Too Late, I’m the Don’s Bride

Leonardo Rossi looked down his nose at me, lecturing me without realizing I was the bride-to-be everyone was there to celebrate.

"You know what I can't stand? People like you who don't know their place."

He set down his glass of red wine and frowned.

"Our engagement ended months ago. I love Anna. You can chase me all you want, but I'm not changing my mind. You're just embarrassing yourself."

I pulled my arm free and turned to head back to the lobby to wait for my dress.

Leonardo and I grew up together. As a boy, he always rushed to my defense, playing the knight in shining armor.

At family gatherings, our parents and grandparents teased us about getting married someday and bringing the families together.

I never grew to see him as anything more than a friend, but I agreed to marry him for my family's sake.

Then, six months ago, he fell in love with his secretary.

He made an ugly scene and forced his family to call off our engagement. After that, I followed my heart and found the man I wanted to spend my life with.

Leonardo, apparently, mistook my presence for an attempt to win him back.

Just then, Anna Bianchi walked up to me with a crowd following her.

Leonardo hired her himself, and she was certainly pretty. Standing beside him, she looked like a perfect match for him.

His friends avoided my eyes and whispered among themselves.

"What's Julia doing here? Didn't she and Leonardo call off their engagement? He's marrying Anna."

"Is she trying to win him back?"

"She must be. She's too in love with him to let go."

Leonardo's expression tightened. He strode over to Anna, slipped an arm around her, and kissed her cheek before turning back to me.

"See? Anna's the woman I want to marry. You and I are over, Julia."

Anna leaned into him with a coy smile, but she made no effort to hide the scorn in her eyes when she looked at me.

"Oh, you must be Ms. Amato! Leonardo told me you two grew up together. He said his family tried to make him marry someone, too, but he never loved her. Did you know her?"

She covered her mouth, her eyes widening.

"Oh, sorry, Julia. Did I say too much? You don't mind if I call you Julia, do you?"

Leonardo answered before I could.

"Of course she doesn't. You're my future wife. She's..." He paused and glanced at me. "You're the one who's going to be Mrs. Rossi. Everyone else is in the past."

Anna nodded, flashing me a triumphant smile. "It's so nice to meet you, Julia. I hope we can be friends!"

As one of the hosts, I owed them a little courtesy, but their arrogance was testing my patience.

If Leonardo hadn't taken my yacht without asking the day before, I wouldn't have spent so long stranded on that island. Now, I was scrambling to get everything ready, and my staff were so busy that I had to wait for the dress delivery myself.

I gave them a cool nod. "Hello, future Mrs. Rossi."

Anna smiled and held out her right hand. As we shook hands, she leaned in as if to kiss my cheek and whispered, "Being an Amato didn't stop Leonardo from dumping you. He told me I'm the only woman he loves. You lost."

I pulled my hand away and stepped back, running out of patience. "That's between you and him. It has nothing to do with me."

Anna turned to Leonardo, her eyes filling with tears. "Honey, I don't think Julia wants me here. I guess someone from the Amato family thinks she's too good for a girl like me."

Leonardo frowned at me and lowered his voice. "Apologize to Anna, Julia. Unless you want the Rossis to stop doing business with your family."