The Mafia Don's Secret Fiancée

My fiancé, Luciano Marino, was the Don of the Marino family, and he was an extremely careful man. For the five years we'd known each other, he'd kept me on his estate outside the city. "Eleanor, you're my weak spot. I'll never let any of my enemies lay a finger on you." "The fewer people who know about you, the safer you are." So I'd never once appeared in public with him, let alone met his family. Three days before our wedding, I was outside the study when I overheard him talking to the butler. "Don, are you sure you want to schedule your wedding to Ms. Vanderhall for the same day, three days from now?" "That's right." "Then... what about Ms. Ashford?" He took a deep drag on his cigar. "Eleanor has always been understanding. She won't mind if I'm a little late." My hand froze before I could push the door open, and my mind went blank. Hands shaking, I opened Instagram on my phone and searched for Eileen Vanderhall's account. Her feed was filled with photos of the two of them. She came and went from Luciano's armory as she pleased, attended his family dinners, and even sat in on meetings with his crew. "He says that when you love someone, you share every part of your life with them." So it wasn't that he refused to let the woman he loved into his life. It was just that the woman wasn't me. Back in my room, I dialed a number. "Dad, I lost the bet. I'm ready to come home and marry the man you picked." ... 1 "Who were you talking to?" I'd just ended the call when Luciano knocked and walked in, his eyes fixed on my phone. His perfectly tailored suit made him look even taller and more striking. The warmth and gentleness in his eyes softened his chiseled features, almost making me forget that the man before me controlled New York's entire criminal underworld. I pretended nothing was wrong and forced a smile. "It was nothing. I was just asking the maid to set up a spa day for me." He didn't seem to care. As if by magic, he produced a fruit tart from behind his back. "Darling, I made this myself. Try it." On any other day, my heart would have melted. But the strawberries and mango on the tart reminded me that just an hour earlier, Luciano had shared the exact same dessert with Eileen. Her caption read: "My favorite. It took him dozens of tries to get this fruit tart right." I didn't take it. "I'm allergic to mango." Luciano smacked his forehead when he realized his mistake. "Sorry, darling, I forgot. Next time I'll try a different recipe." I shook my head. "Don't bother. Luciano, have you ever thought about taking me out for afternoon tea? Just once, somewhere public, like a normal couple?" He hesitated for a beat, then immediately refused. "Darling, I can't let you take that risk." "Oh, I just heard that the alterations to your wedding dress are finished. Change into something you can wear out, and the driver will take you to the shop for a fitting." I watched him walk out the door, my fingers trembling uncontrollably. He said he kept our relationship secret for my protection. He had too many enemies. Every person who knew my face put me in greater danger and gave him one more thing to worry about. In more than five years together, the only person in his circle who knew about me was his personal butler. Whenever he got together with the guys in his crew, I waited at home alone for him to come back. When he talked business, I wasn't even allowed to pour the wine. Even after we got engaged, he kept putting me off whenever I asked to meet his parents. "My family is huge, and people talk. I don't want to put you at risk." But after looking through Eileen's page, I discovered that he'd only known her for six months, yet he'd shown her off to the world right away. He'd shown up at her birthday party with a whole army of bodyguards and danced with her in front of everyone. He'd given her a yacht named after her and taken her from Chelsea Piers to Long Island on vacation, for the whole world to see. And during the five years we'd been together? He'd given me a winery. He'd hired a top band to play for me in a private concert hall. Even though he was Italian, he'd agreed to try Hawaiian pizza at my suggestion. But he wouldn't take a single photo with me, let alone post one online. He said, "Baby, photos give away a lot. I don't want anyone following the trail back to you. "Once I've cleaned everything up, when the time is right, I'll tell the whole world about us." I actually believed him. I was even touched, believing he faced all the darkness in the world alone while keeping me safely sheltered from it. Until I saw on Eileen's Instagram that he'd had the Marino family crest engraved on a pendant and given it to her with a promise: "Anytime, anywhere, if you're ever in danger, just show them this, and you'll be safe." Only then did I understand. With all his