Married to the Mafia: A Wife's Deadly Reckoning

On our tenth wedding anniversary, I was trapped in a cabin with my daughter, Sofia Costello, as floodwaters raged outside. With shaking hands, I used the emergency satellite phone to call my mafia husband, Henson Costello, and begged for help. I dialed more than 90 times before the call finally went through, yet all I heard was the breathy moans of his first love, Angelina Rossi, on the other end. "Henson...slower..." Before I could even process the shock of his betrayal, I heard a conversation that sent me straight into hell. "That kid was dead weight anyway. Trading him for control of Pier 9 was the best deal the family ever made." It seemed that Leo Costello, my son, who had supposedly drowned at the beach five years ago, had not died in an accident after all. Henson had used him as part of a business deal. All this time, I had been drowning in guilt for taking him to that beach, blaming myself for the tragedy. I never knew the truth was this cruel. Tears streamed down my face as my body shook uncontrollably. After ten years of marriage, I finally realized I had never truly known the man I loved and sacrificed everything for. I picked up my phone again and dialed Vincenzo Moretti's number. "Vince, I'll marry you. But you have to help me destroy the Costello family from power." After a brief silence, his voice came through the line. "Aurelia Astor, I've been waiting ten years to hear you say that." Chapter 1 [Aurelia's POV] "Mommy, where did Daddy go?" Sofia Costello hugged her teddy bear, her amber eyes full of confusion. I crouched to her level and smoothed her rain-soaked blond curls. "He had something important to take care of, sweetheart." It was our tenth wedding anniversary, and Henson Costello could not even stay for an hour. We had planned to spend a summer camp weekend with Sofia, but the moment he arrived, a phone call pulled him away. The storm outside was getting worse, rain hammering against the cabin windows with an ear-splitting fury. The staff had warned us about flash floods, and our area was also at risk for mudslides. We needed to contact rescue immediately, but all the signals had completely cut out. My heart sank. I frantically dug through my backpack for the emergency satellite phone and dialed Henson's number with trembling hands. Once, twice… I made over 90 calls, each one met with that cold, busy tone. Sofia finally fell asleep in my arms, tear tracks still streaking her little face. I walked to the window, watching the rain grow even more brutal, and dialed that number one more time. This time, the call finally connected. I opened my mouth, ready to say, "Henson, we're trapped. The floodwaters could hit any second." However, I never got the chance. A woman's breathy moans came through the line, sweet and obscene. "Henson...slower... You're hurting me..." My fingers froze, recognizing that it was Angelina Rossi's voice. She was Henson's first love. Years ago, when the Costello family faced a crisis with rival families, she had jumped at the chance to take a job overseas without a second thought. Meanwhile, I had chosen love without hesitation, marrying Henson when he had no power and no status. Henson became the Costello family's Don, and our marriage had looked perfect for years. I never imagined he still could not let go of Angelina, or that his heart had already changed. My throat tightened, and no sound came out. "Honey, do you think Aurelia knows about Leo?" Angelina asked casually, her voice thick with satisfaction. Leo Costello was my son who drowned five years ago at the beach outside our vacation house. "She doesn't," said Henson calmly. "He was dead weight anyway. Trading him for control of Pier 9 was the best deal the family ever made." Thunder exploded near the cabin, or maybe it was my heart breaking apart. My knees went weak, and I almost collapsed to the floor. I covered my mouth tightly with one hand, terrified of making even the slightest sound. "You are really ruthless," Angelina giggled, and her laughter sent a chill through my bones. "But I guess it makes sense. Our son is the real Costello heir, and as for Sofia... She and Leo were both Vincenzo Moretti's kids, right?" She said it so matter-of-factly, so certain. "When the time's right, I'll take care of her," Henson cut in, his tone casual. "The Costello family only needs one heir. I won't let any love child taint the bloodline." She purred, "Poor Aurelia... She'll be devastated when you get rid of her kid." Henson paused. "She had two kids with another man, and that's an insult to me. Every single day, I pray for those two brats to disappear." The phone slipped from my hand and hit the wooden floor with a thud. It finally hit me that Leo's death was not an accident. All this time, I had blamed myself for his drowning, tormented by guilt for years… It turned out Henson had handed him over as a bargaining chip to secure control of the docks. At that moment, I suddenly understood why he could say