took off.

Sofia peered outside, her voice calling out Leonardo’s name lost amidst the roar of the chopper’s engines. She shouted, her eyes pleading for him to hear her.

“Where are you taking me?” Sofia yelled, her gaze shifting between Rena and Enzo. Both of them wore sinister smiles, and Rena spoke with a cunning tone, “You are now under the custody of Don Adrik.”

“What? Who is this Don Adrik?” Sofia’s brow furrowed in confusion.

“You’ll find out soon enough,” Enzo smirked at her in a chilling manner.

Oh, God! Please, help me. Sofia silently beseeched for divine intervention. Panic gripped her heart. What did Don Adrik want with her, and more importantly, who was he? She had never heard of him before. In her heart, she prayed fervently, pleading with God to protect her and her baby. She had just discovered that Leonardo loved her, and now she had lost him so suddenly.

“She has a tracker,” a man announced, running a scanner over Sofia.

“Her ring,” he declared.

Sofia glanced at her hand, but before she could comprehend, Rena swiftly snatched the ring from her finger and flung it out into the vastness of the sea. She watched helplessly as it plummeted, disappearing beneath the waves.