"You're free to go."
The guard's cold voice echoed through the cold, gray walls as he unlocked my cell. The metal door opened, and I stepped into the blinding light outside.
Finally! I was released from the cage that kept me trapped for two long years. I still remember how I took the fall for my stepbrother, Luca Bianchi and served two years in this brutal prison.
Meanwhile, he was busy building and expanding his empire and playing the dutiful family man.
"I had to save my family's reputation," I whispered under my breath.
After giving it a long thought, the first thing I did after my release was to call home. I was eager to surprise them as I imagined their relief, and their happiness to hear from me again, but the response was…silence.
"Uncle, I'm out."
Before I could say more, the line went dead. Richard, my paternal uncle, my father's only brother had hung up on me. It was so unlikely of him.
My throat tightened and my stomach churned. The next moment I hailed a cab and headed straight for home. My heart was accelerating at the highest speed as I hoped that everything would be alright there.
When I reached there, I heard the whispering of voices. All of them were familiar yet cold, echoing through the front door.
My hand froze on the handle as I recognized Celestia—Luca’s wife—and my stepmother, Gracia's voice.
"Why is she returning home?" Celestia’s voice was cold, almost panicked. “Of all days, she had to get out today. I had something important to deal with."
Within seconds, my stepmother, Gracia's reply came. “It’s for the best. Don't worry, she won't be here for long. Now with records like her, she’ll even struggle to find a job. Nobody is going to accept her as a Mafia princess."
When I heard their icy words, it felt like a knife pierced my heart. My mother, who had died protecting this family’s legacy, had been replaced by a woman who was treating me as nothing more than a hindrance.
And my father… he would have killed Gracia if he would have been alive.
Meanwhile, Celestia’s voice turned more aggressive.“I’m not living with an ex-con. Let her fight for herself—she’s not my family."
My blood ran cold. The people who I thought would welcome me back were already conspiring to get rid of me.
But just as I stepped towards the door, shaken, I felt the sharp press of a gun barrel against my spine. As I turned back, I only saw one of Luca’s guards, his gaze cold and predatory.
“Miss,” he said, forcing a smirk, "You aren't allowed inside."
Before I could comprehend his words, he shoved me back from the door, the metal of the gun shining under the dim light.
Due to the sudden commotion, Gracia opened the door. Her eyes widened as she found me on the ground. Her face settled into an expression of forced surprise.
“Victoria!” She gave me a long look. Her gaze roamed over my worn clothes and tired face. “You’re… home? My poor girl, prison must’ve been tough on you.”
There was a hint of mockery in her wrinkled eyes.
“Yeah, but I managed,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady and stood up.
Without delay, I stepped inside, but before I could take another step, Celestia rushed forward with a bottle of disinfectant spray.
Her lip curled in distaste. Without hesitation, she emptied half the bottle over me, drenching me from head to toe.
“Don’t take it personally, Victoria,” she mumbled. “Just making sure you’re not bringing any bad luck with you.”
I clenched my fists, the sting of humiliation burning through me, but I kept silent. I knew my place there was shaky and fragile, and for now, I didn’t want to fight. I just wanted to be home.
Without another word, I turned toward my room. As I opened the door, I froze.
Boxes and bags filled the space. The clutter was filling every corner. My belongings were nowhere to be seen.
I turned to Gracia, who was standing in the hallway, her gaze averted. “Mom, what happened to my room?”
She bit her lower lip as she avoided my eyes. “Well… you were gone for so long, and Celestia needed the space. We had to use your room for storage.”
“And my things?” I was blanked. I opened my mouth twice but no words came out. Even though I already dreaded the answer, still I forced myself to ask,
She looked away. “We got rid of them.”
Every word hit me like a slap, but it was my uncle, Richard, who twisted the knife deeper.
From the sofa, he barely glanced at me. “Victoria, Celestia's five months pregnant. She needs a clean, open space for the baby. You didn’t need those things anymore.”
