My Husband Is The Don

On New Year's Eve, I returned to Chicago.

At the welcome dinner held in my honor, my ex-fiancé, Declan Tierney, made a sudden appearance. He dropped to one knee, holding out a family heirloom: a necklace centered with a massive sapphire.

"Though this is three years late, our destinies are forever intertwined," he declared. "Joanna, marry me!"

Friends whispered among themselves, all expecting a tearful reunion.

But they had all forgotten that on New Year's Eve three years ago, he had promised to get engaged to me. That night, I waited until dawn in a custom-made gown—but he never showed up. All I received was a curt phone call. "Cassidy's been targeted. I have to handle it. We'll talk about the engagement later."

So, on New Year's Day, I flew to Italy alone and accepted my family's arranged marriage.

The problem was, I had already married someone else. Three years ago.

————————

1

I took a deliberate step back, my expression serene as I lightly touched the pearl necklace at my throat.

"Declan," I began, a cool smile playing on my lips. "I think you have the wrong person. Shouldn't you be giving this to Cassidy?"

"I knew you were still jealous of Cassidy." Declan Tierney's expression soured slightly at my words. "It's been three years. Haven't you gotten over it yet? I've explained it countless times..."

"That you only see Cassidy as a girl in need of protection, and that there's nothing improper between you," I finished his sentence for him, my voice devoid of emotion.

I had heard this excuse hundreds of times. Whenever Declan abandoned me, his fiancée, for his mistress, he would repeat the same lie.

My words left him speechless for a moment, and then he softened his tone.

"Three years ago... things were complicated. Didn't I tell you? Cassidy was gravely injured in a revenge attack by our rivals. Her life was hanging by a thread, and I was worried our engagement would provoke our enemies into finishing her off."

"Who would have thought you'd be so impulsive as to leave without a word the very next day, leaving me to wait for three whole years?"

"But it's all in the past now. Today, you came back for me."

"This time, marry me. Stay. Be my wife, and take your rightful place as the lady of the Tierney family."

His smug confidence almost made me laugh out loud.

"When did I ever say I came back for you?" I replied coolly. "I will not marry you."

Declan froze, a flash of disbelief in his eyes, which was quickly replaced by stubborn certainty—he clearly refused to believe my rejection.

"Still pouting, aren't you?" he asked, rising to take my hand. I sidestepped his reach.

My friends quickly gathered around to mediate.

"Joanna, just forgive him. It was beyond his control at the time."

"That's right. Declan has been searching for you all these years. When he heard you were back, he prepared this proposal as a special surprise."

Buoyed by the crowd's support, Declan, wearing a triumphant smile, raised the necklace to place it around my neck.

I scoffed and knocked the necklace from his hand, sending it clattering to the floor.

The necklace skittered away with a loud clatter, but my eyes were locked on the enormous blue sapphire.

"Declan," I said, my voice sharp enough to cut glass, "I only wear haute couture. This gaudy cut and tacky design... has always been more Cassidy's style."

As soon as I spoke, a dead silence fell over the entire ballroom.

Just then, a familiar voice came from behind me.

"Joanna, just forgive Declan!"

Cassidy stepped forward, bent down to pick up the necklace, and turned to Declan with tears in her eyes.

"It's all my fault. If it weren't for me, you two wouldn't have missed out on all these years. If I had known... I would rather have died back then."

She coughed lightly, a perfect picture of frailty, her pale face making her look all the more pitiful.

Declan immediately forgot his standoff with me and rushed to support her, his face etched with worry.

"What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to stay in the safe house and recover?"

Watching their intimate interaction, I felt nothing but annoyance. If I had known tonight's welcome dinner would turn into such a farce, I wouldn't have come at all.

I nodded to the other guests. "I've just returned from abroad and I'm still jet-lagged. I should get going. We can catch up another day."

I turned to leave. Declan tried to stop me, but I ignored him, pushed open the ballroom doors, and walked out without a backward glance.