The Ex’s Wedding Gift

Three years into my marriage with Dominick, Gia, his stepsister, sent me a video clip out of nowhere. I tapped on the video, only to find Dominick tying his stepsister to the bedpost with the tie I had given him. His stepsister lay naked under him, addressing him intimately. After getting their freak on, they shared an embrace, and Gia cozied up against Dominick and uttered, “I don’t like the ring you bought me. Give it to Luna, and tell her it’s a birthday gift from me.” The next day, I sat in an upscale restaurant and stared at the vacant seat across the table. Suddenly, the Underboss wheeled a massive cake toward me. “Don Costa was called away on urgent business. He sent me to deliver your birthday gift.” The box contained his stepsister’s discarded reject. My phone buzzed with new pictures from Gia. Dominick was at the hospital with Gia for a check-up. Without a fuss, I signed the divorce papers and made preparations for a wedding. “Donna Costa, whose names should I put down as the bride and groom?” “Dominick and Gia.” A week from now, I would show the world the kind of filth the supposed solemn Don had been rolling in with his stepsister. Chapter 1 “Gia Costa? Isn’t Gia the Don’s sister? How can they possibly get married?” One subordinate exclaimed. “They aren’t siblings by blood,” I said in a flat tone. Gia was his stepsister. No one expected Gia to find her way into Dominick Costa’s sheets. I stared at the empty chair across from me, my heart in the pit of my stomach. Holding a pen, I scrawled my signature on the document right in front of me and handed the divorce papers to the subordinate. “Tuck this sheet in with the recent expense claims.” Dominick had always been generous with me, signing off on my spending without so much as a glance. With his name on the divorce papers, things between us would be over before he knew it. Before strutting out of the restaurant, I dumped the roses and ring into the trash can right in front of the Underboss. The Underboss uttered, “Donna Costa, surely, there’s some sort of mistake—” “Frankie, know your place.” My voice was icy. “My relationship issues with the Don are not your concern. If I catch wind of any gossip, I’ll see to it that your limbs be removed.” Frankie clammed up. Given Dominick’s years of favor, I was second to him in the family. No one had the nerve to challenge me. As I was walking out of the restaurant, heavy snow fell outside the window, and snowflakes drifted onto my palm. It was snowing when Dominick told me he loved me for the first time. Back then, he wrapped a red scarf around my neck and leaned in to press his lips onto mine. “Holy cow! Check that out!” A burst of exclamations nearby pulled me out of my thoughts. I looked up and saw my name written across the biggest billboard in the city. [Luna Bianchi, I will always love you until the day I die.] “Oh, my God! I really envy the girl by that name. As if being rich isn’t enough, her husband is impossibly devoted too!” “I know, right? I don’t think there is any woman as lucky as her.” “I’d kill for that. Oh, Lord, grant me a man just like him.” The women on the streets lifted their heads, their expressions dreamy as they stared at the billboard. Only I, the subject in question, averted my gaze. My phone rang. It was a new message from Gia. The image displayed Dominick sound asleep by her hospital bedside, his grip tight on her wrist. “I hope you have a wonderful birthday today.” It was just another one of Gia’s attempts to get a rise out of me. Still, I kept my cool and simply texted back, “I did.” How could I not? I was about to leave a man who wasn’t worth my time to start a new chapter. I took a cab, and along the route home, one display board after another lit up. From massive shopping centers to small businesses, every illuminated sign was plastered with loving messages directed at me. By the end of tonight, the whole of Riverton would know that a woman named Luna Bianchi was loved. My mobile screen flickered. The notification was not from Gia, but Dominick. His voice was husky as if he had just woken up. “Did you have a good time tonight?” I fell silent for a moment before saying, “It was alright.” Dominick chuckled. “I guess it’s not enough to get me off the hook. I honestly had an emergency tonight, Luna. “There was trouble within the family, and it concerned the lives of many. I trust that you’re sensible enough to understand that.” That was so typical of Dominick. The words, supposedly affectionate, came across as a threat, forcing me to comply. “I got it. Don’t let me keep you from your business. I’ll just head to the mall for a little shop.” I looked out the car window, my voice nothing more than a whisper. Pleased with my response, Dominick ended the call and wired a million bucks to my bank account, along with the message to spend everything before coming back. It was rather overbearing yet doting of him. He appeared to adore me. If I hadn’t discovered his affair with his stepsister, I would have believed his lies for the rest of my life. Yesterday, Gia, his stepsister, sent me a risqué video clip. Out of curiosity, I tapped on the clip for a peek, only to view the face of my husband, Dominick. He tied Gia to the bedpost with a necktie. Stark naked under Dominick, Gia breathed raggedly. They murmured terms of endearment to each other like it was second nature, and the way they acted together made it obvious this wasn’t their first rodeo. My gaze fixated on the purple tie—the one I’d given him for our third anniversary. He used my gift to him to bed another woman, and the woman had to be his stepsister. It was the most absurd thing ever. I remembered the day of our third wedding anniversary. To make the night unforgettable, I slipped into the new lingerie I’d bought. When I stepped out