"Relations are like mirrors, once broken, can never be repaired."
Sonny was standing on the balcony and was smoking, when Mr. Coppola smiled and said, "Finally. We have managed to convince your thickheaded dad. It's a day of celebration." Sonny said grimly, "I won't say that. Annabelle is a good girl and any man will be fortunate to be her husband. But, maybe I am not ready to marry her." Mr. Coppola smiled, "If you are getting cold feet. It's okay. We all have suffered from this "great dilemma" of life." Sonny smiled, "No. I am not getting any cold feet. It's just that it looks like our marriage is quite plain. As it doesn't even look like a union of two people but just a contract between two people. I don't like being someone's husband like this." Mr. Coppola smiled, "What did Annabelle say about this?" Sonny sipped his cigarette and said, "The same monotonous answer. She is going to fulfill her father's last wish and doesn't have any problem in marrying me." Mr. Coppola asked grimly, "Do you have any problem with marrying her?" Sonny sighed, "She is beautiful, intelligent, and benevolent. She is quite different from the girls I met in college. She is more mature than the girls of her age. I don't have any problem marrying her. But, I just don't want myself to become a shackle of her feet. I just want her to be happy." Mr. Coppola patted his shoulder and said, "You are nothing like your father. You also have a kind heart like your mother. But, that kindness of hers killed her. Kindness is virtue but in wrong circumstances, it turns into weakness." Sonny asked sadly, "You knew my mother?" Mr. Coppola smiled, "Everyone who met her remembered her. She never let anyone stay sad and would do everything in her capacity to make the person happy. Her kindness and love are the reason your father killed three people to marry her. Your mother didn't want to marry your father, but when she had to, she tried changing Mr. Massino with her kindness but we both know that your father is not a very considerate person. Your mother turned all her focus on you after your birth. She wanted you to stay away from your father's dark business, but even that wish of hers remained incomplete. Anyway, enough reminiscing. If you want to talk with Anabelle again, I can arrange a meeting." Sonny said, "Maybe that will be the best. It's better to clear all doubts before marriage." Mr. Coppola said grimly, "Whatever her answer is, your answer shouldn't be negative." Sonny sighed.
Annabelle was sitting beside her sick father. His condition was deteriorating day by day and Annabelle was worried that if her father died before the marriage, Mr. Massino would never allow the marriage to happen. The Valentina Family were still a little more wealthy than the Massino Family but without a leader, the money would hold no position. Internal conflicts and betrayals will gradually deteriorate the Family from within. Annabelle said grimly, "Don't die, father. Please. I beg you. Please, stay alive for another three or four months. Once, the marriage happens, I would personally strangle you to death." Mr. Valentina chuckled lightly. He groaned, "That rascal will never agree. Kill me now, dear. Relieve me from this escalating pain." Annabelle said grimly, "No. That bastard has to agree. Everyone knows that he is slowly turning bankrupt. Nothing tempts that sly swine more than money and power and we have both. He will surely agree to this marriage. But, his son is a little problematic." Mr. Valentina groaned, "Why? Doesn't he like you?" Annabelle said grimly, "It is not like that. He is too "compassionate". He thinks that I am only marrying him because of pressure. He thinks if he marries me, it will be the murder of my consent and feelings and apparently he is not a murderer." Mr. Valentina chuckled, "A pure soul. It's a marvel of nature that such a good boy was born in the house of that monster. Anyway, I like him. He is submissive and you can easily dominate him after the marriage. My life is on the brink of cessation but your life will be filled with joy and satisfaction. VPS will do everything in his power to make this marriage happen. He doesn't like wastage of good resources and honestly I have wasted quite a lot of time and energy fighting with that idiot." Anabelle said, "Massino is treacherous. We cannot trust him at all. Even if he agrees, there will surely be an ulterior motive brewing in his evil mind. We have to end him before the marriage to safeguard this alliance." Mr. Valentina laughed and then coughed, "End him? Do you know how to use a gun?" Anabelle smiled, "Why use a gun when we can kill him with a heart attack. I know a person who has something that I need." Mr. Valentina caught his daughter's hand and said, "Heed my one advice always, Annabelle. It is good to be fearless but if the situation demands then there is no problem in being fearful. Always fear the one who scares everyone." Anabelle smiled, "Don't worry, father. Once I marry Sonny and kill Mr. Massino, people will start fearing me." She rose and walked outside the room.
Sonny and Mr. Coppola was sitting inside the car, when Annabelle arrived in her Porsche and honked. Mr. Coppola looked at Sonny and said, "Be careful with your words. Annabelle is a good woman and marrying her is the wisest choice right now." Sonny didn't say anything and opened the door and walked outside the car. He walked towards her car and opened the door and sat inside. Annabelle said, "You wanted to meet me again. What is it?" Sonny said grimly, "Can we speak somewhere else? Please, drive to this location." He gave her a piece of paper and Annabelle started the car and started driving towards the location. Annabelle asked, "So, Mr. Massino agreed?" Sonny smiled, "What do you think?" Annabelle chuckled, "What do I think? You are his son. You know him better than me." Sonny said grimly, "We should talk about other things." Annabelle smiled, "What do you wanna talk about?" Sonny said grimly, "I don't know. You should initiate the conversation." Annabelle said, "Okay.... Actually, let's keep quiet." Sonny said, "As you wish." They slowly drove towards the St. Anthony Cemetery.
