The Don's Ninety-Ninth Lie

My eyes were bloodshot as I snapped my head up.

I opened my mouth to demand an explanation.

But in the next second, long, manicured nails dug into my waist from behind.

"If I were you, I wouldn't make a scene," Isabella hissed. "The Costello family has a million ways to silence you forever."

When I looked up again, I had masked my turmoil with a familiar calm.

Isabella ran to Vincenzo, sobbing, and began her performance.

"I accidentally got the measurements wrong, and Aurora accused me of doing it on purpose! She even threw wine on me."

"Vince, it was an accident. You know me..."

At the accusation that I'd bullied his precious childhood friend, a flash of disgust crossed Vincenzo's eyes.

But when his gaze met mine, his features softened into that familiar, hollow tenderness.

He strode over, sighing as if I was a burden he had to bear, and pulled me into his arms.

"Still a child's temper, even after a year."

"Isabella is immature, but you're going to be her sister-in-law. You should be more understanding."

"Forget it. We've had so many setbacks, what's one more? She's never planned a wedding before, so we'll let her learn. I'll take you home."

Before we left, he put his arm around my shoulders. As we passed Isabella, his tone was a warning, but his words were laced with indulgence.

"If you make Aurora angry again, I'll have to punish you."

"No more problems before the wedding."

Back in the car, he still ushered me into the passenger seat—my seat.

This seat, he'd once told me gently, had always been and would always be mine.

I had been lost in the beautiful, fragile dream he had woven, thinking I'd found the man I could lean on for the rest of my life.

But now...

I glanced at the man's cold, chiseled profile.

I searched my mind, trying to grasp a single memory of us meeting, of us falling in love.

But nothing came. Not a single fragment.

The explosion had erased five years of my life.

Vincenzo told me those were the years we were in love.

One was my beloved fiancé, the Don. The other, his childhood friend who was "like a sister" to him.

Who was I supposed to believe?

My thoughts were a maelstrom.

Whenever I tried to force a memory of the past, a splitting pain shot through my skull.

"Ah!"

I clutched my head, my face contorting in agony.

Vincenzo slammed on the brakes, the car screeching to a halt. He turned to me, his hands hovering anxiously.

"What's wrong? Is your head hurting again?"

"The doctor said you aren't fully recovered. Nerve damage takes time to heal."

"Take your medicine. I'll have the doctor meet us at the house."

The tenderness in his eyes seemed so genuine. It was as if the disgust I’d seen moments before had been a figment of my imagination.

At the estate, the family's private doctor gave me a thorough check-up.

Vincenzo stayed by my side, hanging on the doctor’s every word.

"Doctor, how is she? It's been a year. Why is she still in so much pain?"

"Change her medication. Money is no object. I'll pay any price to ease her pain."

Dr. Moretti wiped a sheen of sweat from his forehead and smiled placatingly at me.

"Donna, the Don is so devoted to you. It's just a minor side effect, nothing to fuss over."

Who would have thought this placating comment would only enrage Vincenzo.

He lunged forward, grabbing the doctor's arm.

"A minor side effect? This much pain isn't minor! Are you even a real doctor? Get out!"

Without waiting for a reply, he immediately dialed his consigliere.

"Get me the best neurosurgeon in the country. Now. Bring him to me, I don't care what it costs."

"If Aurora isn't perfect by the wedding, you're all gone."

The placating smile vanished from Dr. Moretti's face, his expression so terrified he looked like he might drop to his knees.

"Donna, please, say something to the Don! I can't lose this job! My daughter is studying abroad, my whole family depends on me!"

"I've reviewed your charts a hundred times. There's really nothing wrong."

I took a deep breath and forced a smile, placing a hand on Vincenzo's arm.

"Don't worry, I'm fine now. See? Perfectly fine."

"Dr. Moretti has always handled my case. A new person wouldn't know my history. Let's just forget it."

Vincenzo's eyes were red with anguish as he leaned in to kiss my forehead.

"I'd trade my own life to see you well again."

"Why... why wasn't it me who had to suffer all this..."

After Dr. Moretti left, the housekeeper, Maria, looked at me with open envy.

"Donna, the Don truly adores you. We've worked for the Costello family our whole lives, and we've never seen him care for any woman this way."

Isabella's words echoed in my mind. I asked, "Vincenzo told me I was his first love. So why would you say that? Has he brought other women here before?"