You Kept the Don’s Daughter Waiting and Now She’s Someone Else’s Chapter 05

You Kept the Don’s Daughter Waiting and Now She’s Someone Else’s Chapter 05

I held the bouquet and turned to walk out.

Behind me, I heard muffled gasps from the relatives.

“Is Nina really going to the church by herself?”

“How can that be? The groom is still inside!”

“Two hundred years of family tradition, is this really how it ends?”

Coral was flustered too, but more confused than anything. “Nina, what are you doing?”

“I was just fixing my makeup. Is this really worth it?”

I didn’t look back.

I reached the top of the stairs when footsteps pounded behind me. A second later, Luca caught up and grabbed my wrist.

“Nina!”

His voice was low, barely holding back anger. “Today is our wedding. Both families are here, and the church is waiting.”

“If you’re walking downstairs alone, do you want everyone watching this farce?”

I looked at him and almost laughed.

“The one making everyone laugh, is it me?”

Luca opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

12:28. Two minutes left.

My mother watched me with red-rimmed eyes.

My father came up beside me, his voice hoarse. “Nina, are you sure?”

I met his gaze. “I’m sure.”

My great-grandmother leaned on her cane and walked me to the door, step by step. She nodded slowly.

“Nina, since you’ve decided to go alone, then face the guests alone. A daughter of the Conti family should hold her head high, even if she has to cancel the wedding. No matter what, we don’t bow our heads.”

My eyes stung.

“Mm.”

12:29. I reached the garden of the estate.

The doorway was packed with relatives, aunts, cousins, elders who’d traveled from other cities, even a few distant members I barely recognized.

Some raised champagne glasses to see me off, others held up cameras.

But when they saw me come out alone, confusion flickered across their faces.

Outside, Luca’s convoy waited not far off.

The lead car was decked in flowers, the red carpet rolled all the way to the entrance, photographers shouldering their gear.

Everything was ready, just waiting for the bride and groom.

Luca caught up to me again, his face dark. “Nina, how long are you going to keep this up?”

I stopped.

The gate was right there.

I looked down at the red carpet beneath my feet, then up at him.

“Luca. It’s 12:29. The hour is almost here. The gate is right in front of us. I’m asking you one last time. Are you coming with me or not?”

The crowd went silent. Everyone’s eyes were on Luca.

His fists clenched. Panic flickered in his eyes, just for a moment.

Then it was buried under annoyance. “Nina, stop it. Wait for Coral to finish, and we’ll go together.”

He said it like I might not understand, and added, “Coral is your maid of honor. If she doesn’t come down, how does the process even work?”

I stood there, watching him, and the last bit of warmth in my chest went cold.

We’d made it this far.

The final minute. He’d come after me.

He’d seen the guests, the cars, the red carpet, and me.

But he still said, “Wait for Coral to finish her makeup.”

I let out a soft laugh. “Luca. You’ve never once let me down.”

His face shifted. “Nina, what do you mean?”

I didn’t answer.

Because the next second, 12:30 hit.

A whole line of unfamiliar cars pulled up at the gate.

Everyone turned instinctively.

A man in a black suit stepped out of the lead car, who I’d messaged, Damon.

He walked straight to me, leaned down, and pressed a kiss to my forehead.

“Nina. I came for you.”

He held out his hand. “I’m here to take the bride away. So… will you marry me?”