power, enemies or not, he could keep the woman he loved perfectly safe. He hadn't been overprotecting me. He just didn't love me that much. The maid wheeled in a rack of dresses for me to choose from. When no one else was around, I slipped off my engagement ring and pressed it into her hand. "This pink diamond is worth ten million dollars. Take it to Chinatown and sell it for cash. Then find a discreet travel agency and book me a flight to London three days from now. Keep the rest as a tip." 2 She hesitated for a second, then agreed. Luciano had eyes everywhere. If I was going to leave, I couldn't leave any trace behind. Chinatown, a world unto itself within the city, was the safest place to make the arrangements. By the time he appeared at my door again, the maid had just finished helping me get ready and had left. We went to the bridal shop together. As soon as the attendant led me into the fitting room, I froze. This wasn't my wedding dress! The attendant cautiously explained, "Ms. Ashford, Mr. Marino instructed us to give your original gown to another bride. "The one he saved for you is beautiful too, and it's already been altered to your size. Would you like to try it on?" My heart sank. I rushed out of the fitting room and stared at Luciano. "Where's my dress?" He knew how much that dress meant to me. It was a fitted gown with a long train and a layer of handmade lace in my favorite rose pattern. The skirt was made of off-white matte silk satin and studded with tiny diamonds and pearls. The dress had gotten its name from our very first trip together in Finland. Back then, I'd told him about the legend that if you saw the northern lights with the person you loved, your love would last forever. He proposed to me right then, beneath a sky filled with the northern lights. And now he'd casually given my dress to someone else. Luciano lowered his gaze and paused before answering. "That dress is too grand. It's one of a kind. If the wrong people tracked it down, it could reveal your identity. So I had them replace it with the most popular style right now. You have a perfect figure. Even an ordinary dress looks stunning on you." When his gaze slid away from mine, I suddenly understood everything. I went back into the fitting room without a word and checked my phone. Sure enough, Eileen had just posted a photo of herself trying on a wedding dress. The caption read: "Every rose is a witness to our love." Behind her, the long train spread out like petals, and the off-white skirt was studded with pearls and tiny diamonds. Luciano had given her my dress. The fitting room in the background made it clear that she was in this very shop at that exact moment. It was the Aurora. It was exactly as I'd suspected. I stared at the photo and let out a bitter laugh. Whatever. Even this wedding wasn't really mine. When I stood in front of the mirror in the replacement dress, Luciano said with delight, "Eleanor, you look absolutely stunning!" Just then, Luciano's phone rang. He turned and stepped outside to take the call. I was about to take off the dress when the fire alarm went off and thick smoke began pouring in from somewhere. The staff panicked and scattered, screaming. I gathered up the heavy dress and ran for the door, but my four-inch heels made me lose my balance. The next second, I tripped over something on the floor and hit the ground hard. For a moment, I couldn't move. Luciano came charging in, looking around frantically. "Luciano!" I called his name, and his gaze snapped toward me. Just as I thought he'd seen me and was coming to save me, a woman's cry came from the other direction. "Help! I'm scared!" It was Eileen. He stopped short. Then, without a moment's hesitation, he turned and ran toward the other fitting room. I froze, cold all over. Crash! A burning display rack came crashing down and pinned my skirt to the floor. I struggled with all my strength, but I couldn't get up. Through the smoke, I saw Luciano run out with Eileen in his arms. Her arms were wrapped tightly around his neck, and she was curled against his chest. "Luciano, help me—" I reached out for help, but the smoke had reduced my voice to a rasp. He didn't hear me or see me. He ran straight for the door... 3 The flames kept spreading. Gritting my teeth, I grabbed a shard from the broken mirror, hacked off the skirt, kicked off my heels, and stumbled out. My calves were red and swollen from the burns, my hands and feet were bleeding, and I looked like I'd been living on the streets. The pain drained every bit of strength I had, and I collapsed on the ground. Not far away, Eileen was wrapped in Luciano's jacket. Other than her slightly messy hair, she looked completely fine. Even her wedding dress was as white as ever. Even so, Luciano anxiously asked if she was hurt. Only after confirming that she was fine did he