CHAPTER TWENTY : THE MORETTI FAMILY

Isabella was sitting by the bedroom window when Alessandro walked in, his phone pressed against his ear.

“No, Father. I haven't forgotten.”

He listened for a moment, his expression becoming increasingly serious.

“Sunday. We'll be there.”

He ended the call and slipped his phone into his pocket.

Isabella looked up from the book in her hands.

“Is everything all right?”

“My father wants us at the family estate on Sunday.”

She sat straighter.

“Your father?”

“Yes.”

“Is something wrong?”

“No. At least, not that he has told me.”

She hesitated before asking, “Is it another family gathering?”

Alessandro chuckled.

“Something like that. My father enjoys having everyone under one roof. He calls it family tradition. I call it an unnecessary interruption to my weekend.”

Isabella smiled.

“Then why do you always go?”

“Because refusing him usually creates more trouble than attending.”

She laughed softly.

He approached her and sat beside her.

“Are you worried?”

“A little.”

“Why?”

She closed her book.

“I've met some of your family, but I don't really know them. At the last gathering, everyone was looking at me because of the circumstances surrounding our marriage.”

“And this time?”

“This time, I'm your wife.”

His eyes softened.

“Exactly.”

She looked down at her fingers.

“What if they don't like me?”

Alessandro gently took her hand.

“Then they'll have to learn to live with disappointment.”

“Alessandro!”

“What? I'm not going to apologise for marrying the woman I want.”

Her cheeks turned pink.

He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

“Don't spend the next two days worrying about people who haven't even said anything yet.”

---

Sunday arrived sooner than Isabella expected.

Maria had helped her choose a beautiful light-blue dress that fell just below her knees. She wore simple earrings, matching heels and left her hair flowing over her shoulders.

When she came downstairs, Alessandro was waiting near the entrance.

He looked up from his phone.

For a moment, he said nothing.

“Is something wrong?” she asked, suddenly self-conscious.

“No.”

He slipped his phone into his pocket.

“You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

He offered his arm, and she accepted it.

The journey to the Moretti family estate took almost forty minutes.

Unlike Alessandro's mansion, which was modern and imposing, the family estate carried the appearance of an old Italian residence. Tall trees lined the driveway, and the building itself had large windows, stone pillars and beautifully maintained gardens.

As their car stopped, a woman appeared at the entrance.

“Finally!”

Lorenzo.

He walked down the steps with a wide grin.

“I was beginning to think my brother had decided to abandon his family completely.”

Alessandro stepped out.

“I should have.”

Lorenzo laughed before turning to Isabella.

“Mrs. Moretti, welcome back.”

She smiled.

“It's good to see you again, Lorenzo.”

He offered her his arm.

“Come. Mother has been asking about you all morning.”

Alessandro caught his brother's shoulder.

“She has legs. She can walk beside me.”

Lorenzo raised both hands.

“Possessive already. Marriage has done wonders for you.”

“Keep talking.”

Isabella covered her smile as they entered.

---

Elena Moretti stood near the dining room, speaking with another woman when she noticed them.

“Isabella!”

She approached with a warm smile and kissed both her cheeks.

“It's lovely to see you again, dear.”

“It's lovely to see you too, ma'am.”

Elena looked at her carefully.

“Please, call me Elena. You're family now.”

Before Isabella could respond, another voice came from behind them.

“Mother, don't scare her away before lunch.”

A tall, elegant young woman entered the room. She had dark hair, sharp features and an expression that suggested she rarely bothered hiding her opinions.

“Valentina,” Alessandro said.

She kissed his cheek.

“Brother.”

Then she turned to Isabella.

“So, you're the woman who finally managed to get my brother to attend family lunch without being threatened.”

Isabella laughed nervously.

“I don't think I have that kind of influence.”

“Oh, you do. Trust me.”

Valentina smiled, then glanced at Alessandro.

“He used to spend every Sunday in his office. Now he suddenly remembers he has a family.”

“Valentina,” Alessandro warned.

“What? I'm complimenting your wife.”

Lorenzo burst into laughter.

For the first time since arriving, Isabella felt some of the tension leave her shoulders.

---

Lunch began shortly afterwards.

Don Vittorio Moretti sat at the head of the table. His silver hair and stern expression gave him an authority that reminded Isabella of Alessandro.

“Alessandro,” he greeted his eldest son.

“Father.”

Vittorio nodded before looking at Isabella.

“Mrs. Moretti.”

“Good afternoon, sir.”

“Welcome.”

His greeting was polite, but his expression remained difficult to read.

They took their seats.

Conversation moved between family business, investments and matters Isabella barely understood. She listened quietly, occasionally glancing at Alessandro when unfamiliar names came up.