such things so easily. I clenched my fists so hard that blood trickled down my palms, wishing I could drag both Henson and Angelina straight to hell. Years ago, when the Costello family was in trouble, I had used my connection with Vincenzo to help. I spent three days with him, negotiating how to divide the docks and funnel investment money to Henson. When I told Henson about it, he had been understanding, saying gently, "I trust you. You did this because you love me, and I'll never forget what you sacrificed for me." At this moment, his actions made it crystal clear that he had never trusted me at all. Both of my children's paternity had been called into question. I had to thank Angelina for answering that call and letting me hear the truth. I picked up the phone again and pressed 'dial'. "Vince," I said, my voice raw and rough. "I'll marry you. But you have to help me. I want the Costello family wiped off the face of the earth." The line went silent for a few seconds. Then, his deep, husky voice came through. "I've been waiting ten years to hear you say that, Aurelia. In three minutes, my rescue helicopter will be at your location." He paused before adding, "This time, I'm not letting you go." My phone buzzed. Angelina had sent me a photo of her hand resting on her slightly rounded belly, a triumphant smile on her face. [The Costello family needs a legitimate heir, not like that drowned mongrel of yours.] I stared at that photo as all my grief turned to ice-cold fury in an instant. It was their turn to die. Chapter 2 I held Sofia in my arms as Vincenzo’s men escorted us back to the estate where I lived. "Seven days from now, I will come get you. Have your valuable things ready," he said on the phone. I hung up and started packing. The first thing I took was Mom's emerald necklace and the Astor family trust fund papers. Then, I got my passport, bank cards, and the hidden evidence I had kept for years. I moved fast and packed everything into an ordinary-looking suitcase. Sofia was asleep upstairs, unaware that I would soon be taking her away. Just then, the sound of keys turning in the lock echoed from the foyer. Realizing that Henson was home, I quickly kicked the suitcase under the bed and got up, walking out of the bedroom. He stood there in a crisp suit, holding a bouquet of white roses. "Baby." He came up and wrapped his arms around me from behind. His warm kiss landed on my neck, right where the Costello family tattoo was, a rose with thorns. "I'm sorry about the camp trip. I shouldn't have left you two. Thank goodness you're both okay," he said gently. His embrace used to make me feel safe, but after what I heard, it just made me sick. I caught the scent of sweet jasmine perfume on him, Angelina's signature fragrance. My stomach churned. I wanted to throw up, but I forced myself to stay composed. "It's fine," I said, turning to take the roses. "Family business comes first." He stared into my eyes, as if searching for something. I kept my smile. We had been married for 10 years, and I used to feel safe beside him. After hearing what he and Angeline talked and did, though? All I had left was pretense. He caressed my cheek and whispered, "You must've been terrified." "It was alright. Sofia was brave." "That's good." He kissed my forehead. "I'm going to take a shower." I watched him walk into the bathroom, my fingers digging hard into my palms. Before long, my nails broke through the skin, and the pain kept me alert. This was not the time to alert him, because I needed to wait patiently and ensure they all paid the price. Just then, Henson's phone rang. It was lying on the bed, and I saw the name "Honey" flash on the screen. I stared at the word, and my heart went cold. The ringtone kept going, and the sound of running water in the bathroom stopped. I turned to leave, but it was already too late. Henson rushed out in his bathrobe and grabbed the phone. His voice was laced with urgency as he asked, "What's wrong?" I could hear Angelina crying. "Henson... She sent people to threaten me... They said they'd make me disappear from New Anchester... I'm so scared... I'm carrying your baby..." Henson's expression changed instantly. He looked up, his eyes sharp like daggers. "Was it you?" "What?" "Don't play dumb!" He lunged at me, grabbing my shoulders. "You sent people to threaten Angelina! Where did you take her?" "I didn't..." A sharp slap landed across my face. My head whipped to the side, and my lip split open, the taste of blood flooding my mouth. I clutched my face, staring at him in disbelief, my expression full of shock. He looked at me, a flash of pain crossing his eyes as he moved to embrace me. However, I quickly sidestepped. We stood in silence, then the phone rang again. Without a word, he turned and left. I held my face, still tasting blood. I could not wait any longer, desperately wanting to leave. So, I rushed to Sofia's room, scooped up my sleeping daughter, and headed from the master bedroom toward the back of the walk-in