The Don Chose Her, I Chose Left Chapter 03
Julian Russo showed up a mere twenty minutes before our wedding ceremony was scheduled to kick off.
His inner circle breathed a collective sigh of relief once he walked through the venue doors.
“Heard you pulled an all-nighter seven rounds straight last night, Julian?”
“We were all sweating bullets worried you’d sleep through your own wedding.”
Julian’s mouth curled into an arrogant smirk.
“You boys seriously underestimate my stamina.”
His gaze drifted over to me, shining with obvious admiration.
“Elena, you look absolutely stunning today.”
He stepped forward with a soft, loving smile.
“Don’t listen to their stupid jokes.”
“Bianca had a sudden stomach ache early this morning, that’s what held me up.”
I smiled faintly and said nothing in response.
Bianca Marino stepped out from behind him next, her tone dripping with fake sweetness.
“Congratulations on your wedding day, Miss Bellandi.”
“I couldn’t miss witnessing your big milestone.”
Julian brushed off the awkward tension easily.
“She threw such a big fit this morning insisting on attending the ceremony.”
“I decided to bring her along.”
“Rest assured the farewell vigil’s officially done.”
“I’ll keep my distance from her permanently starting today.”
Sofia’s temper spiked instantly, ready to unleash a screaming rant.
I grabbed her wrist to hold her back and replied evenly.
“All guests are welcome here today.”
Bianca’s eyes raked over my entire bridal outfit from head to toe before she let out a mocking chuckle.
“That wedding dress you’ve got on looks pretty cheap, Miss Bellandi.”
She shot a feigning hurt glance toward Julian.
“Didn’t you splurge on a custom Vera Wang wedding gown for her?”
“I remember you promised back when we dated at eighteen you’d buy me a limited-edition Vera Wang dress for our future wedding.”
“You also said you’d book the Russo Family’s grandest hotel, host over a hundred reception tables, and invite every major regional capo and consigliere to attend.”
“How’d your official alliance wedding turn out this shabby?”
Silence swept across the room after her cutting remark, every guest around us shifting uncomfortably in their seats.
Julian cleared his throat in embarrassment.
“Elena and I’ve been together ages, we don’t care about flashy expensive wedding frills.”
I hummed a short, indifferent sound.
Julian had taken full control of every single wedding expense and planning detail.
He’d insisted every dollar needed saving for core Russo Family business needs instead of frivolous wedding costs.
That meant only a dozen small reception tables got booked, cheap generic wedding favors handed out, and my wedding dress was nothing more than a random budget off-the-rack find.
It wasn’t a money issue on his end at all.
His heart had simply never prioritized me from the very start.
The officiant began opening remarks for the ceremony while a large projection screen cycled through old photographs documenting Julian’s and my eight-year romance.
Elders, capos and armed family security sat lined up across the venue’s seating area, all waiting to finalize the historic Bellandi-Russo alliance via marriage.
Mid slideshow, Bianca’s eyes welled up with fake tears.
“I’m so envious of you, Miss Bellandi.”
“Getting to marry your true love must be such a beautiful blessing.”
Her words were directed my way, yet her gaze locked firmly onto Julian’s frame.
“I’ll probably never find another person I’ll ever love like that again.”
“My doctor diagnosed me with lupus, there’s no viable cure.”
“All I crave before I pass away is one proper grand wedding of my own.”
Julian’s face flooded with raw pity watching her cry, then he spun toward me with a non-negotiable tone.
“Elena.”
“Let Bianca step into your spot and complete the formal wedding ceremony instead.”
“You’ve lost your mind?!” Sofia erupted immediately.
“No one gets to swap brides mid-ceremony!”
“Are you marrying Bianca Marino or Elena?!”
“This isn’t just a wedding, it’s a binding business alliance between two powerful crime families!”
She lowered her voice to ask if I wanted to ring Don Bellandi right away for backup.
I pressed down firmly on her forearm to stop her.
“No need.”
“I’ll settle this debt myself later tonight.”
“It’s just going through the motions to fulfill her dying wish.” Julian tried to coax me into agreeing.
“Tomorrow you’re still signing the legal marriage license paperwork with me at City Hall.”
“Elena, you put up with everything the past three days, what’s one more small compromise?”
He held three fingers up in a solemn oath.
“I swear it.”
“Bianca’s only walking the altar for show.”
“You’re the one joining me in the bridal suite tonight without fail.”
“The wedding night’s far more important than a meaningless ceremony anyway.”
Whispers spread rapidly among all watching guests, every bridesmaid’s stare filled with obvious sympathy for my predicament.
I ignored all surrounding eyes and nodded placidly.
“Alright.”
Relief washed over Julian’s features instantly.
He leaned down aiming to press a kiss against my cheek, but I tilted my head aside to dodge his advance.
His movement froze for a split second before he plastered on another casual unbothered grin.
“Good girl.”
“Always so understanding.”
“Head up to the bridal suite and wait for me.”
“I’ll come find you right after wrapping Bianca’s ceremonial walk down the aisle.”
It worked out perfectly for me anyway.
I’d never been eager to complete this sham wedding ritual to begin with.
Jumping straight to the wedding night’s payoff was exactly what I’d planned for.
