THE MAFIA'S KING RELUCTANT BRIDE

"I can't marry him" Sofia stands in a room that feels too bright, light glaring, dress heavy on her shoulders. her mother won't meet her eyes. her father tells her her sister has been missing for days instead of them calling the police to search for her sister they put Sofia in a wedding dress.fear knots in Sofia's chest. The door opens and a sharp looking handsome man with well tailored suit, steady gaze and calm that made the room feel colder. he looks at sofia "are you Isabella" No response "I guess not" he said and turned his gaze to Sofia's father. Sofia's father was shaking on his knees, then he turned his face back to Sofia "this isn't my wedding dress where's Isabella" she turned to her parents. her parents where quiet they didn't say a word and she what had happened. "you know, all of you know and now one told me" her mother steps forward, voice quite. " we didn't want to burden you" "not burden me?? you out me in a wedding dress and expect me to marry a stranger??" her voice cracks. "I don't even know who you are" she turns to Matteo "I don't even know who you're" Matteo finally spoke up in a cold voice "you've twenty minutes" he said and left the room shutting the door behind "that bastard". Sofia yelled her anger rose more. "I had my own life, I had plans, I had classes to finish, wanted to get married to someone I love". Sofia breaks down "this marriage is the only way to save your family" her father said "Save"Sofia scoffed "do I look like some payment" the silence answers "you don't have a choice" her father says flat out "I'm sure if Isabella was here you would have found a way to pay your so called debt" "you don't know that" her father said "I do " Sofia father frowns "what is that supposed to mean?" "it means Isabella was always your pride. and me ? I was the daughter who always obeyed, the daughter who always clean up everybody's mess. so when Isabella disappeared you didn't hesitate to put me in this wedding dress" " we never wanted this" her mother said looking at her with a sad expression "then why am I wearing her dress? why am I in her place?" still nothing. Sofia slowly removed the diamond bracelet from her wrist. that bracelet was given to her by her selfish parents and set it on the table. "right, it thought as much" "this is not about you. it's about the family, my name our survival" "what about my life?" Sofia asked. no one answers answers her voice drops to a whisper. "what about my future??". "I wanted my wedding day to mean something" the tears landed freely on the white fabric. "Not this" "you think you have a choice " her father said "I do" she says "No you don't. if you refuse this marriage, then don't ever come back to this family ". her father said and the words hit like a slap. "you're disowning me?" "No I'm giving you a choice" her father answered. Sofia stands in silence, tears on her face then she finally spoke up. "I thought if I worked hard enough, obeyed enough maybe one day you would choose me" A bitter smile "I was wrong and I'm done begging ".she looks at her father in the eyes "I'm disappointed in the both of you" her voice is quite but it lands hard "I always thought parents were supposed to protect their children". she swallows. "instead, you're selling me off to save yourseleves" Her father slaps her so hard "shut up you good for nothing child, everything I have done is for this family most especially for you and Isabella" Sofia held her cheeks in tears and for the first time in years, Sofia turned and didn't look back. she turns towards the door her hand rests on the handle. she could leave, she could walk out or disappear into the city but this her her stupid heart feels like she's doing something wrong and she felt like she was being a good daughter by marring a stranger to pay her father's debt