Daniele's voice shook as he asked again, "You want the pin back?"

I closed the box and met his eyes, steady and calm. "Since you're taking the necklace back, you shouldn't hold onto the pin before the wedding. We can figure out the rest later."

Daniele sighed in relief, then reluctantly unclipped the pin from his suit and handed it to me.

I'd ordered that pin custom-made for him, with the Moretti family crest engraved on it.

A year ago, during a shootout, that pin, sitting right over Daniele's breast pocket, had stopped a bullet that would've killed him.

That night, he'd held me and cried until dawn, whispering that I'd saved his life.

With a voice full of devotion, he'd said, "Regina, if it weren't for you, I'd already be with God. I'll treat you right for the rest of my life."

Now I knew none of it had ever been true.

After setting the pin down, Daniele didn't say another word. He just grabbed Sofia's hand and walked out.

When the engine of their car finally rumbled to life outside, I finally breathed out. Then I walked to the fireplace and tossed the pin straight into the flames.

"No!"

Lisa Caruso, my most trusted maid, sprinted toward me, but she was too late. The fire swallowed the pin, burning it down the same way it burned through the last thread between Daniele and me.

Lisa winced. "Ms. Sterlini, you carved that pin for Mr. Moretti yourself. How could you burn something you put so much effort into?"

I brushed the ash from my fingers. "Because it's tainted now, and there's no reason to keep it. I'm not marrying Daniele, so hanging on to that token of love is pointless."

Lisa let out a regretful sigh and tried to comfort me. "Ms. Sterlini, he never knew how to treasure you. He doesn't deserve that pin. The only shame is how much effort you put into making it."

I didn't answer and just watched the flames burn.

…

The next day, I headed to Moretti Estate as agreed. It was my first official visit to meet my fiance.

The butler led me to the study, where a man sat alone.

Samuele.

He was tucked back in the shadows, looking pale as he quietly read a classic novel.

He looked up the moment he heard my footsteps. His eyes were dark and impossible to read, sharp enough to make it feel like he could see straight through me.

"Ms. Sterlini, si sieda," he said, his voice low and smooth.

I sat across from Samuele, finally facing the "useless man" everyone whispered about.

He looked nothing like the rumors. They said he'd been injured in a turf war, that a blunt-force hit had damaged his heart so badly he wouldn't live past 35.

But the man in front of me, pale or not, was tall, controlled, and carried a quiet, dangerous authority.

"You're nothing like what I pictured," I said, not bothering to sugarcoat it.

He closed the book and studied me with real interest. "And what did you expect?"

"A useless man lying in bed waiting to die."

Samuele smiled, a look that was both dangerous and disarmingly charming. "Disappointed?"

I smiled back. "The opposite. I'm pretty satisfied."

We talked for a long time, drifting from business to literature, to art, and then to philosophy.

Samuele's knowledge ran deep, and his mind was razor-sharp. The way he spoke made his intelligence and charm impossible to ignore.

He was so much more interesting than Daniele ever managed to be.

"Why did you agree to this marriage?" I asked.

"Because you're smart. Smart enough to know when to let go."

"You don't mind that it's a transaction?"

A cool, unreadable calm settled in his eyes. "Every marriage is a transaction. The only thing that changes is what people put on the table."

We stepped onto the balcony, the city lights spread out beneath us like a glittering map.

That was when Daniele showed up uninvited. The second he saw how easily Samuele and I were talking, his whole expression curdled.

He came toward us, his voice pulled tight with anger. "Uncle Samuele, why are you here with Regina?"

Samuele didn't bother to look up. His tone stayed cold enough to freeze the air. "Daniele, do I need to report my guests to you?"

The words hit Daniele hard. All the swagger drained out of him.

"I-I just wanted…" he stammered, the rest catching in his throat.

Samuele's voice went even colder. "Wanted what?"

Daniele's face went bright red, but he didn't say a thing.

Injured or not, Samuele had once been the family's underboss, and that weight had never really left him. People still felt it every time he spoke.

Samuele flicked his hand like he was brushing off an annoying fly. "If there's nothing else, you can leave."

Daniele shot me a vicious glare but slunk off anyway.

A moment later, Samuele excused himself, saying he wasn't feeling well, before stepping away.

