Once They Chose Her, I Chose Myself

I returned to the Corleone family, wanting to bid farewell to some of the members with whom I had built a good rapport.

A Soldato shot a strange look at me before asking, "What are you doing here, Ms. Zanelli?"

"Why shouldn't I be here?" I asked.

"Mr. Antonio ordered us not to let you participate in the family business."

He hesitated for a moment before adding in a low voice, "Also, the family members who were close to you were sent abroad by Ms. Volpe. The ones who were left behind are too scared to talk to you now."

"Where's Antonio? Tell him that I'm here to see him."

"Please wait a moment."

I ended up waiting at the entrance for four hours before they finally informed me that Antonio and Sophia had gone to Moramo.

Everyone looked at me strangely as I muttered to myself.

It turned out that they had gone to the beach that I had brought up countless times in the past.

I had always wanted to visit Solena Beach, but I never got the chance.

I dropped my gaze. I had been worrying about how to explain myself, but it seemed that I had worried for nothing since no one cared about me.

The last thing I had to do was bid farewell to Maria. Once I was done, I would be free to leave the Corleone family without any strings attached.

In fact, it was better this way.

…

Maria cancelled all her meetings upon being informed of my arrival. Her eyes reddened the moment she saw me, asking, "When did you get so thin?"

I placed Mamma's card on the table and said, "Thank you for taking care of me for the past two decades, Mrs. Corleone. The card has all the money that I owe the Corleone family. Mamma wanted to make sure that you got it."

Tears streamed down Maria's face.

"Why are you acting like a stranger, Elena? It's my fault. I've been so busy with the family business that I neglected you in the last few years."

She grabbed my hand and brushed her fingers over it. "I was hoping that you would be my daughter-in-law one day, but my two foolish sons don't deserve you. Take your money back. Treat it as my gift to you.

"I might not be able to attend your wedding, sweetheart, but I truly hope that you will find happiness."

I forced myself not to cry as I hugged Maria tightly.

Maria had genuinely treated me well during my time with the Corleone family. However, it was impossible to change another person's feelings.

Just then, the door swung open.

Antonio, Matteo, and Sophia strode into the room.

The brothers' expressions soured when they saw me.

"Why are you talking about marriage? Who's getting married?"

Antonio frowned and said, "Are you spouting nonsense to Mamma again, Elena?"

Matteo hurried over to Maria's side and said, "Don't listen to her nonsense, Mamma. Antonio and I only proposed to Sophia to fulfill her wish. She didn't actually say yes."

Sophia hid behind Antonio with a bashful expression.

"Although Sophia doesn't have a good family background, she's strong and independent," Antonio explained languidly. "She won't casually agree to our proposals just because she's after the Corleone family's fortune.

"On the other hand, Elena's been spoiled rotten since she was a child. She gets jealous over the smallest things."

Maria hurled her glass onto the ground. "It's no wonder Elena wants to leave. You two bastards! Take this woman and get out of my sight!"

I comforted Maria for a long time after Antonio, Matteo, and Sophia left.

Maria's eyes were bloodshot when she walked me to the door. "Take care, Elena."

I left with Maria's well-wishes.

However, when I was descending the stairs, I tripped over something and tumbled down.

Excruciating pain exploded from my ankle.

I looked up just in time to see Matteo retracting his foot.

Sophia looked at me with reddened eyes and asked, "Do you hate me that much, Elena? You've already taken revenge for your family and your Padre. I lost Papa and my family. Isn't that enough?"

Antonio's expression darkened as he strode over to Sophia's side and pulled her into a hug. He looked heartbroken as he comforted her.

Meanwhile, Matteo grabbed my collar and dragged me in front of Sophia.

"Apologize!" he demanded.

Sweat poured down my back from the pain, but I still gritted my teeth and hissed, "I won't. I didn't do anything wrong."

Matteo stomped on my injured ankle the moment the words left my lips.

A bone-chilling sound reverberated around the room.

"Never forget what happened here today, Elena. This is the price you will pay for hurting Sophia. I'm not like Antonio. I won't tolerate your behavior."

I curled up on the floor, teetering on the brink of unconsciousness.

My mind had gone blank except for a single thought.

I didn't owe Antonio and Matteo anything anymore.

Two decades of gratitude for taking revenge for my family… Two decades of feelings from being childhood sweethearts—everything had been wiped clean.