Chapter Thirteen CHIARA
Iarrived at the cathedral separately from Leo, which didn’t surprise me given his recent coldness. Besides, men like Leo Moretti didn’t arrive at weddings. They made entrances.
The black town car rolled to a smooth stop beneath towering marble arches while rainwater shimmered across the streets outside like spilled silver. My stomach twisted violently the moment I looked up through the tinted window.
The cathedral looked less like a church and more like something built for royalty. Or a virgin sacrifice.
Towering ivory stone climbed into the dark morning sky, stained-glass windows glowing gold from within while hundreds of candles flickered behind them like trapped stars.
White roses spilled down the massive staircase in decadent arrangements threaded with black ribbon and gold snakes woven subtly through the flowers.
Leo made his mark everywhere. Even the wedding decor looked dangerous.
The driver opened my door carefully. Cold air kissed my skin, carrying the scent of rain, roses, and expensive perfume drifting from the arriving guests. Flashing cameras burst somewhere farther down the staircase where paparazzi screamed questions at arriving mafia royalty.
Five Families. Politicians. Judges. Monsters dressed in designer suits. And somewhere inside that cathedral, Leo was waiting. My future husband.
The memory of last night hit me so hard my chest tightened painfully. You really are desperate for it, aren’t you? Humiliation burned all over again beneath my skin.
I stepped from the car carefully, satin skirts gathered in trembling hands while the enormous train of my wedding gown spilled behind me like liquid ivory. Diamonds glittered coldly against my throat. My veil drifted softly in the wind, brushing against my bare shoulders.
Beautiful. Worthless. A bride bought for a man who didn’t even want me anymore. I swallowed hard.
Sergio appeared beside me almost instantly, dark suit perfectly tailored over broad shoulders while several armed guards positioned themselves discreetly around us.
“You look terrifying,” he muttered.
I gave him a weak glare. “That’s exactly what you said yesterday.”
“Because it’s still true.” His eyes flicked toward the cathedral entrance. “Every man in there is about to hate Leo.”
I tried to smile. It didn’t quite work. Sergio noticed, asking, “You okay?”
I didn’t answer. This time, I didn’t have it in me to keep up with his banter.
The massive cathedral doors opened before I could say anything else. The wedding planner, wearing an elegant black suit hurried down the steps toward us, clipboard clutched tightly against her chest. Her face brightened when she saw me.
“Signorina Ventura… sorry, Signora Moretti-to-be,” she corrected nervously. “Everything is ready for you inside.”
My stomach rolled.
“Wonderful,” I lied weakly.
The wedding planner smiled tightly before glancing behind me. “Your family arrived earlier this morning, by the way.”
I froze. “What?”
Sergio’s brows lifted sharply beside me.
“Your siblings,” the planner continued. “Mr. Moretti arranged private transportation for them last night. They’re waiting in the bridal suite upstairs.”
For one full second, I forgot how to breathe. Then my heart cracked wide open.
“They’re all here?” I whispered.
The woman blinked. “Yes, signorina.”
Oh my God. Before anyone could stop me, I practically ran up the cathedral stairs. My heels clicked wildly against marble while guards scrambled behind me, satin skirts gathered desperately in my fists. My pulse thundered painfully louder with every floor.
Please. Please let it really be them.
The bridal suite doors swung open.
“Chiara!” Sienna launched herself at me so hard I nearly fell backward. A sob ripped straight from my chest.
“Oh my God,” I cried, dropping to my knees despite the dress. “Sienna!”
Her tiny arms wrapped around my neck so tightly it hurt. She smelled like strawberry shampoo and home and every single thing I’d spent weeks crying over in Leo’s bed.
“You left,” she whimpered into my shoulder. “You really left.”
Fresh tears flooded my eyes.
“I know, baby,” I choked out. “I know.”
Aurora stood behind her near the vanity table, arms crossed tightly over a dark emerald dress while tears streamed silently down her face despite the furious expression she wore.
