Blurb：
Rejected by Marco Falcone at the altar, Giulia De Luca, the prophesied Lady of Glory, thought her life was over. But when Dante Falcone, the underestimated older brother, steps from the shadows, he offers her a deal: a marriage of convenience that will make them the most powerful couple in the mafia world. Can Giulia’s divine protection and Dante’s strategic mind bring down the Falcones from within, or will Marco’s betrayal destroy them first? This is a story of revenge, power, and a love that burns brighter than any prophecy.
Content：
I’m the so-called ‘Lady of Glory’yeah, that girl from the Archbishop’s prophecy.
They said I’d bring endless glory to whatever Family I married into.
But at our engagement party, my fiancMarco Falconeswaggered onstage holding hands with his pregnant stripper girlfriend.
Then he grabbed my wrist, dragged me forward, and made me kiss her hand.
“Lola’s the only woman I’ll ever call my wife,” he said with a smug little grin. “If you still want this marriage, your De Luca money better support her and the baby.”
I slapped him. Ripped the contract in half. Let it snow confetti.
“Please. I can marry someone a hundred times better.”
Right when I was about to torch the entire Falcone Family, someone stepped out of the shadows.
Marco’s older brother, Dante Falcone. The one who’d been injured, underestimated, and pushed aside.
He locked eyes with me, totally unfazed.
“Signorina De Luca, do your words still stand?”
Chapter 1
“You look gorgeous, Signorina.”
I stared at my reflection. That black silk gown clung to me like a secret, and the diamond necklace? Blinding.
This wasn’t just any dressit was a custom piece, six figures, made for one reason only: tonight’s engagement party with Marco Falcone.
“Thanks, Maria.” I fixed my earring. “Is the car out front?”
“It is. Your father said tonight marks a new eraDe Luca and Falcone, stronger than ever.”
I nodded.
Dad wasn’t wrongthis alliance would fuse our shipping empire with the Falcone mafia’s grip on the streets.
But more than business, there was that old prophecy from the archbishop: “The Lady of Glory shall bring divine protection and endless prosperity to the Family she joins.”
People believed it was me.
That’s why the Falcones locked in my engagement to their second son, Marco, back when I was still playing with dolls.
***
Thirty minutes later, I stepped into the top-floor ballroom of a luxury hotel.
Under the giant crystal chandelier, every major mafia family was packed in.
I scanned the room, searching for Marco.
“Giulia!” His voice cut through the noise. He strolled up in a sharp suit, flashing that too-perfect smile. “You made it.”
“Obviously.” I offered my hand. “It’s our big night.”
“Yeah.” He kissed it, eyes darting for just a second. “Come on. Everyone’s waiting.”
Something felt off. I didn’t press it.
Guys like Marco? Marriage was never about love. It was all about the power play.
The ceremony kicked off.
Alessandro Falcone, the Don himself, stood on stage and boomed about the epic alliance between our families.
Marco and I stood shoulder to shoulder, soaking in the smiles and blessings.
Just as the priest reached for the rings, Marco dropped my hand.
“Wait.” His voice echoed through the mic. The whole place froze.
I turned to him, heart dropping fast.
“Before we do this, there’s someone I need you all to meet.” He nodded toward the doors. “Lola, come in.”
The doors swung open. A blonde in a tight red dress walked in, heels clicking like gunshots. Her pregnant belly said it all.
“This is Lola,” Marco said, lacing his fingers with hers. “She’s having my baby.”
The ballroom broke into a storm of whispers.
My blood went ice-cold, but I kept my face stone still.
“Marco, what the hell are you doing?” Alessandro’s voice cracked like a whip, fury pouring off him.
“I’m doing what any real man would.” Marco turned to me, eyes daring me to react. “Giulia, I need you to do something.”
“What?” My voice could’ve sliced glass.
“Kiss Lola’s hand. Accept her. She’s family now.” He yanked my hand, trying to drag me toward her. “That baby deserves a name.”
