Mom had been very clear that I wouldn’t meet Leonard until our official introduction during dinner. I was supposed to stay in my room all afternoon while my parents and my future husband discussed my future as if I was a two-year-old without an opinion.Dressed in my favorite denim overall dress, and beneath it a white tank top with sunflowers, I crept out of my room when I heard the bell. Barefoot, I made no noise as I tiptoed toward the upper landing, avoiding every creaking board.I knelt down to make myself smaller and peered through the banister. From the sound of the voices, my parents were exchanging pleasantries with two men. Dad came into view, smiling his official smile, followed by Mother who radiated delight. Then two men came into my field of vision.It wasn’t difficult to guess which one was Leonard . He towered over Dad and the second man. Now I got why they compared him to Luca. He was broad and tall, and the dark-blue three-piece suit made him appear even more impo
“I’m sorry, sir.”I looked down at the girl before me. She watched me with huge blue eyes and parted lips. Then I realized who the girl was. Matilda Rizzo, my future wife.I stared. Beside me, Faro was holding back laughter, but I wasn’t close to fucking amusement. The woman—the girl—who would become my wife in less than three months had just called me “sir.”My eyes raked over her body, taking in her bare feet, slender legs, ugly denim dress, and the flowery atrocity she wore as a top. Finally, my eyes settled on her face. She still had bangs, but the rest of her hair was long and wavy, trailing down her bare shoulders.She raised her eyes when I didn’t make a move to let her past and stiffened, obviously surprised by my unwavering attention.I had to admit that the bangs didn’t look half bad. She was very pretty. A lovely girl. That was the problem. Dressed as she was, she looked like a teenage girl, not a woman—definitely not a wife and mother.She touched her bangs with shaking
I was still shaking when I entered my bedroom after my first encounter with Leonard . He had been intense and cold, not to mention dominant. Ordering me to change my wardrobe? How dare he?“There you are! Where have you been?” Mom asked, ushering me toward my walk-in closet. “We need to get you ready. For God’s sake, Matilda , what are you wearing?”She tugged at my clothes until I started undressing, still in a trance. Mom gave me a curious look. “What’s with you?”“Nothing,” I said quietly.Mom turned to the selection of dresses she must have spread out on the bench before I’d arrived. “I can’t believe you don’t own a single decent dress.”I’d always avoided going to official events because I hated the insincere schmoozing and backstabbing attitude of those who attended them. “What’s wrong with the dresses I own?”Mom had chosen the three least quirky dresses from my collection. All of them were in my favorite retro Audrey Hepburn style. Mom picked up a sky-blue dress with white d
The four months until November flew by—an endless row of sleepless nights, teary tantrums, and hard workdays.On the morning of my bachelor night, I squatted in front of Luna . He was staring down at the iPad, watching a series he liked. His hair was tousled in the front and knotted in the back, but he refused to let Sybil comb it. I hadn’t had the patience to hold him while she did it. We’d have to buzz it short once the wedding was over. “Luna , I need to talk to you.”He didn’t look up. I reached for the iPad, but he twisted around. “Give it to me.”His small shoulders rounded in. It was his only reaction. I grabbed the device and pulled it away. “Soon someone will move in with us. She’ll be your new mom. She’ll take care of you and Simona.”Luna ’s face scrunched up, and he threw himself at me, pummeling my legs with his little fists. “That’s enough,” I thundered, grabbing his arms.My anger disappeared seeing tears running down his face. “Luna .”I tried to hug him to my chest, b
I waited at the front of the church for Matilda. Faro stood to my right and across from him waited one of Matilda ’s friends, who looked awfully young. A reminder of my own future wife’s age.When the music started, I turned my attention to the entrance of the church where Felix entered with Matilda at his side. She was dressed in an elegant long white dress with a long-sleeved lace top. Her hair was pulled up, except for her bangs.She was smiling slightly as her father led her toward me, but her tension was unmistakable. When she arrived in front of me, I noticed the small sunflowers woven into her hair and bridal bouquet. Her eyes met mine, and for a moment I caught the hint of defiance in them, surprising me. Then her father handed her to me, and Matilda became tenser, her smile wavering.She looked marginally older thanks to the makeup and her elegant dress. Still, her fine-boned, clammy hand in mine and the innocence in her eyes reminded me of her age.Despite her youth, sh
I could hardly force food down my tight throat during dinner. Leonard didn’t talk to me, only to his father and Luca. I sat beside him like arm candy.Maybe it was for the best. Every time he’d talked to me so far, he ordered me around and intimidated me only more. Considering that I’d have to share a bed with him tonight, I preferred his silence. The chances of me passing out were high anyway.I slanted a look at Leonard . His facial features were attractive in an edgy way. Sharp cheekbones, a strong jaw, and the dark stubble. I’d never seen him in less than a three-piece suit, but his muscles were unmistakable.“My brother played football in high school,” Mia whispered, surprising me. I hadn’t said much to her yet. We were strangers, despite being sisters-in-law, not to mention she was ten years older than me.Heat rose into my cheeks, realizing she must have noticed me staring at Leonard . I co
After the dance with my brother, I wanted nothing more than to find a quiet corner to get a grip, but Leonard ’s father limped toward me.I gave him a smile as my brother slinked away after a curt nod. Mr. Moretti held out his hand. “Will you give this old man the honor of dancing with the bride?”“Of course, Mr. Moretti,” I said with a small curtsy.“Mansueto, please. We’re family now.”I nodded and took his hand, wondering how this was going to work with his cane. He smiled wistfully. “We’ll have to dance in one spot if you’re all right with that, young lady.”Again, I nodded and stepped a bit closer. He handed his cane to a man I didn’t know and lightly touched my back. Then we began to sway to the music.“You’re very quiet. From what I hear, you’re not a quiet girl.”My cheeks heated, wondering who had given him that piece of information. Christian? Definitely not my mother.Mansueto’s eyes were kind, but like his son, his reputation was chilling. “My son’s reputation makes me pr
Her eyes widened, those red lips falling open. “I… I’m not… I…” She bit her lower lip and looked away. The moonlight highlighted her smooth skin, unblemished and soft-looking.“Will you look at me?”She raised her eyes. I ran my thumb over her fingers to the ring, and she shivered slightly. “This ring makes you mine.”She tensed, and I realized I should have chosen different wording, something that didn’t sound like I was a Neanderthal about to claim her, not that it wasn’t true. I would claim her tonight, if only to follow traditions we both couldn’t evade, and she was mine, but that wasn’t what I meant to say. I wasn’t sure what to say to set her at ease. Nine and I hadn’t talked much. She’d screamed or cried and sometimes talked sweetly when she wanted something.“Tradition binds us, Matilda . Not just you, but also me.”I’d sworn to protect her, like a husband was supposed to protect his wife, and I would do my best to do a better job this time.“I know of our traditions,” she s