My Fiance's Gone, His Brother Stayed

Everyone just stood there, stunned. Isabella went ghost-white.

She rushed over and gripped my hand hard. "Giulia, dear," she begged, voice trembling. "For both families' reputations, please—let's finish the ceremony. We'll explain everything after."

I stared at her, remembering how three months ago she'd looked me dead in the eye and promised, 'You'll be the only lady of this house. I'll treat you like my own daughter.'

What a joke.

I yanked my hand back. "Is the 'explanation' you mentioned about welcoming your son's side chick or demoting my dad to your grandson's butler?"

"Giulia, please try to—"

"Oh, I get it," I snapped, turning to the crowd. "Let me make it real simple. I'd rather blow up this entire alliance than marry that garbage. And trust me—I've got options."

Marco cracked.

He scooped up Lola and stormed out. Isabella screamed after him, but he didn't look back.

"Marco! Get back here!"

Too late.

Alessandro's face turned stone-cold. Clearly, even he hadn't seen this disaster coming.

The ballroom doors slammed. Silence followed, thick and tense.

I stood there, center stage, feeling every stare burn into me.

Some looked sorry. Others were eating it up. And a few were just waiting to see how the De Lucas would react.

Isabella pulled herself together and stepped up to the mic.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is just a small misunderstanding. We—"

"Misunderstanding?" I cut in, laughing coldly. "Your son humiliated me in front of every major family. That's your excuse?"

"Giulia, please, just give us a chance..."

"A chance?" My voice cracked through the silence. "He already made his choice. What else do you think I need?"

Isabella went pale again but wouldn't quit. "To preserve the alliance, maybe... maybe you could finish the ceremony with Marco's family ring. That way—"

"Marry a RING?" I blinked at her. "You really want me to be the mafia world's punchline?"

Whispers rippled through the crowd.

By morning, this would be all over the North American underworld—'Giulia De Luca, the so-called Lady of Glory, dumped by a loser and offered a ring instead of a groom.'

I was boxed in.

Say yes, and I'd torch my pride. Say no, and my family would be at war with one of the most powerful mafia dynasties.

Silence. Heavy and choking.

Everyone was watching, waiting to see how the legendary Lady of Glory would claw her way out.

I was just about to declare the De Lucas were cutting ties for good when a deep voice rang out from the back.

"Signorina De Luca, do your words still stand?"

Heads whipped around.

A tall figure rose from the shadows. He moved stiffly, but every step hit like a power move.

I froze.

Dante Falcone.

Marco's older brother. The real heir.

He'd taken a step back from family affairs after that near-fatal hit three years ago.

He moved toward the stage, his left leg dragging slightly. But those eyes—sharp, locked in, like he saw everything.

The air thickened with every step.

"Dante, what are you doing?" Isabella's voice wavered, caught between panic and disbelief.

He didn't even blink her way.

His eyes stayed on me.

"You said you'd pick a new fiancé. That still on the table?"