Chapter 7
Matteo punched Adrian once.
Only once.
Then stopped.
Adrian hit the wall and laughed through blood.
“Finally.”
He wiped his mouth.
“There he is.”
Matteo's face remained flat.
Adrian smiled.
“Bianca would be disappointed.”
Celeste snapped:
“Enough.”
Adrian ignored her.
“Your mother spent years turning you soft too.”
Matteo stepped closer.
Adrian kept talking.
“She used to tell you kindness mattered.”
His grin widened.
“Look where kindness put her.”
I felt Matteo's hand curl.
He didn't hit him again.
That frightened Adrian.
“You want me angry.”
Matteo's voice was calm.
Adrian's smile faded.
“You want me to stop asking questions.”
Silence.
“You've done this before.”
Celeste looked away.
Matteo turned toward her.
“With Daniel.”
Nothing.
“With Lucia.”
Nothing.
“With my mother.”
Nothing.
“You provoke. Then when someone reacts, you call them unstable.”
Celeste crossed her arms.
“Your mother was unstable.”
“She was afraid.”
“Same thing, eventually.”
I stared at her.
Matteo did too.
Celeste sighed.
“You both want villains because grief is easier when someone else is responsible.”
“Were you responsible?”
“No.”
“Was Adrian?”
“No.”
Adrian laughed.
Celeste shot him a look.
Matteo caught it.
“Interesting.”
Celeste turned.
“What?”
“You're protecting him again.”
“He is my son.”
“So?”
Her face hardened.
“So blood matters.”
Matteo looked at me.
Then back at Celeste.
“That's the sentence you built your entire life around.”
“Yes.”
She said it proudly.
“Blood first.”
“What about Bianca?”
“She married in.”
“Lucia?”
“Married in.”
“Sofia?”
Celeste looked at me.
The contempt in her eyes felt older than I was.
“Marrying in.”
There it was.
No matter what happened, women like us remained temporary.
Useful.
Replaceable.
Celeste stepped toward me.
“You think this ring makes you Bellandi?”
She tapped my engagement ring.
“It makes you invited.”
My throat tightened.
“Nothing more.”
Matteo moved between us.
Celeste laughed.
“See?”
She looked at him.
“She needs you to stand in front of her.”
I stepped around Matteo.
“No.”
Celeste smiled.
“Then prove it.”
I looked at her.
She lowered her voice.
“Ask Matteo what happens if your marriage threatens his capos.”
I glanced at him.
Celeste continued.
“Ask him whether you still come first when men with guns start choosing sides.”
“Stop.”
Matteo's voice was low.
Celeste smiled.
“Why?”
She looked at me.
“Afraid she'll learn?”
I said nothing.
Celeste stepped closer.
“Your mother learned.”
The words were soft.
Cruel.
“She came to Vittorio after Daniel died. She believed being a widow would earn sympathy.”
My chest hurt.
“Instead, he told her to go home.”
Matteo closed his eyes.
Celeste continued.
“She asked him to protect you.”
Pause.
“He told her Bellandi problems came before Russo tears.”
I couldn't breathe.
Celeste watched my face carefully.
Enjoying every second.
“That is the family you're marrying.”
I looked at Matteo.
For the first time since the dress hit the pool, I felt doubt.
Not because of him.
Because of history.
Celeste saw it.
Her smile widened.
“Good.”
She whispered:
“Now you're finally learning.”
Then Matteo spoke.
“My father was wrong.”
Celeste's smile disappeared.
He looked at me.
“Completely.”
Then back at her.
“And I'm not him.”
Celeste laughed.
“You say that now.”
“Yes.”
“You'll change when the capos force you.”
“No.”
“When the family fractures.”
“No.”
“When she costs you men.”
Matteo's face remained calm.
“No.”
Celeste looked furious.
Not because he disagreed.
Because he refused to fear the consequences she worshiped.
Then one of Matteo's guards entered.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“We found the men Adrian moved off the chapel corridor.”
Adrian's face changed.
Matteo turned.
“Where?”
“In the old guest house.”
“Doing what?”
“Waiting.”
“For?”
The guard looked toward Celeste.
“Midnight.”
Matteo's eyes narrowed.
“How many?”
“Seven.”
Celeste didn't react.
That was reaction enough.
The guard continued.
“One talked.”
Adrian swore.
Celeste closed her eyes.
“What did he say?” Matteo asked.
The bodyguard answered:
“They were told the chapel doors would close after the wedding blessing.”
May you like
Pause.
“And when they reopened, Matteo Bellandi would no longer be running the family.”
