A Wedding for Her, a Grave for Me

On my mafia husband Ettore Morandi's birthday, I slipped into the hotel where he was staying for a business trip with my pregnancy test results in hand. Five years earlier, when the family business was struggling, Ettore had not even been able to afford a proper wedding. Back then, he had held me in his arms and sworn, "Mirella, as long as I love you, a wedding is just a formality." I had once taken a bullet for him, and that injury had nearly robbed me of my chance to become a mother. But now I was pregnant, and I could not wait to tell him the good news. When I pushed open the doors to the hotel ballroom, however, I found a lavish wedding underway. The bride standing at the end of the aisle was none other than his childhood sweetheart, Viola Bellini, and Ettore was pinning the badge reserved for the Donna of the Morandi family onto her with his own hands. The guests around me murmured among themselves. "Signor Morandi really dotes on his childhood sweetheart. Word is Viola has cancer, and all she wants before the end is a grand wedding." "Ettore dropped almost ten million dollars just to make that wish come true." Five years earlier, he had told me that because he loved me, a wedding was only a formality. Five years later, he had spent nearly ten million dollars giving another woman the wedding I never had. I did not confront him, and I did not tell him I was pregnant. On our wedding anniversary, I staged my own death and let everyone believe that Mirella Santoro and the child she was carrying had perished together at sea. Chapter 1 Mirella's POV: "Va bene, Mirella. Seven days from now, I'll set up a shooting for you on a yacht." Before Mama died, she had asked her only brother to look after me. My uncle, Salvatore Greco, was a renowned Don of the Garrow City mafia. On the day I married Ettore Morandi, he had not tried to stop me. He had only sent me a message. [If the Morandi family ever betrays you, call me.] Ettore was the most powerful Don in Saverra, and slipping out from under his watch would be nearly impossible unless I faked my death. Ettore could never find out that I was pregnant. That was why I had asked my uncle to stage my death, and it was the very first thing I had done after getting home. I set down my phone and picked up the paper calendar beside me. I circled the day I would leave in a red pen, and the bright red seemed to mock my foolishness. Just then, a text from an unknown number came through with a photo of Ettore and Viola Bellini exchanging rings at their wedding. [Mirella, I heard you never even got a proper wedding back then. What a shame you didn't get to see everything Ettore prepared for me.] It was obviously Viola trying to provoke me, yet I felt nothing at all. Suddenly, I heard the door open behind me. Ettore walked in with Viola, who was carrying a delicate cake box. Ettore came up to me and said gently, "Viola spent the whole afternoon making you a chocolate nut torta. Come have a taste, darling." He had forgotten that I was allergic to nuts. I frowned and was about to speak when his gaze landed on the date circled in red on the calendar. "Darling, is something special happening in seven days?" He searched my face for the slightest hint of the truth. I knew a Don would never tolerate being deceived. "Did you forget? Seven days from now is our wedding anniversary. I've got a surprise for you, so look forward to it." Ettore gave me the doting smile I knew so well. The old me would have rewarded that smile with a sweet kiss right away. Now, however, I knew every one of those smiles was fake. "My queen, forget about seven days from now. Come try the torta Viola made. I think you'll love it." "I'm allergic to nuts." One bite was all it would take for me to go into shock and pass out. Ettore's expression went blank for a moment, as if he had only just remembered. Before he could say anything, Viola started to sob. "Mirella, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. I didn't know—" She turned to Ettore with a helpless look and went on, "I don't have much time left. Mirella wouldn't hold this against a dying woman, would she?" Before I could reply, Ettore comforted her gently. "Of course not, Viola. Mirella is the most understanding person I know." Then he turned to me. "Darling, don't blame Viola." Watching the frail Viola nestle intimately against Ettore's chest, I found the whole scene absurd. I rested a hand on my stomach, where a tiny life was growing. From that moment on, this child had nothing to do with Ettore. Ettore noticed something was off and assumed I was unwell. "Mirella, what's wrong? Are you not feeling well?" I answered calmly, "I haven't been eating right these past few days, so my stomach's a little upset." Ettore frowned. "I'll have a nutritionist come to the house right now and put together a meal plan for you." In the past, I would have been deeply touched. Now, it did not move me in the slightest. I turned him down flat. "There's no need. I'll be fine after resting in my room for a bit." With that, I got up to leave. Ettore suddenly called after me, sounding a little hesitant. "Oh, and darling, the medical care here is the best, so Viola will be moving into the estate to live with us. Our bedroom gets the most sunlight, which will help her recover. Let's give it to her. You can rest in one of the other rooms." I froze where I stood and fought down a flash of irritation before answering coldly. "Suit yourselves." In seven days, I would be gone. Whatever they did no longer mattered to me. Chapter 2 Early the next morning, I went to city hall alone to file for divorce. Ten minutes later, the clerk gave me a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but