I stood there. It wouldn't be a lie if I said that I was feeling like a stranger in the home where I’d once dreamed of returning to. I was abandoned by the people I’d sacrificed everything for.
My heart sank further as I looked around. My chest tightened. But just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket. With an unconscious mind, I pulled it out and saw a new message.
“Thank you for protecting my daughter.”
At that moment, my mind went back to the prison. I remembered the girl I’d protected there. The one who was targeted by other inmates simply because of her family’s wealth and status
Despite the bruises and injuries I'd endured, I’d kept her safe. Later on, I got to know that she was the daughter of the most influential and powerful business tycoon. His empire was stretched deep into the underworld.
Another message buzz brought me back to the present moment. I blinked twice, rereading the words as it was a bank notification.
"A hundred million dollars has been credited to your account."
Chapter 2 Leave Me“A hundred million dollars has been credited to your account.”
My eyes were fixed on the message. It was surreal. My pulse raced as I read the message again, struggling to believe it.
A few hours ago, I walked out of prison with barely a plan. And now, the father of the girl whom I’d protected inside had transferred a fortune into my account.
I should have felt a thrill or even relief—but instead, the money felt like a cruel reminder of everything I’d lost.
Within seconds, I put the phone back in my pocket. At that moment, my mind was reeling, as I glanced at the grim faces of my so-called family.
Whatever hope I'd about them was quickly shattered.
“Where am I supposed to stay?” I asked quietly, already bracing for the blow.
After listening to my words, Gracia, my stepmother, smirked. She pulled out a crumpled bundle of cash—two hundred dollars, at most—and tossed it on the table as if she were handing me some spare change.
“Here, take this. Find a cheap motel. Or, if you’re smart, get out of town.”
Just when I thought it couldn’t get worse, Luca came in from the back.
There was a handgun tucked casually into his waistband. His eyes narrowed as he saw me.
The next moment, I forced a bitter smile, struggling to maintain my composure. “What about you, Luca?”
I looked at my stepbrother, hoping he’d remember everything I’d sacrificed for him.
"Victoria, you know you’re my sister. Of course, I want you here.” He reached for my shoulder, his grip firm and cool. “If you need a place to stay… Well, we’ll figure something out.” His eyes, cold and calculating, betrayed him.
Relief almost crept into my heart. "Fine! For a while, I'll stay," I replied.
At that moment, Celestia, his wife, turned towards me, her tone venomous. “ Victoria? Have you lost it? How can you even think of staying here?"
She glared at me, her eyes filled with disdain.
Then I clenched my jaw, fighting the humiliation that clawed at me, but her words struck deep. “This is still my house, Celestia. Can’t I stay for a few days?”
When Celestia heard those words, her lips adorned with a mocking smile. At that moment, I shredded the last ounce of my patience.
“Your home? This house belongs to Luca now. You don’t have a right to stay here, Victoria. You were a Mafia princess but not now. The two years of your prison made you undeserving, and honestly…” She leaned in, her voice cold as ice. “We don’t want you here.”
My gaze snapped back to Luca, hoping he’d defend me, but he looked away. He was tapping his fingers on the gun at his waist and kept silent.
The cruel gleam in his eyes made me feel even smaller. It seemed like I was a discarded pawn he’d used and tossed aside. I bit back a reply, afraid that any sign of defiance would only invite more humiliation.
Then my chest tightened as I looked at my uncle, Richard, sitting on the couch. The smoke of the cigarette curled around him like a cloud of indifference.
He barely glanced in my way, as if I was nothing more than a stranger passing through.
“So that’s it?” My voice cracked, raw with betrayal. “You’re all kicking me out because I’m not useful anymore?”
“Don’t take it personally, Victoria,” Gracia said, not bothering to look up from her magazine. “With your prison record, no mafia family will like to support or associate with you. We can't risk the Bianchi Mafia Family's fortune because of it." She paused.
"Keeping you here will be… challenging. We just don’t have the means to support you.”
