The Mafia Principessa’s Nine Knights Chapter 09

The Mafia Principessa’s Nine Knights Chapter 09

The banquet was starting to wind down.

Grandpa blew out the candles and cut the cake

The whole family gathered for a group photo.

Camera flashes went off everywhere.

I stood next to Grandpa, with all nine cousins packed around us.

Angelica stood at the edge.

Still smiling

But I noticed something…

She never put her wine glass down.

Every time a waiter passed, she grabbed another glass.

By now she was on at least her fifth glass.

Her face was growing flushed.

Her laugh, louder.

After the photo, guests drifted into small clusters around the room.

My uncle helped Grandpa upstairs to rest.

I was at the dessert table, picking at a cup of panna cotta.

I’d just taken a bite…

“Bella”

His voice came from behind me.

I turned

Luca.

Dark blue suit. Hair swept back, not a strand loose.

But the way he looked at me….

Something was different.

It wasn’t the usual softness.

Something layered. Complicated

Heartache.

Guilt.

And underneath all of it…

Resolve.

“Bella, whatever happens next, stay close to me. Don’t be scared.”

“…Luca?”

He didn’t explain.

His hand brushed over my shoulder.

Then he was gone.

I stood there, dessert spoon frozen halfway to my lips.

What did that mean?

What was about to happen?

I didn’t have time to figure it out.”

Because…

A sound cut through the hall.

The sharp clink of silver against crystal.

Every head in the room turned.

Luca stood at the center of the room.

Champagne flute in hand.

He tapped the rim of his glass with a silver spoon.

The room went still.

“Family. Friends. Everyone.”

His voice carried across the room without effort.

“While we’re all here for Grandpa’s birthday gala, there’s something I need to say. And I want everyone to hear it.”

A murmur moved through the crowd.

Half the room thought he was about to announce his engagement.

Angelica thought so too.

Her eyes lit up.

She smoothed her dress, and the flush in her cheeks looked less like wine and more like

anticipation.

She straightened up.

Waiting for Luca to say her name.

Waiting for him to say, “I want to spend the rest of my life with this woman.’

Waiting…

“Angelica and I are done. As of tonight.”

The room went silent.

Every sound, every breath, gone.

Angelica’s smile cracked open.

Like a mask splitting down the middle.

“W… what?”

Barely a whisper.

Only the people closest to her even heard it.

Luca didn’t look at her.

He looked at Edward.

Edward nodded.

A projection screen lit up on the far wall.

Footage filled the screen.

The living room.

Angelica standing up. Walking toward me. Leaning over me. Grabbing my chin.

Crack.

The hit.

My body falling back against the sofa.

The room had already been silent.

Now it was worse.

I stood in the crowd. Every part of me went still.

That was me.

That was me on the screen.

Everyone saw it.

Every single person in that room.

Including the man in the back, the one who was supposed to be resting upstairs. Grandpa.

The footage cut out.

A second image flashed on screen. A close-up photo of my shoulder. Angry red crescents dug into

the skin. Vincent had taken it just an hour ago.

The screen changed again.

Not footage this time.

Text messages. Screenshots cycling one by one.

[Done. The spoiled brat didn’t make a sound.]

[I hit her, smiled, and walked away.]

[The girl literally froze.]

[Bella’s always going to be a problem for you.]

[Better to put her in her place now.)

Each screenshot held on the screen for a few seconds.

Long enough for every word to land.