THE DON’S FORBIDDEN MARRIAGE
The Don’s Forbidden Marriage – Chapter 11
©Joy Cindy
The Engagement Ring
The candles flickered.
Then the room went dark again.
Elena heard footsteps.
Fast.
Retreating.
“Vittorio!” Alessandro shouted.
A loud metal door slammed somewhere inside the monastery.
The lights returned.
The hidden chamber was empty.
The envelope was gone.
Elena stared at the open metal case.
“No.”
Her mother rushed toward her.
“Elena, stay away from the passage.”
But Elena was already moving.
“He took it.”
Alessandro caught her arm.
“Stop.”
“He has the evidence.”
“And running after him without knowing where he went will not help.”
“He escaped because you were watching me!”
Alessandro’s expression hardened.
“I was making sure you were safe.”
“I didn’t ask you to.”
“You didn’t have to.”
She pulled her arm free.
“Stop deciding everything for me.”
The room became silent.
Alessandro looked at her for several seconds.
Then he nodded.
“You’re right.”
Elena blinked.
The answer was unexpected.
He continued.
“You have the right to know the truth. You have the right to choose where you stand. But I won’t apologize for protecting you from someone who has spent years trying to control your family.”
Her anger softened.
Only slightly.
Her mother stepped between them.
“Arguing won’t bring the envelope back.”
Elena turned to her.
“What was inside it?”
Her mother’s face became pale.
“Proof.”
“Proof of what?”
“The truth about Vittorio.”
Elena crossed her arms.
“Everyone keeps saying that. What truth?”
Her mother looked toward Alessandro’s father.
He remained near the stone wall, silent.
Finally, he spoke.
“Vittorio was never only my friend.”
“What was he?”
“My brother.”
Elena froze.
Alessandro looked at his father.
“You never told me that.”
“There were many things I didn’t tell you.”
The older man’s voice was heavy with regret.
“Elena,” he continued, “Vittorio believed our family’s power belonged to him. When my father chose me to lead the Romano family, Vittorio never forgave me.”
Her mother lowered her gaze.
“He began working with Elena’s father.”
Elena looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because they both wanted control.”
“Control over what?”
“The Romano empire,” Alessandro answered.
His voice was cold.
“And the information your mother had discovered.”
Elena looked at the empty case.
“So the envelope could expose them?”
“Yes,” her mother said.
“And now Vittorio has it.”
Alessandro’s eyes narrowed.
“Not for long.”
A loud sound echoed above them.
Everyone looked toward the ceiling.
Leo entered the chamber.
“Don Romano.”
Alessandro turned.
“What happened?”
“We found a second exit.”
“Where does it lead?”
“To the road behind the monastery.”
Alessandro’s expression hardened.
“Get the cars ready.”
Leo nodded.
Then he looked at Elena.
“There’s something else.”
“What?” Alessandro asked.
“A message was left outside.”
Leo handed him a small black box.
Alessandro opened it.
Inside was a silver ring.
Elena recognized the symbol engraved on it.
A black rose.
She stepped closer.
“What is that?”
Alessandro removed the ring.
His face became unreadable.
“An engagement ring.”
Elena frowned.
“Whose?”
He turned it over.
Her name was engraved inside.
ELENA MORETTI.
Her breath caught.
“What?”
Her mother looked at the ring.
“No.”
Alessandro’s father became still.
“He found the old agreement.”
Elena looked between them.
“What agreement?”
Alessandro placed the ring back in the box.
“The original marriage agreement.”
“You tore up the contract.”
“I tore up the one your father changed.”
“Then there’s another one?”
“Yes.”
Elena stared at him.
“And what does it say?”
His voice lowered.
“That you were promised to someone before you were born.”
Her heart began to race.
“To who?”
No one answered.
Elena’s eyes moved to the ring.
Then to the black rose.
“Vittorio.”
Alessandro’s jaw tightened.
“Yes.”
The room became silent.
Elena stepped backward.
“You mean I was promised to Vittorio?”
“No,” her mother said quickly. “Not to him.”
“Then who?”
Her mother looked at Alessandro.
Elena followed her gaze.
Her breath caught.
“Alessandro?”
He said nothing.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Since I became Don.”
“And you never told me?”
“I thought the agreement had been destroyed.”
“But Vittorio found it.”
“Yes.”
Elena looked at the ring again.
“What does he want?”
Alessandro’s expression turned cold.
“He wants to force the agreement.”
“How?”
“By making the engagement public.”
Elena stared at him.
“Why would that matter?”
“Because in our world, old agreements still have power.”
Her mother stepped closer.
