Todos los capítulos de Traded for an Heir, Claimed by a Kingpin: Capítulo 1 - Capítulo 8

"Don Ricci, look. Isn't that your obsessed little admirer?"At the familiar name, I instinctively turned toward the voice. The moment I saw the man standing there, I froze. Elio Ricci.My ex-boyfriend. The man I'd loved for five years. The same man who, at our engagement party, had taken the ring meant to name me the future Donna of the Ricci family and slipped it onto his widowed sister-in-law's finger instead. In the four years since I'd left, Elio hadn't sent me a single message. He hadn't even bothered to ask where I'd gone. And apparently, nothing had changed.Marianne Fabbri, his brother's widow, was still at his side, surrounded by the same pack of loyal lackeys who had always hung on Elio's every word. Elio himself stood in the most conspicuous spot by the harbor, holding up a sign that read, "Mrs. Costa."So, this was the man Renato had sent to pick me up. I collected myself and walked toward them.The instant Elio's eyes met mine, something flickered across

The following evening, I stepped aboard the yacht where Renato's welcome reception was being held.I spotted Elio almost immediately. He stood among a cluster of guests with a glass of wine in his hand, laughing and talking as if he owned the place.As if he sensed me watching, he glanced over.For one fleeting second, surprise flashed in his eyes.I looked nothing like the understated woman he'd seen at the harbor yesterday. Tonight, I wore a floor-length red gown with my curls falling loosely over my shoulders. The gown was Renato's favorite.Elio's gaze lingered before he finally walked over. "Looks like you took my advice after all."His arrogant expression returned as though that brief moment of admiration had never happened."If you'd listened to me four years ago, you wouldn't have spent all this time struggling on your own. At least you've finally learned where you belong."Marianne has already given the Ricci family its heir. But if you behave tonight and don't cause m

The Riccis were terrified when they heard what I said. Especially those who had once stood behind Elio, laughing at me and humiliating me. They remembered how they had mocked me over the years, saying I was so desperate to become Donna that I shamelessly clung to Elio.When Elio wasn't around, they had made things difficult for me time and again. They had humiliated me and made me look like a fool in front of everyone, just because of something Marianne had said. They had never thought much of me anyway.Even after four years, they still assumed I'd come back for Elio. They would never believe that I had become the Donna of the Costa family.Even after seeing the ruby ring on my finger and hearing me say I was the Mrs. Costa they were looking for, they still didn't believe me. Naturally, not a single one of them stepped in to stop Marianne as she heaped abuse on me.As for Elio, he took his family's side, just as he always did. In the past, he had dismissed every grievance I'd

Watching the three of us wrapped up in our own little world, Elio stood off to the side, his eyes red with rage.Renato let go of my hand and walked over to Elio. He stopped right in front of him and fixed him with a cold, hard stare."There's no point in trying to drive a wedge between us. Stella already chose me."Renato sneered. "I've known about your dirty past for a long time. You betrayed your then-girlfriend and fathered a child with your widowed sister-in-law. But I never imagined that my Stella had been hurt by a piece of trash like you."Chiara shouted angrily from beside us, "Bah! Mommy would never want you! A stupid man like you could only have a stupid child!""What did you just say?"Marianne showed up out of nowhere. The moment she heard what Chiara had said, her face twisted with fury."My son is the heir to the Ricci family! You little brat! How dare you insult my son like that?" she shrieked.She suddenly lunged at Chiara, her sharp nails reaching for the litt