The Donna Who Bought Out Family and Love for $100 Million Chapter 03

The Donna Who Bought Out Family and Love for $100 Million Chapter 03

The scissors were ripped from my hand, and Cassian pulled me tightly against him.

“Were you trying to hurt yourself again—”

Then his gaze fell on the broken ring, and his voice died.

“You… You cut through the ring. Why would you do that?”

“Cassian, I’m the one who wanted it.”

Only then did he notice Nerina standing nearby.

Her expression was strained, and her fingers were clenched tightly around the fabric of her skirt.

“Cassian, you made that ring yourself. I wanted it for myself. You don’t mind, do you?”

Cassian immediately released me and gave Nerina an indulgent smile.

“Nerina, that design is dated. If you like gold, I’ll make us a new pair.”

Tears shimmered in Nerina’s eyes.

“Then melt this one down and use the gold to make my new ring.”

“You promised me that once our baby was born, you’d give me anything I wanted.”

Cassian remained silent for a long moment before finally nodding in resignation.

“All right.”

I gave a derisive smile, pulled the broken ring from my finger, and tossed it onto the floor. Then I turned to leave.

“There’s one more thing.”

Nerina stopped me again.

With reddened eyes, she looked at the three men.

“Papa, Alaric, Cassian, I’m a Caradonna. I want to change my full name to make my homecoming official.”

“I’ve already chosen my new name.” A faint smile curved her lips. “I want to take the name—”

“Evelina Caradonna.”

“So, Evelina, you’ll have to stop being Evelina Caradonna.”

“Cassian, this is the last thing I’ll ever ask of you. You’ll do it for me, won’t you?”

Evelina…

Evelina was the name my mother had chosen for me—a name that meant life and rebirth to her and carried every hope she had for me.

I stared at Cassian.

What if?

What if he still remembered?

I watched his lips part. Then he spoke.

“Evelina, give up the Caradonna name. Choose any other last name you want.”

That was the moment my heart finally died.

Cassian had the family attorney file a name-change petition on my behalf with the Manhattan Civil Court.

Three days later, I received the certified name-change order.

Legally, I was now Evelina Marenno.

I held up my new ID and smiled at the sky.

My old name, my old identity, my love—everything from my past was gone.

From that moment on, I would finally be free.

Cassian called as I arrived at the airport.

“Evelina… Now that your name change is finalized, go back to Todt Hill Estate. I’ve already had your things moved there.”

“Nerina was just throwing a childish tantrum. Once she gets over it, I’ll make her change her name back.”

I ended the call.

A message from my realtor was waiting on the screen.

Realtor: [Todt Hill Estate has been sold. Please confirm that the proceeds have reached your account.]

After checking the account, I sent a brief confirmation.

Then I removed the SIM card from my phone and dropped it into the trash.

I smiled at the young man beside me.

“Come on. Our flight is about to leave.”

…

Two weeks later, at New York’s annual benefit gala, Nerina stood beside Cassian with her arm linked through his, wearing the couture gown that had once belonged to me and preening like a peacock.

A man approached with a glass of wine and raised it politely in greeting.

“You must be Evelina, the Vescari Family’s Madre. I’ve always admired you.”

“Do you remember me? When I was locked in a dispute with the Wayne Family over the docks, you pushed past every objection and convinced the Vescari Family to work with us. I’ve never forgotten what you did for us.”

He smiled in admiration.

“I never imagined the Vescari Family’s most formidable weapon would be so young and gracious in person.”

Nerina’s eyes flickered, but she accepted the praise without hesitation.

“Thank you. Everything I did was to support Cassian and the Vescari Family.”

Watching Nerina smile so brightly, Cassian could not help feeling a flicker of irritation.

He had never forgotten anything Evelina had done for him.

For years, she had been the partner who understood him better than anyone, the Vescari Family’s deadliest rose.

Then she became pregnant and withdrew from the center of the Family’s operations.

And now he had Nerina.

Cassian subtly disengaged his arm from hers.

“Something came up at the docks. I need to go. You should head home.”

Before he realized it, Cassian had driven to Todt Hill Estate.

The sight of the lights glowing in the distance stirred a faint sense of happiness in him.

Had Evelina returned from Switzerland early?

She must have come back alone because she did not want to intrude on him and Nerina.

Cassian parked the car and strode toward the house.

Holding his breath, he entered the door code, already imagining how surprised Evelina would be to see him.

The keypad rejected it.

He tried again and again, but every attempt failed.

At last, the front door opened from the inside.

“What are you doing?”

A complete stranger stood there, frowning at Cassian with obvious hostility.

Cassian froze as unease surged through him.

“Who are you? Where’s Evelina? Are you the bastard she’s been sleeping with?”

Understanding dawned on the stranger, and he forced himself to explain patiently.

“You mean Evelina, the former owner? She sold this place to us—”

“What did you just say?”

In that instant, Cassian’s entire world went silent.