The Runaway Don’s Bride Chapter 10

The Runaway Don’s Bride Chapter 10

[Valentina’s POV)

A year later, we held a small wedding in Florence.

Simple and quiet. I didn’t invite the Contini elders. Didn’t tell my parents.

An hour before the ceremony, a message came from an unknown number.

No name. Just one line.

[Heard you’re getting married today. I hope you’ll be happy.]

I didn’t reply.

It wasn’t until years later that I learned what was happening when that message was sent—Dominic sitting in his office at Mazzarella headquarters.

Staring at the conversation with no response. His eyes slowly going red.

In the primary suite of the Mazzarella estate where I’d once lived, an old sweatshirt still hung in the closet.

He never threw it away.

Maybe he was waiting to admit to himself that I was never coming back.

Vittoria was the one who told him about my wedding.

He listened without expression. Then locked himself in his study for the entire night.

By morning, the ashtray was overflowing.

He wanted so badly to see what I looked like at my wedding.

But he didn’t come. He was too guilty. Too afraid.

Because this wedding–the one that was mine–was one he’d pushed away with his own hands.

He picked up his phone. Read that unanswered message one more time.

Outside the window, dawn was breaking. And suddenly, he remembered something from years ago–a strawberry candy he’d given me to stop my crying.

I’d clutched it so long the sugar melted and stuck to my hand.

He’d laughed at me. Called me silly.

Now he understood. He’d held my heart in his hands for too long, certain I would never leave.

The wedding itself was simple. Clara officiated, and she exposed every last detail of how Lorenzo had

courted me.

Everyone laughed.

Then we exchanged rings, and he leaned down and kissed me.

His lips were soft. Tasted faintly of mint.

Leo clapped below us, loud and enthusiastic.

That evening, before the first dance, my phone rang.

Papa.

Mamma was crying on the other end.

The Contini elders were all talking–saying I’d abandoned the family, disrespected my parents, hadn’t even

sent word about my own wedding.

Don Contini’s voice came through, low as always. “Valentina, come home. Your mother’s going to cry

herself blind.”

“Not even inviting your parents to your wedding. How embarrassing. You’re still no match for your sister.”

I held the phone and looked out at the warm amber light in the courtyard. Lorenzo was making me coffee.

“Yeah. That’s just who I am.”

I hung up and stood in the doorway. The night breeze off the Arno carried the scent of rosemary and clay,

mingled together.

Lorenzo walked over and draped his jacket around my shoulders

“You okay?”

I leaned into him. Looked at the plane tree in the courtyard.

“I’m good. I’m really good.”

On the windowsill, the daisies from before had long since wilted–replaced with fresh ones.

Lorenzo brought a new bouquet every week. Never said why.

He just placed them there, quiet and steady. The same way he loved me.

I thought suddenly of a girl from a long time ago. The one who always trailed behind her sister.

She never imagined that one day, she’d be standing here. Loved like this, by someone this gentle.

Nu more picking from what was left.

She was the only one.

The night was beautiful. The wind was beautiful. And so was she.