Five years after we broke up, my ex-fiancé Bruce, yes the mafia one, suddenly called me out of the blue to announce our wedding date.

I was speechless. Shocked, I blurted out,

"Wait… didn't we break up five years ago?"

He replied with his usual arrogance,

"Break up? I never agreed to that. You left in a fit of anger.

"And let me guess. You came back to the country only because you heard I was getting married. Out of jealousy, hoping to reclaim our engagement?"

He even had the nerve to tell me to be magnanimous and accept Bella, the so-called 'perfect girl' who had spent the last five years by his side.

I let out an icy laugh and hung up immediately.

I had long been married to the most powerful Don of the strongest mafia family and had two adorable sons to show for it.

Honestly, I had no idea what Bruce was thinking. Now, who even cares about him?

Five years passed since I last heard from him, but out of the blue, my ex-boyfriend's voice crackled through the phone, demanding we get hitched in five days. The catch? My hubby was the top dog of the Mafia world, and we had two little rascals calling me mom.

"Villa d'Oro, five days. We're tying the knot," Bruce Laurent's voice was as commanding as ever, a blast from the past I could not shake.

Clutching the phone, I gazed out the villa's massive windows into the night, my mind racing. "Bruce, we ended things."

"Cut the kid stuff," he cut me off, a hint of a chuckle in his voice. "Eleanor, isn't this why you're back?"

I inhaled sharply. "We called off our engagement ages ago."

"Called off?" Bruce's laugh was light, but his words were heavy. "I don't remember agreeing to that. You stormed off, and now you're back. Time to keep our promise."

He shifted gears, his voice hardening. "And there's the matter of Bella. She's been my rock for five years. I expect you to be gracious. Without her, I'd have been alone."

I nearly snorted. "What are you saying?"

"Grow a big heart, Eleanor. Bella's had it rough, losing her brother. I'm all she's got. As my wife, you'd do well to treat her like a sister."

I ended the call, my heart pounding.

Bruce Laurent was the underboss of the Laurent family.

We grew up together, our families intertwined, with an engagement that seemed destined from childhood.

Five years ago, I dreamed of a fairytale wedding at Villa d'Oro with Bruce.

However, that was a lifetime ago. We moved on, and the engagement was nothing more than a whisper in the wind; even our parents knew it.

In the dead of night, a frantic pounding at the door shattered the silence of the villa.

"Eleanor! Open up!"

Bruce's voice, laced with impatience, echoed from outside.

I shuffled to the door in my comfy, if slightly outdated, gray pajamas.

The moment I cracked open the door, Bruce barged in, his eyes quickly scanning me.

"Look at yourself." He scowled. "Have you just let yourself go without me around?"

I glanced down at my clothes, soft and cozy, a gift from my mom, but admittedly not the height of fashion.

"Bruce, it's two in the morning."

"I'm well aware of the time." He strode into the living room, surveying the unchanged surroundings. "Just like you, everything's the same, still waiting for me."

I shut the door and faced him. "I'm not waiting for you."

"Cut the act." Bruce flopped onto the sofa, throwing one leg over the other with a smirk. "Would you have come back if it weren't for the news of my wedding?"

"I came back because-"

"Because you're jealous of Bella," He cut me off, "I get it, but I'm still generous enough to marry you, now that you're here."

His words struck me as ridiculous. "Generous?"

"Bella's a good person." Bruce stood and approached me. "I haven't forgotten the slap you gave her. Now that you're back, I expect an apology to her."

"Why should I apologize?"

"Because you hurt her," Bruce's tone hardened. "She lost her brother, and I'm the only one who can look after her. And you, as my future wife, should be treating her like your sister."

Memories of that night five years ago flooded back.

The illicit street race.

Bruce, in a bid to show off his bravery, tore through Chiverton's industrial zone in a souped-up sports car.

The engine overheated, fuel spilled, and in an instant, flames devoured half the street.

Bella's brother Marco got caught in a fire, and it changed his life forever.

Bruce, feeling guilty, took Bella under his wing, promising her the stars and the moon.

There I was, his supposed future wife, having to step aside for someone else.

Every time I tried to call Bella out, Bruce would give me that look, like I'd kicked a puppy.

