All Chapters of On My Wedding Dress Fitting Day, I Became the First Love's Secret Mistress: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

I had just finished trying on the main gown Leo had commissioned from the top bridal designer in the world. Standing in front of the mirror, I pressed a hand to the loose fabric over my chest and turned to the man leaning against the doorframe."Leo, the size is off here. Did you give the designer the wrong measurements?"Leo walked over slowly and pulled me back against his chest, resting his chin in the curve of my neck. His voice dropped into a low, amused drawl."No mistake. Mia's always been a little fuller than you."For a second, I wanted to believe I'd misheard—anything rather than doubt the man I'd loved for five years.He watched me go rigid in his arms. His fingertip traced the lace along the neckline of the dress, idle, indifferent, as if he were talking about some piece of furniture."Eva, tell me—you think a mistress's daughter is born with mistress in her blood?""Mia's back. Our families are announcing the alliance in three days. You're going underground."I tore out of

I was woken by the sound of arguing outside my hospital room.Leo and Mia. Even through the door, their voices came through clearly."How could you do something like that? You had someone run her down with a car. Did you even think about the consequences?""I just needed you to prove it. Prove which of us actually matters to you! I was only gone a few years, and there she is, living in your house—are you really going to tell me you never felt anything for her?""How many times do I have to tell you. I've only ever loved you. She's a stand-in. That's all she is.""Fine. Then prove it. Make sure she doesn't go to the police. Make sure she doesn't pursue this. Or I call off the alliance, and our families' deal falls apart."I couldn't make out the rest.So the whole accident had been a test of Mia's. She wanted to see which of us weighed more in Leo's heart.Tears hit the sheet without a sound. Under the blanket, I dug my nails into my palms until the sting reached every part of me.I was

A crowd of men in black poured in, phones in their hands, faces lit up with that borrowed, whipped-up rage.They were thugs Mia had hired—dressed up as righteous internet strangers. They came at me like hungry wolves."That's her! The shameless mistress!""Beat the hell out of her! Keep her off of Mr. Leo!""Get off Belmonte estate!"Fists and insults came at me together.I already had the injuries from the accident. The fracture in my right leg hadn't healed. I couldn't defend myself. I curled up on the ground, both arms locked over my stomach, taking it. Fresh bruises and cuts layered over my back, my arms, my legs.The fire was still burning. My mother's gown was already gone. Only ash.Surrounded in the middle of them, I couldn't breathe through the despair.Leo moved on instinct, like he might step in. Mia held him back by the arm."Leo, stay out of it! This is what she deserves! If you defend her now, the alliance is done! The deal between our two families, everything you've been

The night the truth swept through Europe, Leo's world collapsed.Mia's faked pregnancy reports. The recording of her bribing the doctor to forge prenatal records. The full video of her bullying me. The footage of her sending Frank to run me down. Witness statements about how she had stolen the credit for saving Leo's life. Evidence that she'd manipulated the online mob against me. The complete video of her burning my mother's relics.Every piece of hard evidence. Overnight, all of it was spread across high society and the underworld.Leo finally understood. The untouchable first love he had cradled for five years was a liar, head to toe. A monster in a pretty mouth.He finally understood. The woman he had hurt the most, the woman he had thrown out like garbage—she was the one who had actually saved his life all those years ago.He finally understood. The person he had personally pushed away was the girl who had made him her whole salvation and loved him completely for five full years.

Under my uncle's care, my body healed fast.He buried my mother's ashes in the Deluca family cemetery and gave her, finally, the dignity and peace she was owed.The headstone carried her name. Under it, the inscription read: Forever the little principessa of the Deluca family.I sat at her grave for a long time that day, a bouquet of white roses in my hands.I told her that every lie about her had been scrubbed clean. She wasn't a mistress. She wasn't the kind of woman who broke up someone's marriage. She was just a poor, wretched woman who had been deceived and betrayed by love.I told her I was doing well now. My uncle was protecting me. I had family around me. No one was ever going to push me down again.While my uncle was going through my things, he came across the anonymous overseas investment account I'd opened.I had built it up on my own, slowly, over the years. Leo had hired a finance tutor for me back then, and I'd figured out the rest by myself.I had a natural head for numb