closet. There was a hidden door there, a secret passage I had insisted on having installed during renovations years ago. I opened the door and carried Sofia inside. The passage was narrow, lit only by dim emergency lights, and our shadows stretched long behind us. As we neared the exit, I breathed a sigh of relief. A hand suddenly shot out from the darkness and clamped down hard on my arm. "Where do you think you're going?" Henson stood there, his eyes ice-cold. "Let go of me!" I struggled against him. His grip was terrifyingly strong, nearly crushing my bones. "Why are you trying to leave? You're the Donna of the Costello family. Are you really this upset over Sofia?" He was furious beyond measure, dragging Sofia and me back out. Then, he hauled us all the way to the underground garage and opened the back door of a black sedan. He shoved me inside roughly and slammed the door shut. After that, he climbed into the driver's seat and started the engine. "Daddy, where are we going?" Sofia sobbed, barely able to catch her breath. Henson glanced at her in the rearview mirror. That look was cold and unfamiliar, as if he were looking at a stranger. The car tore out of the garage and onto the dark streets of New Anchester. I held Sofia tight, my heart pounding hard during the entire ride. Chapter 3 The car stopped at East Harbor. Through the window, I saw the silhouette of a skyscraper. This was a Costello family investment project, but it was not finished yet. At the moment, it was just a skeleton of steel beams and concrete. Henson got out, and cold wind rushed in as he opened the back door. His eyes were ice-cold as he hissed, "Get out." "Henson, where are you taking us?" I held Sofia tighter. Suddenly, he reached in and yanked Sofia from my arms. "No!" I lunged forward, but two bodyguards emerged from the shadows and pinned my shoulders down hard. I could only watch helplessly as Henson carried Sofia toward that building with no safety measures in place. "Henson! She's just a child!" My voice echoed across the empty waterfront, but he did not even look back. Sofia struggled in his arms, screaming, "Mommy! Mommy!" The bodyguards dragged me along behind them. I fought the whole way, my nails raking bloody scratches across their arms, but they did not even flinch. There were no lights inside the building, only the beams of flashlights cutting through the darkness. Soon, we got into a construction elevator, and the metal door closed with a jarring screech. The elevator rose to the top floor, where wind blasted in from all directions. There was only the steel and concrete framework, scaffolding suspended hundreds of feet in the air, swaying in the wind. The river below sparkled with reflected light. From this height, a fall would mean certain death. Henson carried Sofia toward the edge of the building, and I held my breath. There was a makeshift construction lift there. It was just a few rusted metal plates and steel cables, dangling in midair. "No..." My voice came out completely hoarse. He placed Sofia in the lift, her tiny body swaying in the wind. "Mommy..." She reached out, her eyes full of terror. I desperately tried to rush forward. However, the bodyguards blocked me and forced me to the ground, my knees hitting the icy concrete. Henson stood by the lift, his hand gripping the emergency brake lever. His voice was eerily calm as he asked, "Where's Angelina?" "What?" I looked up, not understanding what he was talking about. He stated coldly, "Don't play dumb, Aurelia. You sent people to kidnap her. Hand her over now." "I didn't!" I practically roared. "I have no idea what you're talking about!" "Liar." He released the brake lever slightly. The lift plunged, and the steel cables screeched horribly as Sofia's screams tore through the night. "Mommy!" The lift stopped about 30 feet down, swaying in the wind. "I'll talk! I'll talk!" I fell to my knees. "Please, just let her go..." "Then talk." Henson looked down at me from above. Moonlight shone on his face, and for a moment, I could not recognize him. Just moments ago, he had been apologizing for leaving us at the camp. At this moment? No matter how much I begged, he would not relent. My voice trembled. "I really don't know where Angelina is... Henson, I swear, I don't know anything..." Sofia's cries grew weaker and more desperate. I crawled toward him, grabbing onto his pant leg. "Henson, please just investigate first. Don't take it out on Sofia..." Tears blurred my vision. All my pride and dignity were crushed into the ground. "You think I'd believe you?" He grabbed me, pain flashing in his eyes. I was thrown down, my lips smashing against the concrete. His voice filled with rage. "Is she even my daughter? Why would you hurt my real child for this mongrel?" "I didn't!" He completely ignored my explanation, his fingers moving again as the lift dropped once more. Sofia had stopped crying, passing out from fear. I trembled all over, standing up and staggering toward the edge of the scaffolding. No matter