Chapter 1

"P-proposal? Who did you say yes to?" Nico's eyes turned red.

"Me, of course."

A familiar voice rang out from the entrance.

Dante strolled in wearing a white suit, his men behind him.

Every member of the Moretti family in the hall was instantly on guard.

My father glared at him. "Dante Vitale, you've got a lot of nerve showing up here like this!"

Dante smiled and slipped an arm around my shoulders. Then, as if by magic, he produced a red rose and offered it to me.

"Don Moretti, I'm your future son-in-law now. Is this how you treat me?"

My father looked at me and let out a heavy sigh.

But Nico let go of Leah and charged over to us.

"Get your hands off her!"

Dante didn't move. He simply lowered his head and tucked a loose strand of my hair back into place.

His guards grabbed Nico before he could get close.

Nico's eyes were red.

"Dante, forget it! The Moretti family will never form a marriage alliance with your family!"

Dante didn't even glance at him.

"Oh? And a stray dog gets a say in this?"

He turned to my father, his tone respectful and polite.

"Don Moretti, I'll bring my adviser for a formal meeting tomorrow morning. We can discuss whatever terms you have in mind."

My father gave a cold grunt and didn't answer.

When Nico saw that my father hadn't refused, he turned to me in a panic.

"Camila! How could you say yes to him? Have you forgotten how much business and territory they've taken from us over the years?"

I looked down at him.

"I haven't forgotten. Once the wedding's over, my father will settle those accounts."

"No! I'm your fiancé!"

His voice rose to a shout, and he panted like a rabid dog.

I raised my left hand. There was still a pale line on my ring finger.

"You wanted to call off our engagement. I agreed and gave you back your ring. Nico, don't you still owe Ms. Cruz for saving your life?"

He stared at my hand and swallowed hard.

"Camila, I didn't have a choice. There wasn't a single day in those three years when I didn't think about you. I know I wronged you. Hate me, curse me, even kill me if you want. I'll accept whatever punishment you give me. But you can't throw your life away just to spite me, and you can't choose him!"

Dante chuckled.

"Mr. Ricci, don't flatter yourself.

"Ms. Moretti already dumped you, didn't she?"

He smiled at Nico, but there was something chilling about his tone.

His hand drifted toward his waistband. Before he could do anything more, Leah, white as a sheet, rushed forward and planted herself in front of Nico.

"Don Vitale, Nico just acted on impulse. You don't have to go this far!"

"People have to answer for what they say," I said almost carelessly.

Her lips moved. She turned to me with tears in her eyes.

"Ms. Moretti, do you know what he went through for this family just so he could come back and marry you? Nico is loyal, and he has a good heart. I won't let you humiliate him like this."

I glanced at her.

"Loyal? You think I'm humiliating him?

"The moment Nico returned, he announced in front of the entire family that he was breaking off our engagement to marry you. What should I do, praise him and wish you two a long and happy life together?"

Leah froze, tears streaming down her face.

Dante gave the two of them one last look and held out his hand to me.

"Shall we?"

I put my hand in his and turned to my father.

"Dad, I'd like to leave now, if that's all right."

My father watched me from the raised seat at the front of the hall. At last, he gave a slow nod.

"Take your own men with you."

Dante shielded me as he walked me down the steps, then opened the car door for me.

Behind me, Nico screamed my name until his voice cracked. Unmoved, I got into the car. The door shut, and the world went quiet again.

As we drove away from the estate, I finally exhaled. Only then did I realize I'd nearly snapped the stem of the rose in my hand.

Dante smiled, wrapped his handkerchief around my hand, and kissed it through the cloth. When he looked up, something dark churned in his eyes.

"Ms. Moretti, why won't you take better care of yourself? Your fiancé is going to worry."

With his breath inches from my skin, I said, "You'll have to propose properly. Show me how serious you are."

He paused, then pulled me closer and murmured against my ear.

"I promise. I'll give you more than a proposal. I'll give you a wedding you'll never forget."