They all settled on the dining table.
With Antonio at the head seat, followed by Laura, Chiara, and Enzo at the left end. Marco and Luca sat across from them.
The maids served them the food. It was a feast. She wanted to be anywhere else but on this table.
They had an annoying conversation about politics and mafia businesses, and who currently reigned in the underworld.
Antonio has been leading for years since the Conti mafia leader decided to back down and crowned his younger son as the new mafia lord.
But nobody was prepared for the young man to take over not only the Mafia, but also the underworld as a whole. He is rarely seen, but his name is spoken in all the rooms you set foot in.
Apparently, Antonio's ego was hurt. And he was planning on becoming a congressman just to accumulate enough power to crush the young Conti. But that's only if he did win. A smirk curled Chiara's lips.
"The campaign would start in a few weeks," Antonio uttered, chewing like the pig that he was.
Why couldn't the food just go in the wrong pipe and choke him to death? Thought Chiara.
"Glad to hear that it would not hinder our wedding." Enzo took her ring hand and placed a kiss on it.
Oh no. She uttered in her mind.
"That's right." Antonio supported.
"Excuse me, what was that? Whose wedding are you talking about?" Laura placed down her fork. Her narrowed eyes went between everyone at the table. They'd all betrayed her after all.
Marco dabbed his lips with a piece of cloth, waiting.
Damn it. I should've told her sooner. Chiara regretted.
"Mine and Enzo's." She calmly told her mother.
"What? You're getting married? When did this happen?" The hurt in her eyes was too unbearable. It scratched Chiara's heart and left it stinging.
"Yes, Mama. It's terribly shocking that your beloved daughter didn't inform you about it." Luca said, sipping his wine.
"The paparazzi job suits you," Chiara growled at him. "Oh, I love it." He stared at her with a grin.
Asshole. Chiara mouthed.
"You did this," Laura turned to Antonio. "My daughter is getting married, and I'm not aware of it?" She flung her plate to the ground. It shattered into pieces and tainted the place. Chiara's lips parted, and her eyes gaped at her mother.
"Stop making a big deal out of it, Laura. I was going to tell you." Antonio replied. "When? When you already married her off? She is my fucking daughter for fuck's sake!" She yelled at him, fire raging in her eyes.
Holy shit. Chiara leaned back on her seat. The surprise on her face was replaced by warmth spreading in her chest.
Antonio stared at Laura as though he couldn't recognize her. And so did the twins.
Laura never yelled at him, ever.
Chiara's heart jumped with a newfound joy.
How catastrophic. Do it again, Mamma. This, ladies and gentlemen, was my mother. Chiara thought, joyously.
Chiara attempted to hold her back. "Mamma, calm down." Laura pushed her hand off.
Yes! Chiara screamed in her mind.
"You shut up! Not another word." Laura said and stormed out of the room. A door banged a few seconds later.
Marco stood up and went after her while the maids rushed over to clean the floor.
"Well, that was unexpected," Enzo said.
You meant, another embarrassing thing to taint Antonio with? I felt like clapping with my butts. Chiara thought.
"Since the dinner is over, can I have a moment with my fiancée?" Added Enzo.
Antonio's clenched jaws relaxed, replaced by an officiated smile. "Of course, she is all yours."
Chiara scoffed as she stood up and faced him.
I belonged to no one, old prick. She said inwardly.
"If you so much as dare to lay your hands on my mother tonight because of this, I won't let it go easily. You of all people know me very well," She uttered before following Enzo outside.
He always beat her up, and Chiara always ruined things for him in return. He just never learned, and she enjoyed demonstrating chaos to him.
The moment Chiara stepped out, she was shoved against the wall. A firm hand wrapped around her neck, and a pair of blood-raging eyes came forth. Air became pricy in an instant for her.
"Five million dollars? I gave you my card for one night and you spent five fucking million dollars? Are you out of your fucking mind?" His thunderous voice hit her face.
Oh. Right.
There was this left to deal with. She recalled. Chiara was fighting for breath, but at the same time, she couldn't help but relish his reaction.
"You're smiling? You have the balls to smile right now you fucking bitch?" His grip tightened around her neck, blocking the cords further.
She coughed, attempting to peel his firm hands off, but it was futile. The fucker had a strong chokehold, she'd give him that.
However, strong was what she'd spent her entire life perfecting. She clawed her nails on his arms and dug deeper into his flesh.
"Fuck! You bitch!" He let go and backhanded her.
Hair spilled on her face while a zing sound rang in her ears in her bent-over position. She rose and pushed the hair back, tasting metal at the corner of her lips as she poked it with the tip of her tongue.
"Ah, you stingy bastard," She uttered, grinning. He got her beaten up and bruised just a few days ago. So she thought she should teach him a lesson, but clearly, Antonio had a lot of his kind out there.
"At least I returned your card with money still left in it. I should've dried every cent. What a loss." She said.
His nose flared, hands fisted into balls as he launched at her. Chiara ducked, pulled out a knife from her garter, and ripped at his chest.
Enzo backed up, sneering.
"Fuck! I swear to God I'm going to kill you, Chiara." His shirt was crimson red along the diagonal cut she'd given him.
How cute. She thought.
"You are welcome to try, but in your shape? Nah, you won't stand a chance." She flicked the knife around.
"You—this won't end here." He turned to leave.
She thought as she glared at his retreating stiff back. Trust me, we could take it anywhere you wanted, and the result would still be the same for you. Zero.
"Enzo," She called out to him, making him stop in his furious strides. He fully turned to face her, glaring bullets at her.
"Before you came for me, you should've done your homework first. You know, like finding out what you were getting yourself into or something." She pushed her hair back.
He just glared at her silently, jaws ticking.
The poor guy was scammed. He must've thought Chiara was yet another pushover because of her gender. Same old stereotypes. And she loved fools who thought she was a fool.
"Oh, and please let's stop this stupid lover show that you put on. You are so fucking boring. And next time you dare to put your hands on me, I'm going to be cutting something else. Who knows?" She pointed with her knife, "Maybe something a little bit lower and between your legs, if my hands missed a mark." She winked at him.
He regarded her with a grim face, fisting his hands so hard. "This. Won't. End here." He resumed walking.
"Yeah, sure. My knife is poisoned by the way." She shouted.
He stopped in his tracks for a beat and then bolted to his car. "To the hospital! Now!" He barked to his men, and the cars raced out of the property.
Chiara stood there watching the gleams of lights from their cars disappearing into the night along the driveway with a satisfied smirk.
The knife wasn't poisoned.
"That poor soul." She uttered with a sigh.