The Cost of His Second Choice

Dante's head snapped in my direction, his expression souring instantly. "What are you doing here? I don't remember my mother inviting you!"

He didn't wait for an answer, just grabbed my arm and started dragging me outside.

His grip on my still-healing arm was brutal, and I stumbled, trying to wrench free. "Let go. I can walk on my own."

But his tone was glacial. "I don't know what game you're playing, Ava, but no one invited you to my mother's birthday."

"If you're here to make a scene and ruin everything, you can leave."

I was stunned. "What are you talking about? You told me to come."

For a split second, guilt flickered in his eyes before he stamped it out. "I don't remember saying that. You're probably lying."

Carmela hurried after us. "Ava, Isabella has been… emotionally unstable lately. Dante just brought her to join us. Could you please just leave for now?"

It was as if they'd all conveniently forgotten their promises to me.

But that was fine. If I wasn't welcome, I had no reason to stay.

I nodded, and just as I turned to leave, Isabella appeared.

She put on a show of concern. "Madre, Dante, you're both overreacting. I'm not that petty."

"Ava's injured. It couldn't have been easy for her to come all this way. Let's not make her leave! We can all have dinner together!"

I ignored the triumph glittering in her eyes and said flatly, "No, thank you."

But Dante stepped sideways, blocking my path. "You're staying," he said, his tone laced with displeasure.

"Isabella's being gracious enough to give you an out, and you're going to throw it back in her face?"

"Don't you dare walk out of here. Have you forgotten your place? Without me, you're nothing."

I froze.

Dante had pursued me relentlessly for years, but I had never intended to step into his world.

Until I was kidnapped, and he took a bullet for me without a second thought.

Before his men carried him away, he had gripped my hand tightly. "As long as you're safe, my life is yours to take. I only hope you'll give me a chance in the next one."

His sacrifice had finally moved me, and I’d given up my career in Europe to marry him in Chicago, consequences be damned.

I never imagined the love I finally gave him would become the very chain he'd use to bind me.

I took a deep breath. "Then we'll see."

With that, I walked out the door without a backward glance.

I missed the flicker of confusion in Dante's eyes.

That night, I went home and packed the few belongings I had. But in the middle of the night, Dante returned.

He froze, his eyes sweeping over the nearly empty house. "Where are our pictures? Where are all the gifts I bought you?"

"I threw them out," I answered coolly.

Dante hugged me from behind. "Why won't you look at me? Are you angry?"

He sighed. "You're unbelievable. Why can't you just be agreeable for once? I'd already introduced Isabella to everyone. You showing up just made things awkward for me."

"If you had just dropped off the gift and left, none of this would have happened."

Suddenly, he pressed a ring into my palm.

"Stop this tantrum," he murmured. "I'm keeping my promise to you. Tomorrow, we'll have a private ceremony. Just us. Isabella won't be there. Just… be on time. Okay?"

He leaned in to kiss my cheek, but I turned my head away.

Dante's expression darkened. Just as he was about to speak, one of his men rushed in to report something about Isabella.

He immediately stood and left the room to handle it.

A moment later, he called out a final instruction. "I have to go out. Remember to be at the ceremony on time tomorrow!"

The door slammed shut, marking the start of another sleepless night.

I had no intention of going, but after a moment's thought, I decided I would—to put a definitive end to it all.

But when I arrived at the venue, I was stunned. The bride wasn't me. It was Isabella.

She was dressed in a pristine white gown, holding a bouquet, greeting guests with a radiant smile.

When she saw me, she laughed. "Ava, you didn't really think today's ceremony was for you, did you?"

"Dante promised to finish our wedding today. I just told him I wanted you here to witness our happiness, so he invited you."

"You should thank me. Otherwise, you wouldn't have even been allowed in."

As she spoke, a strange smile twisted her lips. A warning bell went off in my head, but it was too late.

She flung a glass of red wine in my face before dramatically throwing herself to the ground.

The wine dripped from my chin, my vision swimming with scarlet.

When Dante saw what happened, he rushed over and violently shoved me aside.

He looked at me, his eyes blazing with disappointment.

"Ava! I was kind enough to let you be here, and you attack Isabella?"

"I was actually considering keeping you around, but you just destroyed any chance of that!"

His face a grim mask, he pulled Isabella away. Through my crimson-tinted vision, I saw her triumphant smile.

I wiped the wine from my face, my hand trembling as I placed a letter and a key on a table by the entrance.

Then, without looking back, I turned and vanished into the night.

Dante and Isabella had already reached the priest.

Just as the priest was about to speak, a bodyguard burst into the ceremony.

He rushed forward, holding up the letter and key.

"Boss, bad news! Miss Ava's gone! She's vanished—might have already left Chicago! Forget the wedding, you need to get her back!"