Chapter 8
Matteo did something Celeste didn't expect.
He continued the wedding.
Not the marriage.
The rehearsal.
Dinner.
Blessing preparations.
Every visible part of the schedule remained unchanged.
Celeste assumed he was afraid to fracture the family publicly.
She became arrogant again.
By evening, she was giving staff orders.
“Move those flowers.”
A servant obeyed.
“Not there. Are you blind?”
She turned toward me.
“This is what happens when nobody knows who's in charge.”
I looked at her.
“You're under guard.”
“Temporary.”
She smiled.
“Matteo will remember himself.”
Adrian was allowed into the ballroom under escort.
He thought that meant compromise.
It didn't.
Matteo wanted everyone involved to see him walking.
To see him speaking.
To believe the plan still had life.
I hated how well it worked.
Two younger capos approached Adrian before dinner.
Then another.
Then one of Celeste's oldest friends.
Every conversation was noted.
Nobody arrested.
Nobody removed.
Matteo wanted the whole circle.
Celeste found me alone near the bridal suite.
She closed the door.
I looked behind her.
“You're not supposed to be alone with me.”
She smiled.
“You're still thinking like a guest.”
I reached for the door.
She blocked it.
“What do you want?”
“To save you embarrassment.”
I almost laughed.
“From you?”
“From tomorrow.”
She leaned closer.
“You should leave tonight.”
“Why?”
“Because Matteo will choose family.”
I stared.
“No.”
“He already has.”
My chest tightened.
She saw it.
“Why do you think Adrian is still here?”
“Because Matteo wants him talking.”
Celeste laughed.
“You really believe that?”
“Yes.”
“How sweet.”
She touched my cheek.
I knocked her hand away.
Her expression hardened.
“Lucia used to do that.”
I froze.
Celeste smiled.
“Pretend she wasn't afraid.”
“Don't talk about my mother.”
“Why?”
Her voice became mocking.
“Will she climb out of the grave and defend herself?”
My hands curled.
Celeste stepped closer.
“Your mother cried in that chapel until her voice disappeared.”
My throat tightened.
“You weren't there.”
“Oh, I was.”
She smiled.
“She kept saying Daniel had told her Adrian opened the west gate.”
I stared.
Celeste continued.
“She kept saying Bianca knew.”
My blood went cold.
“She believed those two facts would save her.”
“What did you do?”
“Nothing.”
Celeste shrugged.
“Your mother did all the suffering herself.”
I hated her.
She saw it.
“That's the problem with women like Lucia.”
Her voice became soft.
“Always expecting someone to rescue them.”
She smiled.
“No one came.”
A man's voice answered from behind her.
“I did.”
Celeste went still.
Matteo stood in the doorway.
Two bodyguards behind him.
He had heard everything.
Celeste recovered quickly.
“Eavesdropping now?”
“No.”
He entered.
“Listening.”
She laughed.
“Same thing.”
Matteo looked at me.
“You okay?”
I nodded.
Celeste scoffed.
“There. That's exactly what I mean.”
Matteo turned.
“What?”
“You make her weak.”
“No.”
“She can't survive this family if every bruise needs comfort.”
I stared.
Matteo's face changed.
“Every bruise?”
Celeste stopped.
Tiny mistake.
Big consequence.
I had never told Matteo Celeste had ever put hands on me.
Because she hadn't.
Not exactly.
But six months earlier, at a family dinner, Celeste had squeezed my arm under the table hard enough to leave marks after I contradicted Adrian.
I had hidden them.
Why?
Because it felt small.
Because I didn't want drama.
Because women like Celeste train you to rank pain.
Matteo looked at me.
“Sofia?”
I couldn't lie.
“Once.”
Celeste rolled her eyes.
“Oh, for God's sake.”
Matteo went still.
“She bruised easily.”
There it was.
Victim's fault.
Celeste continued.
“She embarrassed Adrian in front of two capos. I corrected her.”
“Corrected.”
“Yes.”
Matteo looked at me.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Celeste answered first.
“Because she knew you would overreact.”
I stared at her.
Matteo turned.
“Get out.”
Celeste smiled.
“You still think you're choosing her.”
“I am.”
“No.”
Her voice hardened.
“You're destroying your father's family for a woman who won't last ten years.”
Matteo's expression turned cold.
“Neither did my mother.”
Celeste went silent.
Matteo stepped closer.
“And somehow you've been using that as proof you were right.”
For once, Celeste had no answer.
Then shouting came from the chapel.
A gunshot.
One.
Bodyguards moved.
Matteo immediately pulled me behind him.
Celeste smiled.
Not fear.
Satisfaction.
“There.”
She whispered.
“Now choose.”
Matteo looked at her.
“Between what?”
“Your bride.”
Another gunshot.
“And your family.”
Matteo didn't move.
Celeste's smile widened.
She thought she'd won.
Then seven armed Bellandi guards stepped into the corridor behind us.
Not Celeste's men.
Matteo's.
May you like
He looked at her.
“I already did.”
