When the Don Wept for Her

They only remembered what they wanted to remember. They remembered that I stood too close to Dante, close enough to start rumors, close enough to be labeled desperate and delusional.

They decided I was the shameless one who harassed Dante and foolishly dreamed of becoming his Donna. From the very beginning, Dante had been the one who pursued me.

Every invitation, every late‑night phone call, and every step forward in our relationship came from him. He valued his privacy and security, so he never made our relationship public.

That turned him into the innocent victim of my so‑called harassment.

He was the youngest Don in the northern territory, brilliant, ruthless, and magnetic. In their eyes, I was only a woman who trailed half a step behind him at social events. I was an out‑of‑place accessory.

Still, that did not give them the right to tear me apart with their words.

I turned to face them with a blank expression.

“If your tongue is good for anything besides drinking,” I said quietly, “feel free to cut it out.”

The hall fell silent for half a second. Then someone slammed a fist against the marble bar behind them.

“Tessa, who the hell do you think you are?” He jabbed a finger at me, and his face turned red with alcohol.

“If you had anything going for you, you would not have chased Dante for seven years without getting a damn thing out of it. You know what people say about you behind your back?

“A nobody chasing after royalty.”

Laughter rippled through the crowd.

My cheeks burned. My eyes stung. I bit down hard and refused to let the tears fall.

I turned toward my husband. He still stood beside Viviana, and his gaze met mine for a split second before sliding away.

In that moment, the ring on my finger felt impossibly cold.

I scanned the room and my eyes landed on a man in the corner. He was Lorenzo Moretti, Dante’s closest friend and his Consigliere.

In the entire banquet hall, he was the only one who knew I had been Dante’s Donna for five years.

However, Lorenzo hated me. He believed I had drugged Dante to get that ring on my finger.

He heard every insult thrown at me. When they mocked me, he raised his glass in a distant toast.

“Some people just cannot see themselves clearly. No shame. No dignity.”

Really? I had no dignity?

Today was supposed to be our fifth wedding anniversary.

I preferred quiet. I had not even wanted to go out tonight. Dante had pulled me into his arms and coaxed me gently to be his date.

“Tessa, I know you have always been bothered that I have not gone public with our relationship.

“Tonight’s banquet is the perfect opportunity. I want to announce to everyone that you have been my Donna all along.”

I could not resist his sweet talk, so I agreed. Now, while everyone mocked me for being delusional and having no self‑respect, he said nothing.

I let their vicious words sink in. Then I turned to face the crowd.

“Who told you I do not have anything going for me?”

The atmosphere in the hall shifted at once. Whispers exploded around me.

“What did she just say?”

“Are they actually together?”

I stared at Dante. He froze the moment the words left my mouth.