Isabella stood in front of the full-length mirror in her bedroom, her hand gently resting on her swollen belly. At nine months pregnant, she felt like she was carrying the weight of the world— not just in her body, but in her mind as well. She had always been strong, always handled whatever life threw at her with grit and determination, but this was different. This was a new kind of responsibility, one that came with its own fears and uncertainties.
The past few months had been a whirlwind of changes. Elena, her mother, had taken the reins of the Marino family and built it up stronger than ever. Under her leadership, the family had not only recovered from the chaos after Don’s death but had also risen to new heights. Elena had proven herself to be a formidable leader, even more than Don
