Chapter 49
Chapter
Forty-Nine
“Come sleep with me: We won’t make Love, Love will make us.”
― Julio Cortázar
Jade
I readjusted my mask, making sure it was perfectly in place, then checked my dress.
Everything was flawless.
I was wearing a buttery, white Elie Saab gown, sleek and seductive, with sheer white gloves that barely grazed my wrists, and a mask covering my eyes, decorated in feathers—white and gold. The gold butterfly necklace dangled at my neck, and the tiny “A” choker from Angelo sat snugly.
I stepped out of the condo and took the elevator downstairs, my driver waiting as always, silent and patient.
Tonight was exhibition night— The Fallen Masks . Angelo’s brainchild, a masquerade ball of sorts, but with a twist. It was mandatory to wear Venetian masks and gowns, celebrating the shift into spring.
I couldn’t help but feel a thrill buzz through me—not just because of the exhibition itself, but because this time, I planned to enjoy the night.
My throat tightened as memories of the last masquerade crept in—how I’d shattered Angelo’s trust, how I’d broken him, all while trying to tear us apart.
Sometimes, at night, when everything else was quiet, I’d lay awake, watching him sleep beside me, my fingers brushing over his face. The guilt still clawed at me, and I wondered how he had ever forgiven me. How he could look past all the shit I’d done, and had still found a way to love me.
I’d been running from myself for so long that I still couldn’t believe he wanted me—wanted this .
But maybe that was the thing about love, right? It didn’t care about your mistakes. It just dug into the darkest parts of you and wrapped around your heart like mercy you didn’t deserve.
I made my way to the driver, who opened the door for me with a quiet nod. I slid into the back seat, the door clicking shut behind me. The car began to move smoothly through the city, but as I settled in, my gaze fell on a small, carefully wrapped gift resting on the seat beside me.
I frowned, curious, before I grabbed it and noticed a card attached.
I tore it open, reading the words written in Angelo’s familiar script:
Your first surprise of the night.
It’s time to use your pain as art, amore mio.
x Angelo
A flutter of excitement ran through me.
I wasted no time unwrapping it, my fingers trembling slightly in anticipation as the sleek paper came apart. Inside, I found a file—simple, but mysterious.
I opened it, the contents catching the faint light from the street-lamps as the car sped through the city. My pulse quickened as I flipped through the papers.
Until I found a contract.
Contractual Agreement
This agreement acknowledges that Mayor Nicolas McKingston of Bay Village , through this contract, hereby affirms that the property known as Lake Kendrick , encompassing ten acres of land , is now the sole property of Miss Jade Whitenhouse .
Following extensive negotiations and the inactivity of the land due to the tragic explosion of Mines nearly a decade ago, the property has remained in a state of standby awaiting a new owner. Mr. Angelo Lazzio has purchased the land for seventeen million dollars and, in turn, has granted Miss Jade Whitenhouse full ownership and custodianship of the property.
I was frozen, staring at the contract, my heart pounding in my chest.
He bought me Lake Kendrick?
How?
Why?
Tears were already welling in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.
I quickly grabbed the note again and reread it.
It’s time to use your pain as art, amore mio.
Oh my god, Angelo.
I felt my stomach drop. That land… It wasn’t just any land. It was where my sister had died. The place where everything had changed for me. I had avoided it for so long, buried the memories as deep as I could, and now Angelo was giving it to me.
Not just a plot of land. My land.
The car came to a halt, and the driver opened the door, offering me a smile. “I’ll keep your present safe in the car, Miss Whitenhouse, until you’re ready to head back.”
I nodded, giving him a brief smile in return, then stepped out onto the red carpet.
As I made my way through the crowd, I spotted some old clients and acquaintances, but I barely slowed my pace.
Tonight, I wasn’t here for small talk or forced pleasantries. I only had eyes for one person.
I reached the top of the grand staircase and looked around the ballroom, my gaze scanning the crowd. But no sign of Angelo.
With a frustrated sigh, I pushed my way down the stairs.
The crowd parted just enough for me to slip through, but still, no sign of Angelo.
It was like he was purposefully hiding.
“Jade?”
I spun around so fast I nearly gave myself whiplash, my heart in my throat—but no. Of course, it wasn’t him.
“Oh,” I said, recovering quickly with a smile. “Monica.”
Monica Lazzio. Angelo’s mama.
I almost didn’t recognize her under the dazzling red-and-gold mask, her fiery gown sweeping dramatically across the floor, like she’d just walked out of a Renaissance painting. She looked fabulous.
“How are you, dolcezza ?” she asked, her voice warm. “I’m so sad you resigned from Lazzio Exhibits Inc. Angelo will never find another like you.”
My smile stretched wider. “ Grazie , Monica. I just needed a change of pace.”
She tilted her head. “Hmm, I understand. Angelo told me you moved in together.” Her lips curved into a knowing smile, her eyes sparkling with something dangerously close to maternal mischief. “I’m so happy, Jade. In thirty-six years, I’ve never seen my son in love.”
