The Donna He Took for Granted Chapter 08
“Corrado? Why are you…”
He did not let me finish. With anger rolling from every rigid line of his body, he stormed inside, locked a hand around my wrist, and dragged me out.
Ignoring my resistance, Corrado said through clenched teeth,
“I admit it. You won.
“I’ll agree to anything you ask, as long as you stop using this silent treatment to torture me.”
I stared at him in disbelief.
“Are you incapable of understanding the words coming out of my mouth? How many times must I say we’re over before you leave me alone?”
Even after that, Corrado studied me for several seconds as if he had heard nothing.
Then he clamped down on my struggling wrist and began dragging me toward his silver sedan a few
yards away.
Ronan rushed forward, caught my other arm, and said coldly,
“She doesn’t want to go with you.”
When I used all my strength to shift toward Ronan, Corrado’s mouth flattened into a blade.
He sneered at Ronan.
“You know Ottavia and I are engaged, don’t you?
“She accepted my proposal, and in a few days she’ll be my wife.
“What gives an outsider the right to interfere between me and my future wife?”
Ronan’s grip tightened. Before he could put his anger into words, Corrado’s shameless claim destroyed the last of my restraint.
“Ronan is my boyfriend. That makes my safety his business.
“You’re an obsessive ex who refuses to let go. What gives you the right to stand here barking at
him?”
As the words left my mouth, Tessa climbed out of Corrado’s car in a hospital gown.
She pressed herself weakly against Corrado’s side and widened her innocent eyes, accusation
hidden beneath every word.
“Tavia, someone photographed you flirting with this man at the reception, and now you’re hurting
Corrado for him…
“Has it really taken you less than two months to start chasing someone else?
“How could you?”
So I was fickle and desperate.
I accepted every insinuation and generously told Corrado,
“Tessa clearly cares about you. Honestly, you’re perfect for each other, and I sincerely hope you build a happy life together.”
My calm blessing stripped the last trace of color from Corrado’s increasingly grim face.
Delight flashed in Tessa’s eyes. She opened her mouth to provoke me again, but Corrado suddenly
looked between Ronan and me and shoved her aside.
Tessa hit the rough concrete hard enough to tear the skin on her knee, then stared in shock as
Corrado hurried toward me.
“Ottavia, Tessa and I have never had the filthy relationship you’re imagining.
“She was in my car because she fainted outside the office. I had no choice but to take her to the
hospital…”
I almost laughed.
“Why are you telling me?”
When I showed no trace of anger, the tension in Corrado’s shoulders eased with obvious relief.
“I only need you to understand that you have always been the only woman in my heart.”
As he reached for my cheek, Ronan pulled me into his arms and warned him,
“Ottavia is my girlfriend now. Keep your hands to yourself.”
Before I could thank Ronan with a glance, Corrado fisted both hands in his collar and drove a punch
toward his face.
Ronan could have dodged.
But with me in his arms, he stayed where he was and took the blow.
The clean, ringing sound of my slap across Corrado’s cheek echoed through the empty garage
immediately after his punch.
He released Ronan and lowered his fist. With his head turned from the slap, Corrado stood
motionless for several seconds.
Then his unfocused eyes found mine.
“Ottavia, have you lost your mind?”