of the shower, the room was vacant with only a note on the table. “Family business. Don’t wait up. Get some rest.” Fighting back the hurt, I waited from dark until morning light. At last, he waltzed in through the door close to noon. I pounced on him excitedly, only for him to push me away. “Not today, sweetie. I’m a little exhausted.” At the time, I didn’t think much of the matter since he had no reason to lie to me. My faith in him crumbled the moment I received the video. Dying for answers, I tapped into the family’s intelligence network to locate the source of the video and found the address at a hotel. Once outside the hotel room, I could hear the heavy thumping and labored breathing from the other side of the door. “Dom, who’s better in bed? Me or her?” “That’s got to be you, baby. Luna is absolutely lifeless in bed. She’s reserved, unlike you.” “Am I just a casual fling or cheap booty call to you? I don’t like either, Dom.” “No? Why don’t you be my wife on the side then?” “What if Luna finds out about us? She’s quick to catch on.” After a pause, Dominick burst out laughing. “Luna will never find out. She can’t outwit me.” He spoke with certainty and confidence. … Lifeless in bed? Was that a reason for him to cheat? All words were lost in me right there and then. I didn’t even have the strength to question him. Having lost the will to jump on them, I left the hotel in a daze. Later that night, I saw Dominick with scratches on his neck, supposedly the masterpiece of a cat. It was utterly ridiculous, and I was past the point of asking. “It’s your birthday tomorrow. Why don’t I have the whole day with you?” That was what he said then. When the day came, it was clear that he’d broken his promise once again. As I snapped back to reality, the cab pulled up outside my residence. I numbly opened the car door. Out of the blue, I caught sight of a familiar car parked not too far away, and out walked two figures. Dominick pinned Gia against the car windows and took her lips. Under the dimming moonlight, the image of their kiss grew intense. This was my first up-close, live view of my husband's infidelity. Despite bracing myself for the truth, I couldn’t have anticipated the heartache when I witnessed the moment with my very own eyes. Chapter 2 I slipped back into the residence and glanced out of the window. Busy locking tongues, Dominick and Gia were in no rush to get inside the house. Letting out a long breath, I pulled the curtains shut and cocked my head back to tell the housekeeper, “Fetch me the purple tie that the Don was wearing a few days back.” The housekeeper was taken aback. “Donna, Don Costa has kept the tie in his private collection. No one gets in without clearance.” It was known in the family that Dominick would store every memento of our love, including the stuffed animals I’d given him, in the private vault. His partiality toward me was the reason every member of the family hierarchy held me in utmost respect. After a moment of silence, I picked up a bat and stormed straight to the collection room. I violently smashed the items there while everybody watched in shock. “Donna! What are you doing?” Offering no explanations, I grabbed a pair of scissors and went to town shredding the necktie and other possessions. I destroyed the expensive jewelry. My voice carried no emotions. “Pack these junk pieces into a box. This will be my gift to the Don’s upcoming wedding. “Not a word about tonight, or I’ll make sure to send you down to the sub-basement. Have I made myself clear?” The staff nodded, aware that the sub-basement held the worst of the worst criminals. No one ever walked out of there alive. Once I was finished with business, the staff swiftly cleared the mess, restoring the room to its glory. Nevertheless, everything associated with me was gone. Back in the bedroom, Dominick sat on the sofa with a cigarette between his lips. He looked ever-so captivating, taking a long drag. He was quick to put out the cigarette in my presence and told his subordinate to air out the room with an open window. Dominick knew that I wasn’t keen on the smell of cigarettes. “Did you have a great time shopping, babe?” He murmured while approaching and wrapping his arms around my waist. Due to the proximity, the lingering scent of tobacco made me sick to my stomach. “It was fine,” I replied curtly, yanking his hands off me. Oblivious to my odd behavior, Dominick took my attitude as nothing more than a little tantrum. He shot his subordinate a look, and the latter presented a gift box on the double. “So I heard that you threw away the roses and ring? That’s pretty willful of you, but that’s what I like about you. “These are pearls imported from the Miranth Gulf. They cost me thirty million dollars at the auction. What do you think?” Despite posing a question, Dominick never gave me a chance to answer. He went ahead and put the pearl necklace around my neck before nodding in satisfaction. “As expected, the pearls look best on you.” I was stunned. What was that supposed to mean? Was the necklace a reject from Gia? I let out a mocking chuckle, wondering how many Gia’s castoffs were stored in the supposed private vault. With that in mind, I tore the necklace off and flung it onto the table in disgust. “I appreciate the gesture, but I’m allergic to pearls, so I won’t keep the necklace on.” Dominick furrowed his brows. “You’re allergic? Haven’t you worn pearl earrings to functions before? “You can have your little fits, Luna, but I won’t tolerate your lies.” His voice turned icy. As the tension in the air thickened, the staff hung their heads low without a word. “Ha.” Suddenly, Dominick chuckled under his breath. He held the pearl necklace up for a close examination and dropped it in the can without hesitation. “Since my wife doesn’t care for it, I should