Page 26 of Arranged Mafia Marriage

She arches a brow. “What do you mean?”

Santino slumps in his chair. “I didn’t just let your mother go. I chased after you both for twelve years.”

The shock on Felicity’s face is immediate. “What?”

“I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you. I sent men to find you, to bring you back, but your mother was clever. She always managed to stay one step ahead.”

Felicity’s hands clench into fists. “So all those times we moved, all the fear, was because of you?”

He nods, looking regretful. “Yes. I thought I was doing the right thing, trying to bring my family back together, but I finally realized how selfish that was.”

I step closer to Felicity, ready to intervene if needed. Her body is tense, coiled like a spring ready to snap.

“Why did you stop?” she asks quietly.

“I saw what it was doing to you both. The constant running, the fear... it was ruining your lives. I couldn’t bear to be the cause of that anymore.”

She stands abruptly, pacing the room. “So you just decided to back off? After years of terrorizing us?”

Santino wheels himself closer to her. “I wasn’t trying to terrorize you, but I understand why you’d use that word. So, yes, I made a deal with your mother. I promised to leave you alone, to provide financial support from afar. In exchange, she agreed to give you a stable home and...”

He trails off, and she whirls to face him. “And what?”

He looks at me briefly before returning his attention to Felicity. “And she agreed to your arranged marriage when you turned twenty-five.”

The silence that follows is deafening. Her expression goes through a rapid series of emotions. Shock, anger, and betrayal.

“Mom agreed to that?” she asks finally, her voice trembling.

Santino nods. “She saw it as a way to secure your future, to keep you safe. The alliance between our families would shield you from the dangers of our world.”

Felicity turns to me, anger radiating from her. “Did you know about this?”

I meet her gaze steadily. “I knew about the arrangement, yes, but I didn’t know the full history until now.”

She turns back to him. “My entire life has been a lie? Every move, every decision, it was all part of some grand plan?”

“Not everything,” he says softly. “Your mother loved you fiercely. She wanted you to have a normal life, as much as possible. That’s why she kept you in the dark about all of this.”

She sinks back into her chair, her anger seeming to deflate. “I don’t know what to believe anymore.”

I move to stand beside her, offering silent support. She doesn’t push me away, which I take as a good sign.

He leans forward toward her. “I know this is a lot to take in. I’ve made many mistakes, and I can never fully make up for them, but I hope that by being honest with you now, we can start to build something real.”

Felicity is quiet for a long moment as she stares at the floor. When she finally looks up, her expression is cool. “I need time to process all of this. I can’t just forgive and forget.”

He nods, his expression reflecting understanding and disappointment. “Of course. Take all the time you need. I’ll be here when you’re ready to talk again.”

She stands turns to me, looking like she’s barely holding it together. “Can we go?”

I nod, placing a hand on the small of her back. “Of course.”

As we head toward the door, Santino calls out, “Felicity?”

She pauses, turning slightly.

“I love you,” he says, his voice thick with emotion. “I’ve loved you since the moment I knew you existed. I hope one day you can believe that.”

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