the marriage license number for you and your husband isn't in our system. As far as our records show, the two of you were never legally married." I had been deceived. The marriage license was fake. I stayed silent for a few seconds before a wave of relief washed over me. At least it spared me the trouble of a divorce. "Thank you," I said before leaving city hall. The moment I got back to the estate, I heard Ettore furiously berating the staff. "Find her now! If anything happens to Mirella, I won't let any of you off the hook." He suddenly spotted me and rushed over, pulling me into a tight embrace as if I were the only treasure in the world. "Darling, where did you go? You scared me half to death. I thought you were leaving me. I can't stand being away from you for even a second." "I went to see a movie." I pushed him away almost immediately. "Mirella, what's gotten into you lately—" I cut him off with a hint of mockery, "Ettore, do you really love me?" "Of course. Nobody in this world loves you more than I do." A flicker of confusion crossed his face, yet his eyes were steady and full of devotion as he spoke. Somehow, that only made me feel worse. Then he gently ruffled my hair. "You're not jealous, are you?" I did not answer. I only looked at him. "Relax. Viola's like a little sister to me. We grew up together. You're the only one I love." "Really? What if you betray me?" Ettore took my hand and pressed it to his chest. "Then you can kill me with your own hands." "Ah!" Viola's scream suddenly rang out nearby. On instinct, Ettore shoved me aside and rushed over to her in a panic. The way he fussed over her made it clear he had already forgotten the promise he had just made me. "What happened? You're not hurt, are you?" Ettore asked. Viola shook her head. "I'm sorry, Ettore. I accidentally broke a statue." Ettore waved it off. "It's only a statue. All that matters is that you're not hurt." Viola's voice turned worried. "It's just that the statue looked a little like Mirella." The words hit me like a thunderbolt. I stared at the shards scattered across the floor, and my heart shattered along with them. "Mama carved that for my birthday with her own hands!" Viola put on a show of being on the verge of tears. "I'm so sorry, Mirella. I didn't know your mother left it to you. I didn't break it on purpose." Ettore instinctively pulled Viola behind him to shield her. "Mirella, I'm upset about this too, but Viola really didn't mean it. Please don't blame her. "There's a sapphire necklace up for auction tomorrow. How about I win it for you to make up for this? It can be my anniversary gift to you." "No need," I said coldly. Nothing could ever replace what Mama had left me. Ignoring Viola's fake tears and Ettore's sour expression, I walked away without looking back. Even so, Ettore took me to the auction the next day. The moment we arrived, I spotted Viola. Ettore turned to me and explained patiently, "Mirella, don't take it the wrong way. Viola wants to pick out something she likes before she passes. If you're not comfortable with it, I'll have her leave right away." I had no patience left for either of them and was about to turn and leave. Half an hour later, the sapphire necklace Ettore had promised me came up for bid. Ettore won it for 60 million dollars and was about to hand it to me when Viola walked over. "Mirella, Ettore is so good to you." She gazed at the necklace longingly and said sadly, "Not like me. I'll never meet a Prince Charming who wants to buy me a necklace." Ettore immediately gave her the necklace that had been meant for me. As he fastened it around her neck, he seemed to remember me only then and hurriedly turned to explain. "Viola's dying. Darling, I'll make it up to you next time, okay?" I truly could not be bothered with either of them and was about to turn and leave. Viola, however, came up beside me, grabbed my arm with one hand, and started unclasping the necklace with the other. "Mirella, this is your anniversary gift. I can't accept it." I did not want to get into a tug-of-war with her, so I pulled my arm free. To my surprise, Viola clutched her stomach the very next second and collapsed to the floor in pain. "Ettore, my stomach. It hurts so much. Please don't blame Mirella. She didn't mean to push me." Ettore scooped Viola into his arms, shot me a dark look, and hurried out. I received a message from Viola 20 minutes later. [Mirella, you came to the auction for your mother's last work, didn't you? I bet you don't know Ettore already bought it in secret and gave it to me. If you want it, come see me at the hospital.] Then she sent a photo. It was one of Mama's sculptures. Chapter 3 In the hospital room, Viola lay in bed while Ettore held her pregnancy test results. The baby was already two months along. Ettore's expression was grim. He frowned and said nothing. Viola hooked her arm through his. "Ettore, thank God the baby is okay. I was so scared. I almost lost our baby because of Mirella." Ettore coldly pulled her hand away. "Viola, I warned you not to let Mirella find out about the baby. If your stomach pain makes her suspicious, I won't let you off easy." Viola wiped away her tears, looking hurt. "I'm sorry, but it really hurt so much. Besides, you were so worried about me just now. Don't you care about me even a little? Don't you love me?" Ettore's voice turned bone-chillingly cold. "Mirella is my wife. She's the one I love, not you." Viola's face stiffened. With tears in her eyes, she said, "I know I can never compare to Mirella in your heart. But she can't have children, and I'm the one carrying your baby." He fell silent. Viola's eyes grew even redder. "The doctor says I have a year at most. I could've had two, but the pregnancy made