EMILIA’S POV

I watch Papa and Don move to his office while papa’s men and Don’s men stay outside.

I wait for them to go into papa’s office before sneaking to go listen in on them.

Don looks towards Elena then removes his face like she didn’t qualify to be looked at. As if she was not one of the most beautiful girls in the city. Elena bows her head slightly as mama rubs her back to comfort her.

Something in me feels angry and dark, one thing was now certain.

I hate Don Vassallo.

I hate, I hate himmmmm.

I hate him because of how he makes papa feel and now because of how he makes Elwna feel less of herself.

As if he could feel my presence, he turns and looks towards the half door but doesn't see anything.

“ Your house is well guarded,” he spoke.

His voice is so deep it sends shivers down my spine, with his Italian accent. And so confident.

“Unlike some people, I have a family to protect” papa replies.

Don scoffed.

Mama sends glares at papa for the silly comment, Ellie looks at him, mouth wide open. I would have been surprised if I hadn't been snooping around for the last seven years and listening to papa’s conversation.

I sometimes wonder which part of him was real, the one he showed us or the one he showed his men and partners.

“Ohh wow Family. Right.” Then he gives papa a deadly glare.

“ I thought we were friends Damien, no need for the harsh words”

“Yes we are Don”

I scoff quietly, they wish. They both hate each other. Papa detest the Vassallo’s and they hate us too.

Don slides a folder across the desk towards papa, papa picks it up as he stares at him like he was the devil himself. “ You know what needs to be done.” Don says as he turns to look at Elena who is rolled up into mama's hands.

Papa inhales sharply as he goes through the contract, then he picks up his pen to sign. I frown as I boil with anger. He didn’t even ask for some time to think it through.

My heart skips a beat as I watch papa sign away Elena’s future into the hands of Don Vassallo. Tears rolled down my eyes. Mama smiles at Elena and rubs her hand over her back as papa signs the remaining pages. And just like it was nothing, the deal was struck. Ellie was betrothed to the Devil of New York City and I could not save her.

I ran to my room as tears ran down my eyes, I lay down on my bed letting the tears roll down my eyes. I cry myself to sleep.

…

Later that night, I was woken up by a soft push. I open my eyes to see Elena sitting beside me, I sit up and look at her worried. She slips into the bed and sleeps beside me, we both sat there silent. Then I finally broke the silence, “ Elena you do not have to do this” I blurted “Just tell papa and mama no, he is not good for you.”

“Hey calm down tigress” she said as she held my hands smiling “ I will be fine, Emilia”

I sat there in silence looking at her. “ You don’t know him”

“ He is not that bad, he agreed with papa that we will officially get engaged and married in the next three years” she smiled softly.

“So I’ll use those three years and get to know him” she said

“ But i don’t want you to get hurt Ellie”

“I won’t,” she held my hand “ besides you will be leaving for college soon, i won’t have anyone to talk to”

“We can chat and talk on facetime” She chuckled

“ Don’t worry Emilia, he will be good to me. You’ll see.”

I gave up and let out a sigh.

Tracing my neckpiece on my chest. I make a vow to myself. It may be a world ruled by men, but I will never yield to any man or violence. Become any man's property or given away in exchange for resources,alliance. Above all, I will never marry.

EMILIA’S POV

3 YEARS LATER

Today I returned home from college. It has been three years since I last saw Elena, Papa and Mama.

I decided to leave for college after papa had signed away Elena’s future to the devil. I was furious, I couldn't even look at my parents. I stand in my now empty dorm room, checking to see if I have packed everything.

Suddenly I hear thundering footsteps, I look up and see Lily, my college bestie running towards me.

“ Hey Emmy” she sings, I just chuckle.

“ Are you done packing” she asked

“ Yeah, my driver will be here soon”

“ Urgggghhhh” she lets out a groan “Do you really have to go?” she pouts.

“ Yes Lily and you also need to go”

“ I am going to miss you”

“ Me too” i hug her “But you know we are just two hours drive away from each other right”

“ That’s still too long,” she says, pinching me.

Our conversation was cut short by my phone ringing. It was Dominic, papa’s right hand man. He was here to pick me up.

“My ride is here,” I told Lily.

She sighs as we walk out to meet Dominic.

“Hey Dom” I greeted.

“Long time no see, Miss Emilia” He replied. I gave him a small smile. “I will get your things into the car and then we leave”

I turned to Lily and she was focused on her phone.

She turns to me “My parents are here, i have to go pack up and leave, see you soon. I love you”

I hugged her “I love you too” Then she left.

I just stand there going through the pictures of me and Elena. Then Dominic calls out that he is done packing and ready to leave.

I walk up to the car and get in, letting a sigh out.

“ Ready to face my problems once again” I whisper to myself.

“ Your papa will be so happy to see you again” Dominic says

I Just give a nod and look out the window.

…

The car ride was silent.

I was just in my own thoughts, thinking of how Elena might be coping.

I miss her so much, I miss papa and mama too. I am lost in my thoughts when my phone rings. I look at the caller and it’s Elena.

