Marrying My Ex's Don Brother After He Made Me the Bridesmaid at My Own Wedding for His First LoveChapter 3

Cassian gets there before Matteo gets back.

Of course he does.

Cassian Romano has never been late for anything in his life.

I hear the cars before I see them.

Three black SUVs pull up outside the estate, and every guard by the front entrance straightens.

That tells me enough.

Then my phone starts ringing.

Bianca.

I almost decline it.

Almost.

Instead, I answer.

Her face fills the screen.

She’s in the back of a car, still wearing my dress.

Matteo is beside her.

“Hi,” she says brightly. “You should’ve come.”

“I’m good.”

“You sure? Matteo went through all that trouble picking me up.”

She flips the camera.

Matteo is laughing with two of his friends in the front.

There’s champagne open.

Someone says something I can’t hear.

Bianca laughs.

Then she turns the phone back to herself.

“We played a game.”

I lean against the vanity.

“What game?”

“Just questions.”

That smile.

God, I hate that smile.

She glances at Matteo.

“Tell her what I asked you.”

He looks over.

“Bianca.”

“What? She should hear it from you.”

Matteo takes the phone.

“Don’t start.”

“I’m not starting anything.”

“Good.”

Bianca grabs the phone back.

“I asked him if he regretted anything.”

I already know I don’t want the answer.

She keeps going anyway.

“And he said he regretted not choosing me sooner.”

The room goes very quiet.

Maybe it’s just me.

Matteo leans closer to the phone.

“Val, don’t do this.”

I laugh once.

“Do what?”

“Turn it into something bigger.”

Bianca looks between us.

Then she gives me that soft little voice again.

“I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“Then hang up.”

She doesn’t.

Instead, one of Matteo’s friends shouts from the front, “Ask her the other one.”

Bianca covers her mouth.

“Oh my God.”

Matteo laughs.

I feel something cold move through me.

“What other one?”

Bianca bites her lip.

“Nothing.”

“Bianca.”

Matteo reaches for the phone.

She pulls it away.

“Fine. I asked when the last time we slept together was.”

My fingers tighten around the edge of the vanity.

Nobody says anything.

I look at Matteo.

He looks right back at me.

That’s enough.

Still, I ask.

“When?”

“Val.”

“When?”

His jaw tightens.

“Last night.”

I don’t even feel shocked.

That’s the weird part.

I just feel done.

Completely done.

Bianca looks at him.

“You said she knew.”

Matteo shoots her a look.

“I said I’d handle it.”

Handle it.

Right.

Seven years, and that’s what I am now.

Something to handle.

I end the call.

A second later, there’s a knock at the door.

I already know who it is.

“Come in.”

The door opens.

Cassian walks in alone.

Black suit.

No tie.

Romano ring on his hand.

Same face I remember.

Harder now.

Colder.

Definitely the Don.

His eyes go straight to me.

Then to the bridesmaid dress hanging by the mirror.

Then back to me.

“What happened?”

I pick up my phone.

“My fiancé slept with the woman wearing my wedding dress.”

Cassian doesn’t react right away.

That somehow makes it worse.

Finally, he says, “Matteo?”

“Who else?”

His jaw moves once.

That’s it.

No speech.

No fake sympathy.

He walks farther into the room.

“You still want to do this?”

“Yes.”

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

He holds my gaze for a second.

Then nods.

“Okay.”

That easy.

I almost laugh.

“Okay?”

“You called me for a groom.”

“I did.”

“So you have one.”

I look at him.

“You’re not going to ask why?”

“No.”

“You’re not going to tell me I’m angry?”

“You are angry.”

“I am.”

“You can still marry me angry.”

That gets a real laugh out of me.

Cassian’s mouth almost moves.

Almost.

Then he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small black ring box.

I stare at it.

“You carry that around?”

“No.”

“Cassian.”

“I had someone bring it.”

I open the box.

Inside is the old Romano ring.

The one I gave back seven years ago.

My throat tightens.

He looks at me.

“Still fits?”

I slide it onto my finger.

Perfect.

Of course.

Cassian glances at the dress hanging behind me.

“You wearing that tomorrow?”

“No.”

“Good.”

I look up.

“Why?”

His eyes stay on mine.

“Because Bianca can keep the dress.”

He takes my hand.

“She’s not keeping the name.”