The Mafia Queen's Gambit

I deeply regretted not listening to my father and giving my heart away too soon.

Even though I cared for Roderick, I refused to let them humiliate me so shamelessly.

I raised my hand to summon my nearby men to teach those two a lesson.

Molly emerged from the hallway, her face full of worry. "What's wrong, sweet? I could hear your arguing from inside. Can't you talk things out calmly?"

I lowered my hand and reassured her it was just a small matter.

Molly was getting older, and I feared her heart couldn't handle the stress.

"You're not welcome here. Leave!"

As they turned to go, Erica suddenly sneezed and looked at Roderick with a delicate pout. "It's so chilly here. My hands are freezing."

Roderick immediately shed his coat and draped it over her shoulders.

He pulled her close, warming her hands in his.

My stomach churned with disgust. Just yesterday, he had done the same for me.

Not wanting to look at them any longer, I turned and helped Molly back inside.

At the doorway, I tore the ten-million check to shreds and tossed it into a nearby trash can.

The next day was the agreed-upon meeting with Roderick's family elders.

A black Bentley's headlights pierced the morning mist, pulling up steadily in front of their villa.

I took a deep breath and stepped forward. A sharp female voice suddenly cut in from the side. "Sophia! How dare you show up?"

Erica rushed toward me in towering heels.

She grabbed my wrist, her nails nearly digging into my skin.

I frowned, flicked my wrist to break free, and shook my hand with disgust. "I don't answer to you. Move."

Erica laughed as if she'd heard the funniest joke, covering her mouth as her shoulders shook. "Roderick loves me! You think that engagement means you can just waltz into a wealthy family? Keep dreaming!"

I lifted my gaze, my eyes cold as ice. "At least for now, I'm the fiancée the Hudson family acknowledges. You don't even have the right to stand here."

"You!" Erica's face turned beet red.

Choked by my words, she lunged, clawing at my face in a fit of rage.

I was ready. I sidestepped slightly, grabbed her wrist, and used her momentum to pull and release.

With a scream, Erica lost her balance and toppled backward, landing hard in the flowerbed.

She shrieked. "Sophia! You pushed me! I won't let you get away with this!"

"Who started it?" I brushed off nonexistent dust from my hands, my tone flat, as if I'd done something trivial.

Just then, the villa's door swung open, and Roderick stepped out.

He wore a tailored black suit, his hair perfectly combed.

When he saw Erica in the flowerbed, his face darkened.

He hurried over to help her up, his voice thick with concern. "Erica! Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?"

Seeing Roderick, Erica dropped her earlier ferocity. Her eyes welled up, and she threw herself into his arms, whimpering. "Roderick! Sophia bullied me! I only came to guide her since it's her first time here."

Roderick held her close and glared at me, his eyes blazing with anger. "Sophia! You've gone too far!"

I watched his blind reaction, a mocking smirk curling my lips. "Roderick, get it straight. She pushed me first. And if I didn't care about our families' shared interests, I wouldn't be here watching you two play the loving couple."

I paused, locking eyes with him, my voice firm. "If you love her so much, go inside right now, call off the engagement, and give up your inheritance. I won't cling to you."

Roderick faltered, his face growing uglier.

He couldn't and wouldn't. Without the fortune, he'd be nothing.

Erica whispered in his arms. "Roderick, look how arrogant she is! We can't let her inside, or how will we ever be together?"

Roderick snapped back to reality, stepped forward with Erica, and blocked my path. "Sophia, don't come to the dinner tonight. Let's avoid making everyone uncomfortable."

Erica chimed in. "Exactly! Get out! You're not welcome here!"

I stared at the two barring my way, about to speak, when a stern shout thundered from the villa's entrance. "Who dares stop her?"