All Chapters of The Bride Who Never Showed: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

Giada's POVCarlo Romano sent me the location of the snowy mountains in St. Morizia, along with a photo. The image captured a sweeping view of the villa. Its white stone walls and black steel framework gave the place a stark, minimalist feel.However, in the very center of the photo stood Adriana Montanari. Her long golden curls cascade over a white fur coat. I stared at her radiant, smiling face for a few moments. In that instant, I couldn't help but find it all hilarious.I was the bride. This was the wedding venue Carlo had chosen for us. And yet, the woman at the heart of the photo was his childhood sweetheart—the one he kept insisting was "just a friend".After that, Carlo went completely silent. I knew him well enough. He must have assumed the wedding planner had already informed me, so he went ahead and sent the address without a second thought. He was probably concerned I might not be aware of the location when rescheduling my flight.It felt like a stone had lodged itself

Chapter 2

I spent the whole night tossing and turning. Each time I closed my eyes, I found myself reliving every moment of the past 12 years with Carlo.I once held a special place in his heart. No matter who said I wasn't good enough for him, he would always stand firmly by my side.When my mother, Elena Santoro, was still alive, she once patted his hand and entrusted me to him. He nodded deeply. His eyes had been filled with determination. "Please don't worry. I love Giada more than I love myself. I'll never let her suffer any injustice."I promise we'll be married at your estate, so you can witness her walking down the aisle with your own eyes!"The vow he made then was as solid as rock, as if it would never fade. However, I had forgotten that time could erode even the most solemn promises of love. The day before the wedding, I noticed a white dress in the living room. Its hem was trailing across the floor. A bold red rose was embroidered across the chest.Adriana came up to me eagerly

Chapter 3

When I entered Romano Estate, I noticed everyone fawning over Adriana."Giada, over here!" she called, striding toward me in her high heels. She was dressed in a red evening gown—completely matching the one I had chosen for my opening dance.I instinctively bit my lip. Carlo happened to be coming down the stairs, and as soon as he saw her, his eyes lit up. "Adriana, you look absolutely stunning!"Her cheeks turned red. "Carlo, stop it! Giada's right here."Giada, please don't take it the wrong way. I already feel awful for causing you two to argue at your place this morning."Carlo couldn't stop looking at her. The admiration in his gaze was unmistakable. He didn't even glance at me; instead, he reached up and gently removed a stray eyelash from under Adriana's eye.The sight of this had everyone laughing.Carlo's father, Don Sergio Romano, wore a look of regret. "Adriana and Carlo really do make a better match."I glanced down at the dark green dress I had on. I wasn't a flawl

Chapter 4

Before my fingers could even brush Adriana's neck, Carlo shoved me aside. "Giada, have you lost your mind?"Frightened, Adriana's face drained of color, and she hid behind him. "Giada, I know I made you angry, but today's the Romano family luncheon. Let me apologize first. Once it's over, you can scold me and hit me however you want, okay?Those nearby gathered with grim looks. They only offered her words of comfort.Carlo's face darkened. "Do you see how well-mannered Adriana is? Now look at yourself! You go crazy just because my parents said something nice about her. If I marry you, I can't imagine what you'd put my family through!"However, by then, I was already burning with fury. I jabbed a finger at the necklace around her neck and gritted my teeth. "I'm the one who's crazy? She turned the diamond ring my mother left me into a pendant, and I'm not even allowed to ask about it? Carlo, you know better than anyone what that ring means to me!"It was the last thing my mother had

Chapter 5

Carlo's POVIt was the afternoon of the wedding. The weather in St. Morizia was grey and overcast.However, once we arrived at the mountain villa, everyone was in high spirits. They wandered around the space. My parents were delighted as well, taking many photos with Adriana.I stood there alone, staring at my phone's blank screen. A frown crept across my brow.A few days ago, I had sent Giada the villa address and a selfie Adriana had taken in front of it during her trip, but Giada never responded.Yesterday morning, I had reached out to her again, asking her to apologize to Adriana and letting her know I would bring Adriana to the family luncheon first, yet Giada still didn't answer.Even last night, I had sent three messages saying that Adriana had already forgiven her, but Giada remained completely silent.The more I read the messages, the more restless I felt. I swiped up, only to realize that all the earlier messages had been sent by Giada."Which of these three wedding d

Chapter 6

Giada's POVHalf a year had passed since I last returned to my mother's estate. At that time, I had just accepted Carlo's proposal. The two of us had rushed back to pay our respects at her grave.Carlo had clasped his hands together, quietly offering his words to my mother. "Mom, please bless Giada with good health, and don't let her push herself too hard."Mom, we'll come back here in half a year. You'll get to see Giada walking down the aisle with your own eyes."However, only two months after he said that, Adriana returned to the country. Over time, he forgot his promises to my mother, the vows he had made at the proposal, and even the anguish he had shown when she left me her wedding gifts before passing."Mom, I give you my word. Giada will wear the jewelry you gave her and marry me with a joyful heart!"In the end, what should have been my necklace and pendant went to Adriana. Everything had changed.As I wore the wedding gown Luca had picked out for me, my cousin's chil

Chapter 7

Carlo's POVFar away in St. Morizia, my face was shadowed and grim—so much so that no one dared approach me.My parents made several attempts to talk to me, only to be forced back by my tense presence.Adriana twisted her fingers. Her eyes were fixed on me. After watching me make dozens of calls, she clenched her teeth and stepped forward."Carlo, don't worry. I may not have known Giada for long, but I wouldn't call her unreasonable. She's probably just upset right now. Give it a little more time. There's still an hour left."In those days, I would have put everything on hold for Adriana, no matter what she said. Now, I simply stared at my phone, as though her words never reached me at all. I kept calling every mutual friend I could get hold of.Another 20 minutes slipped by, and Giada was still unreachable. Seeing that my message had failed to go through, my fists tightened.I spun around and shouted, "When can we leave? I need to get to Firali right now!"Massimo, who had bee

Chapter 8

Giada's POVWhether it was a nightmare, a beautiful dream, or a self-woven delusion, waking up from it was nothing more than a passing instant.Two days after getting married, I woke up in bed with only that thought in my mind. All the scattered fragments of pain and bitterness had finally dissolved into nothing.At last, I understood what it meant to be cherished and deeply loved—safe, secure, and at peace.This was the room I had spent my childhood in at my mother's estate. I once thought the bed was so large that I could roll around on it as I pleased. My mother would come in with a warm smile, breakfast in hand, and call me to wake up. Yet during the past two nights, Luca had repeatedly tried to initiate sex. My voice had grown hoarse, and all I wanted was to get away. However, the moment I turned, he would seize my ankle and pull me back.It was then that I realized just how small this bed truly was. I had grown up. I was married now, with a husband by my side. Before long,

Chapter 9

From the moment he made the aircraft turn back to his landing in Firali, Carlo had been flooded with messages.First came the news that Luca had taken control of the family business. Then came reports that shareholders were swiftly selling their stakes to him.The Romano family enterprise had been built over decades. It was its proudest and most powerful legacy. Yet in just those few hours Carlo spent in the air, everything had been turned upside down.As soon as he landed, the first thing he received was a call from the committee. Luca had become the dominant shareholder in the Romano family business, and every member of the family—Carlo included—had been stripped of authority.Yet even when he saw me, he didn't ask any questions. With trembling hands, he retrieved the necklace from inside his coat and offered it to me. "Giada, I've brought back the wedding gift your mother once gave you."I didn't reach for it; Luca took it instead.Carlo glared at Luca. His eyes blazed with an

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