My Second Marriage with the Mafia Kingpin

"Isabella!"

Ashley narrowed her eyes, thinking,

And so, the drama begins.

Carmella paled as she reached Isabella. Her eyes widened at the sight of blood on Isabella’s palm before her face flushed as red as it.

"You!" she roared, turning on Ashley. "How could you do this to her?!"

"Mom..." Isabella reached weakly for her mother’s dress. "I’m fine. I just... it’s my fault. I spilled wine on her accidentally. It’s my fault for being clumsy."

That only fueled Carmella’s anger. "Your fault? Look at you! No matter what you did, it’s not enough for her to push you and hurt you like this!"

The people around them nodded, their gazes darting between the two sides.

Ashley stood motionless, staring at the mother and daughter with quiet coldness. Her expression remained distant, her eyes unreadable—which only made it easier for others to paint her as the villain of this story.

Meanwhile, anyone looking at Isabella and Carmella couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the younger woman. Carmella helped Isabella to her feet, her face that of a protective mother witnessing her daughter being bullied.

"Poor girl," one of the guests whispered, shaking his head. "Dominion may have built their reputation in places like this, but in the end, they’re still just a bunch of gangsters."

"I had high expectations for the Madam of Dominion, but she’s just a bully, huh?"

"Such a beautiful face, and a rotten soul. I guess the Don of Dominion only looks at faces, not hearts. Just like any other man."

Though their voices blended with the rest of the murmurs, the words still reached Ashley.

Compared to what she was used to, these were still tame. But this was how it always started... and it would only get worse if she didn’t settle this tonight. After all, many people here loved to act like saints, as if they had never done anything wrong in their lives.

Once Isabella was steady on her feet, Carmella glared sharply at Ashley.

"Ashley, you’ve always been so heartless! Even before, you would pick on Isabella just because you were jealous of her!" she shouted, making sure everyone could hear. "You already got your position because she gave way for you, so why are you still doing this?!"

As her words echoed, confusion rippled through the crowd.

"What does that mean?" someone asked. "Did I miss something?"

"Didn’t you know?" another whispered. "They’re sisters."

"Sisters?"

Someone else chimed in, nodding. "From what I heard, yes. I was curious when I first saw the Madam of Dominion, so I asked around."

"You didn’t even have to," another added. "Some guests already knew she was from the Di Carpio family."

"Does that mean..." another trailed off, glancing between Ashley, Isabella, and Carmella. "She’s the bastard child of the Di Carpios?"

"That bastard? The black sheep?"

"Yeah, that’s her," one confirmed. "It’s my first time seeing her, but I’ve heard stories."

"Like what?"

"Like how the black sheep cheats her way through life. While one sister works hard and studies, the other cheats and gets caught," someone explained. "And do you know what’s worse? Instead of owning up to it, she forced the person she bullied—the one she copied from—to transfer schools so the issue wouldn’t be pursued."

"Oh, I’ve heard that story! It was big in our department! I went to the same university! Wow! So, that’s her, huh?!"

"Gosh, that’s just low. How can someone still hold their head high after that?"

"For a bastard, she sure has the nerve to act so high and mighty. Why? Because she’s the wife of Dominion? Hah! Without Dominion, she’s nothing but a cheating bully."

"That’s not all," another scoffed. "There are more stories about the Di Carpios’ bastard that would make your stomach turn. I used to wonder what Dominion was thinking accepting this arrangement, but I guess she’s just cunning enough to cheat her way into marriage and steal her sister’s place."

Isabella pursed her lips, glancing around as she discreetly bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from smiling.

Even if Lucian is here... if he hears all this, he won’t just recklessly step in.

"Mom... don’t say that," Isabella whispered softly, trying to hold Carmella back. Then she looked at Ashley, only to flinch, as if haunted by past trauma.

Everyone saw that.

And it only reinforced the rumors about Ashley—the black sheep of the Di Carpio family.

Isabella choked slightly as she continued, "Ashley has always been kind to me. I just... wasn’t careful enough. That’s why she got angry. If only I were better, she wouldn’t get angry at me."

"What are you talking about?!" Carmella snapped. "You did nothing wrong! It was an accident! This is what I keep telling you! Isabella, you’re too kind and understanding, always covering for her! And yet, look at how she treats you!"

Then she turned sharply to Ashley. "I won’t stand by while my child suffers just because we keep tolerating your insecurities! Enough is enough!"

"You!" Carmella pointed at her. "Apologize to Isabella right now! After everything our family has done for you—after how your mother drugged my husband and crawled into his bed—this is how you treat my daughter?! I’ve tried to be understanding, but I won’t stay silent anymore just because I pity you!"

"What?" several people gasped, some even snorting at the sudden revelation. "So that’s how it is?"

"Goodness... how can someone be like this? She should be grateful to her family."

"Even if she’s married now, how could she treat the people who raised and sheltered her like this?"

"That alone says enough about her character."

Carmella lifted her chin, confident the crowd was on her side. Meanwhile, Isabella wiped her tears, but couldn’t suppress the faint sneer hidden beneath.

This is what you get for thinking you belong here, she thought as another tear rolled down her cheek. This is what you get for dreaming... for thinking you’re better than me just because you’re with Lucian.

But as the crowd’s judgment grew louder, Ashley finally spoke. Her voice was cold and steady.

"Are you done?"

"Hah! You ungrateful child!" Carmella snapped. "No, I’m not done until you apologize and take responsibility. Apologize to Isabella now!"