LOGIN(Author's POV)Tiziana lowered her eyes and looked at their hands resting together. Her father's words kept repeating in her mind.You chose this path. You made your decisions. Now you have to make this marriage work.But beneath those words was the secret that frightened her more than anything else. She was not Giorgio Argentieri's biological daughter. If that truth ever came out, everything she had worked so hard to build could disappear overnight. She needed Stefano. She needed this marriage to survive.She looked up at him, her voice quieter than she intended."Are you still angry with me?"Stefano gently lifted her hand and pressed a soft kiss against her knuckles."No," he said. "I'm not angry with you. It's just... today wasn't the wedding either of us dreamed of. I'm sorry I couldn't give you a better day.""It wasn't your fault."He slowly shook his head."Part of it was my fault. There were things I should have handled differently."Tiziana leaned against him and rested her
(Author's POV)The last guest had barely left the wedding venue before Tiziana completely lost control.She began tearing apart every dress she had worn for the wedding. She started with the wedding gown, then moved to the reception dress, and finally the spare dress she had never even needed to wear. Her fingers dug into the seams and ripped them apart with all the strength she had. Pearl buttons scattered across the floor like grains of rice, while pieces of lace floated down around her. The sound of fabric tearing filled the dressing room until there was nothing left that she could destroy.When it was over, she stood in the middle of the ruined dresses, breathing heavily. Her chest rose and fell as she stared at Stefano Conti with burning eyes."You did this," she said through clenched teeth. "You and her. You gave her the best seat in the room to watch me humiliate myself, and you just stood there doing nothing."Stefano sat quietly on the bench in front of the dressing table. Hi
(Celeste Moretti's POV)I leaned back in my chair and looked around the hall. It did not take long before I noticed people whispering to each other. Everyone was staring at us. They could not believe that Stefano Conti's ex wife had arrived with Vincenzo, and not only that, but as his wife. It was the kind of surprise that no one could ignore. Their eyes kept moving between us, and the whispers grew louder until Vincenzo slowly turned his head and looked at the nearest group. His calm but cold gaze was enough. The conversations stopped immediately, and silence spread through the hall.My eyes moved back to the altar, where Tiziana had taken her place. She was no longer looking at the guests. She was looking directly at us. Her eyes stayed on Vincenzo's arm resting comfortably behind my chair before they shifted to my face. I had no idea what expression she saw, but whatever it was, it made her grip her bouquet so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She looked like she was forcing
(Author's POV)More laughter filled the room, and Stefano accepted his second penalty with a smile. He handled the embarrassment well, and the mood grew lighter. The tension caused by his late arrival slowly disappeared as everyone watched a groom who seemed willing to make a fool of himself for the woman he loved.Then Serena looked down at her phone and smiled."Last question," she said. "What is Tiziana most afraid of?"The room fell silent.Stefano looked toward the closed door where Tiziana was waiting. This time he didn't answer immediately. He wasn't joking anymore. He stood there thinking carefully before finally giving his answer.The silence that followed was completely different from the one before.Several bridesmaids looked at each other without saying a word. The night before, Serena had tested every one of them with the same question, and none of them had answered correctly. That had been the whole point. It was supposed to be the one question that only Stefano would kn
(Author's POV)"Tomorrow," Guglielmo said in a firm voice, "you will behave yourself. Stefano's wedding is a Conti family matter. No matter what you think about it, you will not cause a scene, and you will not embarrass this family."Vincenzo calmly placed a chess piece on the board before looking at his father. "And what if I do?""Then you will answer to me.""I'm not planning to embarrass anyone," Vincenzo replied as he picked up another chess piece. "That much, I can promise."Guglielmo frowned. "That doesn't make me feel any better. That's exactly the kind of thing you say before everything falls apart."Vincenzo finally looked up at him."Father, tomorrow, the person who walks out of that wedding in disgrace won't be me. I can guarantee you that."Guglielmo narrowed his eyes. "What exactly are you planning?""Nothing yet," Vincenzo answered with a shrug as he set the chess piece down and leaned back in his chair. "I'll see how things go. I'm always calm. If anyone loses control
The inside of the car fell into silence.Vincenzo didn't say a word. He simply turned toward Celeste, lowered his head, and rested his face against the curve of her neck. His breath was warm against her skin, while his hands were cool as they slid gently through her hair, brushing the strands away from her shoulder."Vincenzo," she whispered, her voice much softer than she intended.He didn't answer. Instead, his lips moved slowly along her neck with calm, deliberate patience. She felt the faint brush of his teeth against her skin, and her fingers tightened around the edge of the seat without her realizing it.He took his time, moving higher until her breathing became uneven. Every slow touch made it harder for her to think clearly. When his hand slipped beneath her chin and gently lifted her face toward him, she found that all her resistance had disappeared.Then he kissed her.Their wedding was only two days away. In just two days, this strange space between them would finally come
(Author's POV) The Matriarch of the Conti family leaned toward Vincenzo, her voice lowered to a near whisper. “Are these people descendants of that illegitimate branch?” Vincenzo gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. The Matriarch’s expression tightened, a flicker of confusion crossing her f
(Vincenzo Conti’s POV) I strode through the massive double doors of the Conti estate without slowing, my footsteps echoing faintly against polished marble as I made my way into the drawing room. The Matriarch of the Conti family sat elegantly on a velvet sofa, a porcelain cup of Earl Grey poised
Celeste's POV "I’ve called a car," I lied to a concerned doorman to avoid questions. But when I checked my app, the screen mocked me. No cars available. We were halfway up a hill in an exclusive residential zone. Rideshares were non-existent. A gust of wind swept through the canyon, cutting rig
(Celeste Moretti’s POV) The Uber pulled up to the glass tower of Aetheris Biotech at 8:47 in the morning. I walked through the lobby with my carry-on in one hand and a cardboard box tucked under my arm. The receptionist looked up, startled. Ethan’s office was on the fourth floor. I pushed open







