The Mafia’s Substitute Bride

“Carlo, just get out of this matter. I will explain everything to you when I come home. At this time, you just go away from here. Let me handle this,” Emma pleaded, her panic evident in her voice. Leonardo couldn’t help but notice the sudden change in her demeanor the same woman who had threatened them moments ago now seemed terrified.

“No, Emma, we have to solve this right now. Just leave Sofia. We will talk about it and put the gun down. Where the hell did you get this gun?” Carlo’s voice carried a mix of concern and frustration as he confronted his wife.

Leonardo realized that Emma must have stolen Carlo’s gun. The revelation further cemented his belief in the depths of her evil nature. He couldn’t comprehend how someone could be so selfish and heartless, not even sparing a thought for her husband’s feelings or safety.

“Don’t give me your lecture, Carlo. I am not in the mood to listen to any of your nonsense. I know that Sofia is your daughter from Maria, and I hate her for that. You also hate her, remember? I really wanted her to die just like her mother. They don’t deserve to live in this world. These fucking bitches who always wanted to have a rich husband. First, her mother, Maria, trapped you for your wealth, and now Sofia has trapped Leonardo,” Emma spewed venomous words, revealing the depth of her hatred.

Her accusations about Sofia and Maria were baseless and unfounded, driven by her own insecurities and jealousy. Leonardo felt a surge of anger at her audacity to speak ill of his wife and her deceased mother. Emma’s words were nothing but poison spewing from a heart consumed by darkness.

“What the hell are you saying, Emma? Are you out of your mind? Neither Maria nor Sofia did anything. They were also victims of contract marriage. But unlike my marriage, Leonardo and Sofia found their love and deserve to be together. Don’t be stupid, Emma. Leave Sofia alone. And Leonardo, please forgive my wife for her sin. Please, one last time, forgive her,” Carlo implored both Emma and Leonardo, trying to reason with them.

Leonardo remained silent but nodded emotionlessly, his emotions still simmering beneath the surface.

“Emma, put the gun down and come. We will take you home. You need help. You are sick. Come, give me your gun,” Carlo pleaded, his voice filled with concern and empathy. He hoped to reach the vulnerable part of Emma that was still buried beneath her rage and darkness.Exclusive © material by Nô(/v)elDrama.Org.

Leonardo watched closely, his heart pounding, hoping that Carlo’s words would break through to Emma.

‘Emma, just leave my wife, and I will make you pay for your sins. Don’t worry,’ Leonardo resolved in his mind, willing Emma to make the right choice.

“OK, I will leave her, but before that, I want her to sign on the papers of the Ricci Empire that she is transferring everything to my daughter Kat’s name,” Emma stated in her evil, manipulative voice. Leonardo’s heart sank at her demand, but he nodded immediately, his priority being Sofia’s safety above all else.

“Yes, she will sign. Sofia, please sign the papers. Give her the papers, and Lana, please untie her hands so she can sign,” Leonardo instructed, trying to maintain a facade of compliance while he strategized in his mind.

Sofia’s eyes met Leonardo’s. The trust and understanding passed silently between them. Their connection was deep, and he knew he had to act swiftly to protect her. As Lana untied Sofia’s hands, Leonardo knew he had to seize the moment.

As soon as Sofia had the papers in her hands and lowered her head to sign them, Leonardo acted decisively. He shot a bullet at Emma’s hand, causing her to drop the gun she held. It was a risky move, but he hoped it would create a distraction.

“NO,” Carlo’s voice echoed in the room, filled with shock and alarm at the sudden turn of events. Before anyone could react, Domenico acted swiftly, firing a shot at Emma’s heart, ending her life.

Sofia’s heart pounded in her chest as the gunshots reverberated in the room, temporarily deafening her. With her senses heightened, she looked up to see Leonardo and Domenico standing before her, their guns drawn. Her gaze then fell on Emma, who lay lifeless on the floor, blood seeping from her chest. The shock of the sudden turn of events left Sofia speechless.

Emma was dead it happened so fast, yet the weight of her malevolence seemed to dissipate instantly. The danger she posed had been eliminated, but the aftermath left an air of disbelief in the room. Carlo’s anguished cry echoed through the space as he rushed to Emma’s side.