just get rid of it.” He came close to him and plucked my chin, his eyes reflecting complicated emotions beyond my comprehension. “I’ll take you shopping tomorrow. Just get anything you want. Surely, that should cheer you up, my dear wife.” I looked into his eyes and let out a soft laugh. “Okay. That works out well since I need to get a gift.” “A gift? Who is it for?” Dominick frowned. It could just be in my head, but there was a subtle hint of jealousy in his voice. “I’m getting a gift for someone I’ve known for many years. Since his wedding’s coming up in a week, it’s only right that I get him a little something.” Dominick wasn’t too pleased initially, but the mention of the person’s wedding put him at ease. He patted my shoulder with a smile. “Okay. Go all out on your spending tomorrow. A friend of yours is a friend of mine.” “Are you going to be my plus-one to the wedding?” I asked earnestly, my eyes boring into his. Dominick responded right away, “Of course. Even if I have to blow off a meeting worth hundreds of millions, I will be there with you. It’s the least I can do to make up for standing you up today.” There was solemnity in his words. Had I not seen the betrayal with my own eyes, I might have fallen for his sweet talk again. He bent over and held me tight. Just as he pulled in for a kiss, a knock came at the door. “Don Costa, here is the expense list. If I could get your signature on it.” Chapter 3 Frankie’s voice shook badly when he saw me. Not noticing Frankie’s distress, Dominick uttered in annoyance, “Just approve everything. You can sign the expenses off for me.” “You shouldn’t do that, Dominick. The papers need your signature.” I took the document from Frankie. Dominick paused, but only for a beat. Before long, he took a pen and signed each sheet without taking the time to review the content. It wasn’t until Dominick flipped past the divorce papers that I finally let out a sigh of relief. The moment Frankie left with the signed papers, Dominick eagerly pressed me onto the bed and planted light kisses across my neck. However, I pushed him away and straightened my collar nonchalantly. I muttered, “I’m feeling tired today. Rain check?” Though frustration flickered in Dominick’s eyes, he held his tongue. Once I was out of the room, Dominick got back into his car and drove away. Half an hour later, my phone chimed with a text message from Gia like clockwork. “Well, aren’t you pathetic, Luna? You can’t even hold onto your own man. “You’re not a wife to him. Why else would he call me his other half?” Cool as a cucumber, I closed the chat and booked a flight to Averia, departing in a week. Averia was my home country. In fact, my family rivaled the Costas in standing. At that time, my parents were firmly against me marrying Dominick. Being a Don, Dominick had far too many enemies. My parents feared the dangers that came with marrying him. Young as I was, I got down to my knees and pleaded with my parents, “I want to take the chance. Dominick loves me. He won’t let me down.” My parents looked at me, their faces etched with disappointment. Subsequently, they froze all my bank accounts and hadn’t been in touch even once in the last three years. Sadness clouded over me for a long time. With each passing Christmas, I would cry my eyes out over the silence from their side. Back then, Dominick would pull me close and say tenderly, “It’s alright. All that matters is that I love you.” Alas, he was the very man who betrayed me, and I lost anyway. In that case, it was time for me to head home. With shaky hands, I sent the screenshot of my flight itinerary to my parents and left a sobbing voice note. “Mom, Dad, Dominick has abandoned me. Will you have me back?” I didn’t hold out much hope since my parents had long been disappointed in me. In a shocking twist, then came my mother’s response in less than a minute. “Come back. Your father and I miss you very much.” All the emotions I’d been holding in spilled over as I clutched my phone and wept uncontrollably. I wallowed in tears all night, my swollen eyes and aching throat the aftermath of my breakdown. Dominick was taken aback when he saw me. “What happened to you?” I shook my head. “Nothing.” The question ended there. Before, Dominick would summon the staff for a round of grilling as to why I was crying. Yet now, he simply got into the car indifferently, likely sulking over my rejection last night. We sat in the back of the vehicle, bound for the mall, in silence like strangers. Suddenly, there was a notification on his phone. I caught a glimpse of the caller ID—G. He edged toward the window and spoke in a hushed tone, “What is it?” After a brief exchange, Dominick tapped on the driver’s shoulder. “Turn this car around and head to the hospital.” Surprised, the driver glanced at me. “What about the Donna? It’s a chilly day out. Donna—” Dominick’s patience ran out. “You don’t get a say in this.” He then turned to me. “We have run into some problems in the family, Luna. I need to leave now. “You can catch a ride to get a gift. Here’s a card with unlimited funds. Spend it however you like.” Dominick opened the car door and gestured for me to exit. I stepped out of the vehicle with a grin and watched as the car sped away. The driver was right about the cold. I was kicked out of the vehicle before getting the chance to grab a coat. The mall was two miles away, and the snow was already up to my shins. Since it was impossible to hail a cab in this weather, I trekked my way to the mall. Just steps away from my destination, I dropped limp into the snow. Through my haze, I saw a man in a black trench coat running toward me. “Are you alright, ma’am?” When I came to, the man was seated at my bedside. “You’re awake. “You gave me quite a scare. The doctor said that if you’d arrived any later, neither you