They walked towards a grave and stopped near it. The gravestone read "Maria Massino. Born 1980 Died 2010. A loving mother and a good person." Annabelle said, "Your mother's grave. I was here when she was being buried. It was a dark day. It was raining heavily and everyone who came had to grasp their umbrellas tightly. Mr. Massino was standing silent and Mr. Calel was standing beside him and was patting his shoulder. I remember holding your hand and you were crying like a baby. Your nose was running and I wiped your mucus several times. But, why did you bring me here? I don't think today is her death anniversary....or birthday." Sonny put some daffodils on the grave and prayed. Annabelle also closed her eyes and prayed. Sonny opened his eyes and said, "So, your decision to marry me is final and without any pressure?" Annabelle opened her eyes and said, "Yes. It is my own choice and I am under no pressure from my father or any of my kin." Sonny said grimly, "Make a promise on my mother's grave that you won't leave me at any point of life no matter what happens. You will always stay by my side, good or bad. You will agree and have full faith in my every decision yet will have the courage to disagree or reprimand me if I do anything wrong, intentionally or unintentionally. You will consider my kin as your own kin and will do or say no such thing that will damage their reputation or humiliate them. You will stay loyal to me and I will be loyal to you. You will take care of my children, if born any. You will always be beside me and live till your death as my wife." Annabelle smiled, "Are you planning on marrying me here? In a cemetery?" Sonny said grimly, "Just do as I say." Annabelle smiled, "Fine. If it pleases you. I, Ms. Annabelle Valentina has agreed to all your conditions and here, I make a promise in the witness of your deceased mother that I will always stay beside you and will be your wife till the end of my life." Sonny kneeled on one leg and said, "Ms. Annabelle Valentina. Will you marry me?" He took out a ring. Annabelle smiled, "Of course." Sonny rose and kissed her. Mr. Coppola was looking at them through binoculars and smiled when he saw them kissing. He wiped his tears and drove away.
Mr. Massino was sitting in his chair in his room. Mr. Calel and Mr. Demmola was sitting parallel to him, looking at his face. Mr. Calel said, "I think you made the decision hastily, Sir. You should have talked with Rico once or at least talked with the Germans before making any decision." Mr. Massino said irritated, "Don't correct me, Calel. I know what I did and why I did it. Rico is not even an option and as for the Germans, they are deceitful. On one hand, they show friendship to us and on the other hand, they talk against us and humiliate us in the High Table by calling us VPS's personal dogs. Valentina is the most reliable option right now. Anyway, that old fucker will kick the bucket soon and then I will take over all his inheritance and become the undisputed leader of the Italian Mafia. Anabelle will live her life producing heirs for the Massino Family and soon people will start forgetting about the Valentina Family. But, I want Antony to come here personally and beg before me to marry my son to his daughter. If he begs properly, I will consider his proposal." Mr. Demmola said grimly, "Antony is terribly sick. He will not come. I suggest, we go to his house and tell him that we are ready to accept his proposal only if he promises to renounce his claim over the Italian Mafia. If he agrees with your condition, then you will happily marry Sonny to Anabelle." Mr. Massino growled, "Never. Going to his house means conceding defeat. If he cannot come, he can send his brothers to beg here, but I will never go to his wretched house." Mr. Calel said, "Antony's brothers, Giuseppe and Simone will never agree to this condition. They didn't like their brother's decision to let Anabelle be his successor. Giuseppe even tried to assassinate Anabelle twice and Simone is eager to marry his son, Dario to Anabelle. They have more profit in not letting the marriage happen." Mr. Demmola said, "Think like a politician, Signore. Even a lion backs two steps to lunge." Mr. Massino sighed, "Fine. I will go to his house. Let the people of Italy know that Mr. Frederick Massino is a considerate man who doesn't shy away from going to his enemy's house for the sake of the welfare of Italy." Mr. Demmola and Mr. Calel looked at each other and smiled.
Mr. Coppola was standing outside the car, leaning on the front of the car. Sonny and Anabelle arrived and Mr. Coppola looked at them and smiled. Sonny and Anabelle got down from the car and looked at him. Mr. Coppola asked, "So, what did you decide? Is the marriage going to happen or not?" Sonny smiled and hugged Mr. Coppola and Anabelle looked at them and smiled. Mr. Coppola asked smiling, "What happened, Sonny? You look quite happy." Sonny smiled, "I and Anabelle got engaged. We wanted to tell you the good news first, so after taking the blessings from mom, we drove straight to you." Mr. Coppola smiled, "That's wonderful. Just wait till Mr. Massino and his friends hear about this good news. They will jump in ecstasy." Sonny said grimly, "Please, don't tell Mr. Massino about this. I will tell him when it is time. I know my father well, he doesn't like surprises. If he gets to know that I and Anabelle got engaged, he will fume in anger and will kill you first and then me. So, let's keep this news buried till my father talks with her father and the marriage is finalized." Mr. Coppola said grimly, "Fine. It's your good news. Keep it however you want." Sonny and Anabelle hugged Mr. Coppola and smiled. Anabelle smirked as her plan was soon going to be complete.....