Married to the Don, My Ex Won’t Stop Begging Chapter 03

Married to the Don, My Ex Won’t Stop Begging Chapter 03

Dante lowered himself to one knee. “I bought it before I left for the Mediterranean.”

“Carried it against my skin for five years. Now I can finally give it to you.”

“Let this stand. So I can say I married you in this life.”

I reached out and took the ring.

Then I dropped it into the coin jar beside him.

I picked up the whole jar—coins, ring, everything—and emptied it into the pool.

The coins sank. They scattered across the blue tiles at the bottom.

I stood up. I didn’t look back. “You make me sick, Dante. Enough.”

***

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Three soft raps on the study door. I looked up.

Didn’t expect Genevieve.

“Miss Luciano, may I speak with you?”

I nodded and pushed a cup of black tea toward her from the tray.

“Sit.”

“Miss Luciano, just water for me, please. The doctor said I can’t have tea. It’s not good for the baby.”

My hand paused over the teapot. I motioned for the staff to bring a pitcher of water. My voice stayed level.

Genevieve’s eyes tracked my every move. Her hands drifted to her stomach without thinking. A little display. Not subtle.

“Dante came from nothing. I’m an orphan. Neither of us has much of a pedigree. We were hoping you might do us the honor, Miss Luciano. Choose a baptismal name for the baby. And maybe, if you’d be willing, stand as godmother.”

I glanced at her still-flat stomach. “No rush. Let’s see if it actually arrives first.”

Genevieve’s expression tightened.

The frustration burned through whatever restraint she had left.

“Miss Luciano, I came here to apologize. Truly. I stole your fiancé. I know that.”

“Dante and I… we couldn’t help it. The Mediterranean was full of threats. He always told me I was the only one he could truly trust. And I’m just a girl. He was the only one I could lean on.”

Her eyes flickered. Testing me now.

“Two years ago, he came back from a banquet. He’d been given the wrong drink. He thought I was you. That was our first time. He came into my room and—”

Whoosh. Thunk.

I whipped the dagger off my desk and flung it.

The blade sliced through strands of her hair. It buried itself in the wall behind her, still humming from the force.

I propped my chin on my hand and smiled. “Genevieve, did you get the impression I was nice?”

“Drop the innocent act. When I pulled you out of the Mediterranean, you begged to stay. Now you’re feeding me some sob story about how you two just clung to each other? I brought you into this family because Dante still had a pulse and a purpose.”

“Know your place. And do not come in here testing me again. Are we clear?”

All the color drained from her face. Her whole body trembled.

“Miss Luciano, I—I won’t. I swear.”

Footsteps.

I knew that rhythm. Didn’t even need to look up.

I leaned back and crossed my arms, a smirk curling my lips. “Dante, that was fast. Here to play knight in shining armor?”

Genevieve spun around. Her wide, terrified eyes begged for his rescue.

Dante looked at her once.

Then walked right past her.

He pulled my dagger from the wall. Wiped the blade clean on his custom suit and held it out to me with both hands.

I took it.

Then I slapped him across the face. Backhanded him on the return. “Control your woman.”

He stood there, stunned. His expression flickered with something like disbelief.

I jerked my chin toward the door. “Take her and get out. She’s pregnant, so I’ll let the disrespect slide. Just this once.”

Dante’s face shifted. He spun around to stare at Genevieve.

Of course he was shocked. As far as he knew, she’d sacrificed her ability to have children to save his life.

Their eyes met. Something passed between them I didn’t care to read.

Dante said nothing. He pulled Genevieve up and murmured something to calm her down.