THE MAFIA'S REBEL BRIDE

CHAPTER ONE Serenity>>> The lace strangled me. Each tug of the corset strings felt like a noose pulling tighter, as if the dress itself wanted to suffocate me before I could reach the altar. “This isn’t mine,” I muttered, staring at the white gown in the mirror. I would never have chosen this …ever, It glittered, pristine, untouched. Aurelia’s gown. My perfect sister’s gown. The women bustling around me ignored me. They only pulled harder, shoved pins into my hair and smeared nude lipstick across my lips, painting me into someone I would never be. I wanted to scream “Relax, Serenity," one of them said,her tone practiced. "You look stunning. Just let us handle it. " “Handle it?” I snapped,“I look like I am being buried alive!” Her smile faltered, but she kept working. They all did. A knock came, soft... hesistant, before anyone could move, the door cracked open, and my mother slipped in, She looked small, eyes faint her beauty dimmed by exhaustion and worry. "Oh my love...." Her eyes glistening as she took me in. "You look beautiful," I almost laughed. Beautiful. "Oh mum, you don't have to lie to make me feel better. I look anything but beautiful. In this ridiculous looking dress," I said, adjusting the dress on me She came closer, fingertips brushing the edge of my sleeve. " You look.... stronger than I ever did," she whispered, her voice breaking just a little " This gown might not have been made for you, but somehow you make it yours, and I'm sorry you are doing this" For a second, the noise in the room faded. It was just her and me,her trembling hands fixing my veil,her eyes searching my face like she wanted to memorize it. "Mother," I said, the words catching between my throat and my pride. but before she could answer, the door slammed open My father filled the doorway like a storm,all control and command. "What are you doing here?" his tone made the air turn cold. "I was just....." "I called for her." I chipped in "Leave, she doesn't need you right now," he snapped My mother flinched, her eyes darting to mine, silent apology written in every line on her face. "Go," he said again, harder this time. She hesitated, her fingers brushing mine one last time before she slipped out, her perfume soft and familiar, still lingering behind. The door clicked shut. My father’s voice cut through the haze. “Stand straight, Serenity. You’ll make the Romano name proud today.” Proud. I almost laughed. He wasn’t proud he was desperate. Desperate enough to hand me to the devil in place of the daughter he actually wanted to sacrifice. Aurelia was soft, gentle, and obedient. She’d have gone to this altar with her head bowed. But she wasn’t here. And I was no substitute lamb. he and I knew there was only one reason I was doing this, and it's definitely not to make him proud I dragged my gaze away from the mirror. My own eyes stared back, not wide and timid like Aurelia’s. Sharp. Defiant. A spark of rebellion that no amount of lace or makeup could hide. If they wanted Aurelia, they should’ve fought harder to keep her, not given her the chance to run away. Instead, they shoved me into her place, like a pawn tossed across a chessboard. Fine. I’d play their game. But I’d never let them win. --- The church doors groaned open, and every head swiveled. Whispers hissed through the pews like smoke. “That’s not Aurelia”. “That's the younger one”.” The wild one”.” The troubled one” Good. Let them choke on their shock. My father’s hand tightened on my arm, a steel clamp guiding me down the aisle. His whisper was venom against my ear. “Behave!. One wrong move, and you’ll regret it.” I smiled sweetly for the crowd, whispering under my breath, "I’ve been regretting this family my whole life And then I saw him. Luciano Moretti. The man my sister was supposed to marry. The heir to the Moretti empire, the man who owned half this city with blood and fear , my new husband. He stood waiting at the altar, like a statue carved from ice, dressed in black that only sharpened the cut of his jaw. His eyes found me instantly—dark, unreadable, like twin blades pressed to my throat. Every instinct screamed at me to look away. Instead, I stared back, chin tilted, daring him. If he wanted obedience, he’d married the wrong Romano. --- The vows blurred together. A background hum I could barely hear over the roar of blood in my ear, for better, for worse… for richer, for poorer… to honor, to obey, I said the words, but they tasted like ash. When I reached the promise to obey, I let the word drip with mockery, like venom sliding over my tongue. Luc didn’t blink. He didn’t smile. He only slid the ring onto my finger with a grip that was colder than steel. And then—the kiss. I told myself I’d turn my head and deny him. But when his hand caught the back of my neck, when his mouth crashed down on mine in front of the entire church, resistance shattered. It wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t even warm. It was a claim, ruthless and possessive. Like he was marking his territory. Not desire but control. The crowd gasped, my father glowed with pride, and I burned. I hated him. I hated the way my knees threatened to give way, the way my pulse betrayed me, the way my lips parted, and gave him more access to explore my mouth. --- The car ride was worse. The silence pressed heavier than the gold crosses back in that church. Luc sat beside me in the leather seat. There was no conversation, only the faint hum of the engine. His face was unreadable, his eyes fixed straight ahead, he was still in his black suit, hands relaxed on his knees like he hadn’t just branded me in front of a hundred people. I couldn’t stand it. “You must be disappointed,” I said at last, my voice sharp enough to cut. “You expected a lamb. You got a wolf.” For the first time, he looked at me fully. Those eyes pinned me, and for a heartbeat, I couldn’t breathe. Then he spoke, voice low and lethal. “No, Serenity.” His lips curved into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “I got exactly what I needed.” --- The Moretti mansion loomed ahead,stone, steel, and shadows sprawling like a fortress. it looks like it has been built to keep secrets buried. Luc stepped out first, holding out a hand. Waiting. Commanding I didn’t take it. I swung out of the car myself, and my whisper carried only to me. “Let the war begin ” — Inside the mansion, the air smelled of wealth and menace, with polished woods, leather, and a faint hint of smoke. Every step echoed, and every shadow seemed alive. A silent butler bowed murmuring “Welcome, Mr and Mrs Moretti” I ignored him. Luc didn’t look at me, He led the way through the halls with cold precision, as if I was merely following along or testing me to see if I would be able to keep up. Finally, he stopped at a room that seemed off-limits, heavy curtains blocked the fading light, leaving only firelight flickering over his face. “Sit” he commanded, voice steady, unwavering. I sat with arms crossed, meeting the firelight with a glare. Silence stretched. Luc finally spoke, low, precise “There are rules here, step out of line, and you’ll learn quickly how much it costs” I smirked, “I have never been good at following rules”. "I noticed," well, I wasn't expecting a reply. "And what happens when I break one?" I asked "Depends." he took a bit before continuing "on whether I'm feeling merciful or not. "And if you are not?" I leaned forward, waiting to hear what this man thinks he can do to me he crouched to my level, his gaze unflinching, "Then you’ll learn that defiance has its limits" is he threatening me? Does he think I'm scared of him... but why do I feel hot all of a sudden. I smirked, refusing to look away. "Maybe you'll learn that I don't have any." He says nothing. He didn’t need to. The way he watched, the smallest shift in his posture, the intensity in that glance was enough to make my pulse spike, my skin prickle, and blood boil, the air between us grew thick,.... electric. It wasn’t attraction. It was something colder, something that felt like a spark waiting for permission to ignite. I didn't blink, neither did he. I could almost hear the game starting, an invisible challenge thrown between us, unseen but deadly, and I have no idea which of us would win.