The Mafia Princess’s New Groom Chapter 01
I was the Mafia princess. The Don’s only daughter.
I grew up with my father’s adopted son—Vincent. We were childhood sweethearts.
We would get married once he took over the waterfront.
What I didn’t know was that my fiancé was sleeping with my maid, Sophia.
But at the rehearsal dinner, I spilled wine on Sophia’s dress.
He snapped.
“Isabella, don’t think being Mrs. Mancini means you can push Sophia around. Your dignity exists because I allow it. I run this family now.”
To punish me, he put my maid in one of my gowns, held her close, and danced with her all night.
The party ended.
Every guest walked out with mocking eyes.
Vincent looked at me, cold as ice.
“See, Isabella? I gave you that respect. So behave. Or don’t blame me for what happens next.”
I barely laughed.
He seemed to have forgotten. Those eighteen waterfront operations were built by my father, and that’s actually for me.
I was Mrs. Mancini.
That was the only reason he got to call himself boss.
And it looked like it was time for a new one.
…
Vincent walked Sophia down the spiral staircase himself.
One slow step at a time.
Her hair was pinned up, a diamond comb catching the light.
The gown she had on was mine. Custom couture from Paris.
He kept his arm around her waist, making the rounds through the crowd of rich and powerful.
Introducing her as his date to every one of them.
He’d completely forgotten this party was supposed to celebrate our engagement.
The socialites started whispering behind their champagne glasses. I could feel their pitiful glances from across the room.
This was supposed to be my night.
Instead, my fiancé was parading around with another woman, hanging on her every word like I wasn’t even in the room.
The stage I’d had set up, the banner that read “Vincent & Isabella,” the champagne, the flowers.
All of it was a joke now.
And he wasn’t done.
And he still wasn’t done. He brought Sophia up on stage, stood right under that banner, and sang her praises to the whole room.
Then, in front of every single guest, he announced to the whole room that she was family, said she was like a little sister to him.
That wasn’t just a slap in my face.
That was a power move.
Vincent was telling everyone in this room that he ran the family now.
The waterfront belonged to him.
His most trusted capo pulled him aside. “Vince, you’re gonna set the princess off. What about the wedding tomorrow?”
Vincent kept his grip on Sophia.
His voice carried clearly across the hall.
“Every powerful man has a woman on the side. It’s just how it works. If Isabella plays it smart and keeps her cool, I’ll give her all the respect she deserves tomorrow. She’ll get the full honor of being Mrs. Mancini.”
“But if she wants to make a scene, we call the whole thing off. I’d love to see who else on the waterfront has the guts to marry her.”
Sophia leaned into him. “Being chosen by you is the luckiest thing that ever happened to me. I’ll do whatever you say.”
The room went dead silent.
But saying it out loud, in front of everyone, that was a whole different level of disrespect.
He was dragging my name through the mud. Mine and the whole family’s.
I smiled.
Walked up onto the stage.
Raised my hand.
A shot cracked through the air.
Blood poured from a thigh.
A scream tore through the hall.
“Vince! Save me!”
Vincent’s face went white. He pulled his gun on me.
“Isabella! You’re out of your mind! You just shot someone in front of all these people!”
I smiled. My eyes were steady and cold. I stepped forward and pressed the barrel against my own chest.
“Vincent. Have you forgotten what I’m capable of?”
“What is she? A maid. You think she’s worth showing off? Have you forgotten who stood beside you when you fought your way through and built your name? Is that what tonight is about? Using her to humiliate me? Or have you actually fallen for some servant girl?”
My voice was calm.
Every word landed clean.
Behind me, my twelve soldatos already had their guns drawn. Every barrel aimed at Vincent’s head.
The two enforcers Vincent had groomed raised their weapons too. Aimed at me.
Good. The dogs I helped raise had turned into wolves. Time to put one down and remind everyone who set the rules around here.
I moved fast. Grabbed Vincent’s gun hand. Twisted the barrel around.
One shot. Frankie dropped. His eyes stayed on Vincent until the light left them.
Johnny went pale. His knees cracked against the marble. His gun clattered to the floor.
“Please. Spare me.”
Pathetic. So much for Vincent’s hand-picked men.
The second I turned toward Sophia, a scream cut through the air.
“Vince! I don’t want to die! Save me! I’m pregnant!”