Roselle’s POV
You treat my son with as much attention as you treat your daughter.
His words kept echoing through my mind over and over again, almost like a broken record.
Even though I had already left his mansion and was currently on my way back to the DeLuca estate, I still couldn’t stop replaying the conversation in my head.
“That you treat my son with as much attention as you treat your daughter.”
The moment Silas said those words, my face had nearly betrayed the surprise I felt deep inside.
But I had controlled it.
I kept my expression neutral, refusing to let him see just how unexpected his condition had been.
I had prepared myself for resistance.
I had prepared myself for him to reject some of my terms.
I had even thought of several other, less pleasant options I could offer him if he refused my proposal.
But none of them had prepared me for this.
“You will be given control over the DeLuca businesses,” Silas had continued.
“The workers of the estate will be given a fair chance to decide their own fate. And I won’t interfere with your relationship with your daughter. You will have the sole right to decide her future.”
He had paused, his eyes remaining fixed on me.
“But in exchange, I want you to be a mother to my son. One he never had. And from what I can clearly see, one he needs.”
My brows had almost risen at that.
“His future will still be decided by me,” he continued.
“I’m not asking you to interfere with that. All I want is for you to give him the same care and attention you give your own child.”
He had paused again before asking, “What do you say, Future Mrs. Belladonna?”
I had spent so much time imagining how this meeting would go.
I had considered every possible response he could give me.
Yet somehow, this was the one possibility I had never considered.
“I guess that is what I ought to do as the future Mrs. Belladonna,” I had replied after the initial shock wore off.
But Silas had immediately shaken his head.
“No.”
His answer had caught me off guard.
“You see, a maid can tend to him and care for him out of duty. If I wanted him to be cared for in that sense, I could simply hire someone to do it.” He had leaned slightly forward, his eyes locking directly with mine.
“That isn’t what I’m asking of you.” He paused.
“I want you to care about him. Love him. Treat him as though he were your own.” His next words had struck me even harder.
“As though he were Jasmine.”
A slight shock had gone through me at the sound of my daughter’s name coming from his lips.
Jasmine.
There I was, sitting across from a man whose name was practically the only thing I knew about him.
Yet he knew my daughter’s name.
How?
Had he been planning this conversation long before I arrived?
Had he investigated my family?
Or had Jasmine’s name simply come up somewhere during his preparations for our marriage?
I couldn’t tell.
And somehow, not knowing bothered me more than I wanted to admit.
“Okay.” I slowly nodded.
“I believe we’re done here, Mr. Silas. I’ll be on my way now.” I had barely taken a step when his voice stopped me.
“One last thing before you leave.”
I turned back to face him.
His expression remained as calm as ever.
“We’re getting married tomorrow.”
I froze.
“Get prepared.”
That was it.
No warning.
No room for discussion.
Just a simple statement that completely reminded me of how little time I actually had left.
“Ma’am, we have arrived home.” The driver’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
I blinked and looked through the window, only then realizing that we had already arrived at the DeLuca estate.
I hadn’t even noticed when the car had stopped.
My mind had been far too occupied replaying everything that had happened inside Silas’s office.
“Thank you.”
I stepped out of the vehicle.
But before I walked toward the mansion, I turned back to the driver.
“Call everyone to gather in the grand foyer.” I paused.
“The elders of the family and the workers alike. I want everyone there.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I nodded and walked toward the large entrance doors leading into the grand foyer.
As I walked, my mind returned to the same thought.
Tomorrow.
I had known I would eventually marry Silas Belladonna.
That part had never been a surprise.
But I hadn’t expected it to happen this quickly.
I had barely begun putting my plans together, and already, I was being told that I would become Mrs. Belladonna the very next day.
When I reached the grand foyer, I stopped and waited.
It didn’t take long.
One person came in.
Then another.
And another.
Soon, different faces began filling the enormous hall.
At first, there were only a few whispers.
Then more.
People glanced at one another, clearly wondering why I had summoned everyone so suddenly.
Slowly, the once-quiet foyer became filled with murmurs.
I stood silently at the center, watching them all arrive.
Eventually, the flow of people stopped.
The elders stood together on one side, while the workers gathered behind them.
Everyone was looking at me.
Everyone was waiting.
I took a slow breath.
Then I began.
“As you all know…” I began, pausing until the whispers gradually died down and everyone’s attention settled on me.
“It has long been an established tradition among mafia families that when the head of a family is conquered, everything belonging to that family, the members, businesses, properties, and assets, becomes the property of the victor.”
I allowed my words to settle before continuing.
“Earlier today, I went to the Belladonna family. Even though I was fully aware of this rule, I still decided to negotiate with Mr. Silas for some leniency.”
I looked around the room, making sure I had everyone’s attention.
“And after our meeting, we reached an agreement.” I paused again before addressing the first matter.
“Firstly, the workers.”
Several people shifted slightly at the mention of them.
“I spoke with Mr. Silas about your situation. Under the usual rules, because you are connected to a defeated mafia family, you would also become the property of the victor.”
I took a slow breath.
“But that will not be the case here.” A few surprised murmurs immediately rose from the crowd.
I continued before they could grow louder.
“You have been given a choice.” The room fell silent again.
“If you wish to leave, you are free to do so. No one will force you to remain with the DeLuca family or follow the Belladonnas.”
I paused, allowing them a moment to absorb that.
“But if you choose to stay and sign a contract to become workers under the Belladonna family, your salaries will be adjusted to match those of employees working in the same positions under them. There will be no discrimination simply because you came from the DeLuca family.”
The murmurs began again, but this time they sounded different.
Some voices carried surprise.
Others carried relief.
I waited until they settled before moving on.
“As for the elders of the family…” My gaze shifted toward the three men standing together.
“The fabric company located in the western wing of downtown Igrita will remain under your control.” Their expressions changed immediately.
“But only thirty percent of its income will belong to you.” The room became quiet once more.
“You will have until the break of dawn to make your decision.”
I looked directly at the elders.
“And as for you, you have until tomorrow morning to move out of this estate completely.” A heavy silence followed.
“Because as of tomorrow, I will officially be married to Mr. Silas Belladonna.” I allowed myself a brief pause.
“And as you all know, once that happens, the DeLuca family as you know it will cease to exist.”
No one spoke.
I looked over the crowd one last time before turning slightly.
“Eva.”
“Yes, Miss?” Her response came a little too quickly, as though she had been startled by my sudden call.
“Take me to my child.”
“Yes, Miss.”
I was about to leave when I stopped and turned back toward everyone.
“You are all dismissed.” Without waiting for another word, I turned away from the crowd and followed Eva toward my daughter.