Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 101247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Valentino steps away, aloof and coldly unaffected. And I hate him even more. Damn him! How dare he make me feel these unwanted carnal desires while he feels nothing?
But even as I hate him, I understand why.
I may be young and naive, but I’m not blind.
Valentino Barone is not just attractive, he’s lethally magnificent. His face is perfectly chiseled like a piece of marble crafted by an old master sculptor. It’s a kind of look that makes you want to throw caution to the winds and do dangerous things. Punching him or riding him are two options.
Surprisingly, I don’t think it is just the allure of his face that pulls me to him like a moth flying to its fiery death. Sure, it lures me in, but the ultimate appeal is in the man himself. There’s an aura of darkness and mystery around him that is like nicotine. It sits inside its little box, modestly covered in foil, and calls out temptingly: Just one drag. One hit. Once. A little try. What can it hurt? But like I said, I’m not stupid. I can very clearly identify it for what it is: a trap. And this is why I must never let myself get any closer.
This fake kiss on the altar is the only show of affection this man will ever get from me. From now on until he lets me go, I plan to make his life a living hell.
“Congratulazioni!”
People shout and throw confetti at us as we walk toward the exit. I don’t bother smiling. They should all know without the shadow of a doubt that this is against my will. But no one seems to notice or care though. Outside the church, I’m quickly swept away by laughing friends and family. They are all excited that I’ve married into the powerful Barone family, to the head of the family.
I feel very betrayed by their pleasure and excitement.
“Bravo!” My cousin Louisa is suddenly in front of me with a cheeky smile. She’s a few years older and takes me drinking sometimes. “Your husband is very handsome,” she says. “I wish I had a man like him.”
“I wish you had him,” I respond, meaning every word.
The smile clears off her astounded face. She’s about to say something when Mama appears beside us.
She stares intently at me but addresses my cousin. “Louisa, your mother requests your attention.”
As Louisa hurries off, Mama sighs heavily. “Bite your tongue, Francesca. Do you really want your cousin to have your husband?”
“I don’t care who has him. I don’t want him.” The full extent of my vitriol comes out now that I’m talking to someone with whom I can be my true self. “I hate him.”
“Francesca.” My mom touches my face affectionately. “Most marriages in our world start this way. But you will see. You will fall in love with your husband.”
“Never!” I declare. “He’s just like Papa. I don’t know how you were able to tolerate pure evil for so many years, but I cannot! I just cannot.”
“Francesca, please trust that no matter how dire our situation is, I would never have agreed to let you marry a man who is like your father. I did my due diligence on Valentino when your Nonno first mentioned him. He’s not as bad as you think he is. He is hardworking, loyal, fair, and a good provider. All the things that make for a good husband and father.”
Mama lowers her head and I instantly feel guilty.
I don’t want her to worry about me when I’m away, and the more I voice my unhappiness the more she will. She’s had to worry too much in her life, and I don’t want to be an additional burden. I’m about to tell her not to worry about me when I see a lone figure standing outside the bubbling crowd. Unlike everyone else who is dressed in luxury and splendor, he is dressed in simple clothing.
My heart soars.
Thomas.
“Excuse me, Mama.” I kiss her cheek and push through the crowd to where Thomas stands.
He sees me coming and forces a smile onto his face. “I’m sorry for crashing your wedding, Francesca. I just had… had… to… to come and see you.” His nervous gaze flits around the garden, and my heart bleeds for him.
“Thomas-”
“Francesca,” he says, and his voice breaks. “This hurts so much.”
“Thomas, I’m so sorry.” I shake my head. “I’m in hell as well.”
“I know,” Thomas says. “But I saw him kiss you, and I couldn’t help but feel like a complete loser. He’s handsome, wealthy, and has everything a woman could want.”
His sandy hair falls onto his forehead. If I am brutally honest, compared to Valentino Thomas looks like a squeaky clean, wet behind the ears, frat boy. But after witnessing the devilish life men like Valentino lead and the evil they wreck, a kind and compassionate activist like Thomas is the man my heart will always choose. I met Thomas in college, and even though my father had warned me before his death that I could never marry an ordinary man, I continued to keep Thomas in my life.