Home / Escaping the Don Who Took Me for Granted / Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

All Chapters of Escaping the Don Who Took Me for Granted: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

Melisenda's POVThe gunsmith, Luca Romano, worked through the night to readjust the new guns, and everyone was called in to inspect them again.Noticing Vincenzo Ricci and Siena Bellandi from a distance, I walked into the shooting range too.Vincenzo stood just behind the firing line, his black sleeves rolled to his elbows, head lowered as he examined the gun Siena handed him.He asked, "What do you think?"Siena flexed her wrist. "It's way better. But I'd prefer the grip to be a little narrower."Vincenzo called Luca over. "You heard what she said. Adjust it again."Luca looked troubled. "Don Ricci, the whole batch?""Of course."Someone teased, "One word from Siena, and the armory will be working overtime for the next two nights."Another person chimed in, "What's so strange about that? Siena knows her stuff. If it were someone else, they probably couldn't even tell what was wrong."At that, one of them shot me a pointed look, holding my gaze. "The Donna is here too."Som

Chapter 2

After hanging up, I took out my luggage and packed a few clothes and my personal documents. The jewelry and gowns Vincenzo gave me were still neatly arranged in the dressing room. I had no intention of bringing them along.Vincenzo came back the next morning, still wearing the same suit he'd worn at the shooting range. Seeing my cold expression, he wrapped his arms around me, his rough stubble scraping against my neck. "Are you still angry about yesterday?"I cut a piece of the fried egg and shoved it into my mouth. "No."He was about to say something when his phone suddenly rang. After he hung up, he pulled a yellowed booklet from his briefcase."Perfect. I need your help on something."I froze when I flipped to the first page. It was the dock records passed down from Papa's generation. They contained the dock numbers, nighttime signal codes, and docking signals used decades ago."Someone's been watching the docks we use most often lately." Vincenzo pointed to a few pages. "Toni

Chapter 3

At daybreak, I took my original draft to Vincenzo's study, my eyes bloodshot. "My signal codes were right."I put the papers in front of him. "This is the original draft from yesterday. It's the same as Papa's old booklet."Vincenzo briefly glanced at it. "I know."I stopped in my tracks. "Then why didn't you clear it up?"He didn't say anything for a few seconds, then showed me the security footage on his computer. In the video, Siena took the documents and left alone for a few minutes before setting off last night. The page she'd handed to the convoy was different from the original draft.I looked at Vincenzo. "You should definitely tell everyone this wasn't my problem!"He furrowed his brows. "The second shipment is due back tonight, and Siena is leading the team. If I tell them now that the mission failed because of Siena, her men will be furious."Vincenzo walked over, his tone softening. "Just wait one more day. When the shipment arrives safely, I'll speak up for you."

Chapter 4

The original draft I handed over to Vincenzo was perfectly fine. The signal codes were changed after the documents reached Siena.Filippo personally came over and told me, "Donna Ricci, the investigation has been completed. You didn't write the signal codes wrong."I flipped through two pages, then asked, "What about the old warehouses?""The verification had been called off, and Don Ricci had also ordered everyone to put everything back where it belonged."I nodded and closed the file.That afternoon, I went to the headquarters. Marcello's matter still hadn't been fully settled. I'd promised him I'd deliver the last few documents before I left.When the elevator doors opened, I heard voices at the end of the hallway."So what if she didn't get the signal codes wrong? Everyone knows she's incompetent. She doesn't deserve to be Donna!""Siena's been the one helping Don Ricci handle the Famiglia's affairs all these years. If Donna Ricci had to go on a mission herself, would she e

Chapter 5

Third-Person POVVincenzo stared at the wedding ring on the console table. The divorce agreement beside it had been flipped to the last page, showing his signature.He barked, "Where's Melisenda?"The butler's face paled at Vincenzo's sudden growl. "Don Ricci, Donna went to the airport…""Why didn't you tell me?" He grabbed the divorce agreement, his fingers tightening until the papers crumpled into a ball.The next second, Vincenzo snatched up the keys and rushed outside. "Have someone stop her from leaving!"Filippo arrived at the moment. "Don Ricci, Donna's flight has already taken off."Vincenzo spun around. "What did you say?""Her plane has already left Sicilia."Vincenzo stood stunned. A moment later, he started calling Melisenda over and over again. He called more than a dozen times, but she never answered.Filippo quietly reminded him, "Don Ricci, I think Donna has blocked you."The veins on the back of Vincenzo's hand bulged. "Find out when she bought the flight ti

