Heiress to Don DeLuca's ThroneChapter 1: The 18th Birthday
Elena’s POV
"Everyone, I have an important announcement to make."
Applause filled the Grand Hall as everyone turned toward the stage. I was seated on a throne they'd set up just for this celebration, smiling at each and every guest, feeling the weight of all their attention focused on me.
"I'd like to thank each of you for being here today," Ms. Rossi began, her voice full of gratitude. "As you all know, we’re here to celebrate Elena’s 18th birthday, marking her transition into adulthood and honoring the remarkable contribution she has made to our family."
"Elena, as you know, is the daughter of the late Don Salvatore. Before he passed, he left one final wish for his daughter as she entered this new chapter of her life."
The guests applauded again, and I felt my heart swell with emotion. Then, my gaze landed on Ms. Rossi, who’d been like a mother to me. She and her family took me in, became my rock. Words couldn’t express just how thankful I was for the Rossi family and how much trust I placed in them.
"One of her father’s last wishes," Ms. Rossi continued, her voice full of warmth, "was that when Elena found her true love, she and her chosen partner would inherit the DeLuca legacy together. It would be a great honor for our family if one of my sons were to share this future with her."
My smile grew wider as the applause echoed through the hall, filled with elite guests who had gathered to celebrate. But even in this moment of joy, I couldn’t help the wave of emotion as memories of my late father, Don Salvatore, surfaced.
He was a powerful man, a legendary figure in the city's underworld—a true mafia leader. Strong. Fearless. Yet, life had a way of taking him from me too soon.
Since then, the Rossi family had taken me in. My eyes drifted to Ms. Rossi as she spoke again.
"Now that we’re all gathered here, let’s take a moment to pray for the soul of Don Salvatore as we celebrate his daughter’s 18th birthday," she said. "And later, I’ll be handing the microphone to Elena for her speech.”
She turned to me, a gentle smile on her face, and asked, "Elena, my dear, have you found someone you love?"