what, I had to get to Sofia. "Aurelia! What are you doing?" Henson shouted, his voice changing. I stepped onto the scaffolding, the rusted metal creaking beneath my feet. I had to climb down to the lift; I just needed to hold Sofia. Suddenly, a hand grabbed me hard and yanked me back. I hit the ground hard as Henson pinned me down, his arms locked tight around me. A flash of panic crossed his eyes. "Are you insane? Do you have a death wish?!" I fought desperately. "Let go! I want to save Sofia!" "For that mongrel..." He suddenly released me, his voice turning ice-cold. "You really would do anything... So why did you marry me? Why did you act as if you loved me so much?!" "She is your daughter!" I sobbed. He yelled, "She's not! She's proof of your betrayal!" Then, he walked back to the lift, wind whipping through his hair. He looked like a madman. His voice was carried off by the wind. "Listen, Aurelia. I'm not letting that brat go. You'd better tell me where Angelina is right now." He paused, looking at the lift suspended in midair, Sofia lying motionless inside. "Otherwise... I will make her pay with her life." Chapter 4 Henson pulled a document from his suit jacket, the paper rustling loudly in the night wind. "Take a look at this." He threw the file at my feet. I trembled as I picked it up, and under the moonlight, the words came into focus. [DNA Paternity Test Report. Test subjects: Henson Costello, Sofia Costello. Conclusion: Paternity excluded.] My hands shook so badly I could barely hold the paper. I was absolutely certain Sofia was Henson's daughter. After we got married, I had only ever been with him. "Impossible... This is fake..." "Fake?" Henson scoffed, walking toward me. He said, "I had my private doctor run this three months ago. I used Sofia's hair and my blood samples. The results are in your face." He bent down, his voice ice-cold as he growled, "She's not my daughter." "You know exactly what you did during those three days you spent with Vincenzo..." He spoke slowly, deliberately. "It was purely business negotiations!" I practically screamed. "Business? What kind of business requires you to stay at his private estate?" "I was trying to save the Costello family–" My voice grew weaker. "Save the family?" He cut me off, a twisted smile spreading across his face. "You carried a Moretti bastard and disgraced the Costello bloodline!" Each word was like a knife, carving into my heart. I fell to my knees, utterly speechless. Ten years of marriage, everything I had sacrificed for this family, and the man I loved, all turned into a cruel joke. Henson turned away in fury and walked toward the elevator control box. "No!" By the time I realized what he was about to do, it was too late. He raised his foot and kicked the control box hard. Sparks exploded, illuminating his twisted face. The sound of the circuit shorting was deafening. Then, one of the main cables snapped with a piercing metallic screech that echoed through the night sky, and the lift began tilting violently as it plummeted. The elevator lurched violently. "Sofia!" I screamed. I watched as she tumbled inside the lift. "No... No!" I rushed toward the edge, but the bodyguards held me down tight. I watched helplessly as the lift dangled in midair on just two remaining cables, ready to fall completely at any moment. Just then, Henson's phone rang, the sharp ringtone drifting on the wind. He answered the call, sounding irritated. "What is it?" "We found Angelina. She's at her mother's house, safe and sound." I listened to his underboss' report, and a spark of hope ignited in me. "Please..." I sobbed. "Henson, let Sofia go, she's innocent..." "Innocent?" He walked to the lift and looked at the unconscious Sofia. There was not a trace of emotion in his eyes, and he was looking at her like she was a nuisance. "Why would I spare a mongrel?" I struggled and shouted, "Henson! She's your daughter!" He replied calmly, "She's not. She's your brat with Vincenzo." He turned his back on the lift, as if Sofia’s life meant nothing at all. I stared at the swaying platform as the remaining cables groaned under the strain. Sofia could fall at any second. "No!" I used every ounce of strength to break free from the bodyguards' grip. I rushed to the edge and jumped, wanting only to hold Sofia, my most precious treasure. A hand suddenly grabbed my wrist, my body jerking to a halt in midair as I was yanked back. My back slammed hard into the concrete floor. As the searing pain hit me, I nearly blacked out. Henson pinned me down, his grip crushing my wrist, his nails digging into my skin. He panted and growled, "Are you trying to get yourself killed?! I won't let you!" I looked at him, tears blurring my vision. He held me tight and whispered in my ear, "It's okay, Aurelia. Once that runt is dead, we can start over." He kissed my forehead, the gesture terrifyingly gentle. A metallic sweetness surged up my throat, and my vision suddenly went black as I lost consciousness completely. The last thing I heard