The Mafia’s Substitute Bride

The weight of their cruel words started to overwhelm Sofia, and tears welled up in her eyes. Sensing her distress, Sofia’s bodyguard, who had been observing the scene from a distance, stepped forward, concern etched on his face.

“Ma’am, if you want, I can make them pay for laughing at you,” he offered, his voice filled with a protective determination.

Sofia, fighting back her tears, shook her head. “No, no, please. I don’t want to make a scene,” she pleaded, her voice laced with vulnerability.

In the past few days, Sofia’s bodyguards had grown accustomed to her friends accompanying her at school. They had learned to recognize them and had stopped bothering the students who approached Sofia.

Sofia, determined to maintain her composure, continued walking towards her car, trying to ignore the hurtful names thrown her way. Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over, as the weight of the taunting became too much to bear.

Just as she reached her breaking point, someone abruptly grabbed her hand and pulled her into a warm embrace. Startled, Sofia looked up and found Leonardo standing before her, a gentle smile playing on his lips. His presence took her aback, and she couldn’t help but feel a mix of surprise and relief.

“Leonardo?” Sofia squeaked, her voice trembling with confusion. “What… what are you doing here?” Her gaze darted around, realizing that all eyes were on them, including Kat’s piercing stare.

Without releasing her from his hold, Leonardo gently held Sofia’s face, making her focus solely on him. A grin spread across his face as he spoke, his beautiful grey eyes shimmering with love.

“I had a meeting near your school, so I thought to surprise you by picking you up myself,” he explained, his voice filled with warmth. “I was missing you, baby girl.” With those words, he leaned down and kissed Sofia’s cheeks, causing her eyes to widen in a mix of astonishment and horror.

The kiss, however, quickly shifted from her cheeks to her lips, and Sofia closed her eyes, savoring the taste of his affection. In that moment, she no longer cared about the surrounding gasps and whimpering. She tightened her grip around Leonardo’s neck, deepening the kiss, lost in the overwhelming longing she had felt for him.

The school courtyard seemed to hold its breath, witnessing the unexpected display of love.

As Sofia and Leonardo remained locked in their passionate kiss, the world around them seemed to fade into insignificance. Nothing else mattered in that moment except for their love and connection.

However, their blissful moment was abruptly interrupted by a piercing scream, calling out Leonardo’s name. Leonardo reluctantly pulled away from Sofia, curiosity etched on his face as he scanned the surroundings to identify the source of the disturbance.Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.

To their surprise, it was Kat, standing a short distance away, her eyes fixed on Sofia with an intense gaze filled with animosity. However, as her eyes shifted to Leonardo, the hatred seemed to melt away, replaced by a glimmer of happiness. Leonardo’s vigilant bodyguards swiftly intercepted Kat, preventing her from getting any closer to Sofia and Leonardo.

“Leonardo!” Kat called out again, desperation evident in her voice.

Yet, Leonardo remained unresponsive, his attention seemingly absorbed elsewhere.

Desperation colored Kat’s plea as she implored the bodyguards, “Let me go. She is my sister.”

Sofia turned her gaze to Leonardo, sensing a change in his demeanor. The warmth and affection he had exuded only moments ago had vanished, leaving behind an expressionless face and an intimidating aura radiating from his being.

Sofia gestured to the bodyguards, signaling them to allow Kat to approach. In a flurry of movement, Kat darted towards them, her eyes darting between Leonardo and Sofia.

“Oh God, Sofia!” Kat turned her attention back to Sofia, her voice filled with exasperation. “Can’t you just stop making us embarrassed? He is your husband, for God’s sake. Leave your habit of making out in public. At least spare him. Do not make a fool out of him in front of all the students in the school,” Kat lectured, attempting to sound concerned.

Sofia stood there in shock, her eyes widening at Kat’s words. What did she mean by making a fool of her husband? Sofia was about to defend herself, to speak up and clarify the misunderstanding, but Kat interrupted her once more.

“Oh, Leonardo, please forgive her,” Kat pleaded, her voice dripping with faux sympathy. “It’s in her genes that she used to make out with every boy in the school.”

Sofia felt her heart skip a beat, the accusation hitting her like a bolt of lightning. It was Kat who had a reputation for engaging in such behavior, not her. And now, she was maliciously accusing Sofia in front of Leonardo, attempting to degrade her and tarnish her image.

Sofia’s mouth opened, ready to protest and defend herself, but before she could utter a word, Leonardo intervened. His voice was firm, cutting through the tension in the air.

“So you mean that my wife used to flirt with every guy in the school?” Leonardo’s words cut through the air like shards of ice, his voice devoid of warmth or trust. Sofia’s heart sank, fear gripping her as she believed that he might actually believe Kat’s accusations. She couldn’t bear the thought of his eyes, usually filled with love, turning to show hatred towards her. How could she prove her innocence?

With a seemingly apologetic tone, Kat responded, “I am sorry, Leonardo, she is my sister. But unfortunately, it is true.” Her voice dripped with false sympathy, a skill she was well-practiced in.

Leonardo’s demeanor changed instantly, his voice turning deadly and cold. “Miss Kat Ricci, you are defaming my wife, and I can sue you for this,” he declared, his words carrying a weight of authority and a hint of menace.

Stammering, Kat attempted to defend herself, “But… but… I was… I was just telling you the truth.” Sofia noticed the unfamiliar stammer in Kat’s voice, a sign that perhaps the truth was not on her side.

“I don’t need you to tell me about my wife. I know her very well,” Leonardo stated firmly, his gaze finally turning towards Sofia. Relief washed over her as she saw a flicker of understanding and trust in his eyes. “You just don’t ever try to give me a bad impression of my wife in front of everyone, including me. This time, I am leaving you with a warning. But next time, I won’t give you any warning, and you will see how bad I can be,” he warned, his voice chillingly composed.

“Leonardo… but… no, it’s not only me. You can ask everyone present there,” Kat insisted, motioning towards her gang. “Come on, guys, tell him about her slutty nature.”

Leonardo’s gaze hardened as he turned his piercing eyes towards Kat’s gang, waiting for someone to come forward and support the claims. However, a heavy silence hung in the air, and nobody stepped forward to complain about Sofia. A sense of satisfaction crept over Sofia, threatening to spill into laughter at Kat’s dismay. She pressed her lips together, restraining herself from giving in to the amusement.

Without wasting another moment, Leonardo wrapped a protective arm around Sofia’s shoulder and began leading her toward his car, ready to leave the chaotic scene behind.

But before they could make their escape, Kat jumped in front of Leonardo, attempting to grab his attention once again.

“Wait, handsome! Are you still angry with me?” Kat’s voice dropped to a low, seductive tone as she batted her eyelashes. “Look, it wasn’t my fault that our parents changed the bride at the last moment.”

Sofia’s heart skipped a beat as she watched Kat shamelessly flirt with her husband right in front of her. The boy who had been by Kat’s side moments ago stood there, witnessing her abrupt change in demeanor. It was a bewildering sight for Sofia, but she clenched her fists, determined not to let Kat’s antics affect her.

“Ms. Kat Ricci, you don’t need to mention that,” Leonardo responded, his voice cold and unwavering. “I am happy that Sofia was my bride, and now she is my wife. I don’t need anyone else. If everything is clear between us, I will take my leave.”

Sofia avoided looking directly at Leonardo’s stone-cold face, aware of the power and dominance he exuded. It became clear to her why so many people feared him, recognizing him as a formidable figure in the world of the mafia.