"Eleanor, how can you be so heartless? She's all alone in the world now. Don't you feel even a little sorry for her?

"Maybe I've let you get away with too much. It's time for you to grow up."

He gave me the cold shoulder for a full three months after that.

Meanwhile, Bella was his new shadow, never leaving his side.

The rumor mill was working overtime, saying Bruce Laurent found the one.

"I am married already," I told him, keeping my cool.

Bruce did a double-take, then cracked up. "Married? To whom?"

"That's none of your business."

"Eleanor, cut it out." Bruce smirked, "With Edward's company going down the drain, who'd want you? No one's gonna take in a girl from a washed-up family, except me."

I stared at him, and it all came flooding back, that night five years ago.

The moment he lost it over Bella's crocodile tears, I knew we were toast.

On our last night, I texted him: [It's over.]

The next day, I was on a plane to Lonchester.

While getting my master's, I found what real love is.

Looking at him then, I had to laugh.

Did he really think I'd been waiting around for him for five years?

"You never change, do you?" Bruce tried to caress my face.

I blocked him with my knee and backed up to the door. "Out, now."

"Trying to make me chase you again?" Bruce's low chuckle filled the air. "Eleanor, you're still the master of the game. Just like old times, dodging me, making me run after you."

I swung the door open, giving him an icy stare. "Leave. Now."

Bruce sauntered to the doorway, pausing on the threshold. "Tomorrow, someone will drop off the wedding dress. Bella's choice: a flawless size 2 in the satin you adore."

He stopped, his eyes scanning me. "Though you might need to take it in a bit. You've changed a lot in these five years."

I shut my eyes tight.

Even with the door between us, I could picture him, always taking Bella's side.

"Bruce!" I cut him off, dismissing his endless chatter, "Forget it, we're not walking down that aisle."

"I get it, you're upset," he said, his voice a mix of patience and persistence, "but Eleanor, we're destined. It was true then, and it's true now. Isn't this what fate wants?"

He lingered outside, but I stayed quiet.

"Eleanor, there's no running from this. No one crosses the Laurents here. Think about it, come back to me because you want to, or I'll have to get you another way."

His threat hung in the air as he finally decided to leave.

Footsteps retreated, and a car engine roared to life.

I leaned on the door, the chill of the metal seeping through my back.

His actions left me feeling so powerless.

The family business was in the hands of managers. I came back to sort out some business, and to show the kids their old home: a visit that came sooner than planned.

Bruce had it all wrong.

The doorbell chimed right on schedule at ten in the morning. I swung the door open to find Bruce's assistant, Mark, waiting on the doorstep.

"Miss Edward," Mark greeted me with a courteous nod. "I've been sent by Mr. Laurent to deliver your wedding gown."

He handed over a weighty envelope, its surface stamped with the Laurent family crest in shiny gold letters.

I pulled out a handwritten invitation from inside. The words "Bruce Laurent & Bella Rossi" were printed in elegant gold script, but someone slashed Bella's name with a black marker and scribbled "Eleanor Edward" above it in a messy scrawl.

The ink was still fresh, marring the fancy paper with its boldness.

"Please let Bruce know," I said, sliding the box back to Mark, "that he can take this dress back just the way it came."

In front of him, I ripped the invitation to shreds, letting the pieces drift to the ground like snowflakes around Mark's feet.

Mark's face turned a shade of furious red, a stark shift from his earlier professional demeanor.

"Ms. Edward!" he barked, his finger quivering as he pointed at me. "How can you just toss aside Mr. Laurent's heartfelt gesture?"

"Heartfelt?" I was at a loss for words.

"Do you have any idea?" Mark's voice shook with resentment. "Mr. Laurent has carried a torch for you these past five years! Despite how sweet and loving Bella is, you're the one he's pined for! Your picture still sits on his desk!"

He stooped to gather the torn pieces, his actions fueled by anger.

"You're nothing but a homewrecker! You've shattered what Mr. Laurent and the sweet Bella have built over five years!"

Mark rose to his full height, his eyes burning with blame as he fixed them on me.

"Do you really think you're all that? You're nothing but a fake! A selfish person who ditched true love!"

I slammed the door shut, tuning out his bitter words.

Later that afternoon, "Atelier Valeriano" popped into my head.

