His Uncle's Donna, His Bitter Regret

I shoved my phone back into my pocket and instinctively recoiled.

"I've already told you, I'm married. Try that again, and you'll be lucky to leave with both legs intact."

My training as the Donna had honed my reflexes. Dodging his touch was child's play.

Jeremy's hand met empty air, and his brow furrowed deeper.

Then, his gaze fell on the necklace around my neck.

"I knew it." Jeremy's voice instantly softened.

"Alessia, you say you don't care, but you're still wearing the gift I gave you."

I almost laughed out loud.

His gift? The flawed imitation sapphire he'd given me was full of imperfections. After I married his uncle, it was unceremoniously thrown in the trash.

My husband was an extremely possessive man. That night, he had held me and complained, "Don't keep anything of his. I'll give you better."

The next day, he personally fastened this sapphire necklace, "The Tears of Sicily," around my neck.

It was a Grimaldi family heirloom, to be worn only by the family's Donna.

Since when did Jeremy possess such wealth and status?

Just as I was about to clarify that this was not the necklace he had given me, I was interrupted.

"I want it." Gracie stared at the necklace with longing, clinging to Jeremy's arm and cooing, "Jeremy, I'm not feeling well. I need a symbol of status, something to let people know I belong to you. Can you give it to me?"

"Don't be ridiculous." Jeremy looked at her disapprovingly. "This was my engagement gift to Alessia. How can I just give it away?"

Gracie's eyes immediately reddened. "So in your eyes, I'm just an outsider?"

Jeremy quickly wiped her tears away before turning to me apologetically.

"Alessia, you've always loved jewelry. You have plenty of similar pieces at home. Why don't you let Gracie have this necklace?"

"Her parents died a long time ago, and I'm all she has. Once you're my wife, she'll be your sister, too. Just think of it as a little welcome gift for her, okay?"

A wave of boredom washed over me as I watched the farce unfold.

"You want it?" I reached up and unfastened the clasp of the necklace.

Gracie's eyes instantly lit up.

"But you can't have it." I pulled my hand back, my voice calm. "This is a family heirloom from my husband. If you want one so badly, wait for Jeremy to marry you and buy one himself."

Enraged by my coldness, Gracie burst into tears.

She threw herself into Jeremy's arms. "Jeremy, look at her! She's not even married to you yet, and she's already refusing to give back what's yours. Unlike me, my heart is only for you…"

I couldn't be bothered to waste another word on them. I turned and walked toward the company exit.

Besides, I had already given the blueprints to his secretary. Giovanni would know I had been here.

Just as I stepped out of the building, a bulletproof Maybach pulled up in front of me.

Usually, when I dropped something off, Giovanni would have his driver wait so we could have a few moments alone in the car on the way home.

This time, the driver, Rocco, leaned out the window. "Donna, the Don said he won't be coming down today. Shall I take you home?"

I shook my head, about to say I had driven myself today.

Then I heard Gracie's excited voice. "Wow, Jeremy, this car is so big and luxurious!"

I looked back to see Gracie had already opened the door and slipped inside. "The leather seats are so soft!" she exclaimed, stroking the interior.

"There's even a fridge and a wine cabinet! Jeremy, your uncle is so good to you."

Jeremy also got into the back seat, glancing smugly in my direction. "Alessia, need a ride?"

Gracie covered her mouth and giggled. "Don't you have a husband? Why would you need a ride in Jeremy's car?"

I shook my head. "No, thanks. I have my own car."

I dangled my car keys at them, walked over, and opened the door to my Aston Martin.

As I drove away, Rocco took out his phone to report the situation, then sat impassively in the driver's seat.

"Let's go," Jeremy said, tapping the back of the front seat. "Back to the manor."

The driver didn't move.

"Are you deaf?" Jeremy said impatiently. "I told you to drive."

"Waiting for the Don," Rocco finally said, his voice flat.

Jeremy paused. "Didn't my uncle send you to pick me up?"

Rocco answered truthfully. "The Don made no such arrangement. I was here to pick up the Don and his Donna."

"The Don's meeting was delayed, so I need to wait for his further instructions."

"If you require a car, I can call a taxi for you."

The atmosphere in the car grew thick with tension.

Jeremy's expression shifted from confused to rigid. Finally, he clenched his jaw and sullenly pulled Gracie out of the car.