was the sound of the lift falling in the distance. Then, a deathly silence. Chapter 5 "Where's Sofia?!" I bolted upright in the hospital bed, my chest heaving. The white ceiling spun above me, and the smell of disinfectant stung my nostrils. Henson sat in a chair beside the bed, holding a small silver knife. He elegantly peeled an apple and said, "You're awake." He did not even look up, his voice terrifyingly calm. "I asked you where Sofia is!" I struggled to get out of bed, only to find my wrist connected to an IV line. "She's safe." He finally looked up, those eyes that once captivated me suddenly cold as steel. I stared at him hard, my heart racing. "What does that mean?" He set down the knife and held out the peeled apple. "Eat something. You've been out for a whole day." "I don't want it!" I knocked the apple from his hand, and it smashed on the floor. "Tell me where Sofia is!" Henson's tone turned threatening instantly. "Aurelia, you'd better calm down." "Calm down?" I nearly shouted. "You dropped Sofia from that height–" He cut me off, his tone dismissive. "Don't worry about it. I told you, she's safe." I froze, tears immediately flooding my eyes. "Really?" "Of course." He picked up the knife again and started peeling a second apple. "Then where is she now? I need to see her!" The blade paused on the apple skin as he looked up at me. "You want to see her?" "Yes!" He replied casually, "Then you need to do something first. Angelina's in shock, and she's in the VIP ward right now." My heart sank. "You want me to..." "Go apologize to her," he said slowly. "Apologize sincerely for sending people to threaten her." "I didn't threaten her!" "Is that so?" He stood up, looking down at me. "Then explain why she said it was you." I opened my mouth to argue, but I realized I had no way to prove my innocence. "Henson, I swear I didn't..." He cut me off coldly, "I don't want to hear your excuses. I just want you to apologize. After you apologize, I'll let you see Sofia." I gritted my teeth. I was willing to do anything for Sofia, so I said, "Fine. I'll go." He nodded, satisfied. "Good. But before that, you need to do one more thing." A sense of dread washed over me. "What is it?" "Angelina needs a blood transfusion, and she has a rare blood type: O negative." He was not asking me; he was giving a command. My eyes widened. "You want me to give her blood?" He shrugged. "The doctor says her condition is critical." "Henson, I just woke up! My body's still weak..." His voice suddenly turned sharp, making me wince. "She's carrying my child! My heir! Do you want to watch them die?" I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I told myself that for Sofia, I had to endure this. "Fine. I agree." Half an hour later, I was wheeled into the blood draw room. The cold needle pierced my vein, and bright red blood flowed through the clear tube. I felt dizzy and gripped the sheets tightly. The nurse glanced at my condition and said with some concern, "Sir, the patient doesn't look well..." "Continue." Henson's voice left no room for argument. I bit down hard, refusing to pass out. Sofia was still waiting for me, and I could not collapse. Finally, they finished drawing the blood. I lay weakly on the bed as the whole world spun around me. I used every bit of strength to ask, "Now… Can I see Sofia?" Henson looked at my pale face, something flickering in his eyes before quickly disappearing. "You haven't apologized to Angelina yet." I braced myself against the wall and stood up. My legs were weak, and I nearly failed. Even so, I said, "I'll go right now." At the door of the VIP room, I stopped and took a deep breath. I asked weakly, "After I apologize, can I see Sofia?" Henson looked coldly at my pale face. "You're awfully concerned about that runt. Just go apologize to Angelina first." I no longer wanted to explain that Sofia was his biological daughter. In a few days, I would take Sofia and leave this place for good. By then, he would no longer be her father. Chapter 6 The hospital room door pushed open, and Henson dragged me inside. Angelina was propped up in bed, her complexion rosy. She looked nothing like someone who had just lost a lot of blood. When she saw me enter, a flash of triumph crossed her eyes before she quickly switched to a weak expression. "Aurelia..." She reached out and grabbed Henson's hand, her voice trembling. "Thank you for being willing to save me..." I stood there watching her phony performance, my stomach churning. "Say it." Henson threatened in a low voice near my ear. "Apologize to her." I took a deep breath and forced out three words without expression. "I am sorry." "What?" Angelina pretended she could not hear me. "What did you say?" "I said I'm sorry," I repeated it louder. A flash of satisfaction crossed Angelina's eyes, then she sighed. "Oh, poor Aurelia..." Her tone dripped with fake pity, and nausea rose in my throat again. She continued, "You know what? I don't really blame you. After all, losing a child is devastating for