And Matteo… Matteo looked older somehow, even though not much time had passed. His dark suit fit awkwardly across broadening shoulders while he stood near the windows staring at me like he still wasn’t fully convinced I was real. My chest physically hurt.
“You’re all here,” I whispered brokenly. Aurora crossed the room first. Then she was hugging me too, fierce enough to bruise.
“You look nice,” she whispered angrily against my hair. “Nice for someone who’s about to be sold to the highest bidder.”
A laugh broke through my tears. “I missed you too.”
Aurora pulled back just enough to cup my face hard between her hands. “I mean it, though. You look beautiful.”
That nearly destroyed me.
Matteo finally crossed the room slower than the others. But when he wrapped his arms around me, he held on so tightly my vision blurred all over again.
“You shouldn’t marry him,” he muttered roughly. Fear slid through me.
“What happened at home?” I asked softly.
His jaw tightened. “Nothing I couldn’t handle.”
Which meant everything. I looked between all three of them desperately, trying to memorize every face at once. Sienna’s braids. Aurora’s sharp eyeliner. Matteo’s tired eyes. The bridal suite felt warmer somehow. Alive again.
Sergio leaned quietly against the doorway watching us for several long seconds before clearing his throat awkwardly.
“I’m gonna…” He motioned vaguely toward the hall. “Stand guard somewhere less emotionally devastating.”
A watery laugh escaped me.
“Thank you,” I whispered. Sergio gave me a small nod before disappearing outside, shutting the doors behind him. And we were alone.
The four of us collapsed together onto the massive velvet couch near the windows, talking over each other. Sienna climbed directly into my lap despite the wedding dress while Aurora grilled me viciously about Leo.
“Has he touched you?” she demanded.
“Aurora!”
“What?” she hissed. “I need to know if I should stab The Serpent.”
Matteo muttered darkly, “I’ll help.”
Despite everything, I laughed so hard tears rolled down my cheeks again. God. I missed them. For one beautiful hour, I almost forgot I was here to become Leo Moretti’s wife.
The bridal suite smelled faintly of roses and hairspray by the time I finally disappeared to change shoes and touch up my makeup. When I stepped back into the main room again, silence hit me. My smile faded.
“Aurora?” Nothing. The suite was empty. Confusion flickered through me as I moved farther inside, satin skirts whispering across marble floors. “Matteo?”
No answer. A cold feeling slid slowly down my spine.
“Well, well,” a dark, masculine voice spoke up. I turned sharply.
A man lounged lazily near the doorway connecting to the hallway bar, crystal whiskey glass dangling from tattooed fingers.
Young. Dangerously handsome. Dark hair brushed carelessly away from sharp cheekbones while an expensive black suit stretched across broad shoulders.
He couldn’t have been older than twenty-six.
A gold watch gleamed at his wrist. One corner of his mouth curved upward slowly when he saw me staring. But something about him felt… wrong.
Like a knife pretending it didn’t cut deep when needed.
“You must be Chiara,” he drawled.
My pulse quickened slightly. “Who are you?”
The man pushed away from the doorway casually. “Angelo Moretti. Leo’s favorite cousin. Unfortunately.”
Something unpleasant twisted low in my stomach. Because he looked at me exactly the way rich cruel men always did. Like entertainment.
“Where’s my family?” I asked.
“Relax.” Angelo took a sip of whiskey lazily. “They went downstairs. Little reunion was over.”
I exhaled shakily. But the unease stayed. Angelo’s gaze slid slowly over my body, appreciation darkening his expression.
“Christ,” he muttered. “Now I understand why he lost his mind.”
My throat tightened. “What do you want?”
“Oh, this?” He motioned between us casually. “Curiosity mostly. Leo never brings women around.”
“I’m not ‘around.’ I’m getting married,” I reminded him. “That means I’m here to stay.”
“Exactly.” Angelo laughed softly. “That’s the weird part.”
