His Rejected Wife Is The New Don

Isabella's POV On my fortieth birthday, my husband brought his mistress to our dinner table, and my three children welcomed her like she was already their mother. I sat at the head of the dining table, waiting for Alessandro to join us, when the door opened. He walked in with a beautiful woman in a red dress, his hand resting on her waist. "You're finally here!" Sofia, my eighteen-year-old daughter, exclaimed, jumping up to hug the woman. Serena, her twin sister, followed with a bright smile. "Victoria! We missed you." My twenty-one-year-old son, Matteo, stood and kissed her cheek. "Look at you. You look beautiful tonight." I stared at them, confused. They knew her. My children knew this woman, and judging by their excitement, she wasn't a stranger. Alessandro pulled out a chair for her beside him. Only then did he glance at me. "Isabella, this is Victoria De Luca." I looked at him, waiting for an explanation. He offered none. "Who is she?" I asked. Victoria smiled sweetly. "I'm Alessandro's girlfriend." The fork slipped from my hand and hit the plate. Nobody moved. Nobody looked shocked. My children simply returned to their seats as if she hadn't just announced that she was sleeping with their father. "Your girlfriend?" I whispered, looking at my husband. "You brought your mistress into our home on my birthday?" "Keep your voice down, Isabella," Alessandro said impatiently. "We need to talk." I laughed bitterly. "Talk about what? Your affair?" "About our marriage." He pulled out a folder and placed it on the table. Divorce papers. My eyes moved from the papers to his face. "You're asking me for a divorce?" "Yes." The answer came so easily that it hurt more than I could explain. "Why?" Alessandro sighed and sat beside Victoria. "The Romano Group is facing serious financial problems. We're close to bankruptcy, and I need someone who can help me save the company." Victoria crossed her legs. "My family has worked with the Morettis for years. We have the resources to save Alessandro's company, but my father won't invest unless Alessandro marries me." She reached for his hand. "And I'm not interested in being his mistress forever." I stared at them. "So you want to divorce me because she can save your company?" "It's not that simple," Alessandro replied. "I have to think about our children's future." "Don't bring the children into this." "Mom, stop making everything about yourself!" Sofia snapped. I turned to her, stunned. "Excuse me?" She folded her arms. "You're being selfish. Dad is trying to save the company, and you're only thinking about your marriage." Serena nodded. "You're forty, Mom. You should be mature enough to understand that sometimes relationships end. You can't expect Dad to stay with you forever just because you married him first." I looked at Matteo, hoping he would say something different. He didn't. "Mom, Dad has given us a good life. If Victoria's family can save the company, why should you stand in the way?" "Because I'm his wife!" I cried. "And what has that done for you?" he shot back. "You're always at home while Dad handles the important things. You don't even understand the business world we belong to." His words cut deep. I had spent years supporting their father, raising his children, and sacrificing my own happiness to keep our family together. And now, my own son was telling me I didn't belong in their world. Sofia leaned forward. "Honestly, Mom, you don't fit into the life we're trying to build anymore. Victoria understands Dad's ambitions. She understands the people he needs around him." Serena gave a small shrug. "Every responsible mother would agree to the divorce for her children's future. If you truly love us, you'll let Dad marry her without making this difficult." I stared at my three children. Not one of them cared that their father was replacing me. Not one of them cared that the woman sitting beside him was the reason our marriage was ending. They only cared about the money, the company, and the future they believed Victoria could give them. Victoria lifted her glass. "Please don't take this personally, Isabella. My family has the kind of influence the Romanos need. Once Alessandro marries me, everything will fall into place." She smiled at me. "Some women are simply not made for a powerful man's world." I looked at her, then at Alessandro. Twenty-two years ago, I had left my family for this man. I had walked away from a billion-dollars fortune and a powerful name because I believed love was more important than money. My father had warned me that I might regret it. I had refused to listen. Now, the man I had chosen over my own blood was asking me to disappear so he could marry another woman. And my children were helping him do it. "Where are the papers?" I asked quietly. Alessandro looked surprised. "What?" "The divorce papers. Give them to me." He pushed the folder toward me. I picked up the pen and signed every page without reading another word. When I finished, I pushed the papers back to him. "There. You have your freedom." Alessandro examined the signatures before letting out a relieved breath. "Thank you for understanding." I almost laughed. Understanding? He had humiliated me on my birthday, and he was thanking me for making his betrayal convenient. I stood and walked upstairs to pack. I took my clothes, shoes, and a few personal belongings. I left the expensive gifts, the jewelry, and everything Alessandro had ever bought me. I didn't want anything from him. When I returned downstairs with my suitcases, they were still at the table, laughing with Victoria. Nobody stood up. Nobody offered to help me. Nobody asked where I would go. I looked at my children one last time. "One day, I hope you understand what you've done." Matteo looked away. Sofia rolled her eyes. Serena said nothing. I walked out. The security guards opened the gate, and I dragged my suitcases onto the pavement. Behind me, the gates closed, shutting me out of the home where I had spent twenty-two years of my life. I had no destination. No plan. And, for the first time in years, nobody waiting for me. My phone vibrated. I glanced at the message from an unknown number. Unknown Number: Isabella Moretti, your father, Don Vittorio Moretti, is dead. His final will has been executed. As his only daughter, you have inherited his entire fortune and the Moretti mafia empire. You are the new Don. Your people are waiting for you. I stopped breathing. Can today get any worst? My father was dead. And the man I had abandoned my family for had just thrown me away. I stared at the message, my fingers trembling. For twenty-two years, I had lived as Alessandro Romano's wife. But I had been born Isabella Moretti. And the world was about to remember my name.