Marrying The Ruthless Luciano (Luciano Brothers #1)

CHAPTER 5: AGREEMENT

I stared at the envelope for what felt like forever.

My name was still there.

Jade Summer.

Written in elegant gold calligraphy, as if whoever had sent it had never doubted it would reach me.

I turned it over.

The Schuet family crest had been pressed into the black wax seal.

This is real. Not a prank.

Not another one of Czarina's desperate attempts to convince me.

This had come from her family.

Which only meant one thing.

They really don't know about Czarina's plan.

My fingers tightened around the envelope.

Slowly, I broke the seal.

Inside was a thick ivory invitation.

The Schuet and Luciano families request the pleasure of your company at an intimate engagement dinner honoring Miss Czarina Schuet and Mr. Connor Luciano.

Formal and elegant.

Everything about it screamed wealth. Near the bottom, another line caught my attention.

Attendance is by invitation only.

Then...my name.

Again, personally invited.

My heartbeat quickened.

Now I want to ask why?

I wasn't family. I wasn't part of their business.

I was just...Czarina's best friend.

She promised yesterday she would forget everything she'd asked.

So why was I holding this?

I sat on my couch, reading the invitation again.

And again, nothing changed. Same date, same venue, same names.

Connor Luciano.

Czarina Schuet.

I traced Connor's name with my thumb before immediately pulling my hand away.

Ridiculous. I wasn't going.

That should've been the end of it.

Instead... I checked the date again.

Three days.

Only three days remained before the dinner.

Three days before two families celebrated a marriage that one of them desperately wanted to escape.

I closed my eyes.

I could still hear Czarina's voice.

"I'm pregnant."

Then another.

"You're the only person I trust."

I threw the invitation onto the coffee table.

"No."

I wasn't getting involved. Not anymore.

The following morning, I arrived at the café earlier than usual.

Routine.

The routine was good. It meant normal.

I unlocked the front door before anyone else arrived.

The familiar smell of roasted coffee beans greeted me.

Finally, after days... I almost felt like myself again.

Almost.

"You look terrible." It was Jeremy.

I looked up. "You always know how to make people feel better."

He shrugged. "I say what everyone else is thinking." He handed me an apron.

"You've been somewhere else since Monday."

"I've just been tired."

"You've said that four times."

I blinked, "Have I?"

"You even forgot to charge a customer yesterday."

I sighed. "I'll do better."

Jeremy studied me for a moment before speaking again.

"Whatever's bothering you... don't let it make decisions for you." His words caught me off guard.

"What?"

He shrugged again. "I don't know what's happening. But people usually regret decisions they make while they're scared." He walked back behind the counter before I could answer.

I stood there. Completely still.

Because somehow, even without knowing anything... Jeremy had just described exactly what was happening to me.

-

I came home later than usual after my shift. My mind is too loud, and I needed to be busy to be distracted.

I was busy cooking my dinner when I heard a knock on my door.

I'm not expecting anyone, so I don't know who that might be.

"Coming..." I said, as I walked towards the door.

I was stunned to see Czarina standing in front of me. She gave me a small smile and apologized.

"Sorry for not telling you that I'll be here," she started.

I sighed and gestured her to come in.

"It's okay. Come in," I said.

I looked at her and I could tell she's stressed.

She had never looked this tired before. Her situation is tough.

But my life isn't something to trade for. It's my freedom we're talking about here. And it wasn't something I could just toss away for her sake.

She knew about this... she knew she had been promised to someone else already. Why do I have to take her place?

"Sit down," I said, my voice sounded distant.

She nodded quietly and sat on the couch across to where I was sitting.

"I won't make this long. I know I have already told you to forget about everything that I asked you to do the last time that we talked..."

She stopped and looked at me intently while I looked at her questioningly.

"Don't worry, I'm serious about that," she said, defensively.

I sighed heavily and nodded. Relieved to hear that from her.

"But... I needed you to come to the engagement party. Pretend to be me there, and I promise I won't ask for more. It was a masquerade ball, so no one would notice that you weren't me."

My brows furrowed and I shook my head aggressively.

"No. Come on, Czarina. Leave me out of this mess. I am not rich like you and I don't want to get involved. My life is hard enough for me to be in that situation, you know that."

Whatever remaining trust that I have with her is gone now.

I know she's desperate, but I can't just throw away my life for her. I fought so hard for my freedom before, she knows that... how can she ask me to do this for her?

"I know, Jade. I know I really sound ridiculous but I really needed your help. Just buy me some time. I promise after this I won't ask anything from you again."

I remained silent, not because I was considering it, but because I knew she wouldn't take no for an answer.

I know her too well.

"Please... just buy me some time. I just really can't go there."

"What about your family?" I asked, already thinking about the possible consequences if I got caught.

"They'll be busy that night. I'm sure they won't notice."

Her voice sounded confident but it didn't soothe me. I really don't want to do this.

"Just this once, Jade." Czarina held my hand softly and pleaded.

"What if I get caught?" I asked, already anxious about the thought of getting caught.

"You won't. I'll make sure of that. Thank you..." she whispered and hugged me.

I sighed and hugged her back, feeling defeated.

"Just this once... after this, I'm out." I whispered back.

She pulled away from our embrace and smiled at me.

"Promise."

I took a deep breath as I finished washing the dishes. Czarina already left an hour ago. Shortly after our conversation, Franco came to pick her up.

She said she'll prepare everything for me. And although I wasn't excited about being there, I'm glad I didn't have to worry about anything other than pretending to be her there.

This is our last agreement. After that, if she ever tries to convince me again to be in her place, I'll disappear.

Just like before when I needed to save myself from everyone around me... I'll run and disappear without a trace.

Even if it meant, I'd lose our friendship.