When He Chose His Brother’s Widow Over Me

"Elena, come out. I've asked Bianca and Leo to stay with us for a while, to keep you company. It's also to protect them from harassment by the rival family."

His self-righteous tone, as if he were some paragon of justice, made me sick.

I remained silent, refusing to come out. He knocked a few times before finally using a spare key to open the study door.

Bianca's cloying voice drifted from the hallway. "Elena, Leo has been such a handful lately. I thought if I stayed for a bit, Dante could help me discipline him. Of course, if you'd rather I didn't, I can just leave Leo here and go..."

"Please don't be angry. I really have no other choice. I hope you don't mind the trouble."

Her voice dissolved into a quiet sob. Dante wrapped an arm around her shoulder, leaning down to comfort her in his gentle voice.

He frowned, wiping away her tears with his fingertips, his other hand possessively cradling the back of her head.

Bianca tilted her face up to look at him. The distance between them closed to nothing; their eyes met, lingering on each other.

If I hadn't been there, they would have kissed.

"Get out! Both of you! Stop your little performance and get out of my house!"

Infuriated, I grabbed the papers on my desk and threw them at the door. By a stroke of bad luck, a tightly rolled document hit Bianca on the forehead.

When Dante saw the mark that instantly reddened on her skin, he lost control.

He strode over, dragged me out from behind the desk, and shoved me in front of Bianca.

"Elena, apologize to her!"

I froze for a moment, staring blankly into his furious eyes.

Why was he so angry? He was the one who broke his promise.

Seeing that I wasn't answering, Dante slammed me against the wall.

His voice was ice-cold, repeatedly telling me to apologize.

Bianca clutched her forehead. Her eyes were red, and she forced a gentle smile for Dante.

"It's alright, Dante, it doesn't hurt that much. It's our fault. We were too presumptuous, moving in without talking to Elena first. I just didn't expect…"

She trailed off as tears streamed down her face. She looked at Dante, forcing a smile and shaking her head.

Dante said nothing. He glanced at me, then expertly checked Bianca's injury.

After calming her down, he turned to me and said in a lecturing tone, "I should have discussed this with you first, that's my fault."

"But we're all part of the Falcone family. Since they're already here, what's the harm in letting them stay? Elena, do you have to make such a scene?"

"Bianca was just worried about you, grieving for your father, and wanted to keep you company. She meant well."

"I don't need it! Who knows what her real intentions are!"

"Look at you, acting like a jealous harpy, seeing conspiracies everywhere! Elena, I am saying this for the last time. Apologize!"

I ignored him, turning to walk towards the bedroom to start packing my things. He stood by and watched, his patience wearing thinner with every passing second.

Then he strode over furiously, kicked my suitcase aside, and, under my glare, pulled out a velvet box, threatening, "Think carefully. If you walk out that door, you can forget about getting this wristwatch of your father's!"

I gasped. I couldn't believe he would use that to threaten me. He knew better than anyone what this custom-made wristwatch meant to me.

My father had been the family's Consigliere, and this watch was a gift from the old Don, a symbol of honor and loyalty. I had grown up watching my father cherish and polish it. That watch held so many of our memories. Yet, shortly after he passed away, it had gone missing.

My hands trembled as I stared at Dante. "You found it?"

"Yes, so you'll listen to me. Stop talking about divorce, and I'll give it to you."

In the end, for the sake of that watch, I swallowed my pride and apologized to Bianca. I never mentioned leaving again.