The Mafia Don Fooled Me for 8 Years, I Became a Major’s Wife 8 Days Later Chapter 01

The Mafia Don Fooled Me for 8 Years, I Became a Major’s Wife 8 Days Later Chapter 01

A massive fleet of luxury yachts filled Havenport Harbor for the De Luca heir’s wedding.

Zara Whitlock, my best friend, had dragged me down to the harbor to see the spectacle for myself.

I mindlessly snapped a few photos and texted them to my boyfriend.

That’s when I saw them through my camera lens.

My boyfriend Damon De Luca—the one who’d told me he was working late—was in a bespoke tuxedo, holding Aurora Bianchi’s hand as they stepped onto the main yacht.

My blood ran cold. Then the anger hit, and I lunged toward him, but Zara grabbed my arm.

“Aurora’s been his fiancée this whole time. Are you really going to go up there and make a scene?”

“He lived in that dump with you for five years, pretending to be broke. Honestly? I feel bad for him.”

“I’m telling you this because I care about you. Walk away before you make a total fool of yourself.”

The biting harbor wind cut across my face, but something inside me went numb.

Eight years. He’d been lying to me for eight years.

And Zara, the girl I’d loved like a sister, had known the whole time and never said a word.

My phone chimed. It was a message from Damon.

[Baby, just got off work. Picked up a couple extra driving gigs tonight.]

[Don’t look at other people’s lives and feel bad. I’m gonna save up and give you the wedding of your dreams, I promise.]

I looked up at him on that yacht, polished and untouchable. The irony nearly choked me.

[Don’t bother saving. My mom’s been trying to set me up with someone. I think I’m finally going to say yes.]

…

Paparazzi swarmed the dock.

Damon glanced back, casual and careless. His eyes found mine through the crowd, and he dropped Aurora’s hand like it was burning him.

He shoved through the crowd and came straight for me, ignoring the gasps from every face he passed.

“Baby, let me explain…”

“I wasn’t trying to hide it… I just… I didn’t want you to feel like you weren’t enough.”

“Aurora and I… it’s not real. Please, just don’t do this here.”

Tears pricked my eyes, but I yanked my hand free.

“You’re still lying to me? Right now? To my face?”

Camera flashes exploded around us.

Behind him, Aurora stood in a custom silk gown dripping with diamonds. She looked like mafia royalty.

The emerald necklace around her neck was a $120 million auction piece, a De Luca family heirloom.

And the man I’d given eight years to couldn’t even scrape together eighty-eight grand for our wedding.

Zara frowned. “Lily, are you seriously about to blow up a De Luca wedding?”

“Stop making a scene. Pull yourself together.”

I stared at her.

Over a decade of friendship. When her parents split, I’d practically moved her into my house. My parents treated her like a second daughter because I asked them to.

I’d given up things I wanted so she wouldn’t go without. I’d begged my parents to help pay her tuition through high school and college.

And now she was taking his side.

Aurora let out a soft, mocking laugh and stepped up beside Damon, looking at me like I was trash on her shoe.

“Even your best friend knows her place. Why don’t you?”

“Look around you. Do you really think you belong here?”

The pressure in my chest shattered, and my voice came out louder than I meant it to.

“Eight years! And you’re marrying someone else. I don’t even deserve to know why?”

“Shut up!” Damon hissed.

The reporters were circling like sharks. Damon grabbed my arm, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.

“You want everyone here to hear this? You want this on the news?”

“Zara, get her out of here.”

Zara’s nails dug into my shoulder.

“I’ve got her. Don’t worry.”

Damon turned his back on me. Aurora looped her arm through his, and the crowd parted like the Red Sea as they stepped onto the yacht.

Once they were gone, Zara finally dropped her hand. She let out a long breath, her eyes still on the yacht.

“God, they look like a power couple.”

“Lily, I’m saying this as your friend. You don’t belong in his world. Let him go.”