Chapter 2: The Engagement
1092 Words
The sound of guests talking filled the room, but Elsa barely noticed it. Her family was nearby. Her father, Giovanni Moretti, stood tall and proud, looking like a man who had faced many battles in the criminal world. Her mother, Rosa, moved around with ease, smiling politely and watching everything with sharp eyes to make sure they looked perfect. Her brothers, Marco and Matteo, stood by the refreshment table, quietly watching the crowd, always careful and alert.
“Elsa,”
Her mother’s voice broke through. “Stop brooding. Smile. The guests are watching.”
Elsa forced her lips into a delicate curve
“You’re a Moretti,” her mother continued, lowering her voice. “We don’t show weakness, not even to ourselves.”
Before Elsa could respond, her father’s deep voice rose above the hum of conversation.
Giovanni stood at the center of the room, commanding attention with a single gesture. The chatter ceased, and all eyes turned to him.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Giovanni began, his voice steady and authoritative, “thank you for joining us tonight as we celebrate an alliance that will not only strengthen our families but also ensure a prosperous future for us all.”
He raised his glass, his eyes sweeping over the crowd before landing on Elsa. “To my daughter, Elsa, your grace, your strength, and your commitment to our family are what make this moment possible. You honor us all.”
The room erupted in polite applause, but Elsa’s chest tightened. She forced herself to nod graciously, her heart pounding.
“And, of course,” Giovanni continued, “we owe this union to the De Luca family. Victor, your partnership is invaluable, and I trust this bond will be the beginning of many successes to come.”
Victor De Luca stepped forward then, taking Giovanni’s place at the center. The applause faded as Victor raised his hand.
“Thank you, Giovanni,” Victor said, his voice calm and clear enough for everyone to hear. It’s true, this alliance is important for the future of both our families. And tonight, we are here to celebrate that future together."
“Thank you all for joining us tonight,” he continued, his voice carrying effortlessly. This evening marks the beginning of a powerful alliance between the De Luca and Moretti families. However, I have an announcement.”
The room was quiet. Elsa’s heart began to beat faster as Victor looked around at everyone in the crowd.
Victor said, his voice hardening slightly, “As we all know, circumstances can change, and with change comes opportunity.”
The room stilled, the tension palpable.
“It is with that in mind,” Victor continued, “that I announce a small change to tonight’s arrangement.” He paused, letting the room stay quiet, enjoying the attention.
“Instead of me,” he said with a slight smile, “my son, Alex, will take my place. He will be the one engaged to Elsa.”
He looked around the room as if waiting to see everyone’s reaction. The air felt heavy, and Elsa stood frozen, trying to process what she had just heard.
A quiet gasp moved through the room. Elsa’s champagne glass shook slightly in her hand. She tried hard to keep her face calm, but her mind was all over the place, full of confusion and shock.
Alex entered the room as though summoned by Victor’s words, his tall frame cutting a striking figure in his tailored black suit. His dark hair was neatly combed. His blue eyes scanned the crowd, cold and detached, before landing on Elsa.
He approached her with measured steps. The crowd parted like waves around him, their whispers a quiet backdrop to his arrival.
When he reached her, he inclined his head slightly, his expression unreadable.
“Miss Moretti,” he said, his voice low but sharp. “It seems fate has a twisted sense of humor.”
Elsa blinked, caught off guard by the sheer arrogance in his tone. “Excuse me?”
Alex smirked, “You heard me. But don’t dwell on it. We both have roles to play, and I suggest you remember yours.”
Anger burned in her chest. She looked at him sharply. “You assume a lot for someone I’ve just met,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady even though her hands were beginning to shake.
“And you presume this is about what either of us wants,” Alex shot back. “This engagement? It was never meant for someone like me, but here we are.”
He turned before she could respond, leaving her standing there, fists clenched at her sides.
The night dragged on, the ballroom growing more suffocating with every passing moment.
The engagement had been announced, yet nothing about it felt right. Alex, not Victor. The De Luca heir, not his father. It was supposed to be Victor who stood beside her, not this cold, ruthless man who barely acknowledged her existence.
She replayed his words in her head, over and over. It was never meant for someone like me, but here we are.
A dull ache settled in her stomach as she excused herself from a conversation with one of her father’s associates. She needed air, space, anything to steady herself. As she moved through the crowd, her gaze landed on her mother, Rosa, standing near the edge of the room.
Elsa approached her, her voice low, almost hesitant. “Mother,” she began, her heart pounding in her chest. “I don’t understand. Why… What is happening?"
Rosa turned to her, her eyes soft but guarded, as though she had been expecting this question. “Elsa, darling, this alliance was always going to be with De Lucas. You know that. But the circumstances have changed.”
Elsa shook her head, her confusion growing. “But Victor is the one I’m as promised.”
Rosa’s eyes flickered toward Victor, who was speaking with some guests across the room. “Victor… he is a man with his own priorities, his reasons. A man who has become too distracted by his own affairs.”
Elsa’s heart sank as she absorbed her mother’s words.
“It’s not just about promises, Elsa. This is business, and you must learn to accept that. The De Luca family is very powerful. This union must happen, whether you or Alex like it.”
Elsa swallowed hard, her chest tightening.
There was no way out of this.
And Alex De Luca was now her future.
- Writer
