The Don Chose Her, I Chose Left Chapter 05
[Julian emergency, your bride’s got another man. inside your bridal suite!]Â
[Pick up the phone immediately and get back hereÂ
fast!]Â
A blurry attached photo accompanied the urgentÂ
message.Â
The background was unmistakably our top–floor Russo hotel bridal penthouse.Â
A strange unfamiliar man lounged across theÂ
crimson wedding bed that should’ve belongedÂ
solely to Julian and me.Â
Who was this mystery guy?Â
Julian dialed one of his guys‘ numbers in a panic.Â
“What on earth is going on?”Â
The line stayed noisy with chaotic backgroundÂ
chatter as the man on the other end stumbledÂ
through an explanation.Â
“We have no clue what’s happening ourselves.”Â
“We’d come over to pull off a harmless shivareeÂ
prank.”Â
“Walked right in to find some random guy half–undressed on your marital bed.”Â
“Miss Bellandi’s acting totally familiar with him…”Â
“Man, I think you just got cheated on by your ownÂ
bride.”Â
“Hurry back over ASAP!”Â
Julian’s grip squeezed his smartphone hardÂ
enough his knuckles whitened, rage and disbelief blazing hot in his irises.Â
Elena had stuck faithfully beside him for eight fullÂ
years.Â
She’d abandoned the wealthy Bellandi family estate and fought against her own parents solely to stand by his side.Â
How could she possibly betray him like this?Â
In his warped mind, no matter how shamelessly he acted toward her, I’d never walk away from ourÂ
relationship.Â
I’d supported him through every lowest point early in his career when he needed the Bellandi Family’sÂ
financial and political backing most.Â
I’d voluntarily destroyed my own physical healthÂ
over and over for his sake.Â
Even when he demanded I accept his bizarreÂ
farewell vigil night with Bianca, I’d agreed withoutÂ
throwing a screaming fit.Â
Cheating was entirely out of character for me,Â
meaning some massive misunderstanding had to be unfolding.Â
Bianca leaned in to peek at his phone screen and let out a dramatic gasp.Â
“Your bride brought a strange man into your wedding suite on your actual wedding night?”Â
“How dare she pull such a stunt?!”Â
Beneath her shocked act hid obvious gleefulÂ
schadenfreude.Â
“Aren’t you furious enough to confront her overÂ
this insult?”Â
Julian’s boiling anger couldn’t be containedÂ
another second.Â
He abandoned Bianca’s room and raced backÂ
toward the penthouse without delay.Â
By the time Julian sprinted up to the top floor bridal suite, the atmosphere inside hung thick andÂ
hostile.Â
Several crewmen surrounded the mysterious man,Â
boxing him into place while multiple uniformedÂ
Russo Family security guards lined the entireÂ
hallway outside the doorway.Â
All his guys lit up with angry determination uponÂ
spotting Julian’s arrival.Â
“Thank god you’re finally here, Julian!”Â
“We’ve kept close watch so nothing inappropriateÂ
could happen to Miss Bellandi.”Â
“Now you can give this trespassing creep exactlyÂ
what he deserves!”Â
Julian’s sharp eyes darted straight toward theÂ
wedding bed.Â
The unknown man remained stretched casuallyÂ
across the mattress meant for Julian’s weddingÂ
night, completely calm and unphased withoutÂ
sparing the furious groom a single glance.Â
“Took you long enough to get back, Julian.”Â
I spoke with easy composure.Â
“You promised thirty minutes.”Â
“I’ve waited well over an hour for your return.”Â
“Waited for me to catch you cheating?” Julian’sÂ
voice came out low and snarled, jaw tight withÂ
unbridled fury.Â
“Elena, you owe me a full explanation right now.”Â
“Who is this guy and what’s he doing in our room?”Â
“An explanation’s exactly what I’ve been waiting toÂ
give.” I nodded unruffled.Â
I stepped forward and looped an arm over theÂ
mysterious man’s shoulder in full view of everyÂ
stunned onlooker.Â
I locked eyes with Julian’s seething face and laidÂ
out my trump card plainly.Â
“This is the Bellandi Family’s ancient tradition IÂ
warned you about.”Â
“On the wedding night, the bride completes a wedding–night rite with her former lover while her groom watches the whole thing unfold.”

