All Chapters of The Donna's Trial: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

The vineyard's reception hall was hosting a wine tasting. Guests in designer gowns and tailored suits clinked glasses, laughing and chatting.Teresa swept her gaze across the room, her expression turning colder by the second.An hour ago, she'd been comforting the widows of several fallen family members. Those women hadn't received their survivor benefits in three months.Luca's excuse was that the family was tight on funds. And yet here he was, buying a vineyard and throwing a lavish party.Teresa fixed her eyes on Monica. "Which account is covering the cost of this event?"Monica narrowed her eyes. "You're interrogating me? Do you even have the authority?""Of course I do. I want to see the financial statements."I slid the audit notice across the table toward her.It was an official document from the Moretti Family Foundation, bearing both my signature and Teresa's.Monica glanced at the notice. A beat of silence. Then she laughed."Couldn't keep up the tax auditor act, so now you'r

Chapter 2

The call connected, and Monica deliberately put it on speaker.During those few seconds of ringing, she waved her left hand at me, flaunting her diamond ring.A deep blue diamond chip was set into the side of the band. On the inner circle, the Moretti family crest was faintly visible.I'd recognize that design even if it turned to ash.When Luca proposed to me, he'd sworn that ring was custom-made by him alone. Only one existed in the world.Now that same design sat on Monica's finger."Had your fill of staring?"Monica smiled, stroking the ring. "Luca said only I deserve to wear this."I looked at her, and suddenly, so many promises from the past seven years felt like a joke.I clenched my jaw. "You're Luca's wife? You? Do you even know which way the front gate of Moretti Manor faces?"A flash of hatred flickered in Monica's eyes, but she quickly composed herself."I'm not? Then you are? Does anyone here recognize this Donna?"All eyes turned to me.Then a wave of laughter crashed thr

Chapter 3

Watching Monica's face twist into something close to madness, my heart slammed against my ribs.This woman was unhinged. There was no telling what she'd do.I forced myself to stay calm. "Let us go. The cameras are rolling, and every guest here just witnessed what you did. Don't dig yourself a hole you can't climb out of."Monica wiped the wine off her face, her eyes turning venomous."Begging now? Where did all that fire go?"Teresa was shaking with rage. She finally spat the rag out of her mouth."Let go of me, you bitch! I'm calling Luca—I want to ask him what the hell he thinks he's doing!"Teresa looked even more furious than I was.She hated betrayal more than anything.When Luca's father had run around with some actress years ago, she'd thrown him out herself."Those who betray family don't get to stay in the family."That was what she always said. And now, her own son—the one she'd raised—had betrayed me."You old hag, how dare you talk to me like that!"Monica lunged forward,

Chapter 4

I stared at Monica, my eyes burning."Teresa is Luca's mother!" I bit out. "If anything happens to her, when Luca gets here, he will destroy you."She drank in my rage like it was fine wine, smirking with lazy contempt. "You just admitted you're a fraud. Now she's Luca's mother?"Monica crooked her finger at the vineyard manager. "Pull up the basement feed on the main screen."The manager hit a button, and Teresa appeared on the monitor.She was curled up behind the cellar's iron door, clawing at the metal with both hands.Her fingernails were already split. Bloody streaks marked the door where she'd scratched.Monica picked up her glass and took a sip. "Looks perfectly normal to me."The moment the words left her mouth, Teresa lurched upright on the screen.She stumbled and slammed her body into the door.Once. Twice."Open the door!" I shouted, my voice cracking. "Her phobia will trigger an acute cardiac episode!"Monica flicked her blond hair, watching me like a cat sizing up a mous

Chapter 5

Monica threw herself into Luca's arms, tears springing to her eyes on command."You're finally here! This crazy woman was pretending to be the Donna, and she even spat wine in my face!"Monica wiped her tears, pouting. "When you're not around, everyone just walks all over me."Luca wrapped his arm around her instinctively. His gaze landed on the wine stains still drying on her face—fury and tenderness mixed in his eyes."Don't worry. I won't let that fraud get away with it. I'll stay with you a whole week this time, okay?"After soothing Monica, Luca turned his head, his expression dropping to ice. "Who gave you the nerve—"He saw me. His words died in his throat.The rest got stuck there, his Adam's apple bobbing frantically.Monica clung to his chest, whining. "It's these two bitches. Punish them for me, please!"I turned to face him fully, meeting his eyes. "Luca Moretti. How exactly do you plan to 'punish' me?"Luca stammered, caught completely off guard. "E-Elena… what are you doi

