Chapter 2

The call connected, and Monica deliberately put it on speaker.

During those few seconds of ringing, she waved her left hand at me, flaunting her diamond ring.

A deep blue diamond chip was set into the side of the band. On the inner circle, the Moretti family crest was faintly visible.

I'd recognize that design even if it turned to ash.

When Luca proposed to me, he'd sworn that ring was custom-made by him alone. Only one existed in the world.

Now that same design sat on Monica's finger.

"Had your fill of staring?"

Monica smiled, stroking the ring. "Luca said only I deserve to wear this."

I looked at her, and suddenly, so many promises from the past seven years felt like a joke.

I clenched my jaw. "You're Luca's wife? You? Do you even know which way the front gate of Moretti Manor faces?"

A flash of hatred flickered in Monica's eyes, but she quickly composed herself.

"I'm not? Then you are? Does anyone here recognize this Donna?"

All eyes turned to me.

Then a wave of laughter crashed through the crowd.

"This woman's insane. A scammer, and she wants to play Donna Moretti?"

"God knows where she dug up that old lady to play along with her. Shameless!"

This was Luca's newly acquired vineyard. No one here knew me or Teresa.

The chatter was still going strong when the call connected.

Monica shot me a defiant look, her voice dripping with sugar.

"Baby, two people showed up at the vineyard today asking to audit the books. They say they're from the family foundation."

The voice on the other end answered, "That's impossible. I never arranged anything. Probably just some small-timers fishing for cash."

Even though I'd braced myself, my fingers went cold.

That voice. I knew it too well.

This morning, before I left the house, that same voice had told me "I love you."

Monica threw me a triumphant glance and cooed, "Baby, can I handle these two myself?"

"Of course. The vineyard's yours now, so you're in charge." Luca laughed. "Sweetheart, I'll be there soon. Wait for me. I love you."

"I love you too."

I love you.

Three words that cut straight through my eardrums like a blade.

Monica hung up and waved over a server from across the room.

The server brought over a bottle of red wine.

"You came all this way. The least I can do is give you a proper welcome."

Monica took the bottle. "A 1985 Lafite. Trash like you wouldn't touch this in a lifetime."

She pulled the cork and signaled the guards with her eyes. They locked me in place.

"What are you doing?" I thrashed against them. "I'm warning you—I am the Donna of the Moretti family!"

Monica bent over laughing like I'd just told the funniest joke in the world.

"You're the Donna? Then what does that make me?"

Before I could answer, she raised the bottle above my head and tilted it.

Dark red wine poured from the rim, streaming over my hair. It soaked through, running down my cheeks and collar, dripping onto my clothes. The liquid flooded my nose and mouth, sending me into a coughing fit.

The guests howled with laughter. Several of them stepped closer, phones out, filming the whole thing.

Beside me, Teresa was nearly faint with rage, struggling with everything she had to get to me. The guards pinned her down.

Monica leaned in close, grinning with mock sweetness. "Good? One bottle of this costs more than you'd make in years."

Blood rushed to my head. The last thread of my restraint snapped.

I sucked in the wine streaming down my face and spat it right into Monica's eyes.

"Drink it yourself, you mistress bitch! When Luca gets here, I'll have you on your knees begging!"

Monica's face went dark. She smashed the bottle against something—I didn't see what.

She stared at me for a long moment, then twisted her mouth into something savage.

"I wanted to treat you with decency. But you don't appreciate kindness."

She stepped closer.

"Fine. I'll just have to show you what the Donna of the Moretti family is really capable of."