BILLIONAIRES VENDETTA

CHAPTER 8: THE WEDDING

Luca’s POV

I stood at the altar, surveying the grand hall with a cold, calculating gaze. The room was filled with faces, most of whom I knew, and a few I didn’t trust. The De Rossi family knew how to put on a show; the chandeliers sparkled, the red and gold decor reflecting the power my family wielded. Today was a spectacle, not just a wedding. It was a statement to the Russians—and to anyone who doubted me.

My fingers tapped rhythmically against my side as I waited, a steady beat that was the only indication of the tension coiling within me. This marriage was a necessity, a deal struck in the shadows. The Russians demanded stability, a show of unity, and that meant a wife. Not just any woman, but someone who could cement alliances, someone who could make me appear stronger.

When I saw Natalie at the far end of the aisle, a slight flicker of something almost like guilt tried to surface. She looked beautiful—ethereal, even—but I could see the tightness around her eyes, the forced calm in the set of her shoulders. She was doing this for Daniel. For her family. Not because she wanted to. And that was what made her perfect for this arrangement. She was bound by loyalty, just like I was bound by duty.

Her parents, seated in the front row, wore expressions of pure pride. Her father had tears glistening in his eyes, while her mother dabbed at her cheeks with a lace handkerchief. They thought this was a fairy tale ending for their daughter. They believed that their little girl was marrying into a life of wealth and prestige. The reality? They were sending her straight into the lion’s den, and they were blissfully unaware.

The priest’s voice was droning on, but I wasn’t really listening. My focus was on Natalie, standing beside me now, her hand cold in mine as we turned to face each other. I could feel the stiffness in her posture, the tension in her grip. I leaned closer, my voice a low whisper only she could hear.

“Smile, Natalie. Everyone’s watching,” I said, my tone cool. I needed her to play her part, at least for now.

Her eyes flickered to mine, a flash of anger there, but she forced a small, polite smile onto her lips. It was convincing enough for the guests, but I could see through it. She hated me, and I couldn’t blame her. I was the one who had taken her life and twisted it to fit my needs. But that’s how this world worked. Sacrifices had to be made for the sake of power.

As the priest continued, I caught a glimpse of Adriano standing off to the side. He was watching with that dark, disapproving look he’d worn ever since I’d made this decision. He didn’t agree with it, but he knew better than to question me in public. I needed him on my side, but this was bigger than his approval. It was about survival—my own and the family’s.

When the priest asked if anyone objected, there was a silence so thick it was almost suffocating. But I knew no one would dare speak up. They knew the consequences.

Natalie’s parents beamed with joy, her mother holding her father’s hand, leaning into him with a look of contentment. To them, this was a perfect union. I almost envied them for their ignorance.

As Natalie recited her vows, her voice was steady, but I could hear the undertone of bitterness. This was not a choice for her; it was a sentence. When it was my turn, I kept my words brief, formal. There was no love here—only a contract.

The kiss that sealed our vows was mechanical. I leaned in, brushed my lips against hers, and felt nothing. There was no warmth, no passion. Just the cold reality of what we were now bound to. As I pulled away, I caught her eyes again. For a moment, there was something there—resentment, fear, perhaps even defiance. But it was gone as quickly as it came.

The guests erupted into applause, the sound filling the hall. Joan, my mother, was seated among the crowd, her gaze fixed on me. She gave a small, approving nod, but I knew she was still against this union. She thought it was a mistake, that I was being reckless by marrying someone out of desperation. But she didn’t understand the bigger picture. This was the only way to keep the Russians from dismantling everything my father had built.

As the ceremony concluded and we turned to walk back down the aisle, Natalie’s grip on my arm was tight, almost painful. I could feel her trembling beside me, but her parents’ jubilant faces kept her from showing any signs of distress. The applause continued, the smiles wide, but underneath it all, there was a tension that only we could feel.

We stepped into the waiting limousine, the door shutting behind us with a heavy thud. Inside, the noise from outside was muted, leaving only the sound of our breathing. For a moment, neither of us spoke.

“You did well back there,” I finally said, breaking the silence.

Natalie turned to me, her eyes blazing with an intensity that surprised me. “I did what I had to do, Luca. But don’t think for a second that I’m doing this for you.”

I leaned back, a faint smirk tugging at my lips. “No, you’re doing this for Daniel,” I said, my voice softening slightly. “And for that, I respect you.”

Her expression faltered, just for a second, but she quickly masked it with a cold stare. “This changes nothing between us.”

I nodded slowly, looking out the window as the city lights blurred past. “Maybe. But it changes everything for the people watching us.”

The limousine drove on, taking us toward a future neither of us had chosen but were now irrevocably bound to. Outside, the city was alive with lights and sounds, but inside the car, the air was heavy with all the words we couldn’t say. This was our life now—a life of lies, deals, and shadows.

The wedding was over, but the war had just begun.