The Bride Who Never Showed

Before my fingers could even brush Adriana's neck, Carlo shoved me aside. "Giada, have you lost your mind?"

Frightened, Adriana's face drained of color, and she hid behind him. "Giada, I know I made you angry, but today's the Romano family luncheon. Let me apologize first. Once it's over, you can scold me and hit me however you want, okay?

Those nearby gathered with grim looks. They only offered her words of comfort.

Carlo's face darkened. "Do you see how well-mannered Adriana is? Now look at yourself! You go crazy just because my parents said something nice about her. If I marry you, I can't imagine what you'd put my family through!"

However, by then, I was already burning with fury. I jabbed a finger at the necklace around her neck and gritted my teeth. "I'm the one who's crazy? She turned the diamond ring my mother left me into a pendant, and I'm not even allowed to ask about it? Carlo, you know better than anyone what that ring means to me!"

It was the last thing my mother had left me in this world—besides the estate.

Hearing me challenge him, Carlo's eyes wavered for a moment, but he quickly shook his head. "You're mistaken. That isn't your mother's diamond."

"There's absolutely no way I'm wrong. That diamond belongs to her. It has always been kept with the gold bracelet!"

"We're in the middle of a family luncheon. Don't you dare embarrass me! Just go home!"

I stared at Carlo in disbelief. My tears fell uncontrollably, and he started to panic.

Despite all the times he had overlooked my feelings for Adriana, I had never cried. Yet now, the weight of my heartbreak seemed to land on him.

Just as he extended his hand toward me, Adriana suddenly burst into tears. "Giada, I just thought the diamond looked beautiful, so I begged Carlo to let me have it. Please don't be angry at him—"

Carlo frowned. "Adriana, I gave it to you because I wanted to. Why are you blaming yourself?"

He bent down and wiped her tears away. It was as if lightning had struck me, and my entire body shook violently. "Carlo, how could you do this to my mother's memory? What right do you have to give my things to her?"

Adriana stepped forward, grabbed my wrist, and cried out, "Mi dispiace! It's all my fault! I shouldn't have said I liked necklaces. If I hadn't, Carlo wouldn't have melted the bracelet down and made it into one for me.

"Giada, go ahead and strike me if you need to. Tomorrow's your wedding. You two shouldn't be arguing now—"

I drew in a sharp breath, yet the fury in my chest refused to ease. That gold bracelet had been part of my mother's wedding gift to me, but it was melted down and remade into a necklace for Adriana.

A loud smack rang out as I slapped her as hard as I could. "Give it back to me!"

A red mark instantly bloomed on Adriana's cheek. Carlo flew into a rage and slapped me right back. "I can't believe you hit her over a stupid bracelet and diamond! How could I ever marry someone so uncivilized? Apologize to her, or our engagement is off!"

I staggered a few steps from the blow. When I finally steadied myself, everyone was staring at me—except Carlo, who was comforting Adriana.

At that moment, a sudden wave of regret hit me. I shouldn't have fallen in love with Carlo. I shouldn't have been so determined to marry him.

There were clearly better choices, but because of my 12 years of so-called obsession, I ended up ruining the wedding gift my mother had left me.

I cast one last glance at the necklace and diamond around Adriana's neck, clenched my fists, and turned away.

Carlo's eyes darted toward my back. However, almost immediately, he bowed his head and quietly went on comforting Adriana.

Luca's car was parked just a short distance from the estate. As I slid inside, he froze and leaned in to check my cheek. I quickly pushed him away. "Let's go. I don't want to stay here for even a second longer."

Luca frowned. A ruthless glint passed through his eyes as he glanced over Romano Estate. With a nod, he drove me to the airport.

By the time we landed in Firali, night had already fallen. My phone showed three messages from Carlo, all sent that afternoon.

"Why is it so hard for you to understand me? What do you get out of humiliating me in front of my family?"

"Luckily, Adriana has already forgiven you. Let's put this matter behind us. We'll board the plane first. See you in St. Morizia tomorrow."

"It's just a bracelet and a diamond. I'll buy ten for you tomorrow. Does that settle it?"

I read the messages calmly. With a few quick taps, I blocked him on every platform. After that, I gave back all the wedding presents the Romano family had once given me.