You Kept the Don’s Daughter Waiting and Now She’s Someone Else’s Chapter 01

You Kept the Don’s Daughter Waiting and Now She’s Someone Else’s Chapter 01

The Conti family had a rule. If you wanted to claim their Principessa as your bride, you had to pass the Don’s test and collect the bride at the exact hour he set.

Twelve minutes left before she had to leave.

Luca had just made it through the family gauntlet and pressed the bouquet into my hands. Relatives crowded the doorway, cheering him on.

“Come on, get the bride out to the car, or the Don won’t want to let his baby girl go!”

My mother’s eyes were red as she straightened my veil.

I was about to step out when a voice rang out from behind.

“Wait! My eyeliner smudged. I need to fix it!”

I stopped. But Luca turned back. “Sure, no rush.”

Coral flipped open her makeup bag and shot me a smile. “Don’t worry, Nina, I’ll be quick. I don’t want to embarrass you at your wedding with messy makeup.”

Then she handed her bag to Luca, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Hold this for me?”

He took it.

The room went quiet.

My mother’s face paled, inch by inch.

I looked at him. “Luca, the Don set the departure time for 12:30. If we leave now, we’ll make it.”

He frowned. “I’m already here. A few minutes won’t kill us.”

I stared at the pink makeup bag in his hand, and a strange smile tugged at my lips.

Without a word, I turned, pulled out my phone, and texted a number:

[Weren’t you the one who said you’d marry me? 12:30 PM. Come pick me up.]

A reply came back almost instantly. Just one word.

[Okay.]

My fingers tightened around the phone. I looked back at Luca.

He was still standing beside Coral, watching her fix her liner.

The relatives at the door were getting restless.

My aunt glanced at her watch and lowered her voice.

“Luca, it’s already 12:20. The Don’s schedule says 12:30. The convoy’s waiting downstairs. You can’t delay any longer.”

My uncle chimed in. “It’s family tradition. The bride leaves at 12:30 for good luck. Miss that, and you’re saying the Don’s daughter doesn’t matter to you.”

Luca just said, “I know. Coral’s almost done.”

Then he turned to me. “Nina, don’t worry. I’ve got the whole wedding timed out. It’ll be fine.”

I asked, “Do you know what time it is?”

“Yes.”

“Then you also know I have to be in that car by 12:30.”

If the rule was broken, my father would call off the alliance.

Luca paused, then softened his voice. “I told you, a few minutes won’t matter. Coral’s your best friend. She just needs to fix her makeup. It’s normal.”

Coral glanced back and smiled at me. “Exactly, Nina. I’m your best friend. You wouldn’t want me walking out with smeared eyeliner, would you?”

She sounded so open, edged with a trace of grievance.

I watched her.

She’d been like this since high school.

When Luca and I were on a date, she’d call saying she was too drunk and needed him to pick her up.

On my birthday, she’d claim she was heartbroken and drag him out for drinks all night.

The day we shot our engagement photos, she said she wanted to watch, but then she complained her shoes hurt and made Luca carry her from the parking lot to the studio.

Every time I tried to set boundaries, she’d say, “Nina, we’re best friends. Would I ever do anything to hurt you? Don’t overthink things.”

And Luca would echo, “Nina, that’s just how Coral is. She means no harm.”

I used to believe that.

But now I was standing here in my wedding dress, with every relative and friend waiting for me to get in that car, but she was making everyone stop waiting for her.