Rejected By The Don, I Crowned Myself Chapter 02
Once my father was settled into his private suite, I took the elevator down to the OB–GYN floor. The door to one of the exam rooms was cracked open, and through it, I saw Nico and Tatiana.
He was cradling her as if she might shatter if he let go. The doctor asked what brought her in.
Tatiana didn’t answer. Nico answered for her without missing a beat.
“She’s severely anemic, and her cycles are completely erratic. Her immune system is shot, and she can’t keep her energy up. We’ve had her on every supplement, but nothing’s worked long–term.
My feet stopped at the threshold like the floor had turned to concrete. Every detail he rattled off, every symptom he knew by heart, went through me like a blade.
He couldn’t even name my father’s condition, and that was the man who was supposed to be my husband. But five years after the breakup, he still had Tatiana’s medical history memorized.
I forced something that might have been a smile. Then I called my lawyer and told him to start drafting annulment papers.
Then I walked into the next exam room.
“I need to schedule an abortion.”
The OB–GYN looked up and her brow furrowed.
“Evelyn, I remember you. You were glowing when you got the blood work back last time. What happened?”
My face went tight. The bitterness rose so fast I could taste it.
A month ago, while Nico was away on syndicate business, I’d started feeling off. A checkup confirmed I was pregnant.
I hadn’t told him. I was going to surprise him after the wedding reception. That was the plan, anyway.
Then Tatiana came back, and he walked out, and every person in this city got to watch me get left at the altar like a joke.
I was still in my custom bridal gown. Tens of thousands in Italian silk and lace, and all it did was make the humiliation more visible.
“I just finally see things for what they are. Please, just book it.”
The doctor sighed and nodded. “Tomorrow morning, nine sharp, OR one. Just check in at the front desk.”
I nodded and went back upstairs to my father’s room. When I opened my phone, the private group chat I shared with Nico’s inner circle had blown up. Nico had added Tatiana.
[Welcome back Tatiana! Knew it was only a matter of time before you two found your way back to each other.]
[The King and Queen are back! You two just make sense!]
[Um… you guys know Evelyn’s still in this chat, right?]
The chat went dead. I almost laughed.
These people had only ever tolerated me because I was Nico’s fiancée. I was never truly part of the Family.
A system notification flashed across the screen: [Nico removed you from the group.] The color drained from my face.
A private message followed. [I’ll add you back once the dust settles in a month. Just hang tight, okay?]
I stared at it for two seconds. Then I put my phone down without replying. After tomorrow, there wouldn’t be a single thread tying me to him.
The next day.
My father finally woke up. I’d had the procedure done that morning, fighting through the numbness. Then I drove straight to the Caruso enterprise front and handed in my resignation.
I was packing up my things at the secretary’s desk outside the executive suite.
Tatiana and Nico stepped out of the private elevator together. He stopped in front of me.
He asked if my father’s blood pressure was better. I dug my nails into my palms. “Oh, his heart is fantastic. Thanks so much for asking, Don Caruso.”
Nico’s jaw tightened. He didn’t like the sarcasm. He never did.
He was used to me being the submissive, obedient fiancée.
He turned away from me, and the second his eyes landed on Tatiana, his entire face softened. He was all but doting on her.
“You’ll start as the executive assistant up here. Once you’ve settled in, I’ll move you into Syndicate Operations.”
Operations was where the Family’s real money moved. Even blood relatives in the Caruso cartel couldn’t get clearance for that floor.
Tatiana had been back for three days, and that door was already open to her.
Tatiana’s eyes flicked to me. “Sure. I’m still getting my bearings, though. Nico, why don’t you have Evelyn train me before she leaves?”
My head snapped up. Every nerve in my body was screaming. “No.”
Tatiana didn’t even blink. She just turned to Nico and waited, perfectly calm, because she already knew what would happen next.
And there it was.
“You don’t get to say no to me. This is the Family business, Evelyn, not a high school drama. You’ll do what you’re told.”
He didn’t wait for my answer. His gaze cut through me, cold and final, and then he walked Tatiana into his office and closed the door. I sat there, frozen solid.