He Called Me Ugly. I Became His Biggest Regret. Chapter 03
The next morning — the day our familiy rings were supposed to be exchanged.
My father was loading the car when he stopped. Stared across the compound.
His face went dark.
“Isn’t that Marco? What exactly is he so busy with right now?”
Under the old oak tree, Marco held two large boxes. Labeled: ROSSI FAMILY — VALENTINA.
Beside him, Valentina lifted herself on her toes.
Pressed her lips to his cheek.
His grip slipped.
Several folders tumbled onto the gravel.
I recognized them instantly.
My father’s handwriting. The alliance negotiation notes I’d stayed up past midnight to prepare.
I always, always prepared Marco’s copy first.
Now those notes were in Valentina’s boxes.
Marco hesitated.
Bent to pick them up.
Valentina stopped him with one hand on his chest.
“Don’t be stupid. If you don’t need them anymore, why pick them up? Throw them away already.”
Marco paused. One moment. Then: “Yeah.”
And he let Valentina toss my father’s life’s work into the trash.
My father watched in silence.
He loaded the bags without a word.
Then, very quietly: “Get in the car. Don’t look. It’s beneath you.”
The car pulled away. In the rearview mirror, I saw Marco suddenly break away from Val — sprinting toward the car, waving his arms, shouting my name.
He had finally noticed me.
Too late.
……
That night, Instagram delivered the kill shot.
The Commission’s gossip networks had already picked up the scent.
The trending post: Marco and Valentina, leaving an upscale Manhattan hotel together the morning after the gala afterparty.
Her arm through his.
Him smiling down at his shoes.
The comments: “FINALLY public. These two are the power couple the Five Families have been waiting for.”
“Wait — wasn’t there another girl? The Bianchi one? The consigliere’s daughter?”
Top comment: “Honestly, the Bianchi girl was clearly in the way. Marco and Val were probably hiding it from her for a year just to keep the Families happy.”
I scrolled further.
Valentina’s personal account.
Latest post. 3 AM. Marco’s sleeping face, hotel lamplight across his bare shoulders.
Caption: “Finally — no more hiding. The summer that belongs only to us has begun.”
That how you want me to found out, Marco?
Every Saturday he’d said was “Family business” — he’d been with her.
Every evening walk home, the figure three meters ahead — that was always Val.
Marco chatted beside me, but his eyes were on her.
The red mark on his neck last winter — I’d thought it was a bug bite.
It was Valentina’s.
All the signs had been there.
I was just too slow.
I needed him to say “You’re ugly” to my face, in front of everyone, before I’d finally stop my one-sided fantasy.
My heart pounded.
It hurt.
I was the fool who’d been played — yet in Valentina’s chronicles, I was the villain.
The obstacle robbing them of their right to love openly.
Tears hit my phone screen not stopping.
I only noticed I was crying when they blurred the words.
But at the same time — I wanted to laugh at myself.
Several times I’d woken from a nightmare and opened Marco’s chat, hoping.
Then I’d remember. “You’re ugly.” The boy who’d once protected me was gone.
The last flicker of hope I’d held for him — extinguished. Completely.
In its place: disgust.
I opened my notes app.
Typed one line. “I am not in love with Marco DeLuca. I never was. Please — everyone — ship him and Valentina freely. Leave me out of it.”
I copied it.
Posted it as a comment on the viral thread.