Chapter 2

Dominic left the bridal suite to make the call. I stayed by the vanity, staring at the face I'd spent six years hiding.

Without the freckles and dull foundation, I could see Mary's eyes and mouth in my reflection, along with my father's sharp jawline.

My mother had been beautiful. That was how she'd first come into Dominic's world, and for a while, everyone seemed to think she'd won a fairytale. She had married a powerful man and lived in a beautiful house.

But a beautiful house could still feel like a locked room.

Mary eventually left. She couldn't live under the rules that came with being Dominic DeLuca's wife.

She died after we'd spent years apart. I never got the chance to ask whether leaving had brought her the peace she'd wanted.

I only knew I couldn't let someone else decide what my life would look like.

That's why I'd ruined my photographs at eighteen.

I washed my face and left the makeup on the vanity. There was no reason to hide from the Vitale family anymore.

Dominic returned and told me Gideon's grandmother wanted to meet that evening. The Vitale family was prepared to move forward, but she wanted to speak with me before anything was announced.

I agreed.

“Do you want me to go with you?” Dad asked.

I glanced at the wedding dress draped over a chair and the makeup wipes scattered across the vanity. I hadn't found the energy to put either away.

“Yes,” I said. “I'd rather not walk into that house alone.”

The Vitale estate stood behind high iron gates on a quiet road outside the city.

Gideon's grandmother received us in a formal sitting room. She was an elegant woman with silver hair and a sharp, assessing gaze. She greeted Dominic first, then turned to me.

“So this is Alessia DeLuca.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

Her eyes rested on my face for a moment. I didn't look away or try to hide. I was done making myself smaller for a man I had never met.

“You have your mother's eyes,” she said at last.

The words caught me off guard. I wasn't used to strangers mentioning Mary. Before I could decide what to say, the older woman smiled.

“Gideon will be pleased,” she said. “His name tends to attract attention, and anyone beside him will attract some of it, too. We'll keep the engagement private until both families are ready to announce it.”

“I understand.”

She reached for a small velvet box on the table and opened it. Inside lay a delicate diamond bracelet.

“This has been passed down through the women in our family. I'd like you to have it.”

I looked to Dominic. He gave me a small nod.

“Thank you,” I said, fastening the bracelet around my wrist.

The meeting was brief. We discussed a tentative timeline, the guest list, and when the engagement would be announced.

Gideon himself wasn't there. His grandmother said he was handling family business, and I didn't ask for details. We had agreed to marry; that didn't mean I needed to pretend we were already in love.

On the drive home, Dominic glanced at the bracelet.

“You don't have to rush into anything,” he said.

“I know.”

“If you change your mind, tell me. I'll deal with the Vitale family.”

I turned toward the window. “You already gave me a choice once. I'm not going to punish you for respecting it.”

He didn't answer, but his hand tightened briefly on the steering wheel.

The next morning, I went back to the apartment James and I had shared. True to my routine, I carefully applied makeup to mask my looks, determined to slip in and out without drawing any unwanted attention.

I'd spent most of the day packing. My clothes were in suitcases by the door, and the rest of my things were stacked in labeled boxes.

I was taping the last box shut when the lock clicked.

James walked in carrying a takeout bag, wearing the easy smile he'd used whenever he expected me to forgive him.

“Hey. Still upset?”

He set the bag on the counter and pulled out a container of shrimp scampi.

“I picked up dinner from that Italian place you used to like. Thought we could eat and talk.”

I stared at the food.

James knew I was allergic to shellfish. I'd told him early in our relationship, and he'd even reminded waiters about it for me before.

I picked up the container and dropped it into the trash.

His smile disappeared. “Seriously? I waited forty minutes for those.”

“You forgot I'm allergic.”

He frowned, then rubbed the back of his neck. “Right. I'm sorry. It slipped my mind.”

“Don't worry about it. You won't have to remember anymore.”

I carried the boxes I'd prepared and set them at his feet. The engagement ring lay on top.

James stared down at them. “What's this supposed to mean?”

“Your things. Take them.”

“Alessia, come on. I said I was sorry about yesterday. Lila's okay now. We can pick another date and do this properly.”

“There won't be another date.”

His expression shifted from confusion to disbelief. “You're ending three years over one bad day?”

“You left me standing at the altar. Then you asked me to lie about it so Lila wouldn't get blamed. It wasn't one bad day, James. It was a choice.”

He stepped closer, lowering his voice.

“I told you I'd make it up to you. You know how much I care about you.”

I looked at him, then at the ring between us.

“There's no need to make anything up. We're done.”

He glanced at the boxes again. “You can't be serious. Where are you going to go? What are you going to do?”

“I'm getting married,” I said. “My future husband won't appreciate me keeping another man in my life.”

James's expression changed.

“What fiancé? Alessia, are you seriously doing this because of what my friends said yesterday? Are you trying to make me jealous?”

A faint, mocking smile touched my lips.

“Why would I be? James, you really do think rather highly of yourself.”

He stared at me.

One second passed.

By the time ten seconds had dragged by, the disbelief on his face had given way to something closer to panic.

“Fine. If you're really marrying someone else, then tell me who he is!”

He shook his head, as if the very idea were ridiculous.

“I don't believe there's another man who would—”

A small, hesitant cough interrupted him.