Chapter 3 - Four Children and One Rule
Arthur’s mansion didn’t feel like a mafia fortress.
That surprised me.
It was enormous, yes.
Security guarded the gates.
Cameras covered the property.
But inside were sneakers beside the staircase.
Crayons on the kitchen island.
A toy dinosaur under an antique table.
Arthur noticed me looking.
“My youngest.”
“How old?”
“Five.”
We entered the kitchen.
Four children waited.
The oldest was a fifteen-year-old boy with Arthur’s dark eyes.
“Luca.”
The boy nodded.
Beside him stood twelve-year-old Sofia, arms crossed suspiciously.
Eight-year-old Matteo hid partially behind her.
And five-year-old Isabella sat on the counter wearing pink pajamas.
Arthur removed his jacket.
“This is Evelyn.”
Sofia immediately asked, “Are you replacing Mom?”
Arthur stiffened.
I answered before he could.
“No.”
Sofia studied me.
“Then why are you here?”
“Your father asked me to marry him.”
Luca stared at Arthur.
“You what?”
“It’s complicated.”
“That means yes,” Luca muttered.
Arthur rubbed his forehead.
I almost laughed.
Isabella pointed toward me.
“Are you a princess?”
“No.”
“You look like one.”
“Thank you.”
She considered this.
“Can you braid hair?”
“Isabella,” Arthur warned.
“What?”
I stepped closer.
“I can.”
She immediately jumped down.
“Show me.”
Arthur looked helpless.
It was the first time that evening he seemed human.
Twenty minutes later, Isabella sat between my knees while I braided her hair.
Matteo had started showing me his dinosaur collection.
Luca had disappeared.
Sofia still watched suspiciously.
Finally, she asked, “Can you have babies?”
The room went silent.
Arthur turned sharply.
“Sofia.”
“What? Grandma said—”
Arthur’s face darkened.
“Who told you?”
Sofia realized she had made a mistake.
“Grandma Bennett.”
My mother.
Of course.
I finished Isabella’s braid.
“No,” I said quietly. “Probably not.”
Sofia looked embarrassed.
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to be.”
“Does that make you sad?”
Arthur watched me.
I nodded.
“A little.”
Isabella turned around.
“But there are already four of us.”
My throat tightened.
Arthur looked away.
Sofia’s defensive expression softened.
Then Luca appeared in the doorway.
“Dad.”
Arthur immediately understood something was wrong.
“What?”
“Cars at the gate.”
Arthur’s entire posture changed.
“How many?”
“Three.”
A security man entered.
“Mr. Costa.”
“Romanos?”
“Yes.”
Arthur looked at me.
“Take the children upstairs.”
I stood.
“Arthur—”
“Please.”
That word convinced me.
I gathered the children.
But before we reached the stairs, the front doors opened.
Carmine Romano walked inside surrounded by men.
My father was with him.
“Evelyn!”
I stopped.
Arthur stepped between us.
Carmine smiled.
“Costa.”
“Romano.”
Carmine pointed toward me.
“That woman was promised to my family.”
Arthur’s voice remained calm.
“Your family rejected her.”
“Before learning you wanted her.”
My father spoke.
“We need to reconsider the arrangement.”
I stared at him.
“You sold me twice in one night?”
“Evelyn, don’t be dramatic.”
Arthur’s jaw tightened.
Carmine continued.
“The original agreement stands.”
“No,” I said.
Carmine looked at me.
“You weren’t asked.”
Arthur took one step forward.
“She just answered.”
Carmine smiled.
“You’re willing to start trouble over a woman you met tonight?”
Arthur glanced back at me.
Then at Isabella holding my hand.
His expression became unreadable.
“No.”
Carmine relaxed.
Arthur continued.
“I’m willing to end it.”
The smile disappeared.
Arthur’s security men quietly entered the hall.
Nobody raised a weapon.
Nobody needed to.
Arthur pointed toward the door.
“Richard’s debt will be transferred to me tonight. Your claim disappears with it.”
Carmine stared at him.
“And if I refuse?”
“Then tomorrow every business partner in Chicago learns Carmine Romano tried to force a woman into a marriage after rejecting her first.”
Silence.
Reputation mattered.
Carmine knew it.
He turned toward my father.
“You brought me here for this?”
My father stammered.
“I thought—”
“That was your mistake.”
Carmine left.
My father tried following.
Arthur stopped him.
“Richard.”
My father turned.
Arthur’s voice was quiet.
“You come near Evelyn again without her invitation, you answer to me.”
My father looked at me.
“You’re choosing him over your family?”
I looked down.
Isabella was still holding my hand.
Then I looked at the man who had sold me.
“No.”
I shook my head.
May you like
“I’m choosing myself.”
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