“Emma!” Carlo’s voice quivered as he knelt beside her lifeless body, cradling her in his arms, his tears streaming down his cheeks. Sofia had never seen her father show such raw emotion, and conflicting feelings surged within her. Despite Emma’s cruelty, witnessing her father mourn for the woman who had wanted to kill her stirred empathy within Sofia.

For the first time, Sofia felt hatred towards Emma for attempting to harm her and her unborn child. She knew that Emma had despised her and treated her poorly throughout her life, tarnishing Sofia’s self-esteem and perception in her father’s eyes. However, Sofia had never fathomed the depths of Emma’s malevolence, that she could harbor such hatred towards an innocent life.

Leonardo quickly came to untie Sofia.

“Are you alright, angel?” Leonardo’s voice quivered with concern and panic as he searched Sofia’s body, his eyes filled with worry. He pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her close to his chest, offering her the warmth and security she desperately needed. Sofia’s head rested against his heart, finding some comfort in the rhythmic beating that reassured her she was safe now. Tears streamed down her cheeks, evidence of the trauma she had endured.

Still trembling with fear, Sofia was grateful for Leonardo’s protective embrace, but the experience had left her deeply shaken. Her mind couldn’t shake off the image of Emma pointing the gun at her and the threat it posed to her unborn child. Hatred swelled within her for the woman who had plotted her demise and the life growing inside her.

“Lana!” Leonardo’s voice thundered, and Sofia’s head snapped up, meeting his bloodshot eyes. The anger and rage in his gaze were palpable, and she had never seen him like this before. Sofia’s heart ached for the man she loved, knowing the extent of betrayal he must be feeling.

“You dare to kidnap my wife. Did you forget who I am? Do you not want to live anymore and go to hell to meet your husband?” Leonardo’s voice turned deadly cold, his fury radiating off him like a storm.

Sofia’s eyes widened as she listened to Leonardo’s threatening words to Lana. The woman who had been by Emma’s side had also played a role in this treacherous act, and her plea for forgiveness now sounded hollow. Sofia knew that Lana was just as wicked as Emma, and her deceitful words held no truth.

“Leonardo… please… Forgive me… Emma brainwashed me… Otherwise, I would never have gone against you,” Lana pleaded, her desperation apparent. But Sofia knew it was nothing but a feeble attempt to save herself. Lana had willingly chosen this path, and her loyalty to Emma was evident throughout their actions.

“It isn’t so difficult to get into your small brain that what would be the consequence of your karma? You would have lived more despite you helping your husband to kidnap my wife last time. But by helping Emma to harm my pregnant wife, you earned my hatred for you, and now you’ll also be paying for your sins,” Leonardo’s cold and dangerous tone pierced the air, sending a shiver down Sofia’s spine. His words were sharp and filled with a chilling resolve, leaving no doubt about his intentions.

“P… please forgive me… I w… won’t do anything like this… I… I swear I will go very far away from you and your life… I will never come b… back. Please forgive me,” Lana pleaded, her voice quivering with fear and desperation. Her attempts to gain forgiveness seemed futile in the face of Leonardo’s wrath.

But Leonardo remained stoic, his expressionless face revealing nothing of his emotions. As he turned to Domenico, he issued a grave instruction, fully aware of the weight of his decision. “You better know what to do with my enemies. Lana has committed the deepest sin as she wanted to kill my unborn child and wife.”

Domenico nodded solemnly, his anger palpable as he gritted his teeth. Justice demanded retribution for Lana’s wicked deeds, and he was ready to carry out Leonardo’s orders. With a gesture, his men surrounded Lana, holding her firmly on both sides and began to drag her away.

Lana’s cries for forgiveness filled the room, her pleas desperate and remorseful. She begged Leonardo to spare her, promising never to repeat her misdeeds and vowing to disappear from his life forever. But Leonardo remained unmoved by her words, resolute in his decision.

“Please forgive me… Just one last time… I won’t do that again… I will go away… and… won’t come back.. Please don’t do this to me… Leave me, please….” Lana’s cries continued, but they fell on deaf ears as her fate was sealed. Her punishment for her treacherous actions was set in motion, and there was no turning back.

As the men dragged Lana away, her cries gradually faded into the distance, leaving behind a heavy silence in the room.