“Not legal power.”
Elena looked at her.
“Then what kind?”
“Loyalty.”
Alessandro’s father continued.
“If the families believe the agreement is real, they may choose sides.”
“And if they choose Vittorio?”
“He could start another war.”
Elena looked down.
“So I’m the reason everyone is fighting.”
“No,” Alessandro said.
She raised her eyes.
“You’re the excuse.”
His words silenced her.
He stepped closer.
“Vittorio wants control. He wants the Romano family divided. He wants your father’s secrets hidden.”
“And the engagement?”
“Is his way of making you part of his plan.”
Elena shook her head.
“I won’t agree.”
“You don’t have to.”
“What if he forces it?”
Alessandro’s expression became dangerously calm.
“He won’t.”
Her mother looked worried.
“You don’t know that.”
Alessandro turned toward her.
“I know Vittorio.”
“And that is exactly why you should be afraid.”
The words remained in the air.
Then Elena picked up the black box.
She removed the ring.
It was cold against her palm.
“This is not my engagement ring.”
Alessandro watched her.
“No.”
“It doesn’t decide my future.”
“No.”
“And no family agreement can force me to marry anyone.”
Alessandro’s eyes held hers.
“Correct.”
Elena placed the ring back inside the box.
“Then we end this.”
Alessandro nodded.
“We will.”
A phone rang.
Everyone turned.
The sound came from Elena’s pocket.
She froze.
“I don’t recognize this number.”
“Don’t answer,” Alessandro said.
The phone continued ringing.
Elena looked at the screen.
Then answered.
“Hello?”
For several seconds, there was only silence.
Then Vittorio spoke.
“Congratulations, Elena.”
Her hand tightened around the phone.
“What do you want?”
“You found the ring.”
“Yes.”
“Good. Wear it.”
“No.”
A quiet laugh came through the phone.
“You misunderstand.”
Elena looked at Alessandro.
“What?”
“The engagement has already been announced.”
Her heart stopped.
“To who?”
“To every family connected to the old agreement.”
Alessandro took the phone from her.
“Vittorio.”
“Alessandro.”
“Cancel it.”
“You can’t cancel history.”
“I can end you.”
“You’ve tried before.”
The line went silent.
Then Vittorio spoke again.
“The wedding is in three days.”
Elena’s eyes widened.
Alessandro’s expression became cold.
“There will be no wedding.”
“There will,” Vittorio replied.
“Why?”
“Because if Elena refuses, the evidence disappears.”
Elena stepped closer.
“What evidence?”
Vittorio answered her.
“The proof that your father and I planned the attack that destroyed both families.”
Her mother covered her mouth.
Elena’s heart raced.
“You have it?”
“Yes.”
“Then give it to the police.”
Vittorio laughed.
“You still think this is about justice.”
The call ended.
Silence filled the chamber.
Elena looked at Alessandro.
“He’s forcing me to marry you?”
Alessandro’s face was tense.
“He’s forcing us to appear united.”
“Why?”
“Because if we refuse, he destroys the evidence.”
Elena looked at the engagement ring.
Then back at Alessandro.
“What do we do?”
He studied her for a long moment.
Then he said:
“We announce the engagement.”
Her eyes widened.
“What?”
“It will give us time.”
“To do what?”
“To find Vittorio.”
“And the wedding?”
Alessandro stepped closer.
“There won’t be one.”
Elena looked into his eyes.
“You promise?”
He held her gaze.
“I promise.”
For a moment, the world became quiet.
Then Elena nodded.
“Fine.”
Alessandro frowned.
“Fine?”
“We announce the engagement.”
“You’re agreeing?”
“I’m choosing.”
She picked up the ring.
“But I have rules.”
“Tell me.”
“No lies.”
He remained silent.
“No secrets that involve me.”
His expression tightened.
“Agreed.”
“And I decide when this engagement ends.”
Alessandro nodded.
“Agreed.”
Elena looked at the ring.
Then she placed it on her finger.
The black rose caught the candlelight.
The moment it touched her hand, a hidden mechanism opened.
A tiny piece of paper appeared beneath the ring.
Elena removed it.
There were four words written inside:
THE BRIDE WILL BETRAY.
Everyone stared at the message.
Alessandro’s face hardened.
Elena looked at the ring.
Then at him.
“What does that mean?”
Before he could answer, every phone in the room began ringing.
One after another.
News alerts.
Messages.
Photographs.
The engagement had already spread.
And somewhere beyond the monastery walls, Vittorio was watching.
Waiting to see whether Elena would become the Don’s bride…
Or the reason his empire fell.
