The Mafia’s Substitute Bride

“Sofia…” Leonardo tried to speak, but she glared at him fiercely, causing him to falter and stop mid-sentence.

“I said that I don’t want to listen to either of you!” she exclaimed with a heavy voice, her emotions threatening to spill over. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes as she struggled to keep her composure while reprimanding the two men she loved more than life itself. The conflicting emotions within her heart weighed heavily, torn between her love for both of them and the exhaustion caused by their constant disputes.

Leonardo tried to comfort Sofia, gently massaging her shoulder.

“Okay… okay… you just relax and calm down. I won’t say anything,” he assured her, his touch comforting. “If you want, I apologize to Mr. Ricci. But you stop crying,” he added in a low voice, and Sofia’s heart melted at his concern.

Carlo, however, remained skeptical, accusing Leonardo of putting on a facade.

“Stop acting in front of her, Leonardo. I know that you are not an emotional kind of man,” he remarked, his suspicion evident.

“Mr. Ricci, will you please stop? Can’t you see that she is stressed? It’s not good for her and the baby,” Leonardo retorted, clenching his teeth in frustration at the ongoing tension.

“The baby? What do you mean by that?” Carlo asked in confusion, caught off guard by the unexpected revelation.

Leonardo exchanged a meaningful look with Sofia before speaking hesitantly, “Sofia is pregnant.” The words hung in the air, filling the room with a mix of surprise and shock.

“What? Are you serious? Is she really pregnant?” came Anna’s voice as she appeared in sight, followed by her husband, who had entered the doorway.

“… and you haven’t told us. How dare you hide this from us, Leonardo? I’ll make you pay for this,” Anna threatened her son, her anger evident. She turned towards Sofia, her disappointment evident.

Leonardo’s jaw tightened as he faced his mother’s wrath. His father, Alessandro, intervened, explaining that they had come because Anna was anxious about Sofia and wanted to see her first thing in the morning.

“I could not get time to tell everyone, Mum. I just found out after she was kidnapped,” Leonardo explained, trying to defend himself.

Anna turned towards Sofia, her frustration now directed at her. “How could you be so irresponsible, Sofia? You didn’t even tell me that you were pregnant. I have stayed by your side. I am disappointed,” Anna complained.

“I am sorry, Mum. But this all happened so quickly that I didn’t get any time to react. It was also new for me. I could not understand whom to tell or ask for advice, and then the misunderstanding between Leonardo and me led me to make the wrong decision. And everything happened after that. I didn’t even get time myself to relish this news,” Sofia explained, her voice apologetic and her eyes still teary from the emotional rollercoaster.

“It’s alright, dear. But now you need to relax, calm yourself down, and you two, Carlo and Leonardo, if you want to fight, get out of this house and kill each other. I don’t mind. But if you fight in front of her and give her stress, I will show you both,” Anna threatened, causing both men to widen their eyes at the seriousness in her tone.

Sofia couldn’t help but let out a small laugh at the sight of their stunned expressions. Anna was truly a gem of a mother-in-law, always making Sofia feel loved and cared for, never letting her feel the absence of her own mother.

She couldn’t help but wish her own mother were alive, hoping that she would have been just as loving and caring as Anna. The thought of her mother made Sofia’s heart ache, and tears started flowing uncontrollably.

In an instant, Leonardo was by her side, panicking as he tried to console her. “Oh no, no, angel. You don’t need to cry. I will never argue with your father if you are crying about that. I promise. I will agree with his every term and condition, no matter what. But you just stop crying,” he said, kneeling in front of her, his eyes filled with concern and love.

His sweetness overwhelmed her, and Sofia couldn’t help but become even more emotional, tears streaming down her cheeks. She cupped his face in her hands, her voice cracking between sobs as she spoke from her heart, “No. You don’t have to change yourself for me. I don’t want you to bow in front of anyone for me. You are my pride, and I won’t let you down. I know you love me, and you don’t have to prove it to anyone else.”

Leonardo’s smile confirmed that he understood her sincerity, knowing that she meant every word. He gently wiped her tears away and asked with a tender gaze, “Okay, then will you stop crying, baby girl?”