any mother... But you shouldn't take your anger out on innocent people." She touched her belly. "The baby I'm carrying is innocent..." My hands clenched into tight fists as I said coldly, "Enough. I've apologized." "Yes, you have." She nodded, then suddenly broke into a strange smile. "But unfortunately, your daughter is already dead." I froze. "What?" "Sofia…" Her voice was soft, yet every word cut like a blade. "She's dead. Her body's in the morgue downstairs right now." I felt my world crumbling. I shook my head, stuttering, "N-No... That's impossible..." "I'm sorry you had to find out this way," said Angelina with false sympathy, "but that's the reality." My sanity snapped in an instant, and I lunged at her. I wrapped my hands around her throat as I shouted, "You evil woman!" "Aurelia!" Henson roared. I felt no pain or fear; I just wanted to strangle this vicious woman. "You killed Sofia!" I used every ounce of strength I had. "I'm going to kill you!" Angelina's face turned bright red as she struggled desperately. Suddenly, a powerful hand grabbed my shoulder and threw me off violently. My head slammed hard into the metal medical equipment in the corner, searing pain hitting me as warm liquid streamed down my forehead. Henson held the frightened Angelina, his eyes full of rage. "Are you insane? She's pregnant!" "I hate you both! You killed Leo, and now you've killed Sofia! I won't let you get away with this!" I screamed, my head spinning. When Henson heard me say that, a flash of panic crossed his eyes. I leaned against the wall, blood blurring my vision. "Someone! Give her a sedative!" Henson shouted toward the door. Two nurses rushed in, one of them holding a syringe. "No..." I tried to struggle, but my body was too weak. The needle pierced my arm, and cold liquid entered my veins. My consciousness began to fade as I slowly slid to the floor. The last thing I saw was Angelina's triumphant smile in Henson's arms. ... When I woke up again, I found myself back in the white hospital room. Henson sat by the bed, his expression terrifyingly calm. My voice was hoarse as I asked, "Sofia... Is she really..." "They couldn't save her," he replied calmly, as if nothing had happened. "The doctor said she fell from that height. Her organs ruptured, and she suffered massive blood loss..." "It's fine," he added calmly. My eyes slowly widened. Then, I let out an empty, agonized laugh. Tears fell silently, and I vowed to make Angelina and her son pay with their lives. Just then, the hospital room door burst open. Angelina suddenly rushed in and delivered a sharp slap across my face. Chapter 7 The sharp sound of the slap echoed through the hospital room. Then, Angelina suddenly dropped to her knees, tears streaming down her face. "Please!" she sobbed, hands clasped together in desperation. "Leave Matteo alone! I'm begging you, just leave him alone!" I stared at her sudden performance, completely confused about what was happening. I knew she had given birth to a boy, Matteo Rossi, after leaving the country, but I had never even met him. "Matteo's been kidnapped!" she wailed, her voice sharp and breathless. "The kidnappers said you sent them! They're demanding ten million in ransom!" Henson shot up from his chair, his face turning pale with rage. "Aurelia! What the hell did you do to Matteo?" "I..." I opened my mouth, wanting to explain. However, I realized I had no idea what she was talking about. "The kidnappers threaten to kill him if we don't pay!" Angelina pointed at me, her voice shaking. "Who else would know which preschool Matteo goes to besides you?" "I didn't..." "Stop lying!" Henson grabbed my shoulders and shook me hard. "Why would you go after an innocent child?!" I looked at the two of them, despair and fury crashing together inside me. If they had already decided it was me, and if Sofia was truly gone, then what did I have left to lose? "Yes," I said slowly, my voice cold. "I did it." Both Henson and Angelina froze, and the hospital room fell deathly silent. "I sent people to kidnap him." I looked at Henson, my eyes empty of warmth. "So what are you going to do about it?" "Aurelia..." Henson's voice trembled, as if he could not believe it. "You killed Sofia. Now it's your turn to know what it feels like to lose a child," I said dully. "You're insane!" Angelina screamed, scrambling up from the floor. I laughed bitterly. "I'm insane? You're the ones who drove me to this." I stared straight into Henson's eyes and said, word by word, "If you don't give Sofia back to me, I'll send Matteo to hell to keep her company." "Sofia is dead!" Angelina shrieked hysterically. "Then your precious Matteo doesn't get to live either." The moment those words left my mouth, I suddenly lunged from the hospital bed, launching myself at Angelina like a madwoman. Just then, urgent footsteps sounded from outside, and several of the family's Soldati came rushing in. "Stop her!" Henson roared. The Soldati's strong arms grabbed me from behind and pinned me down hard on