Semua Bab When I Stopped Being His Second Choice: Bab 1 - Bab 10

I turned to leave, but Linda grabbed my arm, her eyes red. "You are really just walking away? After everything you put into this company—"Before I could answer, a soft voice came from behind me, hesitant and gentle. "Linda, please do not say that. Alessandra will feel worse."I turned around. Megan walked toward us in her heels, still holding the proposal I had written. Her expression was warm, like she was trying to protect me from something."Alessandra made her own choice. We should respect that. She has been exhausted lately. Daniel was worried about her, which is why he told her to rest."She lowered her head slightly, her voice softening. "Honestly, I have always admired how much Alessandra gave to this company. But I never wanted her to think I was taking her place. If she wants the project back, I can return it."She lifted her head and looked at me with an expression so open it could have been sincerity. "Alessandra, you know I never wanted to replace you."Linda did not say

A message appeared on my screen."Miss Alessandra, Don has sent me to bring you back to the estate. I will be there in an hour."The sender was listed simply as Moretti, my grandfather's longtime estate manager.Daniel caught a glimpse of the message, and his brow creased almost imperceptibly. "The estate? What estate?""Nothing," I said. "Someone has finally come to take me back where I belong."Right after I said that, his phone buzzed again. Megan had sent a voice message. He did not hesitate to play it out loud."Daniel, I am already at the airport. Let me know when you are on your way. I will get you a coffee."Her tone was casual, not obviously flirtatious. But it carried the kind of familiarity that said, "I am here, waiting for you."He looked at me after it finished, as if the message itself proved his point. "You see, that is just normal work communication. She is young and alone. It is not wrong for me to look after her. You are reading too much into everything."I did not s

Three hours later, the convoy pulled through the gates of the De Luca estate.The door opened, and there he was on the steps. My grandfather wore an old dark coat, both hands resting on the cane that marked him as the Don of the De Luca family. Sunlight fell across his white hair, and I noticed for the first time how much thinner he had become. His back was slightly curved.I ran to him and held him the way I used to when I was small.His body went still for a moment. Then he lifted one hand and patted my back. "Home. You are home." I pressed my face against his shoulder and said, "I am sorry, Grandfather." He did not ask what I was sorry for. He just patted me harder.After dinner, my grandfather called Ethan and me into the study. He sat in his old armchair and tapped his cane once against the floor. "That man Harrison humiliated my granddaughter in front of her own office. He treated a De Luca as if she were nothing." He looked up at Ethan. "What do you think we should do about it?"

March fifteenth. The De Luca estate.I sat in front of the mirror in my wedding dress. Moretti knocked three times. "Miss Alessandra, it is time." I took a breath and opened the door. My grandfather was waiting at the end of the hall. When he saw me, his eyes went red for a moment, but he turned away and cleared his throat. "Let us go, my girl." I took his arm.The doors of the great hall opened. Long tables lined both sides. The Rosenthal family sat on the left, the De Luca family on the right. A deep red carpet ran down the center. Candles lit the aisle one by one. The air smelled of cigar smoke and old wood. Ethan stood at the far end in a black suit, his tie straight. When he saw me, he stopped moving. I walked toward him.The priest spoke the vows. A light applause came from the guests. Then a commotion broke out near the side entrance. A man in a wrinkled gray suit was being held back by two security men in dark uniforms. He broke loose and stumbled forward a few steps. Two black

Four months passed.I sat on the terrace with my grandfather, drinking tea. Moretti brought a plate of almond biscuits and the morning paper. "Miss Alessandra, have you seen today's news?" I took the paper.The front page carried the story. After Harrison Logistics collapsed, investigators uncovered a fraudulent investment scheme Daniel Harrison had been running to keep the company afloat. He had raised money from small investors under fake project names and used new investments to cover earlier losses. The amount involved was substantial. The photo showed him being led away by two men in dark suits. He looked like a man who had been hollowed out. The collapse of his company had not created the fraud. It had simply exposed it.Some people said he brought it on himself. Others said he could have avoided it if he had not pushed so far.My grandfather took a sip of tea. "Finished reading? How do you feel? Relieved? Or do you feel sorry for him?" I thought about it for a moment. "Nothing.