Liora Evan Novel Mafia Princess Reclaimed Her Throne at Her Wedding

My boyfriend of fiveEvan Callister, suddenly proposed to me.
Everyone flooded me with congratulations.
I felt happy too, quickly started planning our wedding.
Then I overheard him talking with his gang friends.
Apparently, I wasnt his only option. Just one of five women hed been seriously considering for marriage. A lineup that included his childhood sweetheart, a few of his long-time bed warmers, and some well-connected heiresses whose families could do wonders for his.
I didnt imagine that you actually gonna marry Liora at the end, I thought Violas still the one you love.
And then Evan, Lioras father died. If I marry her, I could have all of her money and the casino. She cannot do a thing about it. She only has me as her family now.
And what if Viola hears about your wedding and freaks? his friend teased.
Evan chuckled. I told her that I will make Liora conveniently die after the wedding. Then her and I can get marry instead.
My heart iced over. But I didnt cry or confront or even blink.
Instead, I made the call to the man my father had always wanted me to marry ?the one of noble status, the one everyone admired, the one Id avoided. And just said one thing, My wedding is three days from now. Come and elope with me.
Chapter 1
Lioras POV
When I came to fetch my fiancsoon-to-be husband, Evanfor a simple lunch, I didnt expect to hear my world shatter.
From around the corner, I caught his voice, laughing with his friends. Laughing about me. About us. Mocking our relationship like it was some inside joke. And then he said ithow hed never loved me. How hed only seen me as a name on his list of potential wives.
I froze.
What scared me most wasnt just Evans betrayalit was how twisted he truly was. How he could be two completely different men. With me, he was soft. Gentle. The kind of man who brushed my hair behind my ear and kissed my knuckles like I was precious.
But with his friends? He was smug. Cruel. Like I was just another name on his list.
What kind of man thinks a woman like me could just be picked? Like I was one of many, and he was doing me a favor?
When I met Evan, he was a newcomer to New Yorks mafia circle. Fresh blood. His father had just brought him in, and their family was still scraping by, dealing in low-level arms and dirty drugs.
But he had that smile. That postureconfident, but not cocky. Steady in a way that drew my attention.
In my world, the weak bow to the strong. Evan didnt bow. He didnt grovel.
And when he was with me, he didnt treat me like I was fragile or something to conquer.
I used to think that was strength. Now I see it was arrogance.
Only a man drunk on his own ego would believe he could keep a dozen women on a shortlist and just choose who to marry like we were NPCs in his game.
But we werent. I wasnt.
I was real. With real feelings.
No matter how angry I felt, how humiliated this was on me. I made the choice to stay. I gambled on him.
Even on his deathbed, my father had tried to warn me. Told me Evan wasnt the one. Tried to arrange someone else, someone powerful. But Id refused. I told him, I dont care about influence or power. Evan will become someone one day. Just like you.
That was the biggest mistake I ever made.
And then there was my second mistake. When Evan said he could help with my fathers casino, I trusted him.
What I didnt see coming? The plan underneath it allmarry me, then kill me. The casino would be his, no strings attached.
Evan must be thrilled. In just three days, our wedding will make everything his.
Im the only Bennett heiress. The sole heir to my fathers empire. And he really thought Id settle for being another name on his list? Just a pawn in his game?
Sadness didnt even stand a chance. Fury burned it out fast.
A plan was formingbold, reckless, the kind you dont even dare say out loud.
I was going to leave Evan. But not just leave.
I wanted him humiliated. Broken the same way he broke me.
If I was just a name on his little wifey list then how would he feel knowing he was never even on mine?
I could already picture ithis smug face twisting the second it hit him.
I pulled out my phone quickly, jaw tight, fingers steady. Its me, Liora, I said as the line connected.
A low chuckle drifted through the receiver. Ive been expecting your call.
Tristan. The man my father once wanted me to marry. The son of a powerful ally, raised in the same dark world I was.
Wed known each other since we were kidsbut we were never friends.
If it were up to me, nemesis wouldve been a better word for Tristan.
Still, I always knewout of all the men in New Yorks mafia circles, he was the only one who could match me. Maybe even outmatch me.
So just this once, I chose to trust my fathers judgment. And put my faith in the man I used to call my enemy.
My heart kicked just a little faster. My wedding is in three days.
He sounded amused. You want me to come watch you play house with that soft little coward Evan?
I ignored the teasing in his voice. No. I want you to come and elope with me.
There was a pause.
Elope? he repeated, voice low now, serious. You sure you know what that means, Liora?
Yes.
If I show up at that altar and take you away, there will be no second chances. You will marry me according to Mr. Bennetts last wishes. Can you do that?
His words sent my heart in a spiral.
I know what it means, I said, voice firm. And its what I want. Come get me. Just make sure you show up on time.
Then I hung up.
The shift inside me was almost dizzyinghow fast I moved from heartbreak to strategy. But thats what it meant to be raised in a family like mine.
In our world, betrayal wasnt a shock. It was routine.
I just never expected to get one from Evan, the man Id once chosen over everyone else.
He thought he could humiliate me, play me, and walk away untouched?
He was wrong.
Let him think Id still walk down that aisle. Let him think hed won.
Id see him at the altarjust before I let it all burn.
Chapter 2
Lioras POV
I was rounding the corner when I heard itthat sugary-sweet voice that instantly made my skin crawl.
Liora!
Viola.
Evans so-called ex. Or, according to his little speech earlier, the only woman hes ever truly loved.
God, even her voice grated now. I could kick myself for ever trusting her.
I was the one who let her work at my familys casino.
I believed her story when she said she had to take a break from her Italian husband. The way shed been so sad.
I even comforted her. Held her hand. Told her she was strong.
What a damn joke.
I turned slowly.
Viola stood by the elevator in a clingy, too-perfect office outfit, waving like we were still friends.
Like she hadnt just been the ghost in the room Evan couldnt stop mourning.
Evan didnt mention you were stopping by today, she said with a polite smileone that didnt reach her eyes.