At one point, Vittorio put down his glass.

“I hear you've been spending time at Alessandro's offices.”

Isabella looked up.

“Yes, sir. He's been teaching me about the businesses.”

“And what do you think?”

She considered her answer.

“There's a lot to learn. I didn't realise how many different things the family manages.”

Vittorio nodded.

“Your husband has responsibilities beyond what you see at home. Being married to him means understanding that.”

“I know, sir.”

“Do you?”

Alessandro's fork touched his plate.

“Father.”

Vittorio raised a hand.

“I'm speaking to my daughter-in-law.”

Isabella swallowed.

“I may not understand everything yet, but I want to learn. I don't expect Alessandro to abandon his responsibilities because he's married.”

Vittorio studied her.

“And what do you expect from him?”

The question caught her off guard.

She glanced briefly at Alessandro before answering.

“I expect him to be honest with me. And I hope we can make decisions together when they affect our family.”

A quiet pause followed.

Valentina slowly smiled into her glass.

Elena looked pleased.

Vittorio leaned back.

“Interesting answer.”

Alessandro reached beneath the table and gently squeezed Isabella's hand.

She returned the gesture.

---

After lunch, Elena invited Isabella into the garden.

They walked slowly along a stone path while Valentina followed behind them, speaking about an upcoming charity event.

“I hope you won't mind,” Elena said, “but I'd like you to attend the family foundation's annual dinner next month.”

Isabella looked surprised.

“Me?”

“Of course. You're Alessandro's wife. It would be nice to have you involved.”

“I'd love to, but I'm not sure what I'd be expected to do.”

“Nothing complicated. You'll meet some of the families we support and a few of our business associates.”

Valentina joined the conversation.

“And I'll make sure you have something beautiful to wear. Alessandro will probably choose a black dress and frighten everyone before dinner even begins.”

Isabella laughed.

“I don't think he would do that.”

“Then you haven't seen his wardrobe.”

They all laughed.

A little later, Isabella found herself alone with Elena.

The older woman stopped beside a fountain.

“May I ask you something, dear?”

“Of course.”

“Is Alessandro treating you well?”

Isabella's smile faded slightly.

She knew Elena wasn't asking about clothes, gifts or the mansion.

“Yes,” she answered carefully. “He has been kind to me.”

“And are you happy?”

Isabella looked towards the house.

“I think I'm learning to be.”

Elena nodded as though she understood more than Isabella had said.

“My son has always been difficult to reach. He learned very early that showing emotion could be used against him. Sometimes I worry he has forgotten how to be gentle.”

“He can be gentle,” Isabella said quietly.

Elena smiled.

“I'm glad you're beginning to see that side of him.”

---

When they were finally ready to leave, Alessandro found Isabella standing beside Valentina near the entrance.

His sister was laughing at something she had said.

He stopped.

“What are you two discussing?”

“Your terrible personality,” Valentina replied.

“Then I see the conversation is going nowhere.”

Isabella laughed.

Valentina leaned towards her.

“Please come again soon. Next time, we'll have lunch without these two men.”

Lorenzo appeared behind them.

“Which two men?”

“You and Alessandro.”

“Unfair. I'm delightful.”

Alessandro took Isabella's hand.

“Come on, sweetheart. Before they convince you to move in.”

As they walked towards the car, Isabella glanced back at the estate.

For years, she had lived in a house where she was made to feel unwanted. Today, she had been welcomed into another family, one that was powerful, complicated and certainly intimidating.

But perhaps she could find a place there.

---

Inside the car, Alessandro noticed her thoughtful expression.

“What's going through that pretty head of yours?”

She smiled.

“I like your mother.”

“Everyone likes my mother.”

“And Valentina is funny.”

“She is also a nuisance.”

Isabella laughed.

“Lorenzo is worse.”

“Now you're understanding my suffering.”

She rested her head against the seat.

“Your father is difficult to read.”

Alessandro's expression became serious.

“He doesn't trust easily.”

“Does he dislike me?”

“No.”

“How do you know?”

“Because if he disliked you, he wouldn't have invited you back.”

She considered that.

Then Alessandro's phone rang.

He glanced at the screen.

His father's name appeared.

He answered.

“Father?”

Vittorio's voice came through immediately.

“Come to my office tomorrow morning. Alone.”

Alessandro's eyes narrowed.

“What happened?”

“There's something we need to discuss.”

The call ended.

Alessandro slowly lowered the phone.

Isabella turned towards him.

“What is it?”

He looked out of the window.

“I don't know yet.”

But whatever his father wanted to discuss, Alessandro already had a feeling it wouldn't be a pleasant conversation.