DON GAVINO'S OBSESSION

✓✓✓ Neza ✓✓✓ I was raised as the lovely daughter of the Blodwyn Mafia family. Most people even know me as Neza Blodwyn. But actually, I’m Neza Moretti. Ten years ago, when I was seventeen, my parents were murdered. And just like that, my life flipped upside down. My mum’s best friend, Mrs. Blodwyn, took me in. Gave me a roof, a name, a new identity. Made me one of theirs. I was suddenly the sister to my long-time crush. Gavino Blodwyn. The boy who was seven years older than me. The boy I’d followed around silently since I was thirteen, watching him like a damn fool. I buried that feeling the moment I moved in—at least, I thought I did. Until today. Today dragged all of it out from the grave. I had been called home suddenly from my night shift. Gavino’s voice over the phone had been sharp, cold—as always. No warmth. No explanations. Just, “Come home.” Now here I was, standing in the middle of the room like an object. Like a lamb being auctioned off for slaughter. “The only way to stop the continuous bloodshed between Blodwyn and Romano is to do this. And Neza, this is just the price to pay for what this family has done for you,” Uncle Diego snapped. Blodwyn’s oldest man. My body trembled as I clenched my hands at my sides, my teeth digging into my lip hard enough to taste blood. What the f**k does he mean? Why do I have to be the sacrificial lamb? Doesn’t he have daughters? “Uncle Diego, Sofia and Daniella are daughters of Blodwyn. I’m a Moretti… how does me getting married to Salvatore Romano solve the family war?” I dragged out, my lips quivering, anger boiling in my chest. It’s not fair. And the most annoying thing right now is Gavino, sitting in front of me, tapping his middle finger on the armrest, saying absolutely nothing. “You’re simply telling us you’re ungrateful and seriously selfish if you can’t even do such a little thing for the parents who took you in. Is this how you want to pay Blodwyn back for treating you like a daughter?” Joe, Uncle Diego’s oldest son, glared at me. I’ve hated that bastard all my life. Cocky asshole. “Even my dear mother, Mrs. Blodwyn, would never agree to this nonsense,” I spat, grinding my teeth. “You little—” Uncle Diego cussed, throwing his walking stick at me. I flinched, sliding to the side to avoid being hit by it. “Unless the Don of the family’s got a way out of this mess—” he barked, turning to Gavino, who’s been quiet the whole f*****g time. The entire place went silent until— “The preparation has been made. It’s happening tomorrow, and the Romanos will be here in a few hours. They’ll stay in the estate till tomorrow morning for the meeting our families have tonight,” Gavino said, finally. Calm. Sharp. Cold. Final. My heart dropped to my stomach. My guts twisted. The tears I had been holding back suddenly gathered. I tried not to blink. Tried to hold it back. Useless. They flooded out with my eyes wide open. He stood up after that. “Go try on the wedding gown and shoes. Signora Maria will help you get ready. Luca Moretti will be around.” He finalized the whole s**t just like that. With words. Words that tore me apart. He left. Walked out like my feelings and dreams didn’t matter. Of course, they don’t. In this kind of world, when the family decides, there’s nothing you can do. I was left alone. Everyone left. The living room felt so wide it could swallow me whole. I’ve always dreamed…wished…that I’d spend the rest of my life with Gavino. That’s why I stopped answering to Neza Blodwyn. I watched him bring in and flaunt different women. Gavino never stayed with one for long, still I wanted to be that one. I unconsciously lived my life not dating, not loving, because my heart had always belonged to him. And now— I choked back sobs threatening to burst out. What? I’m being rejected before I even confessed? I know I sound pathetic right now. But hearing him say all that… left me completely helpless. “Neza!” I heard Madame Maria—Gavino’s nanny. The oldest maid in the estate. She’s become family after working with the Blodwyns for over thirty-five years. “Baby, it’s okay. Let’s go to your room.” Her calm voice flowed in my head like a gentle hum, but instead of calming the storm, I broke. Every sob I’d held back burst out. “I can’t… please talk to Gavino, Signora,” I bawled. “You know he won’t change his mind no matter what I say,” she confessed gently. And she’s right. Gavino never goes back on his words. But this one time, I wished he could do that for me. We walked to my room. The white wedding gown was already laid out on the bed, gracefully spread across the mattress. A pair of silver heels placed neatly beside it. This should be the happiest moment of a bride’s life. But my stomach twisted so tightly I thought I’d puke. Madame Maria stood beside me, speechless. Probably worried, unsure how to make me feel better—or how to lie and convince me everything was going to be okay. She picked up the dress, unzipped it, and gave me a small nod to try it on. That’s her way of saying we don’t have a choice. That all we can do now is obey Gavino’s instruction. I slipped into it, even though the tears didn’t stop. They ran down my cheeks like I was a child forced to do homework while all her friends played outside. I walked to the mirror at Signora’s soft gesture. It almost made me laugh. What a pathetic situation. A crying bride. But I can’t let it go. I can’t give up. Not yet. Maybe—maybe if I tell Gavino about my feelings for him, he might reconsider… right? I immediately turned at the thought, bolting out of the room. I ran through the hallway, lifting the hem of the gown in my hands like a runaway bride. Which, to be fair, is exactly what I am right now. A f*****g runaway bride.