Chapter 2

I couldn't be bothered to argue with them anymore.

Even if I won, all I'd get back was what already belonged to me.

It was pointless.

I nodded and shrugged, brushing him off. "You're right."

The words had barely left my mouth when my phone buzzed. Matteo had sent over the marriage alliance confirmation.

Without hesitation, I signed my name on the last page.

Adrian caught sight of the surname on the screen. "What did you just sign?"

I turned off my phone. "You'll find out soon enough."

That night, laughter from downstairs woke me.

When I went down for a glass of water, the engagement planner was presenting new mockups.

"The couple's names have been changed to Mr. Lamberto and Miss Livia. Everything else follows Miss Selena's original plan."

Standing on the stairs, I felt that wave of nausea rise in my chest again.

So me saying "cancel" had meant nothing at all.

All it took was Adrian signing again, and everything I'd prepared could be swapped over to Livia's name.

"I already canceled it."

The planner looked embarrassed. "Mr. Lamberto signed a new authorization this afternoon. He said you were just in a bad mood and told us to go ahead."

Adrian set down his wine glass. "It's too late to change venues now. If you don't want to attend, stay upstairs."

Livia lounged on the sofa, swiping through a tablet. "You designed it so well, Selena. Especially the entrance music. I love it too."

Her tone was nothing short of provocative.

I stared at the family heirloom on her chest and said coldly, "You can have the ceremony. Give that back to me."

Livia immediately clapped a hand over her chest, and Adrian stepped in front of her.

"The ceremony needs something that represents the Rossi family. You'll get it back afterward."

"That was my father's. He left it to me."

"I know. Like I said, Livia's only borrowing it for one night."

I clenched my fists, turned, and headed to the study.

The moment I walked in, I found my father's documents scattered all over the floor.

The anger I had just tamped down flared right back up. Even the voice recorder he'd left behind before he died was gone.

I turned around. "Who touched this?"

Livia leaned against the doorframe carelessly. "I took a few of Dad's old recordings. The engagement ceremony needs a memorial video. We can't go without a blessing from the family elders, can we?"

My expression blank, I held out my hand. "Give them back."

She ducked behind Adrian at once. "I'll return them when I'm done."

Adrian's tall frame shielded her as he eyed me warily. "Selena, don't be so petty. Livia just wants the ceremony to be perfect."

I glared at the two of them, my nails digging into my palms.

After a long moment, as though resigned to it, I crouched down and gathered the scattered documents back into the box, one page at a time.

Early the next morning, I went to visit my grandmother, Carmela Rossi.

She was staying in the Rossi family's private medical wing and was scheduled for heart surgery the following week.

Standing outside her room, I heard her showing a nurse the engagement photo of Adrian and me.

"They're holding their engagement ceremony tomorrow night. Once my surgery's over, I'll get to see Selena take over the family."

She was beaming. Standing outside the door, I felt a painful ache in my chest.

Last night, I could still lash out at Adrian and Livia.

But in front of Grandma, I couldn't bring myself to say a single true word.

I had no idea how to tell her that the engagement ceremony wasn't for me.

Or that after tomorrow night, I would be marrying another man.