He Let Me Bleed So I Let Him Go Chapter 07
Bianca had twisted the entire story.
She had forced Elena into the car. Elena had never said she wanted to come, let alone told her “not to worry about it.”
Elena was about to retort when Bianca suddenly raised her voice, making sure the entire table could hear.
“I didn’t want to say this in front of our allies. But I truly don’t know what I did to make you hate me so much. Why would you hire someone to force drinks on me and say those disgusting things?”
The table erupted.
This was no longer a spat between two women.
Hiring someone to humiliate the Ferraro Don’s daughter at an official Family dinner was an act of war, enough to shatter the truce.
Dante’s face went dark.
“Elena. How could you do something like that?”
Elena looked at him.
*I didn’t,* was on the tip of her tongue.
But she swallowed the words.
The truth had never mattered.
What mattered was that Dante didn’t believe her.
He didn’t need to investigate the man’s origins. He didn’t need to hear a single word from her.
One of Bianca’s tears outweighed any defense Elena could offer.
So this was what it looked like. The stark, brutal clarity of love and its absence.
After a few seconds of silence, Elena’s voice was unnervingly calm.
“What do you want? An apology?”
Dante didn’t answer. He just stared at her, his expression frigid.
Elena turned to Bianca.
Under the gaze of every boss and allied representative in the room, she said flatly, “I’m sorry. Is that enough?”
The hall fell silent.
No one had expected her to concede so cleanly.
Bianca was stunned, momentarily unable to speak.
Elena turned to leave.
The next second, Dante’s hand clamped around her wrist again.
“Elena.” His voice was a low growl. “What kind of attitude is that? You think two words makes this right?”
“You ruined tonight’s dinner. You don’t just owe Bianca an apology. You owe one to the Ferraro representatives and to every one of our associates here.”
An older, out-of-state boss rose, trying to de-escalate.
“That won’t be necessary. Bianca was frightened; let the girl rest. The Don’s wife isn’t well, either. We can call it a night.”
But Dante didn’t let go.
“No. If I let my own wife break the rules, then by tomorrow every district will think the De Luca family’s promises are worthless.”
The last flicker of warmth inside Elena died.
“So because Bianca said I did it, and because she cried, you’re convicting me without asking a single question?”
She lifted her eyes to meet his.
“I don’t want to fight you here. You’re the one who is insisting on humiliating me in front of everyone.”
Dante let out a cold, sharp laugh.
“If you didn’t do it, why did you apologize?”
Elena went still.
Just then, Bianca wiped her tears away.
“Elena, don’t be angry. Let’s just say I don’t know how to talk to people.”
“Dante always tells me you fight with him because of me. You haven’t been well. Maybe you can’t control your emotions right now. I believe you didn’t mean to damage the alliance. I forgive you.”
In a few short sentences, she had painted the perfect picture.
Elena was the problem.
Emotionally unstable.
Consumed by jealousy.
Unfit to carry the responsibilities of the Don’s wife.
So Dante had discussed every crack in their marriage with Bianca.
In the eyes of these people, Elena was just an outsider, a volatile woman who didn’t understand the rules and could ruin everything at any moment.
Suddenly, she laughed.
“All right. Since you’ve already decided I’m guilty, I might as well have done it.”
She stepped forward and slapped Bianca hard across the face.