Elena stumbled back to her room after the heart-shattering conversation with her parents. Her hands trembled as she closed the door behind her, eyes scanning the space that once felt like a sanctuary. The walls, adorned with posters of her favorite singer, seemed to mock her now—symbols of a life she no longer recognized. Her "To-Do" wishlist hung by her desk, filled with dreams of falling in love, traveling, and building a future with someone she chose. All of it, everything, was crumbling right before her eyes.
Tears welled up, blurring her vision as the weight of reality crashed down on her. Her dreams of love, dates with her soulmate, and a life of her own making were vanishing, like smoke slipping through her fingers. A sob escaped her lips, followed by another, until she was crying uncontrollably. For hours, she cried until exhaustion took over, and she fell asleep on her tear-soaked pillow, still clutching the corner of her favorite blanket.
Meanwhile, her siblings—Enzo, Julian, and Mia—had learned of the deal. The news had hit them like a storm, leaving them furious, especially at their father. How could he? How dare he give their Ele away like some bargaining chip? Enzo, the most hot-headed of them all, paced the living room, fists clenched, while Mia tried to reason, though her own anger was barely contained. Julian, usually the peacemaker, couldn't even muster a calming word, his face grim with disbelief.
Their frustration eventually boiled over. Ignoring any attempts to calm them, the trio stormed up the stairs and banged on Elena's bedroom door.
"Ele! Open up!" Enzo's voice was loud and demanding.
"Ele, can you hear us?" Mia added, her tone soft but urgent.
"Ele, please..." Julian's voice was strained, a rare vulnerability showing through.
Inside, Elena stirred at the persistent knocking. Slowly, she opened her eyes, the conversation with her parents playing in her mind once again, the words echoing like a curse. Marriage with Damien Cortelli. It felt like a nightmare she couldn't wake from. Her heart sank as she recalled her mother's pleading eyes, her father's cold resolve. Tears threatened to fall again, but the commotion from outside her room snapped her back to the present.
With trembling hands, she opened the door, her eyes still red and swollen from crying. The moment her siblings saw her, they rushed in, wrapping her in their arms like a protective shield against the world.
They held her tightly, as if by sheer force they could keep her from the cruel reality that had been forced upon her. And for the first time in what felt like forever, Elena didn't feel completely alone.
Elena sat on the edge of her bed, tears streaming down her face as her siblings surrounded her. They hugged her tightly, trying to soothe her pain. Enzo, his jaw clenched in frustration, drew gentle circles on her back, struggling to control the rage boiling within him.
"Are you okay?" Julian asked softly, concern etched across his face.
Mia, though the youngest, could hardly bear to see her sister in such distress. "If you don't want this, you can say no to them," she insisted, her voice trembling with worry.
"She's not marrying anyone!" Enzo declared, his teeth gritted in anger. The thought of his sister being forced into a marriage made his blood boil.
"I'm going to talk to Dad," he said, rising from his seat, but Elena grasped his hand tightly, shaking her head vehemently.
"Please, don't," she pleaded, her voice barely a whisper. After taking a deep breath, she finally found the strength to speak. "I'm ready to marry him. It's my fate. I can't run away from it; I can't forget the world I was born into." Her lips curled into a rueful smile, a bittersweet acceptance settling in her heart.
At her words, her siblings broke down in tears alongside her, unable to bear the thought of their sister's sacrifice.
Outside the room, Jerry stood in silence, his heart heavy as he listened to their conversation. He couldn't help but feel emotional, knowing the weight of Elena's decision and the pain it brought to her family.
_______________________________________
The days had flown by like a breeze, and in those eight days, Damien hadn't set foot in the Cortelli mansion. Instead, he sought refuge at his best friend's place, trying to suppress his growing resentment towards his father. Back at the mansion, preparations were well underway for their move to Naples, while Elena focused on enjoying her final days with her family, avoiding any thoughts of the looming engagement.
At last, Damien returned.
Luccia spotted her son from across the hall. "Finally, you're here," she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around him in a warm hug. "It's been eight days."
"I had to come, Mom. After all, we're leaving for Naples tomorrow," Damien replied, exhaustion etched on his face. He had reluctantly accepted the engagement, knowing he had no other choice.
"You're doing the right thing, son," Vittorio's voice cut through their moment, his presence dominating the room as always.
"In our world, words are as binding as any seal," Vittorio continued, his voice firm. "Once we give them, there's no turning back."
