He Stole My Wedding; I Fell In love With Him Anyway

This Thing Was Vintage?

EVANGELINE

I hated everyone in this room. I hated the wine. I hated the click of my heels that drew attention I didn't want.

I hated the smiles of the men who looked at me like I was some five-star three course meal on display.

Rebecca was no longer holding my hand and breathing down the right angles for me to keep my face for the cameras.

The party had begun, making my stomach twist cruelly, then drop. I wanted to be anywhere but here.

But I stayed. Lucio had a surprise for me.

I let a Don kiss both my cheeks. Let a distant aunt from Rebecca's side of the family compliment my earrings. I let the men I knew were my father's business partners whistle praises at me. I allowed all of it while choking on their attention.

Because that's what women in this family did.

We bled, cried, choked, and smiled because that was our role.

“Tesoro,” Lucio's voice called out through the loud music making me turn my head quickly.

I offered a gracious smile taking in the pair of aged men beside him, and a particularly bald one in a stoned suit, something meant for his grandson.

I moved through the ballroom of the Costa mansion like a walking-talking-breathing mannequin, smiles on display for the cameras, the slit of my dress revealing skin I wanted covered.

I did everything as Lucio wanted while my stomach twisted with every step.

“Father…” I breathed the moment I reached him, then leaned forward, offering both cheeks for a kiss.

He nodded once, eyes sharp, proud, as his lips lifted from my temple. Lucio placed a hand on the small of my back, pulling me closer.

“Beautiful as always,” he complemented in Italian, voice warm.

“Grazie, father,” I murmured, eyes lowered, my fingers twisting against the flute of champagne in my hand.

Lucio lifted his glass, sipping his wine, “Don Nicolosi also chose the wine tonight. It's from his private estate in Calabria. A vintage from the year you were born. The best of his plants. You should be grateful.”

That's when I noticed the old, bald, ugly looking thing standing beside Lucio, his eyes dragging down the length of me, unhurried, like I was livestock left for display and Lucio allowed it.

I felt a sickening feeling curl its way up my face.

This thing was Don Nicolosi?

This thing had secured my placement at the university?

My breathing was heavy, irregular. I'd expected someone younger and…alive.

Lucio smiled…he smiled like all of this made him proud.

I swallowed hard, feeling my lungs choke on the weight of expectation before me, then smiled.

“Thank you, Don Ni—Nicolosi for being here tonight. My father informed me you also helped secure my placement at the university for fall term.”

I lifted my glass, “and for the wine,” I took a sip immediately, wincing slightly at the heavy, bitter alcohol.

‘This thing was vintage?’

I forced a smile, “it's…perfect.”

“Lucio my friend,” Don Nicolosi smirked, a terrifyingly warm expression spreading across his face, “a princess deserves nothing but the best on her engagement, doesn't she?”

My ears rang.

My heart stopped cold.

No.

This was just my birthday party, right?

It couldn't be an engagement, certainly not.

I tried to speak but the air ways in my lungs felt like they had forgotten their job.

The bald old man smiled, greasy eyes fixed on me, “Buon Compleanno, picciridda,”

Lucio smiled proudly, gently fixing a strand of my hair Rebecca had purposely left out. “Certainly, Santorini. She deserves the best. Now let's get the party started, shall we?”

My stomach dropped.

I stared at Don Nicolosi Santorini’s hand stretched out for me to take, lined with gold rings that couldn't erase sagging skin, my eyebrows scrunched together in concern.

The pain of the corset momentarily faded.

Lucio was already probably reading my mind because his hand on my waist tightened a little, enough to snap my thoughts into what he wanted.

So I smiled. I smiled like the perfect little doll Lucio wanted. “Thank you, Don Nicolosi. I—I’m just as delighted to find out who my groom is.”

The moment the words left my mouth, a scowl flashed through Lucio's face.

I'd ruined it, I'd ruined something, anything, and it made me want to disappear.

I cleared my throat, the sound a tiny pathetic scratch. I didn't dare look at Lucio.

His jaw tightened immediately, but his voice sounded calm, “and that's exactly what you're about to find out, amore mio.”

Few seconds, Lucio lifted his glass and calmness descended on the ballroom. Music instantly lowered, every eye was fixed on Lucio…and me.

I spotted Rebecca at a far end of the ballroom, her eyes wide, frantic, and twitching uncontrollably at the end.

“Be strong.” She mouthed.

I wanted to ask for what but instead blinked my response.

“It's time to announce the good news." Lucio began, his eyes watching me with pride.

“Tonight my daughter turns eighteen,” Lucio announced, “and it is an absolute delight, one that breaks my heart, truly, because I can't believe my little girl is all grown up and ready to face the world,” he paused, allowing his words to settle.

Rounds of applause followed immediately, then died down.

Lucio turned to me, his pale eyes reminding me all he wanted was my obedience. My dutiful silence and compliance. Nothing else.

He tilted my chin with a knuckle, “Tonight is the engagement of my daughter, Evangeline Arielle Roccati… and try not to think about the last name, it means nothing.”

Laughter rippled through the hall.

I smiled. I really did.

“And the lucky man of the hour…” another pause, “is none other than my good friend, Don Nicolosi.”

My heart stopped cold. My whole body shuddered at the shock and absurdity of Lucio's announcement.

The music faded, followed by the hands clapping.

Lucio, my father had just declared my engagement…my engagement to a man old enough to be my grandfather.

Just like that I was sold.

Eighteen and finally sold, traded, used, or whatever labels they put on it.