Erasing the Future Donna

Roxy walked straight to the main table, ignoring the high-ranking family members and politicians seated there. Her kohl-rimmed eyes were locked on Lorenzo as she swayed her hips, stopping right at his side.

She didn't need an invitation.

A wave of gasps spread through the hall. People began to whisper, trying to place her.

"Isn't that the dancer from his club? What gives her the nerve to sit next to the future Don?"

"Isn't she afraid Lorenzo will have her tossed in the Hudson for this?"

"Shh, keep your voice down! I heard she's backed by some serious drug money. You see the jewels she flashes on her livestreams?"

Just as I averted my gaze, I saw Roxy brazenly take Lorenzo's hand and press it against her chest, right in the cleavage of her dress.

Lorenzo's hand froze. He tried to pull it back, but Roxy just smiled, holding it fast as her body swayed.

My heart stopped.

I stared at Lorenzo.

Push her away, a voice screamed inside my head. For God's sake, push her away, now!

But after a moment, Lorenzo’s struggle ceased. He didn't pull his hand away.

I jerked my head to the side, my fingers clenching so tightly my nails dug into my palms.

A searing pain erupted from the core of my being, like a white-hot dagger plunging straight through me.

I was lost in a daze for the rest of the charity auction, until the final item was unveiled and gasps from the crowd snapped me back to reality.

I looked up to see a dazzling "Star of Sicily" blue diamond necklace resting on a velvet display.

The auctioneer was enthusiastically recounting its history.

Legend had it the necklace once belonged to a Sicilian queen, a symbol of eternal, unwavering loyalty.

Perhaps sensing my interest, Lorenzo raised his bidding paddle without a second thought.

"Ten million dollars!"

Then, a sultry female voice sounded from beside him.

"Thirty million dollars!"

He turned to see Roxy had also raised a paddle. She met his displeased glare with a seductive smile.

"So sorry, future Don. My patron is quite fond of me and insists on gifting me this necklace!"

Lorenzo's face darkened instantly. "Fifty million dollars!"

"One hundred million dollars!"

"One hundred and fifty million dollars!"

…

Finally, Lorenzo made a curt gesture.

The auctioneer slammed his gavel down with a flourish.

"My goodness! Mr. Vittorio is buying it outright!"

"Congratulations to the Vittorio family on winning the Star of Sicily!"

Amid thunderous applause, Lorenzo nonchalantly pulled his hand from Roxy's grasp and pressed a kiss to my forehead.

"Wait for me here, my love. I'll go handle the paperwork."

I watched him leave, and then I saw Roxy rise from her seat, giving me a look loaded with meaning as she followed him out.

It wasn't until everyone had left that I finally unclenched my fists. My nails had dug in so deep that my palm was bleeding.

But I felt no pain. I just stood up and walked out.

The screen of my phone was lit up with a single, unread, anonymous message.

"The private lounge on the top floor. Come and see who your man really belongs to, my dear future Donna."

After the guests had dispersed, the empty hallway echoed with my footsteps.

Bodyguards stood at a distance, quietly turning away anyone who tried to approach the lounge.

Before I even got close, I heard them.

The sound of fabric ripping, a dull thud against a wall.

I leaned against the cool marble, staring blankly at the scene before me.

The lounge door was ajar. Lorenzo had Roxy pinned against the wall.

The veins on his forehead bulged, his large hands clamped tightly around her slender neck. "Are you out of your mind, Roxy?!"

"What the hell was that, in front of the families, in front of Isolde?!"

Roxy showed no fear.

Her long legs, clad in red silk, wrapped around Lorenzo's lean waist.

She tilted her head back, her eyes glazed, and breathed hotly against his ear.

"My dear Lorenzo, your body is so honest. The moment you touched me… you were hard as a rock, weren't you?"

Lorenzo's body went rigid.

I could see the reason in his eyes crumbling, replaced by a murky, possessive desire.

"Shut up…" he gasped, but the hand on her neck loosened, sliding up to grip the back of her head instead.

"I want to kill you…"

"Then kill me."

Roxy moaned, offering her lips. "Right here, in your own way… kill me."

The next second, Lorenzo let out a feral growl.

He crushed his mouth to hers, his hands brutally tearing at the crimson fabric of her dress.

They were shamelessly entangled once more.

The piercing pain of betrayal made my legs give out, and tears streamed silently down my face.