the bed. "Let go of me! I'm going to kill her!" "Enough." Henson coldly stopped the Soldati. Then, he walked over to the trembling Angelina and gently rubbed her back. "It's okay, I'm here." All his tenderness went to her, while he tossed me aside like trash. "Aurelia, you've really disappointed me." He looked down at me from above as I was pinned to the bed. "How could you do something so evil over those two runts?" I lifted my head and looked at him with bloodshot eyes. "Evil? Who started it first?" "That's not the same!" I sneered. "How is it not the same? They're all children, all innocent lives." Henson's expression darkened further, and he gave the order like a final judgment. "Strip her and throw her into the dock warehouse freezer." My heart jumped. "What?" "She can come out when she's ready to tell us where the kid is." His voice held no emotion whatsoever. I fought desperately. "No! Henson, you can't do this to me!" As if annoyed, he scoffed. "I can't? As the Donna of this family, you've done such shameless things, threatening the family bloodline." The Soldati began tearing at my clothes, and humiliation and terror swallowed me whole. "Henson!" I screamed his name one last time. "I am your wife!" "Think about what you've done." He turned away, refusing to look at me anymore. "Take her." ... The cold darkness swallowed me whole. Inside the freezer at the dock warehouse, the temperature dropped to well below zero. I curled up in the corner, my teeth chattering uncontrollably, and every breath felt like knives slicing through my lungs. Time lost all meaning in there, and I had no idea how long had passed. Finally, the heavy iron door opened, and the blinding light made it impossible to open my eyes. "Drag her out," someone ordered. I was pulled from the freezer, barely conscious. Through my blurred vision, I saw Angelina holding a little boy, and the child looked completely fine. I stared at the scene in shock, my mind completely blank. After that, they threw me back into my room at the estate. I stumbled over to the bed, reaching for my phone with trembling hands. The screen showed countless missed calls, all from unknown numbers. With shaking fingers, I sent a message to Vincenzo. [Vince, is Sofia... still alive?] Chapter 8 Vincenzo replied, [Sofia is safe. When the time comes, I'll pick you up myself.] My tears finally broke free, relieved that my precious daughter was alive. Just then, the bedroom door slammed open. Henson stood in the doorway, his face dark with anger. "Who are you texting?" He strode over and snatched my phone. When he saw the unfamiliar number on the screen, even without any name attached, his eyes turned dangerous. He could barely contain his fury and growled, "Who the hell are you talking to now? Did you already hook up with someone else?" "Henson..." "Shut up!" he roared, smashing the phone hard against the floor. "You shameless woman!" He looked down at me with contempt and added, "Tomorrow, you're attending the Costello family's annual charity gala. In front of the Five Families and the media, you're going to publicly admit that we've been divorced for a while now." "What?" He said, "You will tell everyone that you asked for the divorce because you fell in love with someone else." I stared at him in shock. "Why?" He replied flatly, "My heir needs a legitimate status, but our arrangement won't change. You can keep living in my villa." "I'm not doing that." He seemed to be in agony. "Do you even have real feelings for me? After everything you've done, time and time again, you don't have a choice!" Before I could answer, he stormed out and slammed the door. The next morning, a man in a suit came to my room. "Ms. Astor, I'm Christiano Faugno, the Costello family's attorney. This is the divorce settlement. Please sign it." I looked at the document. It stated that I was giving up all assets and admitting to infidelity during the marriage. I said, "I'm not signing it." "Ms. Astor, you have no choice. Please don't make this difficult for me." I thought of Sofia and remembered Vincenzo’s promise. In the end, I picked up the pen and signed my name. Christiano collected the document with satisfaction and left. Later, I picked up the landline by my bed and dialed a number. I said calmly, "Vince, you can release all the evidence now." "Are you sure?" "I am sure. It is time to end all of this." After hanging up, I walked to the kitchen and turned on all the gas burners without lighting them. Then, I pulled out a cigar, lit it, and tossed it gently onto the antique rug, which was soaked with expensive whiskey. Once I was done, I grabbed my small bag of belongings and walked out the estate's front gate. A black luxury sedan was parked outside, and Vincenzo's driver opened the car door for me. I slid into the back seat and looked through the rearview mirror to see thick smoke beginning to rise from the estate behind me. Not long after, roaring flames swallowed the entire building that had symbolized my humiliating marriage.