Destiny's Proposal

Episode 1

In the mafia, the primary role of marriage is to forge new alliances and ensure stability within the criminal underworld. Some women may be fortunate enough to experience true love, but that's not usually the case.

"What am I going to do with this child?" Joseph Castellano asked his counselor and personal secretary, Alessandro Conti.

"Joseph, we know the girl is your daughter. The DNA test has proven it, and unfortunately, her mother died in childbirth leaving her completely alone in the world."

"I can't just show up at my house out of the blue with a newborn baby, Alessandro! How am I supposed to explain this to Stella?" Joseph said nervously, running his hands through his hair.

"Well, it's not like you have to give any explanations. Stella knows you see other women. A child is a risk you take when you have unprotected sex." Alessandro faced Joseph with determination. He knew he was being bold with his boss, but he had to confront the reality.

"I don't usually have sex without a condom, but..." Joseph regretted the occurrence too late.

JOSEPH CASTELLANO

When Galinda arrived at the upscale brothel Red, frequented by many important men from New York, Joseph was completely enchanted by her beauty. There was even an auction, in which only the most prominent American mafia bosses could participate, to determine who would be the first man to sleep with her, and he paid a high price for that privilege. She had shiny long blond hair, the body of a goddess, and eyes of a deep, expressive blue, one of her most notable features.

At that time, Joseph was already married to Olivia and had a two-year-old daughter, Stella. Their wedding had been a mere alliance that bolstered Joseph's illicit business dealings. Initially, Olivia thought she might have a happy marriage with her husband, but soon the infidelities began, and she was forced to endure them.

To those outside the situation or unaware of the reality of a mafia marriage, it was very easy to judge. "She should ask for a divorce" or "I would never accept this." However, like every woman born into powerful mafia families, Olivia was raised to withstand such circumstances, and thus life went on. Joseph wasn't a violent husband, unlike many she knew, and she was treated like a true queen. Nothing was lacking for her or her daughter Stella.

"Whose child is this?" Olivia questioned as soon as her husband arrived home, accompanied by a nanny and a small baby girl in his arms, with pale skin, huge blue eyes, and thin blond hair.

"Her name is Angelina. From today on, she will live in this house and be treated as 'our' daughter." Joseph responded tersely, emphasizing the word "our," and moved away from Olivia toward the dining room.

The disappointment in her eyes was clear, reflecting a mix of sadness, disillusionment, and a hint of resignation. Olivia understood very well what was happening, and the only innocent in that environment was the child.

"Where is her mother, Joseph?" Olivia persisted. She wouldn't let Joseph get away from the situation without any explanation. The father, she knew for a fact, was him, but what about the girl's mother? What kind of person was she to abandon such a small child to a man like Joseph?

"She died in childbirth. The child has no one else, and I brought her here to be raised by us." Joseph sat at the table, waiting for dinner to be served, and didn't look at Olivia again, considering the conversation over.

OLIVIA CASTELLANO

The baby girl smiled at Olivia, who, despite being hurt and offended by the whole situation, fell in love with the girl at that moment. From that day on, Angelina Castellano became the daughter of Joseph and Olivia. Only the household knew the truth about the young girl, that she was the daughter of a prostitute, who died giving birth.

Obviously, such a secret was not so simple to keep hidden. No one had ever seen Olivia pregnant with Angelina, and people gossiped behind her back that the girl didn't resemble anyone in the household. Both Joseph and Olivia were white with dark hair and brown eyes. The child's coloring was completely different, and it drew everyone's attention.

Aware of all this, throughout Angelina's childhood, Olivia explained to her that there were children who were born from their mother's belly and others who were born from the heart.

"Is that why I don't look like you, mommy?" Angelina asked with curious little eyes. The girl was now six years old, and the difference in the color of her hair and eyes was beginning to be noticed by her and other children at school.

"Yes. You and Stella are my daughters even though you were born differently. I love you both equally." Olivia spoke tenderly. Both children were all she had in life, and she devoted her love to them. "When a baby is born from his mommy's belly, he tends to look more physically like her. You were born from my heart and are exactly what I wished for."

"Did you want a little girl with yellow hair?" Angelina asked in her childlike voice.

"And blue eyes," Olivia added with a smile. "And God sent me you, looking like such a beautiful doll."

Listening to all this silently was Stella. The girl had always been raised and treated the same as Angelina but harbored a deep jealousy of her sister. Whenever she got the chance, she would pick on Angelina, who, even two years younger, would fight back.

"I'd rather look like daddy's and mommy's real daughter than be a doll." Stella taunted, glaring at Angelina with anger and spite.

"I like being a doll and mommy loves me. So, I'm happy. Better than looking like a witch!" Angelina exclaimed, referring to the color of Stella's hair, which was almost black.

Hearing this, Stella lifted her hand to hit Angelina, but quickly the nanny Mary stopped her. Despite not liking Angelina, she couldn't allow Stella to hit her in front of Olivia. Mary knew the whole story of where Angelina came from and harbored a hatred toward the girl that not even the most offended in the story, Olivia, felt. Whenever she could, Mary encouraged Stella against Angelina without the mother knowing.