Page 45 of Married to the Ruthless Mafia Heir

Her words silenced me. I watched tears roll down her cheeks, and something dark and satisfied stirred in my chest—revenge.

Her voice dropped to almost a whisper, but it pierced straight through me. "Right in front of me, you let her hold your arm, sit in my seat at dinner. So what the hell are you two?"

I said nothing. Pain twisted her face, eyebrows knitted tight. One hand clutched at her chest unconsciously.

The Elena before me had always been stubborn, enduring. She'd never exploded like this in front of me. This version felt like a stranger. Then it hit me—she cared. She cared about me.

"Valentina's your first love. The woman you searched for all those years." Tears dropped onto her clothes, spreading into dark stains. "She matters so much to you. So why do you care who I see? Unless..." She paused, voice dropping lower. "Unless I'm just property to you. Even if you don't want me, no one else can have me either?"

Something slammed into my chest. Pain flared.

What was she saying?

I didn't want her?

How could she think I didn't want her?

My fists clenched. I wanted to say something. Tell her it wasn't like that.

But the words stuck in my throat, crushed by the afternoon's pent-up rage. She'd dared to meet another man at Moretti Manor. Whatever else, she needed to learn a lesson.

She needed to understand—I was her husband. She shouldn't smile at other men like that.

"You're my wife." Each word came out hard and deliberate. "A Moretti woman doesn't get that close to other men."

Elena turned away, wiping tears with her hand. She looked devastated. Wouldn't even look at me. Her shoulders trembled slightly as she fell completely silent. I wanted her to stand up,tell me she'd never see that Luca punk again, that she'd focus on being my wife.

But she looked crushed. Done talking. This hurt worse than fighting.

"You need to remember who you are." I threw the words at her and left our room, slamming the door hard.

Valentina was still downstairs waiting. She'd finished dinner and sat on the living room sofa. When she saw me, she stood and came over. "Dante, are you okay?"

I didn't answer. Just said, "I'll take you home."

We left the manor. The drive back was quiet. Valentina sat beside me, her gaze constantly on me. The attention grated. I finally asked, "What do you want to say?"

I turned my head. Valentina looked like she wanted to cry but held it back. She took my hand. "Dante, did you bring me back today just to hurt her?"

My hand tightened in hers. I didn't deny it.

She smiled bitterly. "I could tell. The way you look at her—it's exactly how you used to look at me."

I couldn't stand seeing her like this. "Valentina..."

"I know you're married. We can never go back." Her voice caught, but she fought to stay calm. "I just... didn't want to believe you really don't love me anymore."

Marco drove quietly up front. My mood swung between Elena and Valentina. Frustration mounted. I lit a cigar. The heavy tobacco smell filled the car, slowly settling my nerves.

Valentina sobbed softly, voice pitiful. But I hadn't betrayed her. I'd searched for her for years. Still, all that time had passed. No one's feelings stay frozen forever.

"Bringing you to the manor today—yes, I wanted to provoke her. That was wrong." My voice was low but every word sincere. "I shouldn't have used you. That wasn't fair."

Valentina stayed silent.

"I did love you once." I watched scenery blur past the window. New York's nightscape streamed by in ribbons of light. "After they sent you away, I never got involved with anyone. I thought you were all I had in my heart. But then Elena appeared. Things happened between us. Without realizing it, I started caring about her."

Valentina turned to look at me. Tears slid from her eyes, but she made no sound. Just bit her lip hard.