The Serpent on Her Skin

On the eve of my wedding to my fiancé, mafia heir Lorenzo Griffin, his legal counsel asked me to sign a prenuptial agreement.

An agreement twenty pages long.

First, I was not to enter his study without permission.

Second, I was not to interfere with any of the family's business.

Third, I was not to do anything that might displease Lorenzo.

The agreement was densely packed with clauses like these.

Suppressing my anger, I finished reviewing all the terms. Then, I turned to the man sitting ramrod straight beside me.

"Lorenzo, can you explain Attachment Fifteen? What exactly do you mean by, 'I am required to raise your heir, regardless of who gives birth to them'?"

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1

Before I was born, my father promised my hand to Lorenzo Griffin. He swore an oath to Lorenzo's father, Salvatore Griffin—the former Don of the Griffin family. The moment I came of age, I was to become Lorenzo’s wife and the family’s next Donna.

I had met Lorenzo as a child. Back then, he was polite, gentle, and the most perfect boy I had ever known. Therefore, I willingly accepted this marriage, arriving in Chicago discreetly, wearing a token to mask my identity.

I just never expected them to present their future Donna with such a degrading contract.

Lorenzo’s gaze was filled with undisguised contempt. In an icy tone, he asked, "You didn't actually think some woman from a backwater family would be worthy of bearing the Griffin heir, did you?"

Rage simmered in my chest, but I swallowed it down and offered Lorenzo a practiced, hollow smile.

"I'm sorry, Lorenzo," I said. "I will never sign such a ridiculous agreement."

The moment the words left my mouth, Lorenzo glared at me. He exuded an oppressive air of entitlement.

"Are you defying me?" he said. "Don't forget, I am the heir to the Griffin family. You're just from some declining offshoot. If my father wasn't holding my inheritance over my head, you wouldn't even have the right to be in this room. If you want to stay, you obey. It's that simple."

Domineering. Arrogant. What a disappointment.

Was this really the boy I once adored? He didn’t even remember me.

I sneered inwardly. This wasn't the boy I remembered. This man was just an unreasonable, selfish tyrant—a caricature from a bad play.

I shot him a cold glance. "No Donna in any family is required to sign an agreement like this. I will never sign it."

"Come find me when you've come to your senses," he said before turning to leave.

Not a chance.

I frowned, staring at his retreating back.

His legal counsel, Rocco Vance, shot me a mocking look. "Future Donna," he sneered, his tone impatient, "...or not quite. I'd think it over fast, Genevieve. No one who defies Mr. Griffin ends well."

I gave Rocco one last withering look, then turned on my heel and headed for the exit.

But when Rocco signaled, bodyguards moved to block my path. His cold gaze swept over me.

"The event isn't over, Miss Thorne. You can't leave. Besides, if Mr. Griffin doesn't marry you, you'll never be our Donna. Don't say I didn't warn you; life for an outsider in Chicago can be very difficult."

I asked indifferently, "Your heir has already left. Why can't I? If becoming your Donna means signing that agreement, I'd rather give it up."

As soon as I spoke, whispers rippled through the surrounding guests. "My God, not only is she arguing with Rocco, but she's also refusing to become the future Donna. How foolish."

"Our Mr. Griffin is the most eligible man in Chicago. A woman from nowhere should be on her knees thanking him for this chance. Why does she have such an attitude?"

"So ungrateful. So what if Mr. Griffin doesn't want her to bear his heir? Isn't being the Donna of the Griffin family enough?"

Their whispers reached Rocco's and my ears.

He looked at me smugly. "Can't bear to leave now, can you, Genevieve? Becoming our Donna is the highest honor. Only a fool would defy Mr. Griffin."

I glared at him impatiently. "I have no interest in being your Donna. Now, get out of my way!"

Rocco was infuriated by my answer. "You're a nobody! What gives you the right to lecture me? You just wait—I'm going to report your disrespect to Mr. Griffin!"

I snorted. "Be my guest."