Silence. Thick and deadly.
Everyone held their breath. Was I gonna cave… or clap back?
I stared at Marco’s smug face. Thought of my dad. The De Luca name.
Smack!
The sound cracked through the ballroom.
Marco stood there, palm to his cheek, stunned stupid.
I stepped onto the stage and grabbed the mic.
My voice cut through the room, calm and sharp. “I, Giulia De Luca, officially cancel my engagement to Marco Falcone.”
Chaos erupted.
Mafia dons whispering. Alessandro’s jaw clenched.
Marco lost it. He pointed, raging. “Puttana! Who the hell do you think you are? Anyone who takes you in becomes our enemy!”
He stormed up, ripped the mic from my hands. “You’ve got two optionsaccept Lola, or rot in a convent!”
Right then, the ballroom doors slammed open.
IsabellaMarco’s motherburst in, eyes wide as she took in the scene. Her face drained.
“Marco, what are you doing?” She shoved Lola out of the way. “You’re disgracing the family!”
“No!” Marco blocked Lola, snapping back at me. “Giulia De Luca, I’m giving you a shotout of charity! Just say that after the wedding, you’ll treat Lola like family. Let my kid be born in peace…”
He paused. That greedy spark lit up his eyes.
“And when the baby’s born, your dadMr. King of the Portscan be our kid’s financial guardian!”
Chapter 2
Everyone just stood there, stunned. Isabella went ghost-white.
She rushed over and gripped my hand hard. “Giulia, dear,” she begged, voice trembling. “For both families’ reputations, pleaselet’s finish the ceremony. We’ll explain everything after.”
I stared at her, remembering how three months ago she’d looked me dead in the eye and promised, ‘You’ll be the only lady of this house. I’ll treat you like my own daughter.’
What a joke.
I yanked my hand back. “Is the ‘explanation’ you mentioned about welcoming your son’s side chick or demoting my dad to your grandson’s butler?”
“Giulia, please try to”
“Oh, I get it,” I snapped, turning to the crowd. “Let me make it real simple. I’d rather blow up this entire alliance than marry that garbage. And trust meI’ve got options.”
Marco cracked.
He scooped up Lola and stormed out. Isabella screamed after him, but he didn’t look back.
“Marco! Get back here!”
Too late.
Alessandro’s face turned stone-cold. Clearly, even he hadn’t seen this disaster coming.
The ballroom doors slammed. Silence followed, thick and tense.
I stood there, center stage, feeling every stare burn into me.
Some looked sorry. Others were eating it up. And a few were just waiting to see how the De Lucas would react.
Isabella pulled herself together and stepped up to the mic.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is just a small misunderstanding. We”
“Misunderstanding?” I cut in, laughing coldly. “Your son humiliated me in front of every major family. That’s your excuse?”
“Giulia, please, just give us a chance…”
“A chance?” My voice cracked through the silence. “He already made his choice. What else do you think I need?”
Isabella went pale again but wouldn’t quit. “To preserve the alliance, maybe… maybe you could finish the ceremony with Marco’s family ring. That way”
“Marry a RING?” I blinked at her. “You really want me to be the mafia world’s punchline?”
Whispers rippled through the crowd.
By morning, this would be all over the North American underworld’Giulia De Luca, the so-called Lady of Glory, dumped by a loser and offered a ring instead of a groom.’
I was boxed in.
Say yes, and I’d torch my pride. Say no, and my family would be at war with one of the most powerful mafia dynasties.
Silence. Heavy and choking.
Everyone was watching, waiting to see how the legendary Lady of Glory would claw her way out.
I was just about to declare the De Lucas were cutting ties for good when a deep voice rang out from the back.
“Signorina De Luca, do your words still stand?”
Heads whipped around.
A tall figure rose from the shadows. He moved stiffly, but every step hit like a power move.
I froze.
Dante Falcone.
