Bound by blood and vows

n still burned from the shock of what Matteo had said the night before. Marry him? Just li

ad even

ther. Not

initely

her room c

ce floated in. "Come dow

oom where her mother, father, and-of course-Bella were waiting. Her father's face was unreadable, while her mother looked nervo

ore them, arms

her effort to keep it steady. "Why would y

our family, Aria. You must understand, th

ng through the polite stillness of the room. "You didn't

t just any man, sweetheart. He's pow

I'm quiet. Because I won't fight back. Bec

ase. Like you'd even know how to be a

inked.

her to Google him, did you?" Bella scoffed. "You think you'll

ir mother snapped, though t

all thinking. She's not ready for that ki

finally spilled over. "Just stop acting li

ooked down a

ther s

defen

n her heel and stormed out the f

e buses stopped. Dialing the most frequent number on her call log, she waited for her b

? Want to get

iped her tears,

ea

e with her best friend, Lina, who handed h

r," Lina said, brushing her

though it brok

oftened. "Hey

tract her for a second before she sighed. "They want

ked. "Wai

ardo

The man who probably owns half of Mila

nod

s ridiculously good-looking in that scary mafia CEO

my dad... he said we're falling apart. Th

messed up. You're not a s

I'd make a t

ey might stick. "Bella thinks the world revo

. "But sometimes I w

r doesn't mean you're weak. And you're not less just because your family's blind to what

arried to someone like that, Lina. He does

er eyes. "And w

the railing. "To be seen. Just once. For wh

talking about mafia marriages or spoiled sisters. Tonigh

s black, simple, hugging her curves just enough to feel bold. The other-a shimmering mi

l," Lina had said. "You're goi

laces, the neckline daring without being vulgar. She smoothed her hands down her sides, eyein

on unfamiliar. She rarely wore makeup. Bella always said she wa

fume, and pulled her hair into a loose, effortless

on her feet, but they g

f one last time, lips

wasn't the in

she was j

th heels in hand, ignoring the stares of passersby. For a few hours, Aria forgot the weig

night, curled under soft blankets, a part of

didn't wait for consent

s had already