notice me lying on the ground, barely conscious, and hurry over. The ambulance arrived, and the paramedics wheeled out a stretcher. "There's only room for one patient at a time. Who goes first?" Luciano already had his hand under my back, ready to lift me, when Eileen suddenly cried out in pain. He stopped. "What's wrong?" "My foot really hurts. I think I twisted it." Eileen bent down and rubbed her ankle. Luciano's jaw tightened. He hesitated. Through the haze, I felt his fingers tense against my back and then release me. He turned around, picked her up, and put her on the stretcher. I couldn't hold on any longer. Everything went black. When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed, and Luciano was gently applying ointment to my hands. "You're finally awake. You scared me to death. The doctor said you were lucky none of your vital organs were injured. I found the best ointment available. You won't be left with any scars." I didn't say anything. Concern and anxiety flickered in his eyes. "The smoke was so thick. I heard someone call for help and could only make out a figure who looked a lot like you, so I carried her out. I didn't realize until later that I'd saved the wrong person. Baby, I'm sorry." I shook my head. My heart hurt so much that it had gone numb. I knew everything he said was an excuse. Eileen had always been the first person he wanted to save. Luciano suddenly noticed that my left hand was bare. Sounding a little nervous, he asked, "Eleanor, where's your engagement ring?" I looked at the pale band of skin where the ring had been. "Maybe it slipped off in the chaos and fell into the fire." He looked relieved. He immediately promised to get me a new one and have a tailor make another wedding dress for me overnight. Just then, one of his men approached and whispered something in his ear. I could just make out Eileen's name. Luciano's expression changed at once. He gave me an apologetic look and tried to reassure me. "I have something to take care of. You rest." After he left, two nurses walked past my room, chatting. "Eileen's fiancé is so sweet. She woke up from a nightmare, and he rushed right over to comfort her." For the next few days, Luciano didn't come to see me. Meanwhile, Eileen kept posting photos of them holding hands. One caption read, "No matter what happens, he's always by my side." I didn't want to stay there any longer. After a few days of rest, I insisted on going home. The maid handed me an envelope with a plane ticket for the wedding day and some cash inside. I started packing right away. When I first moved in, this house had been empty. Now it was filled with things I'd added one by one. Rare antique furniture, paintings by famous artists, expensive handmade rugs, and more fine jewelry and designer clothes than I could count. I used to think they were proof of our love and the life we'd built together. Now I realized they could belong to anyone. Not one thing in this house could prove that I, Eleanor Ashford, had ever lived here. I should have seen it a long time ago. So I packed only a few changes of clothes and my documents into a small suitcase. The wedding day would also be the day I left. While packing, I suddenly realized that the necklace I always wore was missing. My parents had given it to me when I turned 18. I retraced every place I'd been recently. I searched the hospital and the bridal shop, which was closed for renovations, but couldn't find the necklace anywhere. Disappointed, I told myself I must have dropped it in the fire and that it was gone for good. Then a notification popped up on my phone. Eileen had posted a new photo with Luciano, and my necklace was around her neck! Using the location she'd tagged, I drove straight there. It was an old villa. Bodyguards in black suits stopped me at the door, but luckily, the butler was nearby. He told them to let me through and escorted me inside. "Ms. Ashford, it's family dinner tonight. The Don is in the dining room. I'll take you to him." "No need." I strode off alone toward the dining room he'd pointed out. There were 20 or 30 people seated around the long table. Luciano and Eileen sat side by side, chatting with familiar ease. An elegant older woman with silver hair smiled at them and raised her glass. "Luciano, now that you've finally found a girl you love, I can rest easy. From now on, the Marino family heirloom ring belongs to Eileen Vanderhall." Without thinking, I stepped back, and my heel struck the corner of the wall with a sharp click. Almost at the same moment, I heard guns being cocked, and dozens of eyes turned toward me. 4 The air froze. Every gun in the room turned toward me. I held my breath, terrified. "Put them down," Luciano ordered. "Luciano, who is she?" The older woman set down her glass, looking displeased. He paused, then said calmly, "A