The second he was gone, Daniele stormed back in, his voice low and furious. "Why the hell did you sell the sports car I gave you to a junkyard?"

"I didn't like red anymore," I said evenly.

Daniele's eyes went wide. "You didn't like red anymore? That car was worth half a million dollars!"

I shrugged. "So? You gave it to me. It was mine. I could do whatever I wanted with it."

Daniele drew a long breath, fighting to keep it together. His voice softened, switching to the gentle act. "Regina, I know you're upset. But you can't be this reckless."

I snorted. "Reckless? What exactly did I do that was so reckless?"

He stepped closer. "You knew that car meant a lot to me. It was the one we drove on our first date."

I stepped back. "And now it's old. I no longer feel anything for it. Selling it was better."

Daniele's expression flickered, but he recovered fast, slipping back into that confident smile. "Fine. I'll admit that I've been ignoring you lately. But once the wedding's over, everything will be better."

I raised an eyebrow. "The wedding? I know."

"Of course I'm talking about our wedding," he said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Though I'll be getting back late that day."

"Why?"

"I'm taking Sofia to Helarno for a vacation. I might not get back until later," Daniele said lightly, like it shouldn't bother me at all.

I stared at him, disgust curling in my chest. He honestly still thought I'd marry him. He genuinely believed I didn't know he'd tampered with the marriage alliance contract.

I moved toward the desk. "Okay. Whatever you want."

I pulled out a gold-embossed wedding invitation and handed it to him.

Daniele took it. "What's this?"

"It's the wedding invitation. You said you wanted to attend, right?"

Daniele didn't even glance at it. He shoved it straight into his pocket. "Of course. Why would I miss my own wedding?"

He then ruffled Sofia's hair. "See? She knows I only see you as a sister. She won't make a fuss over something this small."

Sofia turned on her sweetest, most innocent voice. "I always thought if you loved someone, you'd care if your fiance went on vacation with another woman."

Daniele froze, then turned to me, taking in how blank my expression was. For the first time, real unease crossed his face.

"Regina?" he said, testing the waters.

I didn't answer. I just watched the two of them.

Daniele's voice wavered. "Y-You're not actually mad, right?"

I smiled. "Why would I be? You're right. You only see Sofia as your sister."

He let out a breath, but that uneasy look in his eyes didn't fade.

He grinned and said. "Then it's settled. I'll be in Helarno for a few days, and when I'm back, we'll have the wedding. And since you don't like that car anymore, I'll buy you a new one after the wedding."

I nodded. "Va bene. Hope you two enjoy yourselves."

Daniele pulled Sofia toward the door, but right before stepping out, he glanced back at me.

I was still there, smiling softly, and something about it sent a chill down his spine.

"Daniele, what's wrong?" Sofia asked.

He shook his head. "Nothing. Let's go."

But his unease only got worse.

My behavior earlier had been way off. Every other time he brought up another woman, I'd get jealous or pissed off. But today, I didn't react at all while he and Sofia flirted right in front of me.

That wasn't me. Not the version of me he thought he knew.

Sofia noticed how far away he suddenly seemed. "Daniele, what are you thinking about?"

Daniele frowned. "I'm thinking about Regina. She was different today."

A flash of jealousy sparked in Sofia's eyes. "Different? What do you mean by different?"

"She's too calm, in a way that wasn't her at all."

Sofia's chest tightened, but she forced a casual tone. "Maybe she finally realized something."

"Realized what?"

Sofia jabbed him on purpose. "That you're never actually going to marry her. You've dragged it out long enough, haven't you?"

Daniele's face tightened. "What the hell are you talking about? Of course I'm going to marry her."

Sofia raised an eyebrow. "Really? Then why are you taking me to Helarno?"

Daniele opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

That was when it hit him. Maybe I'd seen straight through him. But it was too late to fix anything now. He'd already promised Sofia, and he wasn't about to back out.

Besides, as far as he was concerned, I loved him too much to walk away.

My voice replayed in Daniele's head. "Okay. Whatever you want."

His smile froze.

The makeup artist clipped on the last pearl earring and asked, "Ms. Sterlini, are you ready?"

I looked at my reflection in the mirror, taking in the ivory wedding dress and the diamond headpiece set in my hair.

When I rose, the skirt fell in a soft sweep. "I'm ready."

