Chapter 3

A few days later, Lorenzo has me come out to the DeLuca Family estate for his mother's birthday.

I don't want to go.

But Lucia DeLuca was always good to me.

Whenever I visited the estate, she'd have the kitchen cook whatever I liked.

She knew my stomach was weak. The Family doctor always kept meds on hand for me.

But now, everything's different.

Whatever happens with this engagement, I felt like I owed her that. Face to face.

So I pick out a gift and go anyway.

As the car pulls into the grounds, I see a couple of Family Soldatos posted at the gate.

They recognize the car, wave me straight through.

I carry the gift into the main hall.

The second I walk in, Lucia's eyes light up.

She smiles, comes toward me.

"Our future Donna is here."

I step back on instinct, force a smile.

I'm about to say something.

Then she walks right past me.

Straight to Isabella, who's just come up behind me.

She loops her arm through Isabella's.

Warm. Like she used to be with me.

"Sweetheart, is it cold out there?"

"I had someone bring you a shawl. Put it on."

Isabella takes it right away.

"Thank you."

My smile freezes on my face.

I don't say anything.

Just step back, quiet.

Isabella notices.

She says softly, "Ma'am, Alessia's here too."

Only then does Lucia seem to remember I exist.

She glances at me.

Whatever warmth was in her eyes is gone.

All that's left is faint disgust.

"Why is she here too?"

The room goes quiet for a second.

DeLuca Family members around us start trading looks.

Everyone can see it.

Isabella's the one this Family actually wanted here.

I stand there, fingers curling slowly.

I take a breath.

"Since you don't want me here. Gift's delivered. I'll head out."

I set it down on a nearby table.

Turn to leave.

"Stop."

Lorenzo grabs my arm.

His voice drops into a warning.

"It's my mother's birthday."

"You really want to embarrass her in front of everyone?"

I laugh, cold.

"So me standing here, letting her look down on me. That's not embarrassing her?"

His brow tightens.

"Alessia, what happened to you?"

I don't answer.

"Enough."

Lucia cuts in, flat.

She picks up her tea.

Obvious contempt in her tone.

"What gift's so precious it's worth her dragging herself all the way out here?"

"Probably just can't let go, that's all."

She looks at me, mocking.

"You've been trying to get close to the DeLuca name, haven't you?"

"Is that why you're here? For the attention?"

I look at her.

Suddenly this whole thing is funny to me.

Lorenzo's arrogance didn't come from nowhere.

This whole family, cut from the same cloth.

Lucia sets her cup down, slow.

"I don't care how Lorenzo plans to handle things with you and Isabella."

"But to me, the only future Donna of this Family is Isabella."

"Not for any other reason."

"She's carrying the Don's baby."

My head snaps toward Isabella. I can't believe it.

Isabella looks down on instinct. Her hand rests lightly on her stomach.

So that's it.

They didn't just sleep together behind my back.

They already have a kid coming.

Isabella looks up, catches me staring.

Her face goes a little pale.

Lucia's watching my reaction, taking it all in.

She smiles, cold.

"Nothing to be jealous over, really."

"If you want to blame someone, blame yourself."

"All these years, and you never gave this Family an heir."

She holds out her hand.

"Hand it over."

I frown.

"What?"

She looks at me with disgust.

"Still playing dumb?"

"You're not the future Donna of this Family anymore."

"That ring. Time to give it back."

I look down at the ring on my finger.

Lucia gave it to me herself. Back then.

I didn't want to take it at first. She got upset, told me refusing it meant I didn't see her as real family.

Now it's just proof I've been squatting on something that isn't mine.

I laugh.

I take it off, set it on the table.

"Since it's your Family's heirloom..."

"Better hold onto it tight."

I glance at Lucia. A little bite in my voice.

"Next time, maybe don't just slide it onto any woman's hand."

"Wouldn't want her getting blamed for stealing it down the line."

I turn and walk away.

A second later, china shatters behind me.

Lucia's thrown her teacup.

"What kind of attitude is that?"

I don't look back.

At the estate gate, Lorenzo catches up. Grabs my arm again.

"What the hell were you doing back there?"

"You talk to my mother like that, and you still think you're marrying into this Family?"

I look at him.

Then I say it, one word at a time.

"When did I ever say I still wanted to marry you?"