Sofia nodded, taking a deep breath to compose herself. “Yes, I’ll try,” she replied, feeling grateful for his support and understanding.

“You want me to take you to a doctor?” Leonardo asked, his eyes scanning her face for any signs of discomfort or unease.

Sofia shook her head. “No, I just need some time to collect myself. I’ll be fine,” she assured him, feeling a sense of comfort and security in his presence.

“I am so happy to hear that both of you are giving each other a chance. I am sorry, Sofia, you have to bear so much in this condition. Now I will be taking care of you and not leaving you alone,” Anna said with genuine happiness, her motherly instincts taking over. She moved closer to Sofia, showering her with affectionate words and a gentle kiss on her forehead.

Sofia’s gaze shifted and landed on Carlo, who stood in a corner. Guilt washed over her for having ignored him and yelled in frustration earlier.

Determined to mend their bond, she walked towards him and spoke softly, “Dad? You won’t congratulate me?”

Carlo seemed to snap out of a trance, his eyes moist with emotions as he realized the significance of the moment.

“You… you are pregnant, Sofia. That’s… that’s wonderful. My little baby is now going to be a mother. That’s big news for me,” he said, gently caressing her head with a smile.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

Feeling reassured by her father’s response, Sofia answered his unspoken question with determination, “Yes, Dad, I am a hundred percent sure he is the one for me. Wrong or right, I am his wife. I am ready to give this marriage a chance.”

Carlo’s smile grew, and he stretched out his arms. Sofia eagerly stepped into his embrace, feeling his warmth enveloping her in a comforting bear hug. “I am so happy for you, Sofia. Now I am relaxed to know that you are happy in this relationship. But always remember, whenever you find yourself in any difficult situation, you can always come to me, and don’t try to run away. Your home, your father’s place, is always open for you,” he assured her, his love and support unwavering.

Sofia nodded, grateful for her father’s understanding and love. However, she knew deep down that her heart and home were now with Leonardo. Her gaze met Leonardo’s, and she saw a kaleidoscope of emotions swirling in his eyes. Love, affection, and devotion were mirrored in her own eyes and heart as she looked at him.

In a crowded waiting room of the city’s top OBGYN, Sofia tried to contain her excitement and nerves while waiting for her regular checkup. The tension in the room was palpable as Leonardo impatiently paced back and forth, his anxiety evident from his body language. Sofia couldn’t help but smile at his overprotective nature, appreciating how he cared deeply for her and their unborn child.

Finally, the doctor called them in, and Sofia felt a sense of relief wash over her. As the doctor began to explain, stating that she was approximately six weeks pregnant, Sofia glanced at Leonardo, hoping he would share in her joy. Instead, he frowned, his impatience getting the better of him.

“What do you mean by approx? You have to be sure. You have test reports. Can’t you tell us the exact time? Calculate and tell exactly how many weeks she is pregnant,” Leonardo demanded in his cold and intimidating voice. The doctor tried to explain that exact timing wasn’t always possible, but Leonardo continued to push for certainty.

“Mr. Morelli, we can’t calculate the exact timing in the test report. We only get to calculate the approximate weeks or months based on the growth and development of the fetus and the last date of the menstrual cycle,” the doctor clarified, trying to maintain her composure.

Leonardo’s impatience only escalated as he retorted rudely, “If you can’t tell an exact time, then why bother taking out blood for those stupid tests?! Whatever. Just tell me everything is alright and what precautions we should take.”

Sofia struggled to hold back her frustration with her husband’s abrasive demeanor. Despite his loving nature towards her, he still maintained his stern and brusque attitude with others. She reached out and gently squeezed his hand, hoping to signal him to stop speaking, but he seemed oblivious to her subtle cue.

“Everything seems to be alright. I am just prescribing…” The doctor began, but Leonardo cut her off, unable to contain his annoyance.

“Seem? Are you kidding me? You need to be sure that everything is alright. I thought you were the best OBGYN in the City,” he snapped, his scowl deepening.

Feeling a mix of exasperation and fondness for her stubborn husband, Sofia squeezed his hand more firmly, urging him to let the doctor finish. But as Leonardo’s eyes met her, she knew he didn’t stop until he got the answer he wanted. Sofia sighed defeatedly.