The Mafia Princess He Abandoned Became An Art Queen Chapter 01
I grew up in an orphanage in Sicily. My social anxiety was so severe that I could barely hold a normal conversation with a man I didn’t know, let alone have any kind of relationship.
So I hid behind a screen.
At twenty-eight, I found my biological parents, the Don and Donna of one of New York’s most powerful mafia families, the Contis.
The Contis were one of the most powerful mafia families in the city. Publicly, they were real estate developers and art collectors. Privately, they ran casinos and trafficked stolen art.
The day I arrived at the Conti estate, Donna Conti took my arm and led me into the main dining room, crowded with antique oil paintings and polished silver.
At the head of the table, Don Conti looked up and gave me the kind of once-over people reserve for things they’re not sure are worth keeping.
The young woman sitting to his right already had tears in her eyes.
That was Irene.
The Contis’ adopted daughter.
She stood up, tears spilling down her face, her voice trembling.
“Papà, Mamma, now that Rossella’s home, the engagement that was meant for her should go back to her.”
I hesitated for a second, then said quickly, “That’s not necessary. I have a boyfriend.”
Just then, steady footsteps sounded outside the door.
Irene hurried over, eyes still red. “Mario, this is my sister, Rossella, the one you were originally supposed to marry.”
I turned.
And froze.
The man in the doorway wore a perfectly tailored black suit, sharp through the shoulders, with a discreet family crest pinned to his lapel.
I knew that face better than my own.
Mario Galli.
Heir to the Galli family.
And the man I’d been dating online for the past six years.
The instant Mario saw me, panic flickered through his eyes.
But just as quickly, it was gone. He slipped back into his usual polished, composed self, a polite, distant smile settling on his face.
He held out a hand.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Rossella.”
“I’m Mario Galli, Irene’s fiancé.”
Then he turned slightly and smoothed Irene’s hair back, his voice warm and steady.
“Irene, our engagement was settled a long time ago. You’re the only Donna for me.”
I gripped the hem of my dress. My fingertips had gone cold.
I managed a faint smile. My voice was barely above a whisper.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Galli.”
Mario stiffened. He looked at me, warning and suspicion mixed in his eyes.
Irene tilted her head, her eyes still wet and shining, her voice soft and painfully innocent.
“Rossella, does that mean you’re really willing to give up your engagement to Mario?”
My gaze dropped to the cuff link at Mario’s wrist.
It was the gift I’d given him for our third anniversary.
At the time, he’d texted me, “Thank you, baby. I’ll wear them to every important event from now on.”
I looked away from the familiar silver clasp and said evenly, “Yes. I won’t be marrying Mr. Galli.”
Donna Conti let out a breath and smiled, smoothing over the tension.
“Come, sit down. Let’s eat.”
At the table, Donna Conti asked sweetly, “Rossella, you said you have a boyfriend. What’s he like? Maybe we can meet him sometime.”
Every pair of eyes at the table locked onto me.
Mario’s knuckles had gone white around his fork, and his expression had hardened.
I glanced at him briefly, then lowered my eyes and cut into my steak.
“Someone I met online. Though I’m planning to end things.”
Donna Conti paused with her spoon halfway up. “Why?”
I chewed, swallowed, and answered calmly.
“He got engaged to someone else.”
The silence that followed was thick enough to choke on. You could hear silver lightly tapping porcelain.
A few seconds later, Irene, as if nothing had happened, turned to the housekeeper.
“Bring Miss Rossella a blue lobster. It’s her first meal at home. She should have the best.”
The housekeeper nodded, and soon a beautifully plated blue lobster was set in front of me.
Mario opened his mouth like he was about to say something, then thought better of it.
I frowned at the dish.
“I’m severely allergic to shellfish.”
Irene’s face went pale, and tears welled instantly in her eyes.
“Rossella, are you still upset about me and Mario?”
Donna Conti’s expression darkened. “Irene had the kitchen fly that in from Canada a week ago just for you. Rossella, don’t embarrass her.”
Don Conti set down his knife and fork, impatience sharpening his voice.
“A daughter of the Conti family should not behave so poorly at the dinner table.”
Everyone at the table turned cold.
As if I were the selfish one.
Mario met my eyes, his voice firm.
“Just eat a little. The family doctor is here on the estate.”
I stared at the pale lobster meat for two seconds, then cut off a small piece and put it in my mouth.
Within minutes, my neck started itching, hives rising across my skin, my throat tightening.
Irene looked horrified, tears streaming down her face.
“I didn’t know Rossella was really allergic. I thought she just hated me.”
Donna Conti pulled her close and glared at me over her shoulder.
“If it’s really this serious, why didn’t you make that clear in the first place?”
I touched the welts rising on my neck. My voice was quiet.
“I did. You just didn’t believe me.”
Then I stood up, didn’t look at anyone, and went back to my room.
Less than thirty seconds after I shut the door, someone shoved it open from the outside.
Mario.
His face was cold as stone.
“Keep your mouth shut. Don’t say a word about what happened between us.”
“You need to understand, those chats, the flirting online, none of it meant anything.”
“Irene grew up on the Upper East Side. She belongs in that world. She’s a better fit to be my Donna, to stand beside me at the events we attend. And the marriage strengthens the alliance between the Gallis and the Contis.”
“By blood and tradition, yes, technically the engagement should go back to you. But you’re just a girl who grew up in an orphanage.”
“I hope you understand your position. Don’t make this uglier than it has to be.”
I looked up at him. I wasn’t crying. I didn’t even look sad.
“Mario. We’re done.”
He froze.
I didn’t give him a chance to respond. I reached out and pulled the door open.
“Get out.”