𝙈𝙄𝙉𝙀 𝐹𝑜𝓇 𝒶 𝙈𝙊𝙈𝙀𝙉𝙏

𝓣𝔀𝓸

⭒°ˑ˚。﹒∙♡☼⭒°ˑ˚。﹒∙

I paced back and forth in my office, my fists clenched at my sides, rage building with each passing second. The news hit me like a punch to the gut—an arranged marriage, set in stone long ago, and now its my responsibility. My entire future decided for me.

"Marriage?!" I growled, slamming my fist onto the desk. "They want me to marry someone I've never even met, all for the sake of some alliance?"

My mother entered quietly, watching my frustration with calm eyes. She had seen this anger building in me, "Luciano," she said gently, "please, sit down."

I turned sharply to face her, his eyes burning with fury. "Sit down? How can I be calm about this, Ma? They expect me to marry a stranger because of some promise made before I was born! I'm the head of this family now. Shouldn't I have a say in my own life?"

My mother stepped forward, her expression soft but firm. "You're right. You are the head of the family now. But that doesn't mean you can turn your back on the promises your father made." Her voice faltered for a moment, emotion flashing across her face before she continued. "This alliance... it was part of your father's vision. It was one of the last things he secured before he passed. He wanted to ensure the family's future."

I turned away from her, running a hand through my hair in frustration. 

"And now I have to pay the price for it," i muttered, my voice tight. 

"I don't even know this girl, Ma. I don't know what kind of person she is, and now I'm supposed to just... marry her?"

My mother walked up to me slowly, placing a gentle hand on my arm. 

"I understand, Luciano," she said quietly. "But this isn't just about you. It's about securing everything your father worked so hard for. He didn't do this to trap you; he did it to protect the family, to make sure we stayed strong even after he was gone."

my jaw clenched, my throat tightening as memories of my father flashed in my mind. My father had been a powerful man,

 but also a man of loyalty—always thinking ahead, always making plans. I had respected him, loved him, but this? This was a chain around my neck.

"I've sacrificed so much already," I said, my voice softer but still laced with frustration. "I've given up everything I wanted to take over this family after he died. And now... now I'm expected to give up my freedom too?"

my mother's eyes filled with empathy as she stepped closer, her hand reaching up to cup my cheek. "I know, son. I know how much you've lost. And I wish this wasn't the path laid out for you. But your father trusted you to carry on his legacy. This alliance will keep us strong, it will protect our family's name, and it will give you the support you need."

I close my eyes, taking a deep breath. I wanted to fight, to refuse, to tear down the walls of obligation closing in around me. But i knew my mother was right. The De Luca family came first, always. That was the burden i had inherited when my father passed. The weight of our empire was on my shoulders now, and this marriage—whether i liked it or not—was part of that responsibility.

"And what about her?" I finally asked, my voice tight. "What kind of person am I supposed to marry? Do we even know anything about her?"

My mother nodded slowly. "She's young, about your age. From what I've been told, she's a sweet girl. Innocent, perhaps a bit sheltered. But she's as much a victim of this arrangement as you are."

I scoffed, shaking my head. "So we're both prisoners in this alliance. Wonderful."

My mother's eyes softened as she stroked my cheek. "You're not a prisoner, Luciano. You're the leader of this family now. And part of that leadership is sacrifice. It's not fair, but it's the life we've been given."

I swallowed hard, the fire inside me dimming, though not completely extinguished. "I don't want this, Ma," I whispered, my voice betraying the weight of the decision. "But I'll do it. For the family. For him."

My mother's face softened with a small, sad smile. "I know you don't want this," she said, her voice gentle. "But your father would have been proud of you. You're doing what's necessary, even when it's hard."

I looked away, feeling the tightness in my chest as my mother's words sank in. I didn't want to admit it, but part of me had always known i couldn't refuse this. im a De Luca, and the family always came first. Whether I liked it or not, I had no choice.

"I'll meet her tomorrow," i said finally, my voice low. "But I'm not making any promises beyond that."

My mother smiled, her eyes filled with both love and sadness. "That's all I ask."

⭒°ˑ˚。﹒∙♡☼⭒°ˑ˚。﹒∙

maybe ill write another chapter and publish it today 

i hope yall liked it if not then ask me what i can do better

(905 words)