My Rival Bragged About Her Don Husband, But He Was My Secret Husband

The address Selena had posted was already dressed up when I arrived: red carpet rolled out from the door, a pink-and-white balloon arch framing the entrance, flower arrangements lining both sides.

I looked up and saw the banner: "Welcome, Don Moretti~"

Selena's sidekick Casey was working the door. She spotted me, held my gaze for two seconds, then gave a small contemptuous smile. "Ava? You actually showed."

I nodded. "Here I am."

She turned to call over the old cheer squad crowd. "Look who it is!"

But they were too busy fawning over Selena to hear her.

"Selena, how powerful is your husband, really? Is it true all the casinos in the state belong to him?"

"Look at those vintage cars — you don't just get your hands on things like that."

Casey jumped in loud: "He's a Moretti Don. A single move and you're talking nine figures. None of us are supposed to know the details."

Selena smiled like a flower and played modest. "You're all my closest friends — of course you can ask me anything."

It sounded warm. It was charity.

I stood at the edge of the room and waited for her to finish.

Casey suddenly perked up. "Selena, guess who's here?"

Selena turned. Her eyes landed on me.

"Well. You finally decided to come witness my happiness."

I smiled. "I did. A bet's a bet — I came to see just how well you married."

Linda, standing beside her, sniffed. "Ava, what are you wearing? Were you actually planning to borrow one of Selena's dresses?"

Dylan snickered. "I know you've always been all brawn — but are you actually doing manual labor now? Still, you could've made an effort."

I straightened my charcoal blazer. "Dressed for work."

In our world, the people in evening gowns were the ones without power.

Selena let them have their say, then put on a warm expression as though reuniting with an old friend. "I did say I'd find her something to wear. Even if she'd dressed up, she still couldn't touch what I'd have given her. You don't have to pretend you don't care anymore, Ava. Although, God, have you put on weight? I'm not sure my dress would even fit."

I looked at her with mild amusement. "I'll stay in this. It's practical."

I didn't wear dresses to anything. When I walked into a room, I was the rule, and this blazer was cut to move.

At that point, a man walked over with a drink in hand: Mr. Gray, our old teacher. He had half the hair I remembered and twice the gut.

He made straight for Selena and clapped her on the shoulder.

"Selena, I always knew you'd land here. Half the boys in our class were half in love with you back then."

Selena looked down with a modest smile.

Mr. Gray kept going. "And that's the truth — a woman's greatest weapon is exactly what you have. Take care of your looks and everything else follows. Look at you now. Who could say they've done better?"

He flicked a glance at me.

The classmates around us caught it and started smirking.

Selena just looked at me, satisfied. She didn't say another word.

Then her expression shifted, subtle but there, as her eyes moved to the window and landed on my car parked under the trees.