Soleil
On Christmas Day, my boyfriend of five years, Damian Reed, threw me the proposal of a lifetime.
I stared down at the ring resting on my finger, totally overwhelmed with happiness. I was just about to say yes when my father’s words suddenly echoed in my mind.
"Anna, the only man you ever marry is the one willing to give you the wedding of the century, someone who wants the entire world to know he's taking you as his wife.
"It's not about how much money the wedding costs," he used to tell me, "What I'm testing is his heart, whether he has the genuine devotion to reveal your true identity to everyone."
My father, Marco James, is the Don of the James family, the most powerful mafia in New York.
Even as the daughter of a mafia boss, I’ve always been a hopeless romantic.
Years ago, my father and I made a pact. I would keep my true identity hidden until I met someone truly willing to give everything for me.
As a result, I was always terrified of falling too deep, never letting down my guard until I met Damian.
His love for me was fierce, loud, and obvious to everyone. Ever since we got together, he bent over backward to grant my every wish.
I finally let my guard down. With a net worth of five hundred million dollars and a heart that belonged completely to me, I was sure Damian would pass my father's test with flying colors.
Shaking with excitement, I laid out the conditions for our wedding right then and there.
In a split second, Damian's face darkened. The warmth drained completely, replaced by a freezing, distant glare.
"Anna, of course I can give a million-dollar wedding of the century," he said, his tone chillingly sharp, "But you didn't say a single word about this while we were dating. Now, right before you say yes, you suddenly drop a price tag on me? Do you think you've got me trapped?"
My breath hitched as I froze in disbelief. Before I could process what he said, his secretary, Sophia Cooper, slammed a worn folder in front of me. A sharp, stinging ridicule cut through the air as she sneered.
"I’ve dealt with plenty of gold diggers like you," Sophia spat out, her laugh brutally harsh, "You think having a pretty face means you can play games and walk away with something for nothing?"
Damian didn't say another word. He turned on his heel and walked off with his secretary trailing right behind him, leaving me standing alone in the biting wind, humiliated and numb.
I swallowed hard, wiping the tears from my cheeks, and turned down the ride his chauffeur offered. Clutching the heavy train of my dress, I started walking away into the cold night.
He thought I was just some ruthless gold digger.
What he didn’t realize was that the wedding gift my father had prepared for me was a mind-blowing fortune he couldn't even fathom.