Ellie C
On the first day of our honeymoon, Dante Moretti, the Mafia Don I had just married, and his childhood sweetheart left me at a gas station.
They had driven for twenty minutes before realizing I wasn’t in the car.
When he called, panic filled his voice.
“Ariana, why didn’t you get back in? I thought you were in the back seat.”
Bianca’s voice came clearly through the phone.
“She isn’t a child, Dante. You don’t have to turn around for her.”
I laughed bitterly.
I had lost count of how many times he had left me behind for his childhood sweetheart.
When I remained silent, irritation crept into his voice.
“Don’t start, Ariana. I’ve sent one of the guards to pick you up. Just wait for the guard.”
In the past, I would have forgiven him and waited.
But this time, I didn’t want to.
I canceled the rest of our honeymoon and removed the wedding ring I had worn for less than three days.
Then I called my father for the first time in five years.
“Father, I want to come home.”
His voice trembled.
“Ariana, the Bellini family has been waiting for you.”