Chapter 6

Nobody dared to raise their voice.Vincenzo didn't sleep all night.When Filippo walked in, Vincenzo was still sitting in the study. The divorce agreement lay on the table alongside Melisenda's wedding ring. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked terrible.After a brief hesitation, Filippo said, "Don Ricci, you can't keep going on like this."Vincenzo didn't react."Headquarters has caught a lot of people snooping around for information over the past two days. If the other Famiglia find out you're in this state, they'll definitely come at us."At that, Vincenzo looked up. It was as if he'd suddenly latched onto something. His eyes cleared, and he said, "You're right."Filippo paused."I can't lose my head." Vincenzo sat up straight, his voice regaining its usual cold edge. "I must stabilize the Famiglia."He paused, then continued in a low voice, "Only if I'm strong enough can I continue protecting her."Filippo furrowed his brows, unsure of what to make of Vincenzo's behavio

Chapter 7

Melisenda's POVVincenzo had obviously been waiting for a long time. His trench coat was still damp from the rain, and dark circles shadowed his eyes.When he saw me, his eyes lit up. He walked over to me immediately. "Melisenda."I stopped.Vincenzo's gaze fell on my bare ring finger, and his face paled. "Why didn't you leave any word for me?"I looked at him and smiled. "Does it matter if I did or not? No matter what I say, you'll only brush me off."Vincenzo's expression stiffened. "I'm not talking about that.""Then what were you referring to?"His Adam's apple bobbed. "You should have told me personally that you wanted a divorce."I sneered. "The agreement was right in front of you, and you signed it yourself.""I was dealing with—""So you didn't even read it. You brushed me off just like you always did."The rest of what Vincenzo wanted to say choked in his throat.I stepped past him, but he immediately followed me."I've already had someone call the painter again.

Chapter 8

For years, Enzo Orsini had managed the vineyard Papa left behind, so all I had to do was go there and sign the papers.Now that I'd moved back to Florentia, I'd taken over the business again.At our first business meeting, Enzo spread the past three years' worth of ledgers across the long table. "Donna Ricci, where do you want to start?"I flipped open the top ledger, my expression calm. "Don't call me that anymore."He paused. "Then…""Just call me Melisenda."A month later, we finalized the wine orders for the new season. That evening, I treated everyone to dinner.A letter from Sicilia lay in my mailbox when I returned to my apartment. There was no sender's name. I opened it to find only a brief investigation report.Siena was removed from all her posts, and they pulled the shooting range footage. It showed her shoving her hand into the gun case just as I closed it.They also investigated the signal codes from the old dock. The original documents I'd handed over were fine.

Chapter 9

Vincenzo used to think sitting for a portrait was a waste of time, so he'd had his solo portrait moved for the painter to use as a reference.But now, he was sitting for a portrait himself.The painter set up the canvas and glanced at the empty chair beside Vincenzo. "When is the Donna coming over?"Vincenzo briefly fell silent before saying, "She won't be coming."The painter was stunned. "But this painting…""Just start.""But a two-person portrait needs two people…"Vincenzo lifted his head. "Just draw it like this."For the next three days, he sat in the same spot for two hours each day, the seat beside him remaining empty.On the last day, when the painter finally put down his brush, only Vincenzo had been painted on the canvas. The other side remained blank.Vincenzo pondered it, but in the end, he didn't ask anyone to fill in for Melisenda.Melisenda's POVA few days later, I received a package from Sicilia. Inside was an ordinary-looking antique brooch, the very one

Chapter 10

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony ended, I returned to Florentia.That afternoon, the painter I'd arranged for arrived on time. It was the same old man from a year ago.He stared at me in surprise for a few seconds before recognizing me. "I finally get to meet you."I recognized him too.Seven years ago, I'd invited him to Sicilia three times, and after I canceled the last appointment, we never saw each other again.He set up the easel by the window. "How would you like me to paint you?"I thought about it. "I'll just sit here.""What about the gown?""This outfit is fine."He nodded and glanced at the entrance. "Do we need to wait for someone else?"I followed his gaze. No one was at the entrance. "No need." Then I sat down on the chair. "You're only painting me today."The afternoon sunlight streamed through the window. Halfway through the painting, Stefano came in and placed an envelope on the table."It came from Sicilia."I opened it and found a Mass notice from a chu

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