Marco’s older brother. The real heir.
He’d taken a step back from family affairs after that near-fatal hit three years ago.
He moved toward the stage, his left leg dragging slightly. But those eyessharp, locked in, like he saw everything.
The air thickened with every step.
“Dante, what are you doing?” Isabella’s voice wavered, caught between panic and disbelief.
He didn’t even blink her way.
His eyes stayed on me.
“You said you’d pick a new fianc. That still on the table?”
Chapter 3
“Absolutely.”
My voice cut clean through the silence.
Every head turnedfirst to me, then to Dante as he stepped forward. His limp was there, but it didn’t matter. The weight he carried had the whole room holding its breath.
“You sure?” he asked, stopping in front of me. His eyes locked on mine. “Will you marry me?”
Then, quieter, but dead serious”Once this starts, there’s no going back.”
“I don’t do back.” I reached out. “Dante Falcone, I accept.”
He took my hand, turned to the crowd, and said, “Papa. Father Antonio. Start the ceremony.”
“Dante! Are you insane?” Isabella rushed up, pale and panicked. “You can’t do this! This was Marco’s”
“Marco’s gone.” Dante’s voice cut like a blade. “He gave up his claim. Now it’s my call.”
Alessandro stood, slow and deliberate. His footsteps echoed like thunder across the dead-quiet room.
Every soul held still, waiting on the word of Chicago’s underworld Godfather.
“Father Antonio,” Alessandro said, voice low and final, “begin the ceremony.”
Isabella stared at her husband, devastated. Alessandro didn’t even glance her way.
Father Antonio stepped back onstage, hands trembling.
His voice crackled through the mic. “Witnesses, tonight we bear witness to the engagement of Mr. Dante Falcone and Miss Giulia De Luca.”
Dante’s hand gripped minewarm, steady. Not like Marco’s empty heat. This felt real.
“Dante Falcone, do you accept Giulia De Luca as your fiance, promising to honor and protect her as your future wife?”
“I do.” No pause. No doubt.
“Giulia De Luca, do you accept Dante Falcone as your fianc, promising to honor and support him as your future husband?”
I met Dante’s eyes. Thought of how he stepped in when no one else did.
“I do.”
I pulled Marco’s ring from my purse and slid it onto Dante’s finger. The metal was cold against my skin.
“Didn’t see this coming,” Dante said softly. “I’ll get you a real ring.”
I shrugged. “This works.” A ring was just a formality.
I gave him a steady smile.
The ballroom erupted in applausebut underneath the claps, I heard it all: shock, confusion, and quiet scheming.
As the ceremony wrapped, Dante’s men showed up at the doorsblack suits, sharp movements. Ready for anything.
“The car’s ready,” one of them said, nodding to Dante.
He turned to me. “Let’s go.”
He pulled out my chair and walked me toward the exit. I caught the slight hitch in his left leg, the pause in every step down the stairs.
“Dante!” Isabella’s voice rang out behind us. “We need to talk!”
He didn’t turn. Just kept movingfaster.
Outside, a fleet of black, bulletproof cars waitedstraight out of a presidential motorcade.
Dante opened the door and helped me in like a perfect gentleman.
When he slid in beside me, I noticed it againhis left leg still moved stiffly, not quite right.
“John Hancock Center,” he told the driver.
The car pulled away, Chicago’s night lights blurring past the windows.
We sat with a polite distance between us.
“I’m sorry about tonight,” he said suddenly. “No woman should’ve gone through that.”
“You don’t have to be sorry,” I said, turning to him. “You saved me.”
“I saved myself,” he said quietly. “Marco’s screw-up gave me an opening.”
I watched him in the dim light.
His features looked even sharper nowcut from shadow and resolve.
Three years ago, that hit nearly erased him from the game. Everyone thought he was finished.
But tonight? The man sitting next to me was calm, controlledand way more dangerous than he looked.
