Chapter 2

I snatched the walkie-talkie from his hands. "Why did you lie and say I was being emotional?"

He shifted his eyes, effortlessly avoiding my gaze.

“Well, aren’t you? Sofia may have taken over your suite, but she has a perfectly valid reason. She just went through a terrible breakup. She really can’t handle people gossiping about her right now.

“Anyway, who’s even going to remember this once the wedding is over?”

Just to protect Sofia’s reputation, he was actually cruel enough to throw all the blame onto me.

With only fifteen minutes left, Lucy anxiously scrolled through her phone, looking for someone to help. Suddenly, her expression completely changed, and she shouted, “Dario, Sofia isn’t even sleeping!”

I quickly pulled out my own phone and pulled up Instagram, where Sofia had posted an update just a minute ago.

The accompanying photo showed the ocean view right outside the suite window. Reflected in the glass was her fully dressed silhouette, complete with a face of flawless makeup that looked nothing like someone who had just woken up.

Her caption read: [Sometimes, witnessing someone else's happiness is a cruel thing. Fortunately, there's still someone who remembers my regrets.]

And the very first like on that post was from Dario.

I shoved the screen right in front of his face. “She isn’t even asleep!”

Dario only glanced at it briefly before swiping out of the app. “Maybe she just woke up.”

I scoffed. “She has time to take photos and post on Instagram, but she can’t open a door?”

Cornered without an answer, he finally decided to lay all his cards on the table.

“Today was supposed to be Sofia’s wedding day, too. Three months ago, her engagement was broken off. When she saw all the wedding decorations around the estate last night, she had a total breakdown and cried all night long.

“She’s like a sister to me. She’s already lost her own wedding, while you’re about to marry into the Catania family. Can’t you just be the bigger person and give her a break?”

I stared at Dario, my heart turning cold.

“It’s not my fault her engagement fell through. Why should I have to sacrifice my wedding for her?”

“Who’s asking you to sacrifice your wedding?!” Dario snapped, thoroughly exasperated.

“The ceremony is going ahead as planned, and I’m still marrying you. So we’re cutting out a few minor parts; is that really worth throwing a fit over?”

In Dario’s mind, as long as he placed that ring on my finger at the end of the day, nothing else mattered.

But every detail he dismissed as minor was something my parents had meticulously prepped for months. Right now, he wasn't just breaking my heart. He was stomping on my parents' hard work, too.

As we were arguing, Dario’s mother, Elena, hurried over.

She immediately grabbed my hand. “Erin, there are so many guests waiting outside right now. Don't let us become a laughingstock. Sofia was just dumped recently. Try to show some compassion for her.”

I pulled my hand out of her grip. “If I show compassion for her, who’s showing any for me?”

Elena’s expression instantly soured. “You’re about to marry Dario anyway, so what do you even have to feel wronged about? Sofia was supposed to get married today. Now you’re getting everything you ever wanted while she’s left with nothing. Why do you have to compete with her?”

Mom trembled with rage. “My daughter hasn’t even gotten into her wedding dress yet! What on earth is she competing for?!”

Elena scoffed, looking down at our family.

“There are over a hundred high-profile guests sitting downstairs. If you throw a scene right now, both of our families will lose face.

“The Morettis are simple winemakers. Marrying into the Catania family is an incredible opportunity for your daughter, so don't ruin it over a minor inconvenience.”

Dad wasn't about to back down.

“A family that forces the bride to compromise before the ceremony even starts—do you even have the right to talk about keeping face?”

The usual gentle warmth was gone from Dad's face, replaced by an overwhelming intimidation.

Dad used to be a powerful Godfather in Palermo.

An arms deal had gone terribly wrong back then, resulting in his most trusted underboss dying right in front of him to save his life. Otherwise, Dad would never have moved our whole family to Sicily under assumed names to run a winery as his way of seeking redemption.

Even so, whenever Dad heard Dario was in trouble, he would always reach out to his old network for help.

He used to tell me, “As long as this kid treats you right, all my effort is worth it.” Who would have thought our generosity would only earn us their complete contempt?

Just then, a maid pushed a room service cart over. On it sat buttered toast and warm milk.

Dario reached out and tested the side of the glass.

“The milk is still a bit hot. Wait two minutes before taking it in. Also, she doesn’t like butter. Swap it out for strawberry jam.”

I hadn’t eaten all morning, and my stomach churned with nausea. Yet he didn't offer me a word of concern, completely focused on preparing breakfast for another woman.

There were only ten minutes left until the ceremony.

The pastor came over himself to check on the situation. “The wedding starts in ten minutes. If the bride doesn’t change into her dress right now, the entire schedule is going to be ruined.”

Dario grabbed a pen and began crossing off event after event on the schedule sheet.

“Cancel the robe photo shoot and the first look. Oh, and cancel the family portraits too. Shorten the speeches and the processional, and skip the vows entirely. Head straight to exchanging the rings.”