The Mafia's Substitute Bride

he rain pelted against the windows, mat

living room, waiting for her husband to come home. Then, suddenly

hispered, barely audible o

to the door, wiping away her tear

," her mother said,

man in his arms. Sofia recoiled at the sight of her

ed, trying to keep her tone l

er sneered, pushing her away.

don't hurt me," she begged. "I jus

ied about me," he spat. "It's pathetic. I hate that you eve

s to me," her mother begged,

me," her fa

ce again. Sofia watched as her father raised his hand to strike her mother

his wife's stomach so hard she fell to th

animal tightly, hoping and praying that her father would leave soon and they would be safe aga

with fear as she watched her mother sobbing on the floor. Her f

"You know I can do whatever I want. You'r

uld not speak but

l on the ground, causing her to scream out in p

her spat at her mother. "And this brat," he gestured tow

by the hair and pulled her up to her feet. Sofia watched in horror as he conti

whispered to herself, tea

for his room with his beautiful mistress, Sofia's mother lay on the ground, bruised and bro

okay?" Sofia

said weakly. "Don't worry a

Dad has locked your room, so where will

eard the woman moaning Sofia's father's name. Her mother cried, covering her mouth. Sofia was eleven years old, but she und

y was aching with unbearable pain

at beside her mother, holding her han

tears in her eyes, her face st

ulnerability. "You're the only good thing in my life," she whispered,

at woman home?!" Sofia's innocent question pierced the tense

ained with both resignation and hidden anguish. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks, mirroring th

you leave him?" Sofia's voice trembled with a mi

t of her truth. "I came from a poor family, and I feel trapped. I'm bound by circumstances to endure

filled with

ed her deeply and it would tak

ake care of you always. And I'll never marry a

Sofia.But you have to marry one day just like Every girl has to marry. A prince wi

ou. Men don't love. they only beat and treat women as

will always be with you," her m

ed from inside long ago, her husband's cruelty and betrayal made her choose death over life. She had lost the will to live, so no on

n her father remarried just a week after her mother's death. Her father'

hter more. Sofia's position in her own house was now not better than a

ight, holding her moth

idn't you take me with you?" She shouted, standing near the w

world where no one loved her. But