Chapter 2 My Wedding Is Next Week
824 Words
Dante didn't come home until 11:30 p.m.
I sat in the living room, a cup of stone-cold coffee sitting untouched in front of me.
He tugged off his tie and leaned down to kiss me.
But I turned my head away.
His lips brushed against my ear instead.
"Still mad?"
"Is Valentina safe now?"
"She's been taken to the safe house. The stalker was probably just a photojournalist from the wedding."
He took off his coat and casually draped it over the arm of the sofa.
"It was her first time attending such a grand family wedding. She has no experience with this kind of thing, and she really freaked out."
"So you gave her my car and my bodyguards."
"It was an emergency."
"Eight years ago, I was followed at your father's birthday banquet, and you told me to go home alone."
Dante frowned, clearly having no memory of it.
"We were only starting to operate family affairs back then. Security wasn't as thorough as it is now."
"Then what about after that?"
"What do you mean?"
"Ever since then, her emergencies have always come before mine."
He looked at me, the exhaustion in his eyes slowly replaced by impatience.
"Bella, what exactly are you trying to say?"
I glanced at the clock on the wall.
11:47.
"Dante, stop making me guess. Have you ever seriously thought about marrying me?"
He fell silent for a few seconds.
"We've talked about this."
"And you always say later. I want an exact date."
"The company is expanding, and the Russo family is still unstable internally. If we get married now, everyone will think I cannot succeed without your family's help."
"So how much longer do I have to wait?"
"Until this round of expansion is complete."
"Last year, you said you'd wait until the company closed its Series B funding round."
"Plans change."
"Two years ago, you said you'd wait until you secured the federal security contract."
"Bella..."
"And three years ago, you said you'd wait until the Russo family recognized your company."
His jaw tightened.
"Do you really have to rake up all this old stuff tonight?"
I suddenly felt exhausted.
Over eight years, he had made countless promises of a future with me.
But none of those futures ever came with a date.
"Dante, I can't keep loving you like this." I took a breath. "We're done."
He stared at me, as if he wasn't sure he had heard me correctly.
"What did you say?"
"I said we're done."
After a brief silence, he actually smiled.
"Because of a stupid bouquet?"
"No."
"Or because I gave Valentina the security detail?"
"That's not it, either."
"What did Sofia say to you?"
"This has nothing to do with her."
Dante sat down across from me, using the same tone when he was dealing with an impulsive subordinate.
"You're upset today. I'm not going to argue with you. Get some sleep, and we'll talk tomorrow."
"I gave you eight years," I said. "I gave you tonight. There is no tomorrow."
I looked straight at him.
"My wedding is next Saturday."
The smile slowly disappeared from his face.
The second hand on the wall clock completed another full rotation.
Then he leaned back against the sofa and stared at me coldly.
"Is your father pressuring you with the family's interests again?"
"No, this is my decision."
"Then how are you getting married next week when I, the groom, don't show up? Stop being ridiculous," he continued. "Bella, no one else would marry you. Everyone in Nelsona City knows you've been with me for eight years."
He said it with absolute certainty.
"I am getting married next week. All the arrangements are already underway," I shot back calmly.
"Do you really think this is funny?"
He stood up, his voice dropping into a low, heavy tone.
"Using marriage as leverage, dragging both our families into this just to make me agree. Since when did you learn their tricks?"
"I'm not forcing you. I'm giving you one last chance to choose—plain and clear."
"Then call off the wedding."
"No."
His gaze turned ice-cold.
"You have no idea what's on my shoulder right now. The company's expansion, pressure from my family, enemies waiting outside. Yet all you care about is a damn wedding."
His phone rang, cutting him off.
Valentina's name appeared on the screen.
Dante answered.
Whatever she said made him frown immediately.
"Lock the doors. I'm on my way."
After hanging up, he grabbed his coat.
"Unknown vehicles were spotted near the safe house. I need to check it out."
He reached the door, then glanced back at me.
"We'll talk after you're done with this little marriage stunt."
When the door clicked shut, the clock showed one minute to midnight.
I picked up my phone and dialed my father's number.
"Bella?"
"Tell Luca," my voice cracked, but I'd never been more certain, "I said yes."
- Writer
