"The price of loyalty is paid in blood and sacrifice, for in the game of love and danger, true allegiance demands everything, even the heart that swore to keep it safe."

Author's POV

The Anderson mansion loomed against the twilight sky, its stone façade bathed in the dim glow of the setting sun. It was more than just a home, it was a fortress, a testament to power and tradition. The manicured lawns outside stretched like a green ocean, interrupted only by the soft trickle of fountains that seemed to whisper secrets. For any outsider, it was a symbol of unparalleled wealth. But for Leyla, it was suffocating- a gilded prison wrapped in centuries of prestige and expectation.

Inside, the mansion gleamed under the warm glow of chandeliers that sparkled like a galaxy of stars. Marble floors echoed every footstep, and ancestral portraits, their painted eyes filled with silent judgment, lined the hallways.

In her room, Leyla stood before the grand mirror, gazing at her reflection in the sleek black dress she had chosen for tonight's dinner. Her mother had initially picked a white dress, a symbol of her daughter's purity, but Leyla had fiercely insisted on black. The woman staring back at her in the mirror appeared calm and expressionless, though a tempest brewed behind her eyes. Tonight, she would meet the man who intended to claim her as his own—the most feared mafia boss in Italy, Lorenzo Vitale.

Her father's words from days ago reverberated in her mind: "This is what we do for family, Leyla. Sacrifices must be made."

'Sacrifice'

The word tasted bitter on her tongue. It was so easy for men to speak of sacrifice when they weren't the ones offered up like pawns. Leyla knew her father loved her in his own way, but love in their world was always accompanied by shackles, and now it was her turn to wear them. Her mother had endured the same fate, as had her grandmother before her. Now, Leyla was expected to carry that burden forward.

Adjusting the necklace that sat cold against her skin, memories of her youthful dreams flooded her thoughts—dreams of escaping, of crafting a life defined by her own choices. But those dreams had shattered when her family had told her about Lorenzo. A man with a reputation carved out of fear, one who valued power above all else. He wanted her not for who she was, but for what she symbolized: power, alliance, control.

The door creaked open, and her mother, Carol Anderson, swept into the room. She looked regal, as always, her eyes sharp and discerning as they inspected Leyla's reflection.

"You look beautiful, sweetheart, Carol said, smoothing an invisible crease on Leyla's dress. "But tonight isn't about beauty. It's about duty."

Leyla's hand tightened on the edge of the vanity, her knuckles turning pale. Duty. Another word she had come to loathe.

"Lorenzo Vitale is not a man to trifle with," Carol continued, her voice laced with the sternness of countless lectures Leyla had heard before. "He's powerful, influential. Marrying him secures our family's standing for generations. You must make a good impression. Smile. Don't speak unless spoken to. Be poised, but not overly eager. Men like Lorenzo respect restraint. And whatever you do, don't mention your ideas about freedom."

Leyla rolled her eyes slightly, unable to help herself. She had heard this all before, endured the endless instructions on how to behave like the perfect mafia princess.

"Are you even listening, Leyla?" Her mother's voice sharpened, breaking Leyla from her thoughts.

"Yeah, yeah. Smile, nod, be the perfect little doll," she muttered, fingers toying with the necklace. "I got it."

Carol's eyes narrowed, stepping in front of Leyla and blocking the mirror. "This is serious. Lorenzo Vitale is dangerous. If you upset him, there will be consequences—not just for you, but for all of us."

Anger flickered in Leyla's eyes as she met her mother's gaze. Did they not see that they were handing her over to a monster?

"I know, Mother," she said, each word sharp as broken glass. "I know exactly what tonight means."

Carol's expression softened for a fleeting moment as she placed a hand on Leyla's shoulder. "I know this is hard, but you're stronger than I ever was. I didn't have a choice when I married your father. Look where we are now. We survived. We thrived. You will too."

Leyla shrugged off her mother's hand, her voice laced with bitterness. "I'm not sure surviving is enough."

