Chapter 2

"Bury the story. Destroy the photos."

After the call, Arturo stood beside my hospital bed and explained, "The reporters all rushed at us, and Elena was terrified. I had to get her out of there first. Don't get the wrong idea."

I felt a pang of bitterness. "Even if you suppress the reports, people still won't know who your fiancee is."

Arturo sat down beside my bed. "The wedding invitations went out to every major mafia boss long ago. Who doesn't know you're the bride?"

I pointed at his phone. "The reporters don't know."

He gave a quiet scoff and shook his head. "They're just a bunch of idiots who got the wrong person."

He took out a warm coat and helped me put it on. "If you're upset about this, I can make our relationship public. But the family was just attacked.

"If the press starts reporting on our wedding now, you'll become a target."

Once I had the coat on, he stood up. "This was the only one left at the clothing store downstairs. Make do with it for a few days."

I looked down. It wasn't even my size.

Just then, the hospital room door opened.

Elena hurried in with a bag in her hand. "Don Venturi, you took the wrong coat. The one you're holding is what you bought for me. Rachele's clothes are with me."

My heart sank. So, this wasn't a sign that I mattered more to him.

Elena forced a smile at me, then said, "Don Venturi, Mrs. Venturi Sr. sent me to bring you both home. She won't feel better until she sees you both herself. Rachele, you're going to be okay, right?"

The nurse beside me spoke up quietly. "Ms. Bellandi is seriously ill. She can't be discharged tonight, and someone has to stay with her."

Arturo pulled out his phone. "I'll send two caregivers over."

I covered his screen with a hand and stared straight at him. "I don't want strangers. Can you stay with me?"

He hesitated. "Let me go home with Elena and explain everything. I'll come back to stay with you right after."

I didn't back down. "Then let Elena go back alone."

Elena's eyes grew red-rimmed, and tears slipped down her cheeks.

"Rachele, my brother was shot and killed while protecting Don Venturi. Taking care of me is his responsibility," Elena said. "A caregiver can do everything you need.

"If you insist on making him stay, are you really fit to be his fiancee?"

Arturo adjusted my blanket. "I'll stay until you finish dinner. Will that do?"

He opened the food container and patiently fed me.

I forced myself to swallow, overwhelmed by a deep sense of helplessness. "Just go."

Before he left, he looked back at me. "Don't block me again. If you feel unwell in the middle of the night, call me. I'll answer."

The door closed, leaving me alone in the hospital room.

I picked up my phone and pulled up a number.

Matteo Rinaldi was the biggest arms dealer in the area and Arturo's sworn enemy.

A few months ago, he lost to me at an underground auction and added me to his contacts.

Later, he proposed a partnership to take over the western smuggling routes.

I stared at the number for a long time.

In the end, I opened the encrypted agreement and signed my name.