nor the baby would have made it.” Chapter 4 I paused for a moment, but my eyes quickly widened. “A baby?” The man was more surprised than I was. “Didn’t you know? You’re three months along.” I had no idea. It was a moment I couldn’t describe. It felt as if fate was playing a cruel joke on me. I walked out in a daze and stopped short because I saw Dominick, holding Gia in his arms, heading in my direction. Working with agility, I ducked around the bend of the hallway to avoid detection. “Dom, what are we going to do about the baby?” Gia sounded hurt. Without a word, Dominick helped Gia into a ward. Gia stopped in her tracks, her voice choked with sobs, “Do you not want the baby? I can terminate the pregnancy.” She whirled around to run off, but Dominick was quick to catch her and held her tight in his arms. “I do. “I want the baby.” He murmured, “The timing just isn’t right. You can have the baby, and as compensation, I can promise you one thing. Anything you want.” Gia’s eyes brimmed with tears. “Okay. I want you to marry me. I don’t care if it’s a small ceremony. I want to be yours.” Dominick fell silent for a moment before giving a nod. “Alright. I can do that for you. I’ll give you the most lavish wedding in the world in a week. This is just between us, all right?” The pair strolled into the ward hand-in-hand as I hid in the corner of the hall, my tears rolling down my cheeks and my hand clutched against my lips. I stumbled back into my ward, only to find the guy who’d saved me still around. It then occurred to me to thank him. As a show of gratitude, I handed Dominick’s black card to him. The man refused the card. “I don’t need the money. Thank you.” He excused himself and walked to the door. Out of the blue, he turned on his heel and slipped a business card in my hand before making an exit. I looked down at the card, which simply read a name—Cesare Lombardi. For some reason, the name sounded familiar. Nevertheless, I dismissed the thought, knowing I had better things to deal with. The plan was to be discharged immediately, but I had to extend my stay at the hospital on the doctor’s orders. While I was there, friends reached out to show concern and came to visit. Wrecked with anxiety, my parents were just one step away from taking the trip over. My husband was the exception, though. All he did was leave a brief and frosty text message. “I’m away on business. Contact Frankie for anything.” Dominick wasn’t with family. Instead, he was on an island, planning his wedding with Gia. I must admit that he was clever to set the island as the wedding venue. Without his permission, nobody could set foot there, including me. Somehow, as if by telepathy, we had set the countdown to the wedding for seven days later. It was probably because seven was Dominick’s lucky number. There was a time when he would never be found without a pendant in the shape of the number seven. It was a keepsake from his late mother, with the word “Lucky” etched on the back. Dominick passed the necklace to me on the day of our wedding. “More than myself, I hope this necklace keeps you safe.” No words were ever more beautiful. With that in mind, I teared up, my hand reaching for the jewelry piece around my neck. I looked down and froze. The engraved letters on the back were missing. The necklace had been swapped. Having suspicions of my own, I grabbed my phone and scrolled past the chat log until my gaze zeroed in on a personal photo. There, Gia’s bare body was adorned with a bronze necklace, the back engraved with the word “Lucky”. It all became clear to me. I ran my hand across my belly and whispered to the baby, “No wonder neither one of us is lucky anymore.” I was hesitating whether to keep the baby, but now, my mind was made up. Like Gia’s, my child came at the wrong time. Dominick would never favor my baby. Having come to a decision, I knocked on the door of an office. “Hello there, I’d like to schedule an abortion.” I believed the wedding gift could not be more fitting. Chapter 5 Since I hadn’t heard from Dominick for days, it was clear that his dedication was to the wedding. Before, he was never one to take initiative unless the matter was of urgency. Gia was his one and only exception. Gia bombarded me with photos of a wedding gown inlaid with hundreds of Miranth Gulf pearls and a one-of-a-kind diamond ring. With a blank expression, I quietly saved every one of the photos she’d flaunted in my face. “Archibald, print these out and place them in a box together with the divorce papers,” I instructed the butler. Not one of Dominick’s men, Archibald, the butler, came from my family, who raised me from a child. He never left my side when I parted ways with my family. He had been my constant companion over the years. In a way, he was a father to me. Dominick’s call came in shortly after Archibald took off. He sounded pretty amused. “Luna, I’m really sorry for ditching you the other day. I’ve set up a trip for you five days from now to make it up to you. What do you say?” His wedding to Gia would take place five days later. I stayed silent for a long time before murmuring, “Will you be coming along?” Dominick sighed. “I can’t. I have critical business to attend to, but I’ll head straight to you once I’m done.” I chuckled. “Critical business? Define ‘critical’.” My line of questioning tested Dominick’s patience, and his tone changed. “You should know that I can’t stand women who ask too many questions, Luna. “The matter is final. Get some early rest.” Without giving me a chance to respond, Dominick hung up. The trip was no treat or request for my input. It was a direct notice and an order filled with betrayal and lies. I looked out the window. The snow piled up outside, blurring my view. The heavy silence in the ward amplified the faint throbbing of the heartbeat in my belly. I caressed my small bump, an indescribable pang of sorrow overwhelming me. ‘As you wish, I will be gone in five days, Dominick, and I’m never coming back.’ Three days later, I was discharged to make my way to my residence. By then, Dominick’s wedding was two days away. As the wedding approached, Gia’s excitement spilled over, and it was evident in her endless calls to brag. Unable to stand the harassment, I blocked her number. From this point forward, I wanted nothing to do with Dominick or Gia, or anything related to them. Clearly, my indifference didn’t sit well with Gia, so she started a rumor that I’d ripped into her for taking up too much of Dominick’s time. When Dominick called to confront me, I was packing my bags. “Gia could use a vacation, so I brought her along for the ride. Why are you being so petty? “Luna, apologize to Gia for your rude behavior right now!” “Apologize?” I paused as if I’d heard the most absurd joke ever. “Why should I?” “Because she’s in tears!” His angry growl boomed on the other end of the line. In all honesty, I barely ever saw Dominick losing his marbles. Though his methods were brutal, he had always gotten his point across without raising his voice. Besides, he had always treated me with respect. Pushing back the resentment, I tried to keep my voice steady. “I don’t care if you believe me or not, Dominick, but I have never said anything insulting to her. She won’t get an apology out of me. “It’s ridiculous to say that I’m jealous of her hogging your time. It’s one thing if you’re with another woman, but Gia is your sister. Why should I be jealous? “Are you trying to tell me that you’re more than a brother to her or that she’s not a sister to you?” “What are you talking about?” Dominick yelled. For once, I called him out on his relationship with Gia, and it rattled him. The typically cool-headed Don lost his reason. He snapped, “Luna, don’t play games with me. I know that you can’t stand Gia. “You’re jealous of her. “If you don’t make things right with her, I won’t be as forgiving.” Was that so? In the past, whenever I was crossed, no matter how trivial the incident, Dominick would swear, “Nobody gets to upset you and gets away with it.” He was true to his word back then. Those who spoke ill of me had their tongues ripped out, and the touchy-feely ones had their hands cut off. Dominick once considered me his most prized possession. Yet now, he threatened to use his methods on me. I laughed bitterly at myself. Love sure was fleeting, with the line between a lover and an enemy so thin. Despite knowing his cruel ways, I would never bow down to Gia. However, I had never expected Dominick to throw a low blow. Instead of punishing me himself, he gave the power to the household staff. The next day, I got up without a wake-up call and was not served any breakfast. “Where’s breakfast?” I uttered coldly while staring at the empty table. “Don Costa made it clear that Ms. Gia Costa is the Donna of the household. Only she is entitled to preferential treatment,” the maid stood there, announcing smugly. As I kept my head low in silence, the staff snickered, their eyes reflecting none of the fear they had held for me. “Oh, we bet that you’d stay in favor for at least a decade, but Don Costa got tired of you in just three years. You’re pretty useless.” “Right? Had we known, we would’ve wasted our time sucking up to you. Don Costa’s going to get rid of you in no time.” “That’s enough. Ms. Costa will be back any minute. We need to hurry and tidy up the place for her. Don’t forget to tell the kitchen to make all her favorite food.” The maids bustled around me. One of them even bumped hard into my shoulder while brushing past. I grabbed her arm and slammed her hard against the wall. “W-What are you trying to do?” Startled by my retaliation, the maid cried out. Instead of replying to her, I lifted my hand to slap her. “As you can see, I’m putting the staff in place.” With my payback catching the maids off guard, they hung their heads low and bit their tongues. Just as I was about to turn away, I spotted Dominick standing at the door, his arm linking Gia’s. His expression was stiff, and he stared at me, clearly unamused. “Don Costa, you’re back.” The maid I’d slapped pushed me aside and rushed toward Dominick. She held her swollen cheek and cried dramatically. “We followed your instructions not to prepare breakfast for Donna Costa, but she came down hard on us a-and hit me.” The others chimed in. “That’s right. She started smashing things. We tried reasoning with her, but she threatened to hurt us unless we put poison in Ms. Costa’s food.” “Poison?” Dominick and I widened our eyes in shock. He could not believe my alleged malice, and I was appalled by the sheer cruelty of the staff who had addressed me so sweetly before. I refuted, my head cocked in the direction of Dominick, “That’s not what happened. They are lying. I have said nothing of that matter. They were the ones who insulted me—” My words came to a halt as Dominick narrowed his eyes at me dangerously. It was a look I’d never seen before. “You don’t trust me?” My eyes welled up. Averting my gaze, Dominick uttered, “I’m not an idiot, Luna. “I know my staff better than anyone. They wouldn’t dream of insulting you, much less raising their voices at you.” I stared at him in stunned silence before bursting out in laughter. ‘You’re as cocky and self-assured as always, Dominick. ‘That was the case before when you loved me. Now that everybody in the family is speculating on your relationship with Gia, I’m no longer a Donna to the staff.’ I turned on my heel with a sigh when Gia said, her voice full of fragility, “Luna, are you still upset that I went with Dom on his business trip? I’ve assured you repeatedly that there is nothing between Dom and me. Why won’t you believe me? “After the fuss you’ve caused, I dare not imagine what everyone thinks of me or Dom as the Don. We have done absolutely nothing.” With the subject brought up, Dominick furrowed his brows. “I only intended to give you a little punishment. I didn’t expect you to take things so far, to the point of harming my sister. “In that case, you can reflect on your behavior in the sub-basement. You’re free to go when you stop imagining things.” I stopped in my tracks, unable to believe my ears. Was he holding me captive all because of Gia? No. I snapped back to reality, realizing that he was trying to stop me from finding out about the wedding two days later. The imprisonment was a better way to keep things on the down low than sending me away on a trip. Dominick’s intention was lost on the staff, though. Assuming that Dominick had given up on me, the maids looked at me with greater disdain. Also missing the plot, Gia said pretentiously, “Isn’t that too harsh on Luna, Dom?” Dominick ignored Gia’s plea and summoned the men to take me away. I stood there without putting up a fight, my eyes zeroing in on Dominick callously. “I have one last question for you. I’ll go once I get an answer.” Dominick was taken aback, possibly due to my overly flat tone. “Speak.” “Is Gia a family member or a lover to you?” Chapter 6 With the question leaving my lips, everybody looked down while Dominick froze. The staff were stunned that I’d come out and ask Dominick right in the face. Dominick was taken aback by the certainty in my tone It sounded less like a question and more like a statement. Dominick’s expression went stiff. Nevertheless, he quickly pulled himself together and resumed his usual stern look. “Luna, let me be clear one last time. Gia is family to me. “I will only be disappointed in you if you don’t drop the subject.” I stared at him in silence, silently applauding his convincing act. His eyes held no hint of apology for lying through his teeth. As tension grew thick in the room, the staff held their breath and waited for my moment of hysteria. However, I did nothing of that sort. Instead, I chuckled to myself. “Oh, really? “Understood.” Dominick was dumbstruck at first, but he quickly relaxed his tense muscles, thinking that I had bought his story. I stepped around Dominick and approached the security staff. “Let’s go. Take me to the sub-basement.” The security staff exchanged glances, baffled by the situation. “Don Costa, uh…” “Don’t just stand there. The Donna has spoken. Lead her to the dungeon,” Dominick snapped impatiently. Even with my compliance, Dominick decided to lock me away to cover his bases. As always, Dominick exercised caution. Heeding his call, the security staff surrounded me as if I were some heinous criminal. I walked behind the security staff quietly with my head down. Since Costa went to great lengths to keep me in the dark, it was pointless for me to cause a scene. My gift for them would arrive in time for the wedding anyway. The question I posed was Dominick’s final chance, and he made his choice. For some reason, I felt free when he claimed that Gia was nothing more than family to him. There was no absolute reason for salvaging the marriage anymore. Unexpectedly, I ran into Archibald, who had just hurried back, while on my way to the sub-basement. “Don Costa, Donna Costa has just been discharged from the hospital. She won’t survive a cold, damp place like the dungeon.” “Discharged?” Furrowing his brows, Dominick finally noticed how unusually pale I looked. “What exactly is going on?” “Donna Costa is pr—” “But Luna was looking mighty fine before we went away.” Gia cut Archibald off and smiled cheekily. “Oh, I was just saying since Luna was at home when she video-called to yell at me.” She turned to the maid and asked in confusion, “Am I mistaken?” Taking the cue, the maid backed Gia up. “That’s right. We can testify that Donna Costa has been home these past few days. She hasn’t been to the hospital.” Dominick looked at me in disappointment and fury, his expression ashen. Rather than taking his anger out on me, Dominick pointed his gun at Archibald. Bang! A shot was fired. Archibald fell back, and blood gushed out of his right leg. Wham! A loud ringing echoed in my ears. It was as if the world had stopped. “No! No! Archibald!” I broke free of the security staff’s hold with all my might and rushed to Archibald, tears rolling down my cheeks onto his face. Guilt washed over me as I tore a strip from my skirt to wrap around his leg. Still, blood seeped through and stained my hands. There I thought Dominick’s only sin was his infidelity and the lies to cover his affair with Gia. I never imagined that he’d be cruel enough to hurt the people I held dear. I glared at Dominick resentfully, dying to tear him apart. Dominick was stunned by my dramatic response. The way he saw it, Archibald was nothing more than an insignificant subordinate. Shying away from my gaze, Dominick wiped the barrel of his gun and turned to his staff. “Don’t ever let me catch anyone gossiping or lying to me, or you’ll end up like him.” The staff nodded without another word. Reality dawned on me that Dominick pulled the trigger as a warning to the staff not to breathe a word about today. This was especially since I publicly called him out on his relationship with Gia. He cared a lot about his reputation as the Don since his affair with his stepsister would be very damaging. ‘You’re ruthless and selfish, Dominick.’ He narrowed his eyes at me. “Stop crying. A bullet to the leg is not fatal.” Dominick told the security staff. “Don’t just stand there. Take Luna to the dungeon now.” The security staff slammed into me, gripping me by the arms to drag me out. Thanks to their manhandling, I curled up into a ball in agony from my cramping stomach. The security staff immediately released their hold on me. “We didn’t do anything, Don Costa.” As I broke out in sweat, Dominick rushed to my side in a panic and uttered frantically, “Stop with the act, Luna. Get up now!” However, I lost the strength to answer him. The world around me was blurring out. Just one second before blacking out, I spotted a crack in Dominick’s stern demeanor. He scooped me into his arms and shouted, “Get an ambulance now!” Chapter 7 Dominick stayed by my side for quite a while. He raised his arm and traced his fingers along my haggard, hollow cheek. Suddenly, the doctor burst into the ward, beaming with a test result in hand. “I have great news, Don Costa. Donna Costa is—” Dominick’s phone rang. He gestured for the doctor to zip it before taking the call. Gia must have said something on the phone because Dominick got up to leave abruptly. The doctor went after Dominick, only to be stopped by his security staff. “Are you sure you want to go along? You can kiss your career goodbye if you interrupt Don Costa during his date with Ms. Costa.” “But Donna Costa is pregnant. Don Costa needs to know since she’s at risk of losing the baby if she’s confined to the dungeon.” “Pregnant?” The security staff widened their eyes. However, they quickly sneered, “I’d advise you to save your breath. I’m sure you’ve heard about Archibald. Surely, you are aware of the consequences of defending Luna. “Besides, Don Costa might not even believe you. Even if he did, he won’t go easy on Luna. The whole family knows that he’s over her. You’re going to regret upsetting Ms. Costa. I’m sure you’re wise enough to make the right decision.” The medical team exchanged looks before ultimately discarding the test result in the can. Dominick assumed shooting Archibald would squash the rumors. However, the staff merely held their tongues on the subject in his presence. The rumors would only run rampant, and Dominick would never come close to the truth. With that, I was thrown into a cell. As opposed to having scraps for prison food, I was well attended and served the gourmet cuisine as always. The security staff were perplexed. “What is Don Costa thinking? I thought this was meant to be a punishment. Why does the whole thing feel off?” “Being the kind soul she is, Ms. Costa probably appealed on her behalf.” “You have a point. Don Costa only takes advice from Ms. Costa. She must’ve stepped in to help.” “Ms. Costa is such a sweet lady. If only she’s the Donna. She’d have our interest at heart.” I huddled in a corner, listening in silence and amusement. There was no way Gia was behind the leniency. She wanted me dead in the dungeon more than anyone else. True enough, it wasn’t long before Gia aggressively stormed in and kicked the door to the sub-basement open. By the looks of her teary eyes, Gia must have been weeping. “Why? Why am I just a plaything to him?” She cried manically, the look in her eyes enough to kill me. She assumed that by throwing me into a cell, Dominick had lost all faith in me. Gathering her courage, Gia asked him to make her his legal wife. Alas, Dominick did not respond in Gia’s favor. If that wasn’t bad enough, Dominick lost his temper with her for the first time. “He refuses to divorce you. Why? Is it because I’m his sister? But we aren’t even related!” Gia sobbed desperately. “So I’m just a means to his pleasure? Is he going to dump me after the wedding and birth of our child? No… I can’t let that happen. I won’t stand for it!” She looked up abruptly and gave me a dirty look. “Once you’re out of the picture, Dom will only have eyes for me.” I took a step back with a frown. “What are you trying to do?” Her hands shook as she drew a knife from her pocket. My eyes went wide. All at once, the knife plunged into my abdomen, and blood spurted. Holding my belly, I stared at her in disbelief. It would take some twisted sort of love to make a young woman kill. Before I knew it, a black cloth was thrown over me. As several individuals lifted me out of the dungeon, I passed out during the wobbly ride. The next time I opened my eyes, Archibald was right there by my side, together with a member of the security staff. I jumped into his arms, tears streaming down my cheeks. “Thank goodness one of those men carrying you out was my trusted contact. If it weren’t for him, you would’ve…” By the sound of his trembling voice, Archibald was terrified. I patted his back and assured him that I was fine, but he looked distraught, clearly having something on his mind. “Ms. Bianchi, the baby…” “I know.” The realization hit me the moment I regained consciousness. The familiar heartbeat was gone. More than sadness, I felt a sense of release. “Ms. Bianchi, it’s time to board your scheduled flight.” Archibald gave me a reminder. I had been planning my escape, but somehow, Gia managed to lend me a hand. It came with the cost of my unborn child, though. Archibald suffered permanent injury to his leg because of me too. In some ways, this marriage ended in nothing but defeat for me. However, Dominick was not walking away unscathed either. I set the small embryo carefully at the bottom of the box before giving it to the security guy. “Make sure you deliver this to Don Costa at his wedding tomorrow. “Do pass along my best wishes for his second marriage.. … (Third-Person Perspective) “Don Costa, Archibald has gone missing from the hospital,” the doctor said anxiously. Not even lifting his head, Dominick responded, “Oh, he’s irrelevant. You are dismissed.” However, the doctor stayed put. Dominick finally looked up. After much hesitation, the doctor uttered, “Don Costa, there is one thing I must inform you of. Donna Costa—” “That’s enough. I’m not interested in anything concerning her.” Dominick interrupted the doctor at the mention of my name. Reading the room, the doctor sighed and excused