登入The day I went for my final wedding dress fitting, I scrolled past a new video posted by Linsey Hart—my fiancé’s childhood friend. She held up her left hand to the camera, and there, catching the studio lights, was the ring—the one that signified the donna of the Lucciano family. The one that was supposed to be mine. She tilted her head toward the camera and asked, "Salvatore, you’re really giving this to me? Are you sure your fiancée won’t mind?" His voice came from off-screen, lazy, unhurried. "It’s just a ring. Chiara won’t care. I’ll get her something better. As my donna, she’ll need to learn to be generous." My heart sank at those words. All those months of planning, all that anticipation I’d carried—it suddenly felt like nothing. I didn’t want this wedding anymore. I tapped the screen and left a like. Then, I typed a single comment: "Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness." Then I logged out.
查看更多A month passed.In that time, my father purchased a sprawling estate in the Hamptons—a fortress of stone overlooking the Atlantic. I moved in immediately, converting one wing into my office.The Rizzo name was already feared in Italy. Now I was determined to make it feared in America too.I worked eighteen-hour days. I met with every family that mattered—the Ferros, the Vitales, the Romanos. I struck deals, forged alliances, and quietly dismantled the operations of anyone foolish enough to stand against us.Within weeks, the Rizzo family's influence in New York had doubled. My father watched from a distance, pride flickering in his eyes.Salvatore started showing up at my gate the second week.The first time, he arrived with a basket of fresh pastries and a bouquet of red roses. He stood at the iron gates, waiting.I watched him from my office window. Andrew approached me. "Shall I have him removed?""No," I said. "Let him stand there. He'll get bored eventually."But I was mistaken th
Seeing no point in continuing this conversation, I turned to walk away.But I'd barely taken three steps when Linsey's voice cut through the night air. "Chiara, don't you think you're being dramatic?" she called after me. "All this—the stage, the speech, dragging Salvatore out here to humiliate him. You could have just told him who you were from the beginning. But you chose to play games instead."I turned back slowly. "Games?" I repeated. "You think this is a game to me?"Linsey crossed her arms, her lips curling into a bitter smile. "That's all it's ever been for you, isn't it? Playing the poor orphan, making Salvatore feel like a hero for taking care of you. And now you're throwing your father's name around like it makes you better than everyone else. How is that not manipulation?""Because I wanted to be loved for who I was," I said. "Not for my name. Not for my father's money. Not for what I could give him."Salvatore's face crumbled. "I did choose you. I always chose you—""No,
Linsey stepped forward, her voice sharp. "Chiara, is that gown from the man you were with at the auction? The one who grabbed Salvatore? My God, you really didn't waste any time finding someone else to pay for your things, did you?""Enough," Salvatore snapped at her. Then, he turned back to me, his voice softer. "Please. I'm giving you one last chance. Come back to me, and I'll make you my donna. The position is still yours. It was always meant for you.""You're pathetic," I said calmly. "You think I still want anything from you? I walked away from you. I left your house. I left everything. And yet here you are, still thinking I will crawl back to you. That's not going to happen."Salvatore's face flushed with anger. "You think you're so high and mighty now? Just because you found some man to support you? I could crush him without lifting a finger. You…"At that moment, a voice boomed from the stage at the front of the room."Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us tonight. I a
That night, Salvatore sat in his living room, staring at his phone. Linsey was in the master bedroom, already posting photos of the necklace to social media—close-ups of the emerald catching the light, captions dripping with satisfaction.Salvatore's men had pulled the auction house footage.He watched the video three times. Linsey approaching Chiara. Linsey grabbing Chiara's wrist. Linsey stepping backward and falling—with no contact from Chiara. Chiara's hands remained at her sides the entire time.His fingers tightened around his phone.He walked into the master bedroom. Linsey was lounging on the bed, scrolling through comments, her smile smug."Take the posts down," he said.She looked up, confused. "What?""The posts. Take them down. Now."She frowned. "Salvatore, why should I do that? You bought this necklace for me!""I bought it for her." His voice was ice. "I was going to give it to Chiara since she was still upset about me. And you—" He shook his head, disgust twisting his f
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