Ice prickled along my skin. Something in his tone felt deliberate now. Cruel.
“He’s never wanted marriage before?” I asked carefully. Angelo barked out another laugh.
“Wanted?” He looked genuinely entertained. “Sweetheart, Leo doesn’t want marriage. Leo wants the inheritance.”
The room tilted slightly. “What?”
Angelo swirled whiskey lazily inside the crystal glass. “You really don’t know?”
His eyes glittered maliciously. “Jesus Christ. He actually married you blind.”
My pulse started pounding painfully. “What are you talking about?”
“Leo’s father’s will.” Angelo smirked. “Haven’t you heard? The whole Moretti empire goes to Leo’s firstborn son. No heir, no inheritance.”
Cold spread slowly through my chest. No.
No.
“He needed a wife fast,” Angelo continued casually. “Needed someone young enough to give him kids.” His gaze dragged over me pointedly. “Preferably obedient.”
My stomach dropped so violently I thought I might actually faint. Oh God. Everything clicked together in horrifying clarity.
The lies. The rushed marriage. The obsession with breeding. Tears burned behind my eyes.
“No,” I whispered.
Angelo tilted his head mockingly.
“Aww.” Fake sympathy dripped from his voice. “Did you think this was a love story?”
Humiliation crashed through me so hard it physically hurt. I stared down at myself. The dress. The diamonds. The veil. Not a bride. Livestock. A womb. Something useful to get him to his goal as fast as possible. Worthless tears spilled over despite my desperate attempt to stop them.
“Oh, don’t cry.” Angelo’s grin widened cruelly. “Leo probably likes you at least a little. More than the rest of his women anyway.”
The words sliced straight through me. My chest tightened so painfully I could barely breathe. Every humiliating moment replayed.
You really are desperate for it, aren’t you?
God. I’d begged him. Thrown myself at him. Taken my clothes off while he secretly laughed about needing an heir. I felt sick.
The suite doors opened behind me. Papa stepped inside. And his expression darkened.
“Why are you crying?” he demanded sharply.
I looked at him desperately. “I don’t want to do this.”
His eyes narrowed dangerously. “Excuse me?”
“He only wants me for children,” I whispered brokenly. “I’m just… I’m just a weapon to him.”
Papa’s hand cracked across my face so hard my vision blurred. Pain exploded through my cheek. I gasped. Angelo watched silently from the corner with open amusement.
“Stop embarrassing yourself,” Papa hissed viciously. “Do you have any idea how lucky you are? That man could have any woman in the city.”
Fresh humiliation flooded me. “I don’t care. I don’t want him anymore.”
Papa grabbed my arm hard enough to bruise. “You will marry him.”
“I won’t,” I hissed. Panic surged violently through me. Before either man could react, I yanked free and ran.
The cathedral hallway blurred around me in flashes of gold and white satin while guests gasped nearby. My heels slipped against marble as adrenaline tore through my body. I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t walk down that aisle knowing the truth. Knowing I meant nothing.
“Chiara, come here, you disobedient brat!” Papa caught me before I reached the staircase. His hand tangled viciously in my hair, jerking me backward hard enough to make me cry out.
“Stop fighting me!” he snarled into my ear. Tears streamed down my face.
“I hate him!” I sobbed. Papa spun me toward the massive cathedral doors just as music swelled from inside. The ceremony had started.
“No,” I whispered. But Papa shoved me forward anyway. The doors opened. Hundreds of people turned to stare.
Candles glowed like stars beneath towering cathedral ceilings while white roses lined the endless aisle ahead. Mafia royalty filled every pew in black designer suits and diamonds.
And at the very end, Leo stood waiting for me. Tall. Dark. Beautiful. The Serpent himself.
His expression shifted the second he saw my face. Saw the tears. Saw Papa’s bruising grip on my arm. Something dangerous flickered behind his eyes. But I didn’t care anymore. Because now all I could think was…
He only chose me because my body could give him something.