himself. Dominick heaved heavily, not understanding what had become of him. Luna’s mere name could squeeze his heart, and not in a good way. His mind flew back to the serene look on Luna’s face when he answered her question. It was as if Luna had already figured everything out. No, it was absolutely impossible. Dominick was quick to banish the thought. Knowing Luna as he did, Dominick reckoned she’d have a full-blown meltdown if she ever learned about his affair. Staying calm was the last thing she’d be. “Dom…” Gia’s voice pulled Dominick back to reality. Snapping out of his thoughts, Dominick sounded less enthusiastic for once. “What’s the matter?” Taken aback by his tone, Gia pulled a wry smile. “Nothing. I came by to let you know that the guests have all arrived. We should head down to the venue.” “Okay,” Dominick hummed while taking his time to fasten his tie. These supposed distinguished guests were merely hired actors. Dominick dressed the whole thing up as a wedding just to appease Gia. He was worried that his rejection would lead Gia to expose the entire affair, so he had to keep her sweet for now. It was never in Dominick’s plans to marry Gia. In his mind, Luna would always be his Donna. Luna possessed intelligence and prudence, neither of which Gia had. The years of lackluster in the bedroom department led him to stray a little. Once he was done going behind Luna’s back, he would send Gia abroad and go back to Luna. With that in mind, Dominick could feel his anxiety melting away. “Bring me the purple tie.” He turned to a maid. The maid went to the vault for a look, and she was gone for a long time. “Don Costa, I can’t locate the tie.” Though surprised, Dominick didn’t think much of the incident. “Just grab me any tie.” Half an hour later, Dominick set out for the wedding venue. Before his departure, he called upon his Underboss. “Check the sub-basement. Make sure no one has access to the place.” He got into the car, putting on the smile of a man who was about to get hitched. The tiny island was alive with celebration as Gia approached him, draped in an extravagant wedding dress. They exchanged vows before the priest and shared a kiss in a room full of people. Soon, everybody extended their well-wishes and presented their gifts. Feeling thrilled, Gia tore open the presents while Dominick stood beside and watched on aloofly. He had prepared these gifts beforehand. There, his gaze was drawn to something in the corner, and he was stunned. He didn’t recognize the gift. Furrowing his brows, Dominick went over and picked up the gift box. The box was plain with a line of text scribbled on the bottom right. “See you never.” “What is it? It looks so tacky.” With a frown, Gia was ready to throw the gift away. Dominick pressed down on her hand, his eyes narrowing on the line of text. His heart sank to the pit of his stomach. He opened the box with trembling hands, and his body seized up. A thin sheet of paper was placed on the very top. It was a divorce certificate. With a shaky grasp, Dominick lifted the paper and read the words at the bottom. It was then his world stopped. Two names stood out. Luna Bianchi. Dominick Costa. It was the end of their marriage written in ink. A wave of dizziness hit Dominick as his mind went blank. He stared at his signature on the divorce papers. It was clearly his handwriting, but he had no recollection of ever signing it. Luna’s birthday came to mind. It was the bills. Dominick held the box, his thoughts spiraling out of control. “What’s wrong, Dom?” Gia drew close. She was surprised to see the divorce papers. It never occurred to her that Luna would leave Dominick since the latter was a Don, a man any woman would kill to be with. Paying her no heed, Dominick only had Luna on his mind. He started rummaging through the box, his scowl deepening. The box contained junk like a broken doll, damaged jewelry, and a fake necklace without the “Lucky” engraving. These gifts, exchanged between him and Luna, were memories he stored safely in the vault. As a bad feeling overcame him, Dominick carried the box out. “To the sub-basement.” At that point, the main doors swung open. A group of people dressed to the nines flooded into the room. Color drained from Dominick’s face as these people were genuine members of the social elite. What were they doing here? Dominick did not recall inviting them. While pouring into the hall, the guests observed the wedding venue in shock. With all seats taken, there was absolutely no room for them. They looked at Dominick in confusion. “Uh… Don Costa, didn’t you invite us to a reception? Why aren’t there any seats saved for us?” “That’s right? We were told there was a party. Why does it look like a wedding is going on?” The guests pulled out their invitations and exchanged confused looks. Suddenly, the huge screen lit up and played private videos of Dominick and Gia. “Dom, if I’d known you were so amazing, I would’ve given myself to you a long time ago.” “Tell me, Dom. Am I the woman you love the most?” “Yes, I love you the most.” Dominick’s breathing was ragged. “How do I fare with Luna? Do you prefer me over her?” “Of course. You are the one I truly love.” … The bustling guests went quiet before erupting into an uproar. “Oh, my God? What was that? Is Don Costa cheating on his wife with his sister?” “It gets worse. Look at the bride on the platform. She’s the girl in the video clips.” “He’s marrying his sister? That’s outrageous!” Dominick scowled. The screen quickly refreshed and displayed an insane amount of chatlogs. Gia’s bragging texts were revealed to the crowd. “You can’t ever hold onto him. I’m the only one fit to stand right next to him.” The guests broke out in clamor as Gia turned pale, her lips quivering. “You’re a vile woman, Luna! You’re far more cunning than I thought.”