Damien said nothing. He wasn't happy with the arrangement, but his silence didn't last long as Vittorio added, "But remember, my boy, you can always seek satisfaction elsewhere. If your wife doesn't fulfill you, there's no shame in having others."
Vittorio's hand rested on Damien's back in a fatherly pat, but the words only deepened Damien's anger. Luccia, standing quietly beside them, inwardly chuckled. What else could she expect from her husband? Yet a sliver of fear clutched her heart—what if her son followed the same path?
Damien's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression hardening. "Dad," he said, voice cold but steady, "I'm not happy about this marriage, but I am someone whose mother taught him morals. I'll be loyal to my wife."
His words hung in the air, a stark contrast to the world he was born into.
The night was heavy with silence as Elena sat in her room with her siblings. The dim glow from Enzo's laptop illuminated their faces as he scrolled through the search results for Damien Cortelli. The infamous name filled the room with an uneasy tension. It was past 10 PM, but none of them had the desire to sleep.
"Here he is," Enzo said, pointing at the screen. It was the first time Elena saw him—Damien Cortelli. His cold, deep green eyes stared back at her from the photograph. A shiver ran down her spine. Those eyes held the kind of power that made people cower. He was only 24, good-looking, but that didn't mask the darkness that lay beneath. Looks, after all, could never hide a person's true nature, and Elena knew the Cortelli's weren't known for kindness.
The door creaked open, and their mother, Clara, stepped inside, her eyes soft but tired. "It's late. You shouldn't be up this long, especially staring at a screen. You'll strain your eyes," she said gently.
"We're just looking at Damien Cortelli," Julian replied, his tone calm, but his words seemed to weigh down the air. Clara's face darkened, sadness flashing through her eyes.
"All of you, go ahead and sleep," Elena said, trying to smile, though her heart raced. "I'm feeling sleepy."
"Ele, no, let me just—" Enzo began, but she cut him off quickly, "I'm okay, go."
Clara hesitated for a moment, watching her daughter closely. She knew Elena was trying to appear calm, trying to keep it together, but a mother always knows when something is wrong.
One by one, her siblings left the room, leaving Elena alone. She closed her eyes, but sleep felt impossible. Tomorrow loomed over her like a shadow. Tomorrow, her life will change forever.
Morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the Moretti household. Elena had barely slept, the weight of her future pressing heavily on her chest. Downstairs, the maids were busy cleaning every corner of the house, while the kitchen filled with the smells of delicious food being prepared. The Cortelli family would arrive soon, and everything had to be perfect for the private engagement ceremony. Only the two families would attend—no friends, no other relatives. The secrecy made it feel more like a transaction than a celebration.
Elena stood at her dressing table, staring at her reflection. Her tired eyes searched for some trace of the girl she used to be, but she couldn't find her. A lone tear slid down her cheek, and she quickly brushed it away, her heart aching with thoughts of what was to come. She knew too well how the mafia world worked. She wasn't blind to the fate she was walking into—a life as Damien Cortelli's wife, not for love, but as part of a deal. And when he grew tired of her? He would do as his father did, take mistresses, or worse, marry another.
She shuddered at the thought of it. Vittorio Cortelli had two wives, and countless mistresses whispered about behind closed doors. What could she expect from his son? Her future felt bleak, a cage she had no way out of.
Wiping her eyes, Elena reached for her earbuds and slid them in, letting the music drown out the noise of the bustling house, the maids' footsteps, the clattering of dishes, and her own thoughts. She sank onto her bed, willing herself to escape, even for just a moment.
Downstairs, Enzo was pacing, his frustration boiling over. "Dad, you can't seriously go through with this!" he exclaimed, his voice low but sharp. "There has to be another way."
Giovanni Moretti, his face worn with the stress of the situation, shook his head. "We are out of options, Enzo. The Cortelli's control everything. If we don't do this, we lose everything."
Enzo clenched his jaw, anger flashing in his eyes, but there was nothing more to say. Their hands were tied.
With heavy hearts, the family made their way to Elena's room. They found her lying on the bed, earbuds in, her eyes closed, lost in the music. Silently, they entered, gathering around her. Julian sat beside her, gently pulling out one earbud. "Hey," he said softly, trying to smile. "We're all here."
Mia, always the cheerful one, chimed in, "Come on, Elena. We'll get through this together."
Elena opened her eyes, offering them a weak smile. Though their presence comforted her, she couldn't shake the feeling that her life, as she knew it, was slipping away.
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