All Chapters of After My Ex Left Me At The Altar, I Married the King of the Underworld: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

On my wedding day, my fiancé, Ryder Conti, cast me aside at the church for his mistress and the bastard in her belly.Three years later, I returned to the States with my husband. At a private airstrip, I ran into Ryder, who had the gall to offer me a job as a cook for his mistress's son.He had no idea that the woman he dismissed as a nobody was the most respected Donna in the entire underworld.A strong wind whipped across the private airstrip.In the distance, a group of men stood beside a few black SUVs. The man at the front was holding a sign.The Italian word "Tesoro" was written on it.It was Zayn's pet name for me, a word he loved to whisper in my ear during our nights in Sicily.As I got closer, I saw that the person holding the sign was none other than my ex-fiancé, the Conti family's Capo, Ryder.He and a few of his men, their arms covered in tattoos, were craning their necks to look toward the jet's stairs."Boss, isn't that Emilia? The one who cried and begged you not to le

Ryder still hadn't let go, forcing me to look at him."If you're looking to get killed, don't drag the Conti family down with you."He lowered his voice, but he couldn't hide the fear in it."Forging a Vettori family sigil and saying the Godfather's name in public... Emilia, are you trying to get us all killed?"The Soldatos, who had been enjoying the show, instantly paled.Anyone in this life knew the price of impersonating someone from the Vettori family.It meant a one-way trip to the bottom of the Hudson River, sealed in a concrete barrel.A few of the more cowardly ones even took a step back, staring at me as if I were the plague."Dammit, Emilia, are you crazy? We begged and pleaded for this job today." One of the men pointed at me, his finger trembling."Boss, she's trying to provoke the Vettoris with this cheap fake! She wants them to think the Contis are challenging them!""She's getting revenge! I can't believe she'd come up with such a vicious plan."Ryder shoved me away, wi

Three days later, I arrived at the venue wearing the black velvet gown Zayn had personally chosen for me.The skirt had no elaborate decorations, but its cut perfectly complemented my pregnant figure.Ryder spotted me immediately.His eyes lit up for a moment, probably assuming, in his self-important way, that I had finally given in."I knew you'd come around."He strode over, examining me like one of his possessions."But Emilia, if you want to be on my arm, you need to show some sincerity. You're still dressed so plainly, with no jewelry. It's not fit for a Conti's woman.""Since you're here, just follow me quietly and don't wander off."I didn't even bother to give him a glance. I sidestepped him and walked directly toward the main table at the front of the ballroom.A single seat was empty there, next to Zayn's exclusive wine glass."Stop!" Ryder, infuriated by my dismissal, snapped. "I'm talking to you! Our seats are over there, in the corner. Where the hell do you think you're go

The Soldatos who had followed Ryder at the airport and mocked me were now shaking like leaves in a storm.They had to grip the edges of nearby tables just to stay upright.The pathetic "lapdog" Emilia they had ridiculed for three years, the "broke" castoff they had scorned, was actually the revered Donna of the Vettori family.If looks could kill, Zayn's icy gaze would have slaughtered them ten thousand times over.My tears were still falling as Zayn gently patted my back.But some fools seem to have a death wish, determined to walk right into the line of fire."God, how tacky."A shrill female voice cut through the tension.It was Tessa, Carmela's hanger-on in the short pink dress. She clearly hadn't grasped the situation, or she was just a complete idiot.Tessa sauntered forward, swaying her hips, and pointed at Zayn and me with contempt."Emilia, where did you hire these two actors?""Not a bad performance, even roping a kid into it. Want me to have Carmela hook you up with an agent

Zayn's disregard and the crowd's laughter completely shattered Ryder's defenses.He stood there, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles cracked, but he didn't dare act out in front of Zayn.Luca peeked out from behind Zayn's leg, his delicate face filled with a coldness and mockery that defied his age."Cook? Are you still dreaming?""My Mama is the Donna of the Vettori family. She is my Papa's princess.""Do you think you're worthy of having her lift a finger for you?"The little boy's voice was child-like, but every word was a knife, twisting precisely in Ryder's most painful wound."Mama will only have two babies, me and my sister.""And you think her son is worthy of being my Mama's child? I bet he'd be cursed just by the thought."Luca pinched his nose in disgust, looking Ryder up and down as if he were something filthy."Besides, you reek of poverty. It's suffocating.""You'd better not corrupt your precious son. Or will you teach him to be a spineless loser who uses women to g