But before I could respond, Celestia stepped closer, and said, “Face it, Victoria. You’re nothing but a burden now. No family, no future. So, just… leave."
Chapter 3 Dare MeI stood there blankly. My heart was pounding in my chest. My gaze was fixed at Gracia with a cold fury I could no longer hide.
"Two years ago, you were the ones who begged me in tears to protect your son," I said, my voice trembling with anger. "You told me that if I did, I'd be the savior of this family and that you'd repay me. You promised."
The weight of the words hung heavily in the air. Subconsciously, I took a slow step forward, my pulse racing. "I just got out and reached home. Here already... I'm a burden?"
I could feel the years of sacrifice crashing down on me. Each memory felt like a glass digging into my flesh.
"Two years ago, I handed over my father's entire legacy to Luca. Everything was for a temporary time," I continued, my voice rising. "I gave up everything for all of you. I saw the family fortune passing into his hands. I trusted you’d keep it safe. But what do I get in return? A roof over my head, or a place in this family?"
Luca shifted, his face pinched in frustration, and his voice sliced through the tension. "Victoria, I know you're upset, but it hasn’t been easy for any of us either. I hope you will try to understand us."
The person for whom I had given my life to protect was now looking at me like I was the enemy. Like I was the reason for all his miseries.
I stared at him in disbelief. I was churning in my gut, and said in a low voice, “Luca Bianchi, don’t forget who actually should have been behind bars. The one who put this family in trouble is you, not me."
His face twisted with anger, but I didn't stop. I was done holding back.
"You think it was easy for me? Do you think I enjoyed being shoved into prison for your mistake? You let me take the fall, and now you dare to blame me for your shame?" My voice dripped with contempt. My hands were trembling.
Two years ago, the crash had been a simple mistake, but the consequences were unbearable. Luca and Celestia had been speeding, driving in the wrong direction in my car when they hit and killed a rival mafia boss’s son—someone no one could afford to cross.
But instead of taking responsibility, Luca turned to me. The family begged me to take the fall for him. They said his position in the family, his marriage, his life—everything—would fall apart if he were to go to prison.
They promised me that once I got out, everything would be repaid. That I’d get the legacy back, that I’d get to take my rightful place in the family.
I was foolish enough to believe it.
I spat the words out with as much venom as I could muster, “I didn’t do it for reward, Luca. I did it because I trusted you. I trusted the family. But look where that got me. I handed over my father’s legacy, his empire, for two years. And now, you’re telling me I don’t even deserve a place here?”
Luca's eyes narrowed, and he glared at me as if I were the enemy, the traitor. "What more do you want, Victoria?" he hissed. "I’ve already thanked you for taking the blame. But this house is under my name now, and Celestia's pregnant."
"There’s no room for you. You need to get out. We can’t keep supporting someone who won’t pull their weight."
The sting of his words was sharp. All my sacrifices, my loyalty, my pain, and for what? A thank you? A thank you that wasn’t even genuine?
Within seconds, Gracia joined in, her voice cold as stone. "Victoria, you’re not some princess in this family. A woman’s purpose is to marry well, have children, and stay in her place. You’re nothing but an ex-convict now. No one will want you. Your past is too stained. If we let you stay here, it’s out of mercy. Don't push it."
Celestia stood beside her, and added further, “You’ll always be poor. After everything you’ve done, there’s no coming back. You’ll drain us dry if we let you stay.”
Each word felt like a slap to my face. "I've no place to go," I whispered.
"You aren't understanding, Victoria." Luca paused. "We don't owe you anything. Moreover, I am done. Move out, or I’ll make you move out." His eyes were cold, the same icy blue that had once been full of brotherly affection, now filled with venom.
There was a gun in his hand. Within seconds, he pointed it at my head.
His finger hovering dangerously near the trigger. The gun glinted in the light. The sight sent a chill down my spine.
"You won't," I whispered, though I wasn’t sure if I was asking or daring him.
"Dare me."