Her words hit me square in the chest, but I managed to stay upright. Barely.
She stepped closer, taking my hands in hers. “ Grazie , Jade. Thank you for helping him understand he deserves love, too.”
I tried to hold it together, but a little laugh bubbled out—half sob, half disbelief.
“He’s the one who taught me I deserved it, Monica,” I said, my voice breaking despite my best efforts to play it cool.
She squeezed my hands, her smile so radiant it was almost blinding.
Then, she leaned in, kissing my cheek.
“Next week,” she said decisively. “Lunch and shopping. My treat. And no arguing.”
I nodded.
As she turned to leave, she glanced over her shoulder.
“I can’t wait for you to be part of our family one day.” She winked and left.
La famiglia.
I stood there, rooted to the spot, my cheeks flushed.
The word settled over me, heavy and sweet, like honey warmed by the sun.
I let out a sigh as the music softened into a tender ballad, couples melting into each other as they glided across the floor in perfect harmony.
I tried to make my way through them, carefully dodging sweeping gowns and clasped hands, but before I could take another step, a hand caught mine—strong, steady, and oh so familiar.
Before I could process it, I was spun effortlessly, my breath catching as I collided with the unyielding warmth of a chest I knew better than my own heartbeat.
I looked up, and there he was.
Angelo.
Mio Angelo.
The world faded, the glittering ballroom, the music, the whispers—they all disappeared. It was just him, with his dark eyes smoldering beneath his mask.
“Looking for me, amore mio ?” he murmured, his voice a low, velvet caress.
I whispered, “Always.”
His smile, achingly tender and devastatingly beautiful, made my knees weak.
“I haven’t been much of a gentleman with you, have I?” Angelo murmured, his voice low and rich as he extended a hand. “I’ve never even taken you to dance. Shall we?”
I hesitated. “I’ve never been much of a dancer, Angelo.”
Clubbing? Sure.
That was survival mode—dim lights, sweaty crowds, and music loud enough to drown out my two left feet. I could flail like a caffeinated hyena and still blend in.
But real dancing? Like, actual ballroom? With rules and grace?
Yeah, that was uncharted territory.
“Lucky for you, I’ve got enough practice for the both of us.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, the sound shaky, caught somewhere between nervous and utterly charmed.
My heart swelled, ridiculous and euphoric, as his hand settled on my waist, warm and steady. I looped my arms around his neck, trying to ignore the way my pulse seemed to echo in my ears.
“How did you recognize me?” I asked.
I’d tied my hair in a bun, and the mask hid half my face—surely enough to make me unrecognizable in this sea of glamour.
“I’d recognize you anywhere, Jade,” he said softly, the words like a vow. “Even in a sea of souls, mine would find yours. Always. Unfailingly. As if drawn by fate itself.”
Always.
“Even in hell?”
The corner of his lips curled, a whisper of a smile. “Especially in hell, amore . Because finding you there would make it feel like heaven.”
I pressed my face against his chest, letting the steady thump of his heart remind me I wasn’t dreaming. His hand trailed lightly down my back, sending little sparks through me. The song Love in Portofino by Andrea Bocelli wrapped around us.
And then, in that perfect, quiet moment, I felt his breath on my ear.
“ Ti amo, Jade .”
God. His Italian? It should be illegal to sound that good. It went straight through me, hitting me like an electric jolt. I swear, if I hadn’t been so damn close to him, my knees would’ve given out.
There was something about the way he’d said it that just… wrecked me.
He could probably tell too. He always could.
I almost cried right then. Something in me was just so overwhelmed by him, by the night, by everything—like this whole thing was too beautiful, too perfect, too damn real to believe.
“I think you’re making me fall harder than I already have,” I muttered against his chest.
He let out a soft chuckle, leaning back just enough to look at me. “Good. Because I’ve got another surprise for you.”
I didn’t even need to ask. I followed him willingly, heart thumping in my chest.
Funny how love could make you feel both silly and speechless.
But honestly, if this was what being in love felt like, I was all in.
We reached the elevator, and as he hit the button for the rooftop, I realized we had about five minutes. Perfect timing.
Without thinking, I spun to face him, grabbed his face, and kissed him hard. My hands buried themselves in his hair, his grip pulling me in closer, fingertips digging into my ass.
“Have I told you how fucking stunning you look?” he whispered, lips still brushing mine.
I pulled away slightly. “Nope, you didn’t. Not very gentlemanly of you, Lazzio.”
His eyes glinted with mischief as he leaned in again, lips pressing to mine with a hunger that made my pulse race. His tongue swept across mine, teasing, making it impossible to think of anything else.
I pulled back, breathless.
“Thank you, for Lake Kendrick.”
He smiled softly. “You’re welcome. Now you have the chance to create something beautiful in a place where so much of your pain once lived.”
I nodded, tears starting to blur my vision. “I think Stella would have liked this.”
“I’m sure she would have,” he said gently.