Chapter 6

Luca stepped in front of Monica immediately, his face tight with tension."Elena. How exactly do you want to settle this?"I looked at him, and the last shred of warmth in my chest flickered out."Refusing a Foundation audit. Detaining the Donna of the Moretti family."I counted off each offense, my voice flat and cold. "You know the family code better than I do. What's the penalty for that?"Monica cowered behind him, her voice shooting up. "That's because you never told me who you really were! If I'd known, I never would have touched you!""Shut up!" Luca whipped his head around, his eyes dark. "Elena is my wife. She is the only Donna of the Moretti family. Who the hell do you think you are to talk back to her?"Monica's face went white."But you told me you loved me. You said she was just the one the family picked for you—""I said shut your mouth!"Luca cut her off harshly, a flicker of panic creeping into his voice.He turned to me, speaking fast. "Elena, she's just a fling. I've

Chapter 7

After hanging up on Teresa, I called Luca immediately.No answer. Kept trying—nothing.I had no choice but to head to the hospital first.Teresa saw me walk in alone, and her face darkened. "Where's Luca?"I draped my coat over the back of the chair and tried to keep my tone light. "He's interrogating Monica. He'll be here soon."Teresa let out a cold laugh. "Call him. Keep calling until he picks up. Put it on speaker."I dialed Luca again. This time, it connected right away."Elena?"Monica's lazy voice came through the line, laced with undisguised amusement."Can't you be more patient? Luca already said he'd come back and explain things to you. Can't you give a man some space?"I gritted my teeth. "Put Luca on the phone. His mother has something to say to him.""Oh, what a shame. He's in the shower right now."Monica drew out the words deliberately. "He just finished 'interrogating' me. Worked up quite a sweat."She emphasized the word "interrogating" like a private joke.Nausea chur

Chapter 8

The color drained from Luca's face in slow waves."Elena. You're putting me on trial?"I smiled and pulled a document from my handbag."That's right. But before the trial, you need to sign something first."Luca glanced down at the paper, and his pupils contracted sharply.Divorce agreement."I won't sign!"He snatched the document and tore it in half with shaking hands."I told you, I love you! Monica was just a toy. It's over between us!""Elena…" His eyes went red as he stared at me. "Seven years. Seven years of marriage, and you're just going to throw it away like this?"I calmly pulled out another copy."You can tear up as many as you want.""I won't agree to the divorce!"Luca lunged for me, but the guards pinned his shoulders down hard.He struggled for a few seconds, then let his voice go soft."Elena, I know I was wrong. The vineyard, the accounts—I can explain everything…""Luca. There's nothing left to explain between us."His lips trembled.He spun toward the hospital bed.

Chapter 9

At the trial, I sat in the center seat—the authority Teresa, the family founder, had granted me.Twelve elders flanked me on both sides. Below stood Luca and Monica.Monica finally realized something was wrong. She spun and grabbed Luca."Luca, tell them! Tell them it's all a misunderstanding! The vineyard was a gift from you!"Luca shoved her off violently."Shut up! Who said the vineyard was yours?"Monica froze."Last night you said that once Teresa was dead, the whole family would be ours!"The hall went dead silent.Luca's face twisted. He raised his hand and slapped her across the face."Lies! When did I ever say that?"Monica clutched her cheek, staring at him in disbelief."You hit me? Last night in bed, you weren't saying that! You said Elena was just a tool to keep the elders in line. You said once you inherited the family, I'd be the real Donna!""A toy I used for amusement, and you dare dream of being Donna?"Luca's eyes dripped with contempt. "You detained Elena and my mot

Chapter 10

Monica's screams echoed through the hall.Luca didn't even glance at her. He crawled to me, clutching the hem of my dress."Elena, you saw that, right? I cut her off completely."His hands were smeared with blood, tears rolling down his face."I'm done with her—forever. Isn't that enough?"I looked down at him, my voice utterly devoid of warmth."You didn't just destroy her hand. You destroyed the last shred of humanity you had left."Luca's face went white. "I just wanted you to believe me!""Believe a man who'd cut off his mistress's hand just to clear his own name?"He froze, like my words had gutted him.A moment later, he crawled closer, sobbing."Elena, please forgive me. I'll do anything. Anything you ask."I pulled my hem out of his grip and looked down at him from my full height."Luca. The only thing you can do is never show your face in front of me again."He looked up at me, his eyes hollow with despair."Please. Let me stay. I'll do anything. Let me be a gatekeeper—I'll st

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