the cancer spread faster." Viola was quick to catch the pity in Ettore's eyes, and big tears rolled down her cheeks. "I don't regret it, though, because this is our baby. I love you, Ettore. I'd do anything for you." Just as she had hoped, Ettore softened. "Viola, I never imagined this pregnancy would take such a toll on you. If I hadn't gotten so drunk that night, none of this would've happened. I'm the one who hurt you." She shook her head and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I don't blame you. It's not your fault. I just can't bear the thought of our poor baby growing up as an illegitimate child because their mother was useless and dying." His heart lurched, and he finally gave in. "I promise you, our child won't be treated unfairly." A triumphant smile flashed across her face. She put on a cautious tone and asked, "There's one more thing. Should I give the sapphire necklace back to Mirella?" "She let you have it, so it's yours." "But it was supposed to be her anniversary gift." "Don't worry about it. I'll get her something else." I stood outside the hospital room and watched the whole thing unfold. Then I turned and walked away. There had never been any sculpture of Mamma's at that auction. She had been a renowned sculptor in her lifetime, and even after her death, plenty of auctions still used her name to draw in buyers. Viola's whole goal had been to lure me here, provoke me, and drive me away. Instead, the truth I had just witnessed only strengthened my resolve to leave. A moment later, Viola sent me another message: [Mirella, you know everything now, don't you? Ettore and I already have a baby. What makes you think you can compete with me?] I smiled, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. This was even better. It meant fewer ties left between Ettore and me. I ignored Viola and called Uncle Salvatore again. "Uncle Salvatore, I need to move up the plan to fake my death." Chapter 4 I returned to the estate. The bedroom Ettore and I had once shared had already been completely redone to suit Viola's taste. On top of that, the room next door was being turned into a nursery, one Ettore was preparing for Viola's baby. What Ettore did not know was that I was pregnant too. I had once been overjoyed at the thought of sharing the news with him. Now, however, my child did not need a father like him. I changed my clothes and got ready to meet Uncle Salvatore's assistant to finalize the plan to fake my death. "Mirella, where are you going?" Ettore's voice came from behind me. "I'm taking Mama's statue to get restored." "I'll have the driver take you." "No need." With that, I quickened my pace. Viola timidly called after me, her fingertips stroking the sapphire necklace at her collarbone. "I'm sorry, Mirella. I shouldn't have been so selfish and asked Ettore to build a nursery for my unborn baby." I deliberately kept my tone light. "Well, congratulations. Is the baby's father moving in too?" Viola glanced at Ettore on instinct. Ettore's face went stiff. "That wouldn't really work for the father." He looked at me. "I know you've always wanted a child. If Viola passes someday, how about we raise the baby for her? It could make up for you never having a child of your own." "Whatever you think is best," I said calmly. Ettore let out a breath of relief at my answer. He came over and kissed my forehead. "I love you, Mirella. Thank you for being so kind. Let me go with you to get your mother's statue restored." I was about to refuse when Viola rubbed her stomach. "Don, my stomach doesn't feel right. Could you help me back to my room to rest?" "Go be with her," I said tactfully. "A pregnant woman needs you more, after all." Ettore was torn. Before he could answer, I hurried out and soon arrived at a law firm under Uncle Salvatore's name. His assistant handed me a new passport along with the documents I needed to leave the country. I opened the passport. My photo was on it, but the name was no longer Mirella Santoro. It was Serafina Greco. The lawyer explained, "This is your new identity. Once you reach Garrow City, the Greco family will protect you." Having a new identity did not make me let my guard down. I knew full well that Ettore would not be easy to fool. "The shooting has to look completely real," I reminded him. "That's the only way Ettore will believe I'm dead." "Our people will leave your blood and belongings at the scene and stage everything carefully. There won't be a single slip." I nodded and put the passport away. Until the plan succeeded, I had to keep playing the understanding wife and give Ettore no reason to suspect anything. Otherwise, with his power, Ettore would lock down all of Saverra, and I would never escape. On my way back to the estate, I received a message from Ettore: [I'm sorry, Mirella. Can we push our anniversary back a day? Viola isn't feeling well. I promise it's only one day. I'll make it up to you with an even bigger celebration the day after.] I replied calmly: [Okay. I can't wait to give you a big surprise.] … Soon, our anniversary arrived, and I received a video Viola had sent from Ettore's phone. Nearly the entire Morandi family was there. Ettore's parents hovered around Viola with concern. She wore the Morandi family badge, one hand holding Ettore's and the other happily stroking her stomach. [Mirella, all of this is mine!] I did not care. I stood on the yacht and started the countdown. "Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six—" Ettore suddenly called. "Mirella, things wrapped up early. I'm heading back now to get ready for our anniversary." Bang! Ettore's voice went tense. "Was that a gunshot? Where are you?" "I'm on the yacht." Bang! The gunshot ripped through the line. "Mirella!"