friend." I couldn't believe my ears. When we were alone, he always said I was the most important woman in his life. He'd built an estate for me. When some punk harassed me in the slums, he'd crippled both of the guy's hands. An enemy had even stabbed him in the lung while he was saving me, and he'd nearly died. But now, in front of his family, I was just "a friend." A bitter laugh escaped me. "Then what did our five years together mean?" The older woman frowned and looked at Luciano, demanding an answer. His expression didn't change at all. "Mom, this is a misunderstanding. I'll explain later." Then he stood and walked toward me. "You shouldn't have come looking for me without asking. Go home first. We'll talk about this later, okay?" This time, I didn't give in. I pushed back. "Luciano, I didn't come here for you. I came for my necklace." I pointed at Eileen's chest. Panic flashed across her face. But before she could say anything, Luciano answered for her. "Eileen would never take your things. Maybe it only looks the same. Don't be childish, Eleanor." I looked him straight in the eye, struggling to get the words out. "So you've decided I'm lying?" He said nothing. As I looked at all the hostile faces in the room, I knew I wasn't getting my necklace back this time. I turned and ran. But I'd barely made it a few steps before Luciano caught up with me. I shook off his hand. "What am I to you? A pet you keep around? Or a mistress you hide in the shadows?" I'd thought that even if we couldn't stay together, at least those five years had been real. But everything that had just happened at dinner showed me how wrong I was. Luciano's expression shifted when he realized I'd overheard his mother. He took my hand. "Eileen and I are only having dinner together because our families made a deal. Since her father is the mayor, many of the Marino family's operations can proceed without interference. "Even though my family wants me to be with her, that's not what I want. You're the only one I truly love." He patted my back reassuringly. "As soon as dinner is over, I'll come home." I closed my eyes and listened to his lies. Then I answered softly, "Okay. I understand." He seemed a little surprised that I'd gone quiet so suddenly, but before he could give it much thought, someone called for him, and he went back inside. That night, Luciano came home carrying a beautifully wrapped gift box. "This is a surprise for you." I opened it. Inside was a sparkling diamond necklace. He eagerly pulled me in front of the mirror and fastened it around my neck. "Beautiful. I swear, tomorrow you'll be the most beautiful bride there is." His eyes were deep and sincere, as if nothing had happened that day. I looked at Luciano in the mirror. "At the wedding tomorrow, I'll have a surprise for you, too." His eyes lit up. He was about to say something when his phone rang. I caught a glimpse of the caller ID. It was Eileen. He immediately said something had come up at work, wished me good night, and left. I opened Instagram on my phone. Sure enough, Eileen had posted a photo of herself trying on a diamond necklace. It had the same design as the one he'd given me, only hers had a higher carat weight. Before, I would have been heartbroken. But now, I no longer cared. First thing the next morning, I got a text from Luciano: "Darling, I'm waiting for you at the church." But I knew he hadn't gone early to wait for me. He'd gone to marry Eileen first. I sent away the maid who was helping me dress, took off my wedding gown, picked up my suitcase, and went to the airport alone. In the departure lounge, I checked my phone, and Eileen's livestream started playing automatically. Wearing an elaborate white wedding gown, she walked down the aisle toward the altar on her father's arm as a crowd of guests looked on. Luciano wore a black suit, his hair styled perfectly. But for someone who was always so composed, he seemed a little distracted. I didn't care why. The boarding announcement came over the speakers. I blocked Luciano everywhere and walked toward the gate without looking back. From that moment on, he would have no place in my world. ... In the church, people were whispering, "It's rare to see the Don so nervous. He must really love his bride." The priest's deep voice filled the church. "Luciano Marino, do you take Eileen Vanderhall to be your wife, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death parts you?" The church fell silent. Everyone looked at Luciano, who stood frozen at the altar. It wasn't until Eileen murmured his name that he snapped out of his daze. "What?" The priest repeated the question. "Luciano Marino, do you take Eileen Vanderhall to be your wife?" He cleared his throat, about to say, "I do." Just then, the butler hurried in through a side door and leaned close to him. "Don, Ms. Ashford is gone."