He Married His Adopted Sister the Week Before Our Wedding

Alex and I had been together eight years. Five of them we spent secretly married.He never once announced to anyone who I was.He said he had too many enemies, and keeping my name out of the light was how he kept me safe.I never agreed with that, because I was the brightest jewel of the Moretti Family and I did not need anyone's protection.But I always lost, every time, to that gentle, restrained look in Alex's eyes.Five years of marriage, and Alex had never acknowledged me in public.My position inside the Castellano Family was an awkward one.Even the household staff joked behind my back that I was the Castellano Family's uncrowned Donna.It finally boiled over into another fight between Alex and me.And this time Alex gave in. He pulled me into his arms."I'm sorry, Valeria. I ignored how you felt. Please forgive me."Give me a chance to make it up to you. I'll give you the biggest wedding anyone has ever seen."Then Alex got too busy, and planning the wedding landed back on me.

Late that night, as I walked out of the bedroom with my suitcase, the butler followed me."Where are you going, ma'am? The ceremony is tomorrow. Won't you wait for Mr. Castellano?"I stopped and smiled."Moretti tradition. I have to spend tonight at my family's house."Matteo will bring me to the church himself tomorrow."The butler's face relaxed. He bowed his head and withdrew.I dragged the case down the hallway.Passing the room belonging to Alex's mother Martina, I heard voices inside.Her door wasn't fully shut."Well? Did your ceremony go smoothly?"Such a shame. If I hadn't been worried Valeria would notice, I could have come to your wedding."That ring suits Lilith beautifully, though. I always said it should have gone to her."I suddenly remembered the first time I met Martina, five years ago.Back then I was the only jewel of the Moretti Family, and I came in full of hope that the elders would accept me.Martina was warm to me, too. She held my hands and smiled at me like th

There was no priest.There were no lights.There was no processional music.And there was no one from the Moretti Family at all.Only empty pews remained beneath the painted saints staring down in silence from the dome.Alex stood in the doorway holding a delicate ring box.Inside was that one-of-a-kind red diamond, and the smile on his face drained away by degrees.Someone behind him spoke up quietly."We're at the right church, aren't we?""Maybe Valeria isn't ready yet. Let's wait a bit."Someone else tried to make a joke of it."She can't have run out on her own wedding, can she? Ha!"Martina frowned and clicked her tongue."Do the Morettis raise their girls with no manners at all? Leaving everyone standing here!"It's not as if Alex couldn't do better."Alex answered none of them.He walked past all of them, alone, deeper into the church.His friend Luca hurried after him and grabbed his arm, dropping his voice."Tell me the truth. Does Valeria know?"Alex stopped and turned his h

"You're telling me to get out?"Lilith's voice went shrill."Alex, you're telling me to get out for her?"Alex turned to look at her, his eyes red."If it weren't for you, Valeria wouldn't have left!"If you hadn't kept telling me weddings set you off, I would have married her properly years ago!"Then his eyes lit up again."That's it, my wedding with Lilith was fake. Angela, tell Valeria for me!"Alex looked at Angela and explained in a rush."Ever since Lilith's ex-boyfriend Antonio was shot at a wedding, weddings have triggered her."A few days ago Lilith told me her doctor suggested that having a wedding of her own might help her get past it, so I..."Lilith's eyes filled. She stared at Alex in disbelief."So now it's all my fault? You're the one who agreed to it!"You're the one who said Valeria would never find out!"Did I drag you to New York in ropes!"Angela watched the two of them tear at each other, then picked up the flash drive I had left on the altar.She pushed it into

"No... no, protecting you was real."Part of the reason was Lilith..."Alex's fists were clenched, the knuckles white."Every time you brought up having a wedding, Lilith found out and threatened to kill herself."I promised Antonio I'd keep her safe...""So you offered me up instead?"I cut him off."No, Valeria, believe me, you're the only person I love!"He explained fast, like he was afraid I'd turn and go."That recording isn't complete! Lilith cut off what came after."I told her that once the ceremony was done, we'd act like none of it ever happened."I wanted her to move on and stop interfering in our life."Valeria, from now on you'll have all of me. Please, give me one more chance. I'll make it right."I lifted my eyes to him and smiled."Alex, do you think I left because you had a wedding with Lilith?"Alex faltered."Didn't you?""No."I looked at him, my voice level."What I hate most is being lied to."And you have been lying to me all along."I didn't give Alex room to a