THE WAY WE WERE BEFORE

LLA'S

sion. My palms were sweaty as I adjusted my napkin, f

e sparkling under the soft glow of the chandelier, even t

alm and sad. She stared ahead, h

ngers on the table in agitation. I cou

Vincenzo was at the head, his expression cold as always, his dark

t, the sound commandin

ed, his voice low but firm, the same tone he alw

making sure we all understood t

This is where the future of this family lies. Everything about this wedding, marriage, or un

against my ribs as I swallowed, trying to force the lump in my thr

e didn't have to say anything-I knew exactly how he was feeling. H

with Vincenzo at his home, immediately. After the wedding in six months, you will bec

same roof as a man I barely kne

I wasn't ready to live with a man who was nothing more than

understood how I felt, but her eyes were focused

through the silence again. (Are you ready to start your life with

n't. My thoughts were all jumbled, ea

at, his voice sharp as h

do in this 'union', Papa? Wha

Vincenzo in every way necessary. Attend events. Maintain the family's rep

ough me. I was expected to bear his children? It

with frustration. "And if she doesn't

u are making me talk too much and you know I do not like to. This contract is not negotiable. I know all

e situation settled in. I was starting to wonder if this man standing in front of me is my

tract. His cold demeanor was as impenetrable as ever. He didn't seem to care about anything happening around him

determined. "What happens if I don'

ke your father said, you will face the consequences." He spat in a low voi

eight of them was suffocating. I felt small,

m for joy for being sold out to an evil and cold-hearted individual? Your level of audacity is a discovery." I look

I had left were questions and fears

t her safety? What about-" He started,

io," Papa snapped. (This is not

nsure your sister's well-being, you will

ore. He looked at me, his eyes filled with tears, and I

rs, but all I could think about was the contract. The Romano house

kly as I could. I couldn't sit there any longer, pretending that every

g in my chest. Emilio was quick to follow,

hed tears. "I can't do this, Emilio. I do

his voice filled with qu

with so much lov

ne. I'll be here fo

work into hell, and there is nothing I can do to set myself free. I wanted to believe him, to believe that he could p

, and for a moment, I allowed myself to sink into his embrace.

bout our lives was about to change, and