The Mafia’s Substitute Bride

In a moment filled with emotion, Leonardo went down on his knees, the anticipation evident in his eyes.

Gently holding Sofia’s hand in his, he began, “My angel! My sunshine! Will you marry me… again? Because I love you so much, Sofia Leonardo Morelli, and I can’t fathom a life without you. You are my everything, and believe me, no one can love you more than I do. I will make sure of it.”

Despite her eyes becoming moist, Sofia couldn’t help but giggle at his heartfelt words. Leonardo continued, his sincerity shining through, “Will you be my wife and the mother of my children, not only in this life but in every life we are born into? I want you as my wife and my better half for seven lives and more. Only you.”

He stayed there on his knees, patiently awaiting her response. With a gentle nod of her head, she whispered, “Yes, Mr. Morelli, I will marry you again, and again, and again, and I love you too.”

Overwhelmed with joy, Leonardo took out a ring box from his pocket, revealing a heart-shaped diamond ring. With trembling hands, he gently slid it onto Sofia’s finger, sealing their love and commitment. The surrounding people couldn’t contain their happiness, and the applause and congratulations filled the air.

With mixed emotions swirling in his heart, Leonardo couldn’t hold back any longer. He pulled Sofia into his arms and kissed her passionately, celebrating the moment they would cherish forever.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

Yet, there was another announcement to be made. Leonardo turned to face the crowd, gesturing for silence before continuing, “I would like to happily announce that…” His eyes locked with Sofia’s, and in that sweet moment, he couldn’t help but kiss her forehead. Gathering himself, he revealed the big news, “… we are expecting our first child.”

The crowd erupted in joyous cheers once again, and the media bombarded them with questions about the baby’s due date and gender. Leonardo, still in the haze of happiness, deflected the inquiries, stating that it was too soon to reveal any details.

People continued to shower them with personal congratulations, and amidst the excitement, Leonardo and Sofia made their way to greet their parents.

Amidst the gathering, Sofia’s father, Carlo, was present, and when he caught sight of Sofia, he immediately approached her with concern etched on his face.

“How are you, Sofia? Are you taking proper care of yourself?” he inquired, the worry evident in his voice. “Otherwise, I will take you home to keep you in front of my eyes throughout your pregnancy.”

Though Carlo’s attention was focused on Sofia, Leonardo could sense the undertone of his words. Carlo was subtly taunting him, attempting to prove that Leonardo was not good enough for Sofia. It irked Leonardo to have to endure such remarks, but he knew better than to offend Carlo. He recalled the last time they had a heated argument, which had caused Sofia immense stress and sadness. Even though she hadn’t said anything, Leonardo could feel the impact it had on her. He wouldn’t take any chances of making Sofia unhappy, even if it meant tolerating her father’s behavior.

“Congratulations, Sofia,” Emma chimed in, trying to force a smile, but her true emotions betrayed her. She couldn’t hide her envy over Sofia carrying Leonardo’s baby. Emma had hoped Sofia would suffer in her marriage to Leonardo due to his supposed hatred, but to her disappointment, he turned out to be a loving and devoted husband. Emma’s plan had failed, and she was seething with anger.

Carlo’s concern was met with a swift response from Anna, Leonardo’s mother. With a firm tone, she addressed Carlo’s worries and put him in his place. “You don’t need to worry about it, Carlo. We are now her family, and I am personally taking care of Sofia. Trust me, she will be fine with us rather than at your house. After all, we all know how you treated her before her marriage,” she said, leaving Carlo red-faced with embarrassment.

Leonardo couldn’t help but grin with happiness and pride for his mother’s bold response. She had shut Carlo’s mouth, and it brought him immense satisfaction. Sometimes, it frustrated him when Carlo acted as though he cared for Sofia more than he did.

Anna hugged Sofia tightly, her eyes filled with joy. “I am so happy, my dear. You came into my son’s life like sunshine. I’m thrilled that Leonardo is married to you. And the new addition to our family needs a real celebration,” she exclaimed, motioning to a crew member, who promptly brought in a huge cake on a trolley. This surprise delighted both Sofia and Leonardo. As Leonardo glanced at Domenico, he noticed the mischievous grin on his face, confirming that Domenico was in on the surprise. He had joined Leonardo’s mom’s team for this special occasion.

The cake was an exquisite sight, with three tall tiers, half pink and half blue, symbolizing the anticipation of their baby’s gender. Holding Sofia’s hand, Leonardo led the way to cut the cake together. He playfully picked up a small piece and gently fed it to her. She reciprocated, pushing a piece into his mouth, giggling. With a mischievous glint in his eye, Leonardo caught her fingers between his lips and playfully licked them clean.

Sofia blushed, her shyness evident, which only made Leonardo laugh affectionately. He knew she wasn’t entirely used to his public displays of affection yet, but he couldn’t resist showering her with love and attention.

Bella approached the couple to offer her congratulations.

“Leonardo, this cake was Bella’s idea,” Anna revealed the secret behind the grand surprise.

“That’s really sweet, Bella. I appreciate it,” Leonardo said, hugging Bella warmly and planting a kiss on the top of her head. He was genuinely touched that his cousin had planned such a thoughtful surprise for them.

“Thank you, Bella, for making this day special for us,” Sofia expressed her gratitude.

Bella beamed with a smile. “It’s nothing. I did this for Leonardo and you. He’s my favorite cousin, and I’ll do anything to bring a smile to his face.”

After exchanging greetings with everyone, Leonardo led Sofia to a quiet corner, where they settled onto a comfortable couch. Concerned, he asked, “Are you okay, baby girl? If you’re feeling tired, we can head back home, or you can rest here as well.”

Sofia’s smile reassured him.

“No, I’m alright, and I’m really enjoying this party,” she said, her bright smile returning.

“Alright, then let’s have some food. You’ve been hungry for so long, and it’s so unusual of you,” Leonardo teased playfully.

Sofia pouted in response. “You stop calling me a foodie. It’s your baby who makes me feel hungry all the time. So, I have to munch on something throughout the day.”

“Alright,” Leonardo said, placing his hand on her stomach lovingly, feeling a rush of happiness at the thought of their little one growing inside her.

Leonardo tenderly whispered near Sofia’s slightly protruding stomach, playfully chiding their unborn baby, “Baby, stop bothering your mum. We both can’t afford to anger her.”

Sofia responded by playfully slapping his arm, her laughter filling the air, and her eyes shining with joy.

He couldn’t contain his happiness. Finally, he was on the verge of having his own family with the love of his life. Leonardo felt like the luckiest man in the world. With Sofia by his side, he had everything he had ever craved in life. Her love alone made him feel as wealthy as a king. She was his hope, his sunshine, and he vowed never to let her go, cherishing every moment they spent together.

Meanwhile, Emma observed them from a distant corner, her eyes filled with jealousy and bitterness. She had never anticipated that this party would turn into the backdrop for Leonardo’s proposal to Sofia, making it a special and memorable occasion for her. As Emma looked at Sofia, glowing with happiness and radiance, a cheeky smile on her face, it only intensified the hatred in Emma’s heart.

If only Emma had known that this would be their future, she would never have advised Kat to back away from marrying Leonardo. But the past could not be undone, and Emma’s heart was now consumed with malice. Her eyes gleamed with wickedness as she schemed and plotted in her mind, determined to exert control over their future.