My face brightens up and I quickly pick up.

“ Hey” we say at the same time. We burst out laughing.

“ Where are you headed?” she asked. Before you ask, the thing is I kind of didn’t tell them I was coming back. I wanted it to be a surprise. So I planned it with Dominic.

“ Just on a little trip, “ I responded.

“Ohhhh really, Miss Explorer” She said laughing.

I let out a laugh.

“ I have something to tell you” She says, smiling really hard.

“Okay?” I said

“ Tomorrow is the official engagement between me and Don.” My expression changed and she noticed it too.

“Come on Emilia, it has been three years,” She sighs “ He is not that bad, plus papa made me go for classes on how to behave.”

I let out a sigh “ Okay, I’ll call you back later.”

“Okay, but be safe. Bye” I didn’t respond , just ended the call and turned to Dominic.

“ Did you know about this?” I asked. He nods in response.

“ Oh wow”

I just look out the window as the familiar gates come into view.

I was back and my sister was getting married.

EMILIA’S POV

Dominic drives in and stops in front of the mansion.

I step down and walk up to the front door.

I get greeted by the maids and guards, I respond with a smile.

I ran upstairs to Elena’s room. I knock then enter, I see her laying down.

She turns and realizes it’s me, she screams and runs towards me. I run towards her too and we crash into a hug.

“OMG! Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back when I called” She slapped my arm playfully.

“Cause i wanted to surprise you guys” I smiled. Then hugged her again.

I notice some teardrops on her cheeks. “I really missed you Emilia”

“ I missed you too Ellie” Then I hugged her tighter.

“ Where is papa and mama?” I asked her.

“ Papa is in his office and mama should be in the garden.”

“ I’ll go say hi to papa, wanna come along?” I asked.

“ Yes! I really wanna see their faces” She giggles.

We walked down to papa’s office. I knocked then pushed the heavy door open. There he was sitting and going through some documents. He looks up and sees me, his face brightens up. Then he runs up and picks me up.

I laughed as he twirls me around.

“Hey papa,” I said, hugging him back.

“ Askim, why didn’t you tell me you were coming back?” He cupped my face into his hands as he dropped me.

“ Well I wanted to surprise you.”

“Oh my Askim, it’s been three years since I last saw you. I’ve missed you so much”

“I’ve missed you too papa.”

He hugs me again, I place my head on his chest. When we hear someone clearing their throat. I raise my head to see mama beside Elena.

“Mama” I ran towards her. I reach out and try to hug her and then she swerves my hand away. Elena gives her a little nudge.

She ignores me and walks up to papa “Why is she here? You do know tomorrow is Elena’s engagement” She says to papa.

“What if she starts trouble, You know no one needs to know about her,” She says angrily “Rumors already has it that you have another daughter, do you want confirmation now?”

I stand there stiff, tears rolling down my eyes. I have always been Mama’s least favorite daughter. She never spears me a glance, doesn’t want me around.

Papa lets out a sigh “She won't, she is much more mature now” Papa says.

“No! You have to send her back or take her to one of the safe houses till everything is done.” She spits out angrily.

I really didn’t mean to cause a fight. I just missed them and thought of coming back.

“ No please, I promise to stay in my room or better still in the tree house till the engagement is over tomorrow” I plead.

I go on my knees and beg mama not to send me away.

“ Please mama, She won’t cause any trouble.” I hear Elena whispering to mama as she tugs on her arms.

Mama gives me death.

“ If you even think of coming out of that tree house or starting any trouble. I promise you, you’ll regret it.” Then she walks away

Elena and papa walk up to me and drag me back up on my feet.

“ Hey…” Elena calls out.

“I need some air.” Then I walk out of the office. I ran downstairs and into the garden. Climb up to the tree house and sit there. I let the tears run down my face as I looked up at the sky. I never really understood why mama hated me. She always wanted me away. I cry while laying down on the couch. I pull out my phone and decide to read some novels. I scroll through looking for a novel to read. I Finally found one and just layed there reading.

…

I didn’t know I had stayed there for a long time, until my stomach growled. I haven’t had anything to eat since I came back. I decided to go back into the house.

I didn’t even realize how late it was until I checked my phone, it was almost midnight. I quietly walked in and went into the kitchen.

I walked in and grabbed almost all the snacks I could grab. I went up to my room, quietly because it was late. I walk in and shut the door slowly. When it closes I let out a sigh of relief and jump on my bed.

I grab the snacks and start devouring them while scrolling through my Insta. Then I decided to text Lily.

— hey girl

No reply.

She’s probably asleep.

I shower quickly, letting the cold water wash off the weight of the day. When I crawl into bed, wearing nothing but shorts and a thin top, exhaustion drags me under.

Tomorrow is the engagement.

Tomorrow, I will see him again.

Don Vassallo.

The devil my sister insists is not so bad.

As sleep takes me, one thought settles deep in my chest like a promise.

If he hurts her….

I will burn his world to the ground.