Chapter 7

Watching this, I was vaguely reminded of my time studying in Italy, when a guy asked me out.

Even though I told Alessandro I had clearly rejected the guy and told him I had a boyfriend, he still took the first flight over, walked me around campus holding my hand for everyone to see, just to mark his territory.

Now, his possessiveness was directed at another woman.

I felt like I couldn't breathe. I said my goodbyes to the guests and left the hall.

Our last meeting together, and it ended in a circus.

Stepping out of the hall, I stood on the curb waiting for my driver.

From behind me came Alessandro's utterly frantic voice.

"Jane, listen to me, I can explain!"

"I just said that to get Mia out of a situation and avoid a mafia war! She's my subordinate. As the Don, I can't just watch her get harassed. You understand, right?"

Beads of sweat formed on his forehead. He was speaking incredibly fast, his face full of panic for my sake.

I calmly pulled my arm away and smiled at him.

"You don't need to explain. I understand perfectly."

I understand that those were your true feelings.

Getting the answer he wanted, Alessandro didn't seem relieved. He tried to grab my wrist again.

"Jane, why are you..."

Before he could finish, Mia caught up, her voice laced with tears.

"Alessandro, can you take me home? I'm so scared he'll come after me again."

Hearing that, Alessandro hesitated for a split second.

Right at that moment, my car arrived.

I slipped straight into the car and left, leaving the man shouting my name behind.

When I got home, I shipped everything to Italy, leaving only one suitcase.

That night, I slept a very long time. I dreamed of 18-year-old Alessandro.

He said the same confession as back then, but this time, I shook my head.

"I decline."

When I woke up, there was an urgent knocking on my door.

Thinking it was the new homeowner, I got up to open it.

But instead, it was Alessandro, dragging a bruised and battered Mia. He grabbed my wrist, furious.

"I've told you a million times I am going to marry you, and Mia is just my secretary! Why would you pay street thugs to kidnap and assault her?!"

Behind him was Mia's tear-stained face.

"Miss Jane, I didn't fight you, I didn't try to steal him. I just want to stay by Alessandro's side and look at him, can't you even tolerate that? Do you know they almost took me last night?"

Being screamed at with these accusations, I had absolutely no idea what they were talking about!

"Paying thugs? I don't know anything about that!"

Alessandro thought I was lying, and his voice got colder.

"Still lying? The thugs confessed themselves—a woman named Miss Versta paid them! If I hadn't been close by and heard her scream, they would have taken her!"

Saying that, he violently let go of my arm.

I lost my balance and crashed into the glass coffee table, cutting my arm.

But I felt nothing. A laugh escaped my lips.

"Alessandro, twenty years together, and I guess I don't have an ounce of your trust."

Alessandro's hands curled into fists at his sides, but when he saw the tears in Mia's eyes, his gaze turned ruthless again.

"Seeing is believing. How am I supposed to trust you?"

"It seems I've spoiled you too much over the years, making you so arrogant you'd touch my people."

"Now, apologize to my secretary immediately."

I laughed out loud, meeting his gaze without a hint of fear.

"I did nothing wrong. Why should I apologize?"

Seeing that I refused to "repent", Alessandro's face got even colder.

"The Council will never let a vicious woman like you marry me and become the Don's wife. Think carefully, Jane."

With that, he grabbed Mia's hand and left without looking back.

I stumbled to my feet, looking at his retreating back, and gave a devastatingly sarcastic smile.

"I don't want to marry you anymore, either."

Ding. A text from my father.

[Jane, the wedding and the flight are all arranged. The invitations are sent. All you have to do is come back and be a beautiful, happy bride.]

I locked my screen, picked up my suitcase, and headed to the airport.

From now on, I'm heading to a new, happy life of my own.

And Alessandro won't be in it.

...

(Alessandro's POV)

On the other side, Alessandro took Mia to the hospital to treat her wounds.

Marcus arrived soon after. Seeing the worry in Alessandro's eyes as he looked at Mia, he hesitated for a long time before asking:

"Don Alessandro... have you caught feelings for Mia?"

"Impossible!" Alessandro answered without hesitation. "It's just that I've been the one chasing Jane all these years, it gets a little tiring. But Mia is different. Her eyes are entirely on me. Over time, I naturally feel pity for her. I don't want her to leave, I want to protect her."

Marcus sighed.

"Alright. But what if Miss Jane is actually mad? Have you figured out how to coax her?"

Alessandro went silent for a moment, his tone stiff.

"I'm not coaxing her. She went too far this time. It's actually perfect that she's going to Italy tonight. Let her cool off for a few days."

"Besides, I mentioned the wedding before I left. Her biggest wish is to marry me. Once she gets back from Italy, she'll definitely come apologize to me. As long as she apologizes to Mia, this will all blow over."

Seeing he couldn't convince him, Marcus changed the subject.

"By the way, Don Xavier, the youngest Don of the Caruso family in Italy, is getting married. The invitation just arrived..."

He pulled out the envelope as he spoke, but his voice suddenly stopped. His eyes widened as if he had seen a ghost.

Noticing something wrong, Alessandro curiously took the letter and opened it.

"What is it?"

The next second, the names of the bride and groom burned into his retinas.

Groom: Don Xavier Caruso

Bride: Jane Versta!