The elevator door opened with a soft click, and a light breeze from the city brushed against my skin.
He stepped in front of the door, blocking the view.
“I hope she would have supported what I’m about to do,” he said, his voice tender as he moved aside.
My brows furrowed in confusion before my gaze shifted to the rooftop.
Oh. My. God.
The entire rooftop was transformed into a sea of red dahlias, their velvety petals spilling over every inch, hiding the pavement beneath. A delicate glass pathway glowed softly, leading to the center where the air shimmered with rainbow-colored lights.
In the distance, a wall of diamonds sparkled, catching the light like a thousand stars scattered across the night sky.
Angelo stepped closer, his hands gently removing his own mask before taking mine off with equal care. He placed both masks down, his touch lingering for a moment before he took my hand.
We walked together, my heels clicking against the glass.
I was utterly speechless, butterflies in my stomach, knowing what was coming.
We stopped in the center, and Angelo’s hand gently cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing over my skin in a soft caress.
“Are you ready for my speech?” he asked, a playful glint in his eyes.
I couldn’t help the giggle that slipped out, my hands trembling as I nodded.
His smile softened.
“For six years, Jade, I’ve loved you,” he said, his voice low, almost reverent. “I’ve spent every moment in your shadow, watching from afar. And in all that time, I’ve never met anyone like you. You’ve made me feel things I buried long ago—things I didn’t want to face, but couldn’t escape. But there’s no running from it anymore. Not from you, not from what you do to me.”
He took a deep breath, his gaze never wavering from mine.
“Despite everything we’ve been through—the betrayals, the lies, the way we tore each other apart—it was always you. Always. And even when I tried to force you away, when I made it seem like I didn’t want you, it was only because the thought of never being able to have you was a weight I couldn’t bear, suffocating me more than your absence ever could.”
His thumb moved across my cheek.
“I hope you’ll stay with me, because you are both my deepest torment and the most beautiful gift I could ever receive. And I need you, Jade. More than you’ll ever understand.”
Tears welled up as I tried to steady my breath, overwhelmed by everything he’d just said.
Angelo dropped to one knee, and for a second, I thought I might faint. He pulled out a red velvet box, so elegant it looked like it belonged in his museum, or a high-security vault.
The ring he held was a masterpiece.
The emerald-cut diamond at its center was striking. Flanked by two smaller, round diamonds that added just the right amount of brilliance. The gold band was simple, but elegant—quiet, like it knew its worth without saying a word.
That was the kind of jewel that could only be worth millions.
I couldn’t help but stare at it, my fingers trembling as I brought my hand up to my mouth.
Angelo reached for my hand.
“I’d choose you every time, in every lifetime, amore . But for now, let’s start with forever.” He paused as he held the ring before me. “Would you marry me?”
“You want forever with me?” I whispered, my voice barely a breath.
“I’ve always wanted forever with you, Jade.”
My chest squeezed.
I’ve always wanted forever with you.
God, how did I get so lucky?
“Yes, Angelo,” I said, overly excited. “Yes, I’ll marry you!”
He slid the ring onto my finger, his movements quick and sure. I giggled, feeling like the happiest woman alive, and in one smooth motion, he swept me into his arms, spinning us in joyful circles. Our laughter danced through the air.
When he set me down, his lips found mine in a kiss that made the world fall away. As our lips parted, the sky erupted in a blaze of fireworks—each burst of color painting the night. Reds, blues, golds—flowers of light blossomed in the sky above us, lighting up the towering skyscrapers of New York, the city humming with love around us.
“Not too lame, huh?”
“No,” I breathed out, my heart soaring, “Not even a bit.”
We stood there, the fireworks exploding above us, colors bursting in the sky as his arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer. My arms rested over his, and I felt him, solid and warm, tucked behind me with his face buried in the crook of my neck.
There was something calming, something right about this moment, and I couldn’t help but smile.
As we watched the sky light up, my heart settled into this peaceful rhythm.
And that’s when it hit me.
The greatest blessing in life was often hiding in plain sight.
We spend so much time running from our pain, from loss, from the pieces of ourselves we think we can’t face. We wear masks to survive, trying to protect ourselves from the world, but also from the truth.
We lie—to get what we want, to shield ourselves, to fit into something we think we’re supposed to be.
But sometimes, if we’re lucky, we meet someone who sees past all that.
Someone who sees the scars, not as flaws, but as part of who we are.
Someone who doesn’t just see our lies, but understands them, even loves them.
And there, in Angelo’s arms, under the fireworks and stars, I made myself a promise.
I would never lie to myself again.
I would hold on to the people who saw me for who I truly was—who saw the good and the bad, the messy and the beautiful—and never let me go.
And, in my heart, I would always hope that the people I loved could feel just how much they meant to me, how deeply I cared for them, just as they had always done for me.
In a way, I was grateful.
My sinful lies had become the twisted path to my redemption, guiding me back to a part of myself I’d thought I would never see again—to the happiness I’d thought I had lost forever.