CHAPTER FOUR: THE LIE

Lena’s pov

  

   I stood there staring at Luca or was it Dante? 

  

   It had to be Luca. The jaw was the same. The eyes. Even that infuriating smirk was the same. But he wasn’t looking at me like he knew me. Not at all. “Dante? What do you think?” The old man prompted again. Dante didn’t even glance my way. He leaned back bored.

  

   “ I don’t care what she looks like.” 

  

   His voice dropped, flat and crude.

  

   “Any woman will do” 

  

   The words hit like a slap.

  

   This statement just helped confirm what I was thinking. He couldn’t possibly be Luca. Luca was so gentle, kind, and sweet to me that night. Maybe they look alike. 

  

   “That’s true,” the old man chuckled.

  

   My mother flinched at that comment. Her eyes locked with mine for half a second, and I could see the look of pity in her eyes before she ushered everyone towards the dining room. 

  

   She steered me to the seat between Dante and the old man and gave my shoulder a small, warning press. Behave. She said with her eyes. 

  

   The servants started bringing out the food. Dante and my brother dove into business talk. I didn’t care to listen so I tuned them out, focusing on the clink of silver and the aroma of the food being served.

  

   Then Dante’s hand brushed my thigh.

  

   It wasn’t an accident. 

  

   His fingers stayed there, slow and deliberate, under the table where no one could see. His face didn’t change. He kept talking to my brother like I wasn’t even there. Heat crept up my skin. 

  

   He continued moving his hand upward, slowly and deliberately, closer. I shifted in my seat, trying to make space without making a scene. His fingers continued moving. My breath caught, for a second the pressure, the movement of his hands dragged up the memory I’d buried of Lucas's hands, careful and warm. I shoved the thought to the back of my mind. 

  

   Dante’s hand stilled as the old man set his glass down with a soft clink.

  

   “This is a union, not a gamble,” he said, gaze fixed on my mother. “Before we finalize anything we need to be certain what we’re getting is clean.”

  

   The table went quiet for half a second too long.

  

   Dante pulled his hands from my thighs, his attention shifting to the old man.

  

   My mother’s smile was all teeth and no warmth. 

  

   “Of course,” she said, voice pitched too high 

  

   “You’ll find no issues on that front, signore 

  

   Moretti.” 

  

   Dante cleared his throat. He leaned back eyes narrowing at her.

  

   “So I have your word, then? She’s untouched” 

  

   He asks my mother. 

  

   “Yes.” My mother said too fast. Too sharp. 

  

   “Why would I lie?” She sounds defensive. 

  

   He chuckled low unbothered. Like he knows something.

  

   “We have our ways of checking” the old man said.

  

   My mother’s throat worked before she answered.

  

   “You can check all you want. My daughter is pure” His smile sharpened. His eyes slid to me, slow and assessing, like I’d just become interesting. 

  

   Dante didn’t look at me. He reached into his jacket pocket and set a small box on the table.

  

   “If that’s the case, I see no reason to delay the alliance” 

  

   He opened it. A pink diamond ring caught the light cold and sharp. “Put it on,” he said.

  

   My fingers felt numb as I picked it up. It was beautiful. Under different circumstances, I might’ve wanted it. I slid it onto my finger because the room was watching and saying no wasn’t an option. 

  

   The moment it settled the table erupted in applause.

  

   “You’re Moretti property now” the old man murmured, low enough that only I heard it. 

  

   I plastered on a smile. Thin. Hollow. This is for my mother. This is for my brother. I repeated it to myself as a reminder of why I agreed to this. 

  

    Everyone started congratulating Dante and me on the alliance. I nodded each time. No words came. 

  

   “May this union be fruitful and bring forth happiness,” 

  

   My mother said, while urging me to smile. 

  

   Dinner ended soon after. My brother led Dante to the study to talk business. I stood and followed my mother out, with the ring weighing heavily on my hand.

  

   “The ring is beautiful, Tesoro” she said, eyes bright. “You are very lucky” 

  

   I couldn’t believe this woman, they killed your husband and you are happily sending your daughter off to them. 

  

   I didn’t understand her, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to.