The car pulled up to a high-rise. Top floor was all his.
Inside
“It’s safe here,” he said, handing me a glass of red wine. “You can crash in the guest room. I’ll take care of everything else.”
I took the glass, feeling the quiet respect in his words.
“Thanks.” I met his eyes. “You pulled me out of a wreck tonight.”
He held my gaze but stayed silent.
He didn’t need to explain.
I already knew why he did it.
Chapter 4
The next morning, a soft knock woke me.
“Signorina, breakfast is ready,” a maid called through the door.
I stared at the ceiling for a second, letting last night hit me all over again.
I was engaged. And in a month, I’d be married to Dante Falcone.
After freshening up, I made my way to the dining room.
Dante was already there, papers spread in front of him.
“Morning,” he said, standing to pull out my chair.
“Morning.” I sat, eyeing the fancy breakfast. “You’re up early.”
“Old habit.” He slid a document toward me. “Property agreement. All your assets stay yoursI won’t touch a cent.”
I flipped through it. Way more generous than I expected.
It basically gave me full freedom.
“Also,” Dante said, “I arranged a memorial Mass for your mother this afternoon. I know you were young when she passed.”
I looked up, caught off guard.
That loss was buried deepand he remembered.
“Thank you,” I said, voice catching.
“We’re getting married,” he said softly. “It’s the least I could do.”
I set the document down and really looked at him.
In the morning light, his face was clearer. The faint lines around his eyes said everythingyears of quiet endurance.
“Dante, I need you to trust me,” I said. “I know a way to help you.”
He set his coffee down, watching mewaiting.
“Your leg… I know a biotech companyNeuroGen Biotech. They’re testing experimental nerve repair treatments.” I met his eyes. “My family’s a secret investor.”
He didn’t flinch, but his grip on the cup tightened.
“That injury caused nerve damage,” he said quietly. “Doctors said it’s permanent.”
“Maybe they’re wrong.” I held his gaze. “Just give me a shot.”
He went silent for a moment. Then nodded.
“If you believe there’s a chanceI’ll try.”
***
The next day, we headed to a private clinic partnered with NeuroGen Biotech for Dante’s first check-up.
But as we walked in, we ran right into trouble.
Marco and Lola were stepping out of a prenatal exam room.
“Well, well,” Marco smirked. “Just got engaged and already hitting up doctors?”
Dante’s face darkened, but he stayed silent.
Marco raised his voice. “Let me guessyou’re here to patch up my crippled brother? Or maybe to check on my future sister-in-law’s”
He paused, eyes sweeping over me like poison.
“Marco, stai zitto!” Dante’s voice dropped low, cold as hell.
“Why should I?” Marco stepped closer. “Just being a thoughtful relative. Gotta make sure my future sister-in-law’s still… functional. She is secondhand now, after all.”
Lola grabbed his arm, fake-scolding, “Marco, don’t say that.”
But her eyes were scanningsharp, twitchyuntil they landed on a container in a nurse’s hands.
It was the one I’d just picked up. The experimental drug.
“What’s that?” Lola pointed, voice suddenly all interest. “Looks pricey.”
“It’s a nerve regeneration compound,” the nurse said. “Came from an outside lab. Extremely rare.”
Lola’s eyes sparkled.
She turned to Marco, all fake concern. “Marco, the doctor said the baby’s unstable. I need extra nutrients.”
She pointed at the vial, voice dripping sugar. “They said nerve repair drugs help fetal development. I want that one.”
Marco didn’t even blink. He stepped toward the nurse. “Give it to her.”
“Sir, that belongs to Signorina De Luca”
“I don’t care!” Marco barked, spinning toward me. “Hand it over! My son matters more than some broken woman!”
He reached for the container.
But a hand locked around his wristhard.
Dante was behind him. Voice ice-cold.
“In a few weeks, she’ll be my wife. What’s hers belongs to the Family. Marco Falcone, are you stealing from the Family?”
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