Chapter 2

I hated it when my mother organized her "social gatherings."

I called them "the summits of the vipers in heels."

They were a group of women dressed in expensive designers, makeup that weighed more than their consciences, and fake smiles so bright they gave you a headache.

And as always, there I was, a prisoner of that elegant theater in the main living room of the house.

"So the wedding will be in two weeks, Mia?" asked one of the vipers, sipping her tea as if gossip were oxygen.

"None other than with Samuel Anderson, the most promising young man in Livor," added another, with that barely disguised envy that tensed her jaw.

My mother, Mia Klein, smiled radiantly, enjoying every word. "That's right," she replied proudly. "My daughter will marry Samuel in two weeks."

I rolled my eyes. I wanted to disappear. I couldn't stand listening to them talk about my wedding as if I were a trophy displayed in a glass case.

"God, Mia, you're so lucky," one sighed. "If you had him over at your house often before, now that he'll be part of your family, you'll have him around even more frequently."

"Imagine being Samuel Anders' mother-in-law…" added another, with a fake sigh.

I wanted to scream.

I didn't understand how my mother could tolerate those women, much less enjoy their company. They weren't friends; they were piranhas wrapped in silk.

And the worst part is that, even if I refused to admit it, they weren't entirely wrong. Samuel Anderson was handsome.

Too handsome, in fact.

Tall, with broad shoulders, a calm smile, and those blue eyes that were impossible to ignore. He had a presence that filled any room. And that damn black hair… soft, neat, perfect. More than once I had caught myself wanting to run my fingers through it just to see if it felt as silky as it looked.

I hated myself for that.

"Mia, I can't believe your luck," continued one of the women, taking a sip of tea. "You've managed to get your daughter to marry Samuel Anderson. They are a match made in heaven."

"The best of the best," corroborated another, smiling with that malice disguised as admiration.

"There are so many women dying of envy," added the first. "Do you know how many would want to be in her place? Some even invented stories claiming to be 'Mrs. Anderson'. There were even those who swore they carried his children in their wombs!"

I swallowed the urge to let out a bitter laugh. Yes, that's what was said about him. The man of a thousand conquests, the untouchable seducer, the eternal millionaire bachelor.

And, for some reason, my family had decided that I should be the one to tame him.

I stood up from the sofa abruptly.

"Alia?" my mother asked, surprised.

"I'm sorry, mom. I lost my appetite. Excuse me."

I left before any of those women dared to give their opinion on my "sensitivity." Great, now they would surely say I'm an hysterical bride who can't stand people talking about her beloved.

I went up to my room and dropped onto the bed. My head was spinning. I didn't want to get married. Not to Samuel. Not like this.

Samuel Anders, the cause of all my problems. The perfect man for everyone… except for me.

I covered my face with my hands.

"Fucking life…" I murmured.

I wanted to run away. Take my things and disappear. But I couldn't do it. I didn't want to disappoint my parents. My father, Anthony, had put so much trust in this deal. And mom seemed to float on a cloud of prestige and social pride.

I… I just wanted real love.

One that wasn't born out of a contract or a dinner between partners.

I had studies, goals, projects. I was good at what I did. But, deep down, I was still a woman who dreamed of something simple: someone who chose me because he loves me, not because it's convenient for him.

I closed my eyes and sighed.

I didn't know how much longer I could pretend.

Samuel

"I hope you have the decency to invite me to the wedding," Amanda Fox said, crossing her legs in front of my desk with a smile that tried to look relaxed.

I looked at her with a mix of gratitude and guilt. Amanda had always been there, silent, efficient, loyal. Too loyal.

"Of course I will," I replied, dropping into my chair. "Although I'm not sure there's much to celebrate."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Problems with the future Mrs. Anders?"

"Alia seems to hate me more every day," I admitted, rubbing my forehead.

Amanda looked down. Her fingers intertwined on her lap. "It doesn't surprise me, Samuel. They are forcing her to get married. She didn't give her real consent."

"I know…" I said with a sigh. "But even so, I want to make her happy. I don't know how to explain it. I want to give her everything, even if she never asks for it."

Amanda nodded slowly, with a sad smile. "That's the problem, Sam. You can't buy love. No matter how much you give, if it doesn't come from her, it will be empty."

Her honesty hit me harder than I expected. Amanda always told the truth, even when it hurt.

She took my hand, a brief, contained gesture. "You're a good man, Samuel. And that's what Alia needs to see. Not the businessman, nor the partner, nor the man the rumors talk about. The real you."

"And how do you do that?" I asked with a tired smile.

"By living with her. Listening to her. Spoiling her, not with gifts, but with your presence. Let her know that she won't regret having met you."

We remained silent for a few seconds. I was thinking about how to conquer a woman who seemed to have built a steel wall between us.

And she… saying goodbye to something that was never hers.

"Well," Amanda finally said, standing up, "I'm leaving. Anthony wants to see you."

I nodded. "And don't worry," she added with a forced smile. "I want my invitation written in golden letters."

I let out a sincere laugh. "You'll have it."

"And I also want you to tell me how it was that you fell in love with her." She left the sentence floating in the air and walked out before I could answer.

I watched her walk down the hallway. She looked strong, but her shoulders were tense. I knew Amanda deserved someone who loved her the way she loved me. But that wasn't me.

"Friend, have a seat," I said when Anthony Klein walked into the office.

"That won't be necessary, this will be quick," he replied, leaving some documents on the desk.

I took them, but my mind was elsewhere. In a room of a big house, where a woman with green eyes and an impossible temper was probably cursing my name.

Anthony watched me curiously. "What is that you're looking at with so much emotion?"

"The mockup for the wedding invitations," I said, showing him the design on my tablet.

He smiled, satisfied. "In two weeks, Samuel. Two weeks and you'll officially be part of the Klein family."

I nodded. But inside me, the only thing I felt was a mix of nerves, hope… and fear.

Because there was a real possibility that Alia would never come to love me. And even so, I couldn't imagine my life without trying.

Alia

That night, I stood staring at the city lights from my window. Livor never slept. Neither did I.

In two weeks, I would become Samuel Anders' wife. And even though I hated him for everything he represented… something in his gaze kept haunting me. Something I didn't want to understand.