On My Wedding Dress Fitting Day, I Became the First Love's Secret Mistress

For five years, I have seen Leo Belmonte—the Don’s heir—as the only light in my life.

On the day of my wedding dress fitting, he smiled and told me I was only a stand-in for his untouchable first love, Mia.

Now that the real thing was back, I was supposed to step aside—go underground, follow my mother's path, and be somebody's mistress like she had been.

The bridal fastenings cut my palms bloody, and all he cared about was the dress.

His precious Mia ran me down on the highway in her car, and he warned me not to call the police—held my mother's ashes over my head to keep me in line.

When the whole internet was calling me a homewrecker, it was him who nailed me to the pillar of shame with his own hands.

The night I finally gave up, I boarded the Deluca family's private helicopter.

That was when they learned the truth—I was no homeless bastard daughter. I was the only heir the most powerful Don in Europe had been searching for all these years.

Once, I saw him as my light. Now he kneels at my feet and begs forgiveness, and all I feel is disgust.

One day soon, I would stand at the top of the underworld—somewhere he could never reach again.

I had just finished trying on the main gown Leo had commissioned from the top bridal designer in the world. Standing in front of the mirror, I pressed a hand to the loose fabric over my chest and turned to the man leaning against the doorframe.

"Leo, the size is off here. Did you give the designer the wrong measurements?"

Leo walked over slowly and pulled me back against his chest, resting his chin in the curve of my neck. His voice dropped into a low, amused drawl.

"No mistake. Mia's always been a little fuller than you."

For a second, I wanted to believe I'd misheard—anything rather than doubt the man I'd loved for five years.

He watched me go rigid in his arms. His fingertip traced the lace along the neckline of the dress, idle, indifferent, as if he were talking about some piece of furniture.

"Eva, tell me—you think a mistress's daughter is born with mistress in her blood?"

"Mia's back. Our families are announcing the alliance in three days. You're going underground."

I tore out of his arms and turned to look him in the eye, my fingers shaking.

"And me?"

"Don't worry. I'm keeping my promise to take care of you for the rest of your life. I'm just changing the arrangement." Leo smiled, his eyes empty of anything resembling warmth. "Call it inheriting the family business."

The man I'd loved was a stranger. I clenched my fists and forced out each word.

"And if I say no?"

"Eva. You've been at my side since you were eighteen. Without me, what would you even be?"

Leo lit a cigarette, drew on it, blew a ring of