Hey Fiancé, Guess Who’s Your Stepmother Now

Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows, casting dappled shadows on the marble floor. I padded toward the dining room in my slippers, the wedding ring on my finger a glittering reminder of last night's whirlwind union.

The estate was silent. Caspian had been gone for two hours, leaving me alone in this vast, unfamiliar home.

As I pushed open the dining room's double doors, a figure stumbled out from a side hall and slammed right into me.

"Fuck!"

It was Julian.

He had clearly just stumbled in from Las Vegas. His suit was a wrinkled mess, his tie was askew, and he reeked of stale alcohol and cheap perfume. His haggard face was a testament to a brutal hangover.

The moment our eyes met, his surprise curdled into disgust.

"What the fuck are you still doing here?" He shook his head, trying to clear the fog. "I thought I made myself clear. We're done, Aurora. What more could you possibly want?"

I adjusted the collar of my silk robe and met his gaze calmly. "Good morning, Julian."

"'Good morning?'" he sneered. "Cut the crap, Aurora. I know exactly why you're here. Let me guess—you ran to my father to pressure me? Trying to get him to force my hand?"

I didn't answer, just watched his little clown show unfold.

"Listen here, you bitch," he snarled, stepping forward and grabbing my arm. "I would rather die than marry you. Your dead father's damned marriage contract is worthless. I am the heir to the Valachi family, not your personal slave!"

His fingers dug into my skin, leaving angry red marks.

"Let go," I said, my voice soft but icy.

"Or what? What the hell can you do to me?"

Just then, a bodyguard appeared at the end of the hall. Seeing the confrontation, he hurried over.

"Sir, please release Donna Valachi!"

Donna Valachi?

Julian froze for a second, then his confusion erupted into rage.

"'What? Donna Valachi?'" He spun on the bodyguard, his eyes blazing. "What did you just call her?"

"Sir, I must insist you release the Don's wife—"

A sickening thud echoed as Julian drove his foot hard into the bodyguard's stomach. The man doubled over, gasping, and collapsed to the floor.

"You dare call this bitch 'Donna Valachi'? Who the hell does she think she is?" Julian's roar echoed through the hall. "She's a piece of unwanted trash! A parasite trying to bleed our family dry!"

I knelt to help the bodyguard, who was clutching his stomach in agony. He looked young, probably in his early twenties.

"Are you all right?" I asked softly.

"I'm fine, Donna Valachi," he managed through gritted teeth.

"'Donna Valachi'? 'Donna Valachi'!" Julian was losing his mind. "Are you all crazy? This woman is nothing! She's—"

"That's not for you to decide."

I rose to my feet, brushing a speck of dust from my robe. This time, I looked him straight in the eye, my voice as sharp as a shard of glass.

"You were right about one thing, Julian. I don't have to marry you." I paused, a dangerous smile playing on my lips. "After all, you're not the only man in the Valachi family—"

"Bullshit!" Before I could finish, he shoved past me and stormed off. "I don't have time for your pathetic games, Aurora."

I watched his back disappear down the corridor.

The young bodyguard, Nico, was back on his feet, a confused look on his face.

"Donna Valachi, should I go after him?"

"No need." I reached out and straightened his collar. "Tell me, Nico, how long have you been with the family?"

"Three years, Ma'am."

"Then you should know who is truly in charge of this house."

He nodded, understanding dawning in his eyes. "Don Caspian."

"Good." I swept toward the dining room. "Now, please inform the kitchen that I'm ready for breakfast. And one more thing—"

I glanced back in the direction Julian had vanished.

"From this moment on, all access to this estate is locked down. No one enters or leaves without my authorization. That includes family members."

Nico's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly regained his composure. "Yes, Donna Valachi. I'll inform the head of security immediately."

I sat alone at the head of the long dining table, the morning sun warming my face as I enjoyed my breakfast. Caspian's estate was vast and quiet. And now, it was all mine.

That fool Julian still thought he was the only man in this family worth a damn.

The phone rang.

"Donna Valachi," Consigliere Dominic's voice came through the line. "Word from New York. The Don wishes for you to move into the master suite today. He also asked if there's anything you require."

The master suite. Caspian's room.

"Tell him," I said, setting down my coffee cup, my voice calm and firm, "that I require nothing. But I expect that by the time he returns, everyone in this house will know who its mistress is."

After hanging up, I gazed out at the gardens. In the distance, gardeners were trimming rose bushes, their red petals like drops of blood in the sunlight.

This was only the beginning.