Don't Make Me Hate You

One week before my wedding to my fiancé, Don Dominic Romano, my mother went to Mexico to negotiate on behalf of my sister's company.

Her body was sent back to me, covered in suspicious injuries.

I demanded a thorough investigation into my sister's company, but Dominic pushed a check towards me.

"How much? Name your price. Don't let the Romano family become a laughingstock."

Tears stinging my eyes, I confronted him, "That was a human life! You know she was the only family I had left!"

"For eight years, you've called Kayla an illegitimate daughter. She’s trying to make it on her own, and now her new company is being dragged through the mud because of your mother. Can't you show a little compassion?"

Eight years ago, when he took me into the Romano family, he swore he'd take care of my mother and me.

But now, he says, "Who remembers what happened eight years ago?"

I bought a one-way ticket to Paris.

Now, he tore the world apart to find me.

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1

A week before the wedding, they sent my mother’s body back from Mexico.

The official autopsy report claimed she died from an “accidental drowning,” but her body was covered in suspicious injuries.

I lost control, demanding a thorough investigation into her death.

Dominic Romano just watched me coldly, his face darkened with displeasure.

"Kayla worked hard to open her art auction company. She's young, she didn't understand how things work in Mexico, and she got taken advantage of by the local cartel. She's a victim in this too. Besides, the contract clearly stated the risks involved. Your mother's death has nothing to do with her Elysium Gallery."

"She got careless, pissed off the local cartel, and paid the price. You're an adult, Karina. You should understand that."

With that, he pushed the Romano family checkbook in front of me.

"How much? Name your price. This matter ends here. The wedding is imminent, and I won't have anyone making a mockery of the Romano family."

I stared at the man before me, so familiar yet suddenly a complete stranger. The coldness in his expression chilled me to the bone.

Suddenly, I laughed.

If this is how it is... then what's the point of this wedding?

Seeing my silence, his face hardened with impatience, his knuckles rapping a sharp rhythm against the tabletop.

My grief finally boiled over. My eyes burning, I confronted him. “Let it go? Why should I? That was my mother’s life! You know she was the only family I had left! Why should I be the one to swallow this and stay silent?”

“Kayla and her homewrecker mother have already taken everything from me. All I want now is justice for my own mother. Is that too much to ask?!”

If she hadn't been trying to scrape together my dowry, to give me a better standing with the Romano family, my mother never would have taken such a risk and gone to Mexico.

The moment the words left my lips, Dominic’s expression darkened.

“I’ve told you countless times, Kayla is your sister. For eight years, you've called Kayla an illegitimate daughter. She’s trying to make it on her own, and now her new company is being dragged through the mud because of what happened to your mother. Can't you find it in your heart to show a little compassion?"

“Your mother was blinded by her own greed. Even without Kayla, she would have found some other scheme. This has nothing to do with Kayla, and I forbid you from going after her.”

My tears finally broke free, splashing onto the marble floor.

“Sympathy for her? Then who has sympathy for me?”

“Dominic Romano, do you remember what you said eight years ago? Do you remember the promise you made to me?”

His brows were knitted tightly, his expression terrifyingly cold.

“Who remembers what happened eight years ago? What does that have to do with today?”

“Enough. At the end of the day, all you want is money, isn't it? Is five million dollars enough? Here's the check, fill in the number yourself. I have to go deal with the Family's business. I don't have time to waste on this.”

The check fluttered down in front of me, and my voice trembled.

“What if I said I don't want money, that I only want Kayla brought to justice?”

“You can try. We'll see what's stronger—your evidence, or the Romano family's power in Chicago.”

“Our wedding is approaching, and I have no intention of marrying a madwoman. Calm down and think this through.”

The moment he finished speaking, his phone rang with a special ringtone, and his gaze instantly softened.

“Is that so? You found a new buyer? That's amazing, Kayla. I knew you could do it.”

“Dinner tonight? I have a family meeting, but I'll cancel it and come get you. Be good.”

Without giving me another glance, he slammed the door and left.

Behind him, tears streamed down my face. I felt like a hollowed-out shell, my very soul ripped from my body.

Eight years ago, my father, Carlos Martinez, had an affair, and my mother and I were thrown out of our home.

I was only seventeen, homeless on the streets of Chicago, unable to scrape together even a hundred dollars.

Just as we were on the verge of starvation, it was Dominic who took us in.

He swore he would take good care of my family.

I had been secretly in love with him for years, and I believed his words without a doubt.