A Donna of My Own Making

I couldn't get a proper rest.

Just as I drifted off, the noise downstairs jolted me awake. I buried myself under the covers, my head splitting with pain.

But the maid kept knocking.

"Miss, are you awake? Don Rossi insists on hosting a birthday party for you."

Since my birthday coincided with my mother's death anniversary, I hadn't celebrated for years.

What was he thinking?

I went downstairs. The hall was packed with Mafia family heads. I scanned the room, and my eyes froze. Every photo of my mother on the walls had been replaced with portraits of Rosa and her daughter.

The butler hurried to explain.

"Your father said there's something he wants to tell you, Miss…"

I let out a bitter laugh. So, after scheming behind my back, they now had the nerve to confront me face-to-face.

Guests whispered among themselves.

"Did you hear? All the Rossi family's northern casino holdings were transferred to Rosa's name."

"Tsk, tsk… all the legitimate wife's property, and in the end, it goes to a prostitute."

"Shh! She's officially the Madre now."

Rosa leaned against my father's shoulder, offering me a fake, saccharine smile.

"Lia, let bygones be bygones. From now on, I'm your mother. I'll take care of you better than Maria ever did."

"Ha!" I laughed sharply. "And just who do you think you are, trying to replace my mother?"

Rosa's eyes instantly reddened, and she looked to my father.

My father hadn't expected me to publicly shame him; his face darkened.

"Lia, I know this is hard for you to accept, but so much time has passed. Have some compassion for your father—I need someone by my side too."

My eyes burned red, the words "Today is mother's death anniversary" caught in my throat.

He tried to smooth things over. "Enough, let's leave it for today. We'll talk when we get home."

Before he could finish, Lina and Riccardo appeared together.

"Happy birthday, my dear Lily," Riccardo said, offering a red gift box with tender formality.

"Good heavens! That's the exclusive Blood Rose packaging from Christie's!" a guest gasped. "A mysterious buyer paid a fortune last month. Turns out it was Don Colombo! What a romantic scene! Lia is unbelievably lucky!"

I didn't care. Priceless treasures, a doting Don—none of it mattered.

My gaze locked on the aquamarine hairpiece atop Lina's head. It had been my mother's final gift, a piece she personally designed for my coming-of-age ceremony. But I never got to have her place it on me.

"Take it off," I rasped.

Lina's eyes immediately reddened. She shrank behind Riccardo.

Riccardo's tone was gentle but firm.

"Lia, don't make a scene. That style is old-fashioned anyway. Tomorrow, I'll make you a bigger, better one. Let Lina play with this—it's just one of your many jewels."

But I heard nothing. I lunged straight at Lina.

"Give it back!"

He caught me in his arms, his voice darkening.

"You're being reckless! Can't you behave for once?"

"Don't blame her—it's all my fault!" Lina screamed, ripping the hairpiece from her head and flinging it to the floor. The gem rolled across the marble, and she stomped on it like a madwoman. "I'll do it myself! I don't need your help!"

The same cruel game I had known since school: provoke me, make me lose control, then play the victim so everyone believed I was the villain.

The guests murmured in shock.

"I used to think the illegitimate daughter was detestable, but Lia is far crueler. Now that Lina is legitimate, how can she be treated like this?"

Lina cried until she nearly collapsed.

Riccardo held her tightly, and for the first time, he scolded me sharply.

"Lia! Apologize to Lina!"