It was that cool designer boutique in Chiverton I loved, packed with one-of-a-kind gowns.

Maybe it was time for a change of scenery. I could not stay cooped up there forever.

My old sports car coughed and sputtered in the driveway before it gave up the ghost.

A puff of white smoke billowed from under the hood, drawing curious glances from people walking by.

I tried to fire it up again, but all it gave me were a few feeble clicks.

After a decade, it looked like my ride finally needed some repair work.

I hailed an Uber and headed for "Atelier Valeriano" to check out their latest designs.

Stepping out of the Uber, there was Bruce, leaning on a shiny Aston Martin, his shades catching the glare of the afternoon sun.

He watched me get out, a smirk playing on his lips as he removed his sunglasses.

"Looks like the Edward empire's seen better days," he said, sauntering over, "Can't even keep a decent car running?"

"It's just a breakdown," I replied, keeping my cool.

"A breakdown?" He laughed lightly.

"Eleanor, no need to put on airs. I've done my homework, Edward Mechanics' stock has tanked, and all those factories your dad owned are cutting jobs."

He reached for my arm, but I sidestepped him.

"Bruce, are you keeping tabs on me?"

"Keeping tabs?" His grin widened, "Eleanor, it's the other way around. You knew I'd be here today, so here you are."

He gestured toward the designer boutique behind him. "Isn't this your all-time favorite shop? I asked Bella to come today to pick out some honeymoon outfits for you. I had no idea you'd show up too."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"Stop being stubborn," he said, his voice hardening.

He ordered, "Come on, let's head to the club. My friends are all eager to see you, and you owe Bella an apology in front of them."

"Eleanor!"

A sugary voice floated from the store's entrance.

Bella emerged in a pink ensemble, her arms laden with shopping bags.

Tears welled in her eyes as she gave us a look that could melt hearts.

"I heard from Mark that you were back," she said, her voice trembling. "I know you despise me."

Bruce was by her side in an instant, comforting her with a gentle pat on the back.

"Don't be upset, Bella. You've done nothing wrong."

"No, Bruce," Bella said, shaking her head as tears streamed down her face. "Eleanor has every reason to despise me. I've taken her place for the past five years."

She turned to me, her gaze earnest. "Eleanor, now that you're really back, I'm ready to step aside and let you have Bruce. I'll go away if it means you two can be happy."

"See how selfless she is?" Bruce said, his eyes softening as he looked at Bella.

Then, his anger flared up at me. "How can you be so heartless? She's willing to sacrifice everything for you, and you can't even muster a thank you?"

At the same time, a group of Bruce's friends closed in.

They were all from the Laurent family, looking down their noses at us.

I recognized a few of them; they were capos from the Laurent family I met before.

Their eyes darted between Bella and me, relishing the drama unfolding before them.

"Is this the Eleanor everyone's been talking about?" One of the blond guys eyed me with a mix of curiosity and disappointment. "Bruce, are you really ready to ditch Bella for her?"

"She's pretty plain-looking." Another guy chimed in with a shrug, "Bella's a way better match for you. Younger, cuter, and she's got her act together."

"And let's not forget, Bella's head over heels for you." The third guy piped up, "Not like some people who vanish for five years and then show up out of the blue to stir up drama."

"Ms. Edward, you might want to think twice about who you're messing with. Crossing the Laurent family in this town? Not the smartest move." One of them even had the nerve to throw a threat my way.

Then, out of nowhere, Bella started to slide off the ring she was wearing, the one with the Laurent family crest.

"Bruce's mom gave this to me," she said, her voice catching, "She told me I was like the daughter she never had. However, now that Eleanor's back, I guess it's only right to give it back."

"No way." Bruce was quick to grab her hand, stopping her. "That ring looks good on you. You've earned it. I'll get Eleanor another ring, something just as nice."

I just stood there, taking in the whole soap opera, feeling like I was trapped in a scene with no exit.

I let out a sigh that felt like it reached the sky.

Right then, my phone buzzed with a FaceTime call.

I took a quick look at who it was and answered.

Two little boys popped up on the screen, their cheeks all flushed and their eyes glued to me.

"Mommy!" they yelled together, their voices all sweet and squeaky, "We've been missing you!"