The Donna’s Stolen Christmas Was For Her Don’s First Love Chapter 02

The Donna’s Stolen Christmas Was For Her Don’s First Love Chapter 02

Fabrizio didn’t explode right away. He just set his phone down on the table.

“Camilla, don’t throw the word divorce around to threaten me.”

“These five years, the Donna’s seat, the family accounts, the charity fund which of those didn’t I handle for you?”

I thought for a moment, then said quietly, “You never gave me a real Christmas.”

He was silent for two seconds. “Then I’ll make it up to you next year.”

“I don’t want to wait anymore.”

He stared at me, then suddenly reached for the guest bedroom key.

His palm grazed my knuckles. The pressure wasn’t hard, but it made me step back.

Fabrizio’s frown deepened. “You’re flinching from my touch?”

His phone rang again. This time it was his mother.

The other end of the line was quiet. I heard her say, “Bring Camilla back tomorrow. Marcella was here tonight. If word gets out about what happened, the other families will laugh at us.”

Fabrizio glanced at me. “Understood.”

I cut in immediately. “I’m not going.”

His mother heard me. Her tone turned cold. “Camilla, as the Donna of the Santapaola family, you should have the grace to be generous.”

Then Marcella’s voice chimed in from the background. “It’s all my fault. I sat in the wrong seat. If the Donna minds, I can stand during dinner tomorrow.”

Fabrizio looked at me with displeasure. “Did you hear that? Marcella already backed down.”

Backed down?

Her backing down was charity.

I let out a small laugh. “Enjoy your meal.”

Fabrizio hung up the phone and turned to me with a warning.

“You will go tomorrow. If you don’t show up again, it’ll only make me look like I can’t control my own wife.”

The next morning, the driver parked outside the estate gates.

I wore a plain, long dress. No wedding ring.

Fabrizio noticed my bare hand. His gaze lingered for a beat. “Where’s your ring?”

“It was uncomfortable.”

He said nothing more and told the driver to go.

Inside the Noto Valley estate dining room, Fabrizio’s mother sat at the head of the table.

Marcella was seated at her right hand. When she saw me, she stood up immediately.

“Donna, welcome!”

But the only seat left at the table was the one closest to the door.

Fabrizio pulled out the chair. “Sit.”

His mother glanced up. “Camilla, I received the gift you picked out last night. But Marcella mentioned the necklace looked a bit dated. She’ll take me to Palermo sometime to pick out a new one.”

Marcella put on a sheepish expression. “I was just making conversation. Please don’t take it the wrong way, Donna.”

I looked at the necklace. It was already around Marcella’s neck.

Fabrizio’s mother followed my gaze and shifted uncomfortably.

“I asked Marcella to try it on for me first. You don’t mind, do you?”

Before I could answer, Fabrizio poured me a cup of tea. “Camilla, try it.”

I didn’t touch it.

Just then, a servant brought out the final dish, a king crab gratin, and set it in front of me.

Fabrizio’s mother said, “Camilla, go ahead and eat. Stop looking so tense.”

Suddenly, Marcella let out a small gasp. “Doesn’t the Donna have a seafood allergy? The Don mentioned it once before. I almost forgot.”

Fabrizio’s hand paused over his silverware.

He looked at me. “Have the chef make something else. No one’s forcing you to eat it.”

His mother’s expression soured. “Are we supposed to revolve the entire family around her?”

I set my napkin down. “Excuse me for a moment.”

At the end of the hallway, two servants were sorting through gift boxes.

They kept their voices deliberately low.

“I heard the Don’s mother already had the east wing room cleaned out. It’s for Miss Mazzei to stay in permanently.”

My feet stopped.

The east wing room. Five years ago, Fabrizio had promised to turn it into a painting studio for me.

When I came out of the restroom, Marcella was standing in the hallway, waiting.

She tilted her chin up. The gemstone at her collarbone glittered under the light.

“Donna, this necklace is really beautiful. Thank you.”

I looked at her calmly. “I’m glad you like it.”

I stepped around her and headed toward the dining room.

Then she grabbed my hand. Her other hand gave a gentle tug.

The gemstone necklace slid from her chest.

A sharp, clear sound.

The stone hit the marble floor and came away with a visible scratch.

Fabrizio stepped out of the dining room just in time to see Marcella backing away with tears welling in her eyes.

Her voice trembled. “Donna, I was only trying to give it back to you. Why did you get angry and throw it?”

Fabrizio walked toward me, his tone terrifyingly calm.

“Apologize.”