In His Grasp: A Mafia Romance

Chapter 136: He Lost

Isabella felt she would never forgive Emanuele. He always enjoyed forcing others, treating people as tools for exchange.

"Grazia, I'm sorry. I couldn't persuade Emanuele not to do this," she said with a heavy heart. Grazia, her dear sister and friend, was left without any help.

Grazia held Isabella's hand. "Isabella, I won't be disappointed. The fact that you made an effort for me already moved me. As for Emanuele, I don't hate him either. He must have his reasons for making this decision. Since childhood, I knew that as the princess of the Mafia, I have to fulfill my duties. I've had over thirty peaceful years, and I'm content."

She knew the upcoming challenges were hers to face.

At that moment, Grazia's phone rang. It was a video call from Leo.

Grazia answered. "Leo, I heard from Emanuele that he wants you to marry Rocco."

Grazia confirmed.

"Fine. You know, Emanuele is in a difficult situation now, dealing with enemies' ambushes and protecting us. If you marry Rocco and go to Italy with him, those enemies won't dare to harm you."

"I understand, Dad. Are you having a good time with Sophia over there?" Grazia smiled, looking relaxed. Isabella couldn't tell if Grazia's state was genuine or an act.

"Very much. Sophia and I plan to visit several more countries." Leo said. He hadn't been this relaxed in a long time. He had delegated all Mafia matters to Emanuele. His duty was to enjoy life with his love. By not returning, he allowed Emanuele to focus more.

Because, at this moment, Chicago was the most dangerous place.

"Grazia, if you think Rocco is suitable, marry him as soon as possible. When we travel to Italy, we can attend your wedding." Leo suggested.

"It's hard to say." Grazia frowned, seeming unwilling to discuss it further. "Okay, Isabella is here too. I want to continue chatting with her. You guys have fun."

After ending the call, Grazia looked at Isabella, shrugged, and expressed a sense of helplessness. "You've seen it too; everyone hopes I marry soon."

Isabella sighed. "I still hope you can stick to your own ideas." As the wife of the Mafia boss, she had no power. How much she blamed herself, only heaven knew.

"Isabella, don't be sad. You should wish me well and hope I'll have a better life in the future." Grazia touched Isabella's hair. She liked Isabella a lot, but sadly, they were about to part. Isabella leaned on Grazia's leg. Grazia was like a sister to her. She had no real sister, and her cousin Chloe was a lunatic. So, Isabella cherished the time spent with Grazia.

How could she not feel sad?

At that moment, Isabella noticed a diamond ring on Grazia's middle finger, something she hadn't seen before.

"Oh, my God, Grazia, don't tell me that the diamond ring on your finger is from Rocco."

Before, when Grazia married Andrew, she wore a ring on her ring finger. Now, she took that ring off and replaced it with this one.

Grazia nodded, "Without any surprises, we will have the engagement ceremony in a week. Isabella, you and Emanuele should come to attend. Our ceremony will be simple." Isabella plunged into sadness, restraining her emotions and nodding.

They weren't even engaged yet, and Rocco had already given Grazia the ring. It showed how eager he was. Did he like Grazia? From a woman's perspective, Isabella couldn't tell how much he liked her. As Emanuele said, Rocco now wanted a child.

Rocco was at an age where he needed to have his child, nurture him to become the new Mafia boss, and further consolidate his Mafia career. Choosing Grazia probably had to do with Emanuele's abilities- strength in unity, nothing better.

Isabella didn't know what to say. She wanted to stop all of this but found herself so powerless. Emanuele didn't listen to her; he wanted Grazia to marry Rocco.

Should she talk to Rocco? She already knew from yesterday's expression that Rocco couldn't control his desire to kill her.

She wasn't foolish; she knew that if she wasn't Emanuele's wife, Rocco might have already killed her.

A week later, Grazia and Rocco's engagement ceremony took place as planned.

To take care of Grazia, Rocco chose the venue in Chicago.

On the day of the engagement, Isabella looked at the room full of clothes. Most of these clothes were chosen by Grazia for her. Back then, picking clothes together was tiring yet joyful. Now, looking back, Isabella felt a bit sentimental.

At that time, she had just married Emanuele, thinking he cared about her. She believed that their life would get better after marriage. Unexpectedly, her relationship with Emanuele deteriorated, and many upheavals occurred in their surroundings. Andrew died, Grazia was about to remarry, and everything seemed chaotic.

Isabella chose a champagne-colored dress, a color that made her look gentle. She pulled her hair up behind her head.

In the mirror, the woman was only twenty-two, the most youthful and beautiful time, but now, perhaps having experienced too much, Isabella saw in herself a sense of maturity and solemnity, as if she had aged ten years.

At this moment, Emanuele appeared behind her, reached out, and touched her forehead, as if smoothing out her furrowed brows.

"Why so unhappy?"

"How could I be? My sister-in-law is getting married; I'm thrilled," Isabella sarcastically said.

Isabella deliberately made this comment to mock Emanuele.

Emanuele heard the sarcasm in Isabella's words, but he pretended not to.

He was also troubled. He didn't expect Isabella to harbor such resentment over this matter.

However, being a Mafia princess was something they were supposed to endure.

Just like him, a Mafia boss, he became overly mature from a young age, learning to shoot and kill, discovering the most ruthless ways to torture people...

He wasn't always so cold-hearted, but for survival, he had to become ruthless.

The girls growing up in Mafia families were luckier; they didn't have to do such things. They could study like ordinary people, fall in love, travel the world. The only thing they needed to do was, if necessary, enter into arranged marriages for the family.

Take Grazia now, for example. Emanuele felt Grazia was already quite fortunate. At least she once had a love that truly belonged to her.

But looking at the stubborn girl in front of him, Emanuele sighed, "Isabella, can you stop attacking me verbally all the time?"

"Would you feel upset? I thought you had no heart," Isabella said coldly.

"Let's go. If we don't go to the party now, we'll be late."

Watching Isabella leave the fitting room, at this moment, she, cold and regal like a queen, Emanuele paused and followed.

In this moment, Emanuele felt that in their game, he had actually lost. Isabella could influence his emotions too much, and he, more and more, couldn't be without her.