Chapter 6

Once the car started, I closed my eyes to rest.

Mia looked at me in the passenger seat, a flash of jealousy in her eyes.

She cleared her throat and smiled at me.

"I left my bracelet in the glovebox last time. Could you get it for me?"

As she said that, Alessandro's grip on the steering wheel tightened involuntarily, shooting a nervous glance my way.

I opened the glovebox. Inside was a necklace, along with a hair tie and a lipstick I had left there.

Alessandro used to look at me with absolute sincerity and promise,

"Jane, from now on, whenever I drive, this passenger seat is exclusively yours."

Now, obviously, there was a second person in his passenger seat.

Without any expression on my face, I took everything out.

I handed the bracelet to Mia, and put my own things in my bag, intending to throw them out as soon as I stepped out of the car.

Alessandro opened his mouth, seeming like he wanted to explain.

But I just closed my eyes and turned my head away again.

At the luxurious banquet hall, Alessandro and I were the center of attention.

"Don Rossi and Miss Versta are as solid as ever. So jealous."

"Right? If it wasn't for the Council's opposition, they'd probably have an heir by now, right?"

I saw an unnatural look flash across Alessandro's face when he heard that.

Before either of us could reply, Mia, who had been ignored by the crowd, spoke up snidely.

"Not getting married after all these years... looks like it's fate. Who knows, maybe someone more suitable for the Don will appear!"

The lively banquet hall went dead silent.

Alessandro's face darkened as he shot Mia a glare, then wrapped his arm around my shoulder and smiled lightly.

"Even if the Council disagrees, I'll keep pushing for it, because..." He threw a glance at the pale-faced Mia, "...I love Jane, and that will never change."

The crowd sighed in relief and the atmosphere warmed up again.

"The Don is so devoted!"

"I bet we'll be attending your wedding next year!"

Then, the big screen started playing a video montage of our memories.

It was footage from our 18th coming-of-age party, when we were asked about our future plans.

First was Alessandro's answer.

[Marry Jane the second we reach legal age, and make her my wife.]

Then mine.

[Marry Alessandro, have an heir soon, and be a happy family.]

The guests cheered in envy.

"Even your future plans are just about marrying each other. What a beautiful romance."

Alessandro smirked, his eyes full of tenderness as he looked at me.

"Of course. Jane is the woman I've wanted to bring home since we were kids."

I didn't smile at all. My heart felt a long-forgotten stab of pain.

Not for the lying man in front of me, but for that pure, 18-year-old love.

It had rotted away in the river of time.

Then, the last clip of the video unexpectedly cut to an 18-year-old Mia.

[To stay by Alessandro's side forever.]

I didn't even have to guess. This was definitely Mia's doing again.

"Looks like I'm the only one whose wish actually came true! I'm already Alessandro's secretary, I get to stay with him forever."

Mia swept a smug look across the room.

A few of the mob wives immediately glared at her with disgust.

"She's reaching way out of her league. No sense of boundaries. Still hasn't given up after all these years."

"She's just a secretary, a subordinate to the Don. 'Stay with him forever'? Only Jane, his future wife, gets to accompany him for a lifetime."

...

I was the only one who noticed that when Mia said that, Alessandro's smile actually grew a little wider.

The mockery in the hall got louder.

Just then, a drunk, playboy mafia heir stumbled over to Mia.

"Why would the Don want a cheap little secretary like you? You should have given up ages ago."

"Tell you what, why don't you come with me? I'll make sure you're treated like a queen from now on!"

Saying that, he reached out to touch Mia's face.

Alessandro, who had been keeping an eye on Mia out of his periphery this whole time, shot up from his seat.

He pulled his gun and pointed it at the playboy, pulling a teary, terrified Mia aggressively into his chest. Looking down at the man, his voice was like ice.

"Who said I don't want her? She is my woman now. Nobody touches her."