THE MAFIA KING’S RUNAWAY BRIDE

Stephanie’s POV I didn’t feel the floor under me at first. I didn’t feel anything, actually. Just the cold air of the bathroom pressing against my skin and the tiny plastic stick in my hand that suddenly felt heavier than my whole body. Two pink lines. I stared at them until my eyes blurred. I blinked hard, but the lines didn’t disappear. They stayed. Soft. Quiet. Innocent. Like they didn’t know they were about to change my entire life. My throat tightened. I pressed my palm against my stomach, gently, like I was afraid I might break something inside. My hand felt warm. My skin felt too thin. My heart felt too loud. I didn’t know how far along I was. I didn’t know how I would tell James. I didn’t know how he would react. I didn’t know anything except one truth: I was pregnant. A shaky breath escaped me. It wasn’t a sigh. It wasn’t a cry. It was something in between, something fragile. “A miracle,” I whispered. “After everything… a miracle.” I leaned back against the bathtub, letting the cold porcelain touch my spine. My eyes closed. My mind didn’t. It raced through memories my parents’ deaths, the grief that swallowed me whole, the loneliness that followed, the way James held me during my darkest nights, the way he promised he would never hurt me. And the way he did. The red flags had been there. The temper. The insults. The objects he threw when he was angry. The way he called me strange names when he felt insecure. The way he blamed me for things I didn’t do. The way he apologized afterward, promising he would be better. I believed him. I believed in love more than my instincts. Now I wasn’t sure if that was strength or stupidity. My fingers tightened around the pregnancy test. I didn’t even realize I was gripping it until my knuckles turned white. My hand was shaking. My whole arm was shaking. My phone buzzed on the counter. I didn’t move. I couldn’t. My body felt frozen, stuck between fear and hope. Two pink lines. I needed to tell someone. I needed to tell Matteo first. My soon to be father in law. The man who always treated me with kindness, even when James didn’t. The man who gave me a sense of family after mine was gone. The man who would be thrilled to hear he was going to be a grandfather. I practiced the words under my breath. “Sir, I’m pregnant. You’re finally going to be a grandparent.” My voice cracked. I swallowed hard. I stood up slowly, like my legs weren’t sure they could hold me. I washed my face, trying to calm myself, but my reflection still looked scared. My eyes were too wide. My lips were trembling. My skin looked pale. I tucked the pregnancy test into my purse. I didn’t know why I kept it. Maybe I needed proof. Maybe I needed courage. Maybe I needed something to hold onto. I grabbed my keys and walked out of the bathroom. The house felt too big, too empty. The walls echoed my footsteps. I paused at the front door, my hand resting on the handle. I took a deep breath. “I can do this,” I whispered. I stepped outside. The air was warm, heavy with the scent of jasmine. The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and gold. I walked to my car, unlocked it, and slid inside. My hand immediately returned to my stomach, as if drawn by instinct. I started the engine and drove. The city blurred past me. Buildings, trees, streetlights — all melting into streaks of color. My mind was too full to notice anything. I kept practicing the words. “I’m pregnant.” “You’re going to be a grandfather.” “There’s a baby.” My heart raced each time. I reached Matteo’s estate faster than I expected. The gates were tall, black, and intimidating, but they always opened for me. I slowed the car as the security system scanned my license plate. The gates rolled open automatically. But something felt wrong. The guards stood stiff, their faces tense. The cameras blinked red, recording every angle. The air felt heavy, like the estate itself was holding its breath. I parked the car and stepped out. My heels clicked against the pavement. I looked around, confused. “Evening, Miss Rivera,” one guard said, his voice tight. “Is everything okay?” I asked. He hesitated. “Matteo is… inside.” I frowned. “I know. I’m here to see him.” The guard exchanged a look with another guard. Something unspoken passed between them. My stomach tightened. “What’s going on?” “Miss… you shouldn’t be here,” the guard said quietly. My heart dropped. “Why?” He didn’t answer. I walked past them, my pulse pounding. The mansion loomed ahead, dark and silent. The hallway lights were off. Matteo hated darkness during work hours. He said shadows made men bold and careless. I stepped inside. The silence hit me like a wall. “Matteo?” I called softly. No answer. I walked deeper into the hallway. My heels echoed. The air felt cold. My hand tightened on my purse. “Matteo?” I tried again. Still nothing. I reached his office door. It was slightly open. A sliver of darkness spilled out. I pushed it open. My breath caught. Matteo De Luca lay on the floor, his eyes closed, his skin pale, his body still. I froze. “No…” I whispered. “No, no, no…” I dropped to my knees beside him. My hands shook as I touched his shoulder. He didn’t move. His skin was cold. “Matteo!” I cried. “Wake up! Please!” My voice broke. Tears blurred my vision. I pressed my hand against his chest, searching for a heartbeat. Nothing. My world shattered. The guards rushed in. One grabbed my arm gently. “Miss, please” “What happened?” I sobbed. “What happened to him?” The guard looked away. “This wasn’t an accident.” My breath stopped. I stared at Matteo’s lifeless face, my heart breaking into pieces. I touched my stomach again, trembling. I had come to tell him I was pregnant. Now he would never know. My tears fell onto the floor, mixing with the silence. “Miss,” the guard whispered, “you need to leave before James arrives.” I looked up slowly, my eyes wide with fear. James. My fiancé. My future. My mistake. I stood up, my legs shaking. I didn’t know what was happening. I didn’t know who killed Matteo. I didn’t know why the guards looked terrified. But I knew one thing: My life had just changed forever. And I wasn’t safe anymore.