The Gondola the Don Made for Me Chapter 03

The Gondola the Don Made for Me Chapter 03

The glass in his hand trembled slightly. Then he let out a mocking laugh.

“A new trick? I’m not falling for it.”

I blinked, confused by his reaction.

“You had Summer pressure me into proposing today, didn’t you?” He sneered. “Failed at forcing my hand, so now you’re playing hard to get?”

It finally dawned on me. He thought Summer’s words had been my idea, a scheme to pressure him into marriage. The whole thing struck me as ridiculous, but I chose not to explain.

I nodded. “That’s right. Since the proposal didn’t work out, I’m thinking of marrying someone else.”

His mocking smile deepened. “You really think you can leave me, Vera? Don’t push this too far.”

“You’re already twenty-eight, an old maid. You’ve been with me for seven years. The whole Romano family knows it. Who else would marry you?”

I didn’t have to marry him. My family could take care of me. What’s more, another powerful family, another formidable man, had already built a wedding gondola just for me—and me alone.

Seeing me stay silent, he leaned in and pressed a careless kiss to my forehead. “Get some sleep. We have to go to the Romano estate tomorrow for Grandma’s birthday.”

He turned and walked into the bedroom, leaving me drowning in exhaustion.

The next day, I still went to Grandma Romano’s birthday party. I needed to return the sapphire ring she’d given me once.

When I arrived at the Romano mansion, Julian’s mother stood by the gate. Sophia linked her arm through the older woman’s, wearing a bright smile, looking every inch the future daughter-in-law.

Sophia spotted me first and walked over immediately. “Vera! Julian said you were upset. I didn’t think you’d come.”

She deliberately twisted her wrist to show off the sapphire bangle on it—another heirloom reserved for the Romano bride. Grandma had given me the ring, and Mrs. Romano had kept the bangle. Julian had once taken it from his mother, vowing to place it on my wrist himself one day. Now that promise would never be kept.

Julian hurried over to explain. “Sophia’s just borrowing it for a while. She’ll give it back. Don’t overthink it.”

Mrs. Romano stepped forward, her expression cold and sharp. “You’re here.”

“Heard what happened yesterday. It’s just a boat, after all. Sophia has no family to rely on now, so of course we look after her. Tame that temper of yours and stop making a fool of yourself.”

Everyone expected me to lose my temper, yet no one dared to call Julian out for his actions. The whole scene was laughable.

Julian reached out to wrap his arm around my waist, his usual way of soothing me with affection. I stepped neatly aside, dodging his touch.

His hand hung mid-air, and his brows snapped together. “What now?”

He lowered his voice, irritation edging his tone. “It’s Grandma’s birthday. Don’t ruin the mood. I’ll apologize later, alright?”

I met his gaze calmly. “I’m not upset at all.”

I pulled out the sapphire ring and held it out to Mrs. Romano. “Please give this to Miss Sophia as well. I won’t go inside to disturb Grandma.”

Julian’s eyes widened in shock. Sophia clutched her skirt, putting on a hurt and innocent act.

“Vera, are you angry with me?” She turned to Julian. “This is all my fault for being greedy and taking the boat… I should give the boat and the bangle back to her.”

She pretended to pull off the bangle, yet it slipped loosely around her wrist and would not come free.

The tension in Julian’s face faded instantly. He snatched the ring from my hand and walked over to Sophia.

“No need to return anything. What’s given is given. Here, put the ring on too.”

He glanced back at me with clear disdain. “Fine, Vera. Keep this up if you want.”

“Since you don’t want them anymore, Sophia can wear them for now. If you’re not going inside, then leave.”

Once upon a time, his taunts would only make me dig in my heels. I would stay and fight to prove my place. But now, all I felt was relief.

“I’ll take my leave then.”

I turned and walked away. Behind me, Sophia spoke in a soft, understanding voice.

Julian’s anger flared louder. “Let her go! She’s just desperate to get married and craving attention, trying to manipulate me. She ought to know her age.”

I never looked back and climbed into a taxi. Just then, a message arrived from my mother.

[Vera, look. This gondola is all yours.]