The softness vanished from Carol's face, replaced by icy determination. "This isn't about what you want, Leyla. It's about family. It's about legacy. One day, you'll understand that."

Leyla turned away, her heart pounding in her chest. Family. Legacy. Duty. The words that shaped her cage. She was tired of pretending that any of it made sense.

"Do you really expect me to sit there like some decorative object while my life is sold off?" Her voice trembled with suppressed fury.

Carol's jaw tightened, her eyes hardening. "You will do what is expected of you. Because if you don't, you will regret it. And I won't be able to protect you."

Leyla looked back at her reflection, now distant and foreign. "I already regret it."

Carol hesitated for a moment, then sighed before stepping toward the door. "You'll thank me one day."

The quiet that followed Carol's exit was shattered by a light knock at the door. Before Leyla could respond, Noah stepped inside, his presence a mixture of boyish charm and protective concern. He was the only one who ever managed to bring some light into the oppressive halls of the Anderson mansion. Tall and broad-shouldered, with eyes the same deep blue as Leyla's, he looked at her with a mix of worry and defiance.

"Are you okay?" he asked, leaning casually against the doorframe, though the tension in his jaw betrayed his unease.

Leyla let out a dry laugh, one that held no humor. "Okay? What do you think, Noah? Our parents are serving me up on a silver platter to the highest bidder."

Noah pushed off the frame, striding across the room until he stood beside her. He glanced at her reflection in the mirror, eyes shadowed with guilt. "I should have done more to stop this. I should've—"

Leyla cut him off, placing a hand on his arm. "Don't. This isn't on you. You know how it works in this family. Once Father sets his mind on something, no one can change it."

"That doesn't make it right." His voice was low, simmering with barely controlled anger. "They're treating you like a pawn, and for what? More power? More influence?" He ran a hand through his dark hair, frustration radiating from him. "It's madness."

"I know," Leyla whispered, eyes dropping to the necklace resting against her collarbone. It felt cold, heavy. "But what choice do I have? If I fight them, it'll only make things worse. Lorenzo isn't just any man, Noah. He's...dangerous."

Noah's eyes flashed with fierce protectiveness. "Then we'll find a way. I don't care how powerful he is. I'm not going to stand by and let them sacrifice you to keep this family's legacy intact."

Leyla managed a faint smile, her heart swelling at his words. Noah had always been her rock, the one person who understood her pain and fear without judgment. But even his resolve couldn't change the reality they were in.

"They'll come for you too if you step out of line," she said softly. "We can't afford that. I can't afford that."

"I'd rather face their wrath than see you trapped in a life that will destroy you." He took her hands in his, squeezing them tightly. "You don't have to pretend with me, Leyla. If there's a way to fight this, we'll find it together. You're not alone."

Tears pricked the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them away. Weakness was not an option now. "Thank you, Noah. I needed to hear that."

A silence settled between them, heavy with unspoken words. Finally, Noah sighed, releasing her hands. "Just... promise me you won't let them break you. No matter what happens tonight."

Leyla nodded, the fire in her eyes reigniting. "I promise."

A faint smile touched Noah's lips. "Good. Because if anyone can stand against Lorenzo Vitale, it's you."

He glanced at the door, the sound of distant voices drifting up from the floor below. Their parents were preparing for the arrival of their powerful guest. Time was slipping through their fingers.

"I'll be there tonight, watching," Noah said. "If you need me, just give me the signal."

Leyla's heart clenched with gratitude. "I know you will."

With one last look, Noah stepped out of the room, leaving Leyla alone once more. But this time, the silence didn't feel so crushing. She wasn't just fighting for herself. She was fighting for the hope that someday, she could reclaim her life—and for the brother who would risk everything to help her do it.

As she turned back to the mirror, she took one last steadying breath. Tonight would change everything, but she was no longer the scared girl they thought she was. If this was the hand she'd been dealt, then she would play it her way.

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Hi bunnies,

So how you all find the first ever chapter ?

Good ?

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Leyla's Dress