Don't Be Cruel (MilkCiize)

DBC - 24 🥛🎀

POV: Milk

Our late mother's diary was being read aloud in the presence of our father, Don Vito. As each page was turned, neither he nor I could believe the unfolding of her backstory. Every word was meticulously handwritten, and even the godfather had confirmed its legitimacy. With a heavy heart, he allowed the truth to be revealed, and we all listened intently as Don Faye recited it.

I watched our father, his expression unreadable, though I could sense the weight of his thoughts. Perhaps he was reflecting on the past, piecing together memories long buried. The tension in the room was thick as the words from the diary echoed in the stillness.

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POV: Don Vito

Flashback

"Maria, why do you insist on working as a teacher when we have all the wealth in the world to support you and our children?" I snapped, frustration boiling over. "I don't want you spending more time with your students than with our kids!" My anger finally broke free, but even in my rage, I knew that, despite being a powerful mafia leader, Maria was the true boss in our family.

She remained calm, her resolve unshaken. "As I've told you before, I have my reasons for working hard. This is my dream, Vito. I need to fulfill it. Until it's complete, I won't stop giving my all."

Her passion only fueled my frustration. "Tell me what this dream is so I can help you. I'll do anything to make it happen. There's nothing my money can't buy." I boasted, confident in my power and wealth, but I could tell from her expression that my words didn't sit well with her.

She turned to me, her eyes filled with both sadness and determination. 

"Instead of trying to stop me from doing good, why don't you stop doing wrong? How many times do I have to tell you that I can't accept money from you, especially knowing it comes from your illegal work with the mafia?" Her voice was firm, cutting through the tension. "When will you stop making me beg you to choose a better path? Don't wait until I'm gone from this world to finally realize what I've been saying. Who will be left to scold you then?"

I clenched my fists, trying to contain the swell of emotion rising within me. "I only do this to give our family a good life," I argued. "I want to treat you like a queen, to give you and the kids everything you could ever want. But you never let me. You keep working and refuse my financial support."

She sighed, shaking her head gently. "It's not just about the children, Vito. I'm saving for something important. Something close to my heart. You know I grew up in an orphanage. Every blessing I've received in this life has been a gift, and now I want to give back."

I didn't understand then. I just let her be, frustrated but resigned. I had no idea that conversation would be our last. If only I had known, I would have cherished every word, every moment with her. But it was too late.

End of Flashback

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POV: Faye

"To summarize everything, our mother made a pivotal decision to purchase MC Land, driven by a promise she had made as a child.

It all began with a man who, in an act of unparalleled generosity, donated all of his wealth and chose to live a humble life in a rural town. Because of his selflessness, countless children benefited from his donations, gaining access to proper education and a brighter future. Our mother was one of those children, an orphan whose life was forever changed by that man's kindness.

She grew up to be a remarkable woman, earning a degree in education, and eventually met her beloved husband, Don Vito. Together, they had a family, and though she became part of the Vosbein mafia, her heart remained pure. The promise she made to herself during her childhood—to give back—never left her. That's why she worked so hard, even when she didn't need to.

When she had finally accumulated enough wealth through her own efforts, she began searching for the generous man who had helped her. But by the time she found him, it was too late—he had already passed away.

Still, her journey wasn't over. She discovered that the man had a granddaughter still living in that rural town, and determined to honor his legacy, she purchased the land and donated it to the townspeople. The town became known as MC Town, a testament to her generosity.

Through this act, our mother's identity became known, and with it came unwanted attention. Enemies of the Vosbein mafia clan, seeking revenge, targeted her. It was this vendetta that ultimately led to her untimely death. Her life was taken because of her good deeds, the very qualities that set her apart from the mafia world.

In a twist of fate, the old man who had changed our mother's life turned out to be Ciize's grandfather. His kindness had been passed down to our mother, and in turn, she passed that kindness on to the people of MC Town, and to us, her children.

Despite growing up under the shadow of a mafia family, we inherited our mother's goodness, her desire to help others, even while wearing the mask of mafia heirs."

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After learning the full truth, our father, Don Vito, was overcome with remorse for all his past wrongdoings. 

In a final act of redemption, he decided to give up all the Vosbein wealth. He donated everything, setting us free from the cruel world we had been raised in, allowing us to live the noble lives we had always dreamed of but never thought possible.

At last, we were free—free to honor our mother's legacy, free to live with the integrity she had always envisioned for us.