It was my wedding day, but the groom wasn't Daniele. It was Samuele.

A line of black luxury cars waited outside. Through the window, I spotted Samuele coming to pick me up himself.

He stepped out of the limo. His face was still pale, but he looked tall and sharp in his suit, a white rose pinned to his lapel. He took my hand, his grip steady, treating me with a quiet kind of respect.

Samuele held my hand. "You look beautiful, more than any bride I've ever seen."

I slid in beside him and murmured, "Grazie."

The line of limos pulled away toward the church. It was one of the oldest in the city, the traditional wedding site for the Moretti family.

Inside, every pew was already filled. Representatives from all the major families were there, along with key figures from politics and business.

Samuele kept my hand in his as he walked me down the aisle. His steps were steady, offering me as much respect and support as he could give.

The pipe organ filled the church with the wedding march, its solemn notes turning the air almost sacred.

The priest began the ceremony. "We gather here today to witness the holy matrimony of Mr. Samuele Moretti and Ms. Regina Sterlini…"

Everything moved forward without a hitch.

Guests whispered among themselves, all buzzing about how unexpected the match was.

"I never thought Ms. Sterlini would end up marrying Mr. Samuele."

"I heard the marriage gifts he prepared were incredibly generous. Way better than what Mr. Daniele ever promised."

"Mr. Samuele may not be in great health, but he's definitely more mature and reliable than Mr. Daniele."

"This marriage benefits both the Sterlinis and the Morettis. It's just a shame his health is so fragile. Who knows…"

I caught every word, and a humorless laugh rose in my chest. I wondered what they'd say if they knew the truth.

The priest continued with the vows. "Marriage is a sacred union that demands loyalty and commitment from both sides…"

Samuele held my hand, his eyes steady and focused.

That was when the church doors slammed open. A voice cut through the entire hall. "Wait!"

Daniele staggered inside, his shirt half-tucked. He reeked of alcohol, his hair a mess like he'd rolled out of bed and run straight here.

The church fell silent, like someone had hit a mute button.

He pointed at me and roared, his voice echoing off the walls. "Regina! Regina Sterlini, you have no shame! I show up a few hours late, and you just pick some random man to marry?"

The whole room went still. Guests stared in stunned disbelief.

He ignored every horrified look thrown his way, including Donna Moretti's in the front row. Her expression had gone stone-cold.

"Daniele! What do you think you're doing?" Donna Moretti snapped.

"Nonna, this is a misunderstanding! Regina is my fiancee! She can't marry Uncle Samuele!" Daniele shouted, booze rolling off him in waves.

Samuele stayed at the altar, steady as ever, as if Daniele's outburst were nothing more than a brief interruption. He didn't loosen his grip on my hand.

One of the Moretti capos muttered, "Daniele, are you out of your mind?"

"This is a sacred church!" another chimed in.

But Daniele didn't hear any of them. His eyes burned with anger and wounded pride, the alcohol stripping away whatever sense he'd left.

He lurched toward the altar, swaying with every step. "Regina, you think this is how you get back at me? Did you forget what we had? All the good times we shared?"

Samuele watched him expressionlessly. But I felt the quiet danger coming off him, like a predator waiting to strike.

I stayed silent too, just looking at the man who used to be my fiance.

Daniele grew more frantic, his voice starting to crack. "Say something! We were childhood sweethearts. We had so many good memories together!"

I finally spoke, my voice going cold. "Memories? You mean the ones you made with Sofia in Helarno?"

Daniele's face drained, the alcohol seeming to drop right out of him. "That was different. Sofia's just—"

"Just what?" I cut him off with a thin, mocking smile. "Just your sister?"

A louder wave of whispers rippled through the church.

"So it's true. Mr. Daniele really did have something going on with that bar hostess."

"No wonder Ms. Sterlini chose to marry Mr. Samuele instead. I wouldn't put up with that either."

"He's dragged the Moretti family's name through the mud."

Daniele realized he'd slipped, but it was already too late. He looked around like an animal cornered with no way out, meeting nothing but contempt and mocking eyes.

In a desperate burst, he shoved past the groomsman blocking his path and jabbed a finger at Samuele, who stood at the altar.

Driven by whatever madness he had left, Daniele barked at me, "Who the hell does he think he is? Regina, why are you still standing there? Get over here and stand where you belong!"