Semua Bab Never the Donna: Bab 1 - Bab 10

I didn't return until I'd spent the entire afternoon away.The moment Julianne saw me, she took my hand and led me to the table to eat the cake Adrian had bought.It seemed neither of them had even noticed I'd been gone all afternoon."Maddie, come have your favorite blueberry cake."We already had some. We saved the rest for you."I said nothing and glanced at the blueberry cake on the table. They had eaten half and left half for me.Apparently, they'd both forgotten I was allergic to blueberries.Julianne was the one who loved blueberry cake.Julianne couldn't find another spoon and smiled apologetically. "Sorry, Maddie. There are only two forks, and we've already used both of them.""This is your fault. We should've just shared one fork."Adrian let her swat his arm and replied evenly, "Who dropped hers before taking a single bite? Didn't I let you use mine?"They bantered back and forth like a couple in love, moving from the cake to the details of the wedding.I hadn't

After that night, Adrian didn't call me for two days.Julianne and my parents weren't home either.I was alone in the enormous house. That was better. I could leave quietly, and no one would know where I'd gone.But the day before the wedding, Adrian suddenly came over.He entered with a gentle smile and coaxed me patiently, just as he used to."Still angry?"I kept eating and didn't look at him."I know you're upset, but Jules was thinking of you."Do you understand how much danger she accepted by taking your identity?"Maddie, try to be reasonable."He stroked my hair and reached out to hug me."Don't be angry. Besides, she only took your place on the marriage license."His voice was deep and tender, full of apparent sincerity. In the past, I would've been moved and believed Julianne had sacrificed so much for me.Now I simply didn't have the strength to argue anymore.I said nothing.Adrian smiled. "There. You're not angry anymore."Tomorrow, I'm taking you somewhere

Julianne's sprained ankle didn't delay the wedding.In front of Adrian, my parents said I was as willful as I'd been as a child and needed to be taught a lesson.So none of them gave me another thought.Adrian and Julianne exchanged vows before the priest.Mother was moved to tears.They had almost forgotten it was supposed to be my wedding.Three days after the ceremony, I still hadn't called Adrian.They planned a honeymoon.Julianne suggested taking me along because they were traveling so far.Only then did they remember they'd left me outside the country house.Mother scoffed. "Why bring her? Have you forgotten she caused your injury? She's an ungrateful wretch. No matter how much you do for her, she'll never appreciate it!"Father added, "Julianne, you're simply too kind."Adrian, who had initially been worried about my safety, darkened at their words.He agreed. "Leave her at the house for now. When she realizes she was wrong, she'll call."Julianne said, "All right

I hadn't had time to take the luggage I'd packed.I'd only taken my identification and personal documents.My suitcase remained in the corner of my room, while barely any clothes were left in the closet. No one had noticed I truly intended to leave.With a heavy heart, Adrian searched the room and found the files from my investigation into the kidnappers.Inside one envelope was a group photograph of every person involved. I'd circled each face in red marker.Beside it, I'd written: No one missing.The second document contained the official death records I'd obtained. Every kidnapper had been accounted for. Not one was still alive.As Adrian read the reports, his nose stung and his knuckles slowly turned white.The last time he'd investigated the matter had been ten years ago.When he failed to get reliable information, he'd stopped following up. After that, he'd relied entirely on whatever Julianne told him.The final photograph was of me as a child.Back then, I had a smal

I spent two weeks recovering in New York.During that time, the Romano family took excellent care of me. They placed me in their finest private estate and hired the best nutritionist they could find.I changed my phone and never contacted Adrian.For the first time in my life, I felt completely free.I heard Julianne's mental state had become unstable after I left, as though the situation had shaken her badly.I heard nothing more about Adrian.Once I'd fully recovered, I began working. The Romanos trusted me and gave me complete authority.They told me to do whatever I believed was necessary.Within six months of taking over the fine art authentication firm, I increased its revenue to more than five times its previous level.I quickly established my own standing in the industry.I also prepared to expand into other cities.Six months later, the family held a celebration for me. As I left the firm, I saw Adrian.He wore a black suit, and exhaustion showed across his face.