Chapter 2

He turned his head and gave me an amused look. "During our engagement negotiations, you threatened to pull out over every little clause. Now you threaten to cancel the alliance.

"Sienna, can you come up with a new threat?"

Lexi clung to his arm with a sweet smile. "Sienna, I'm just helping you save the day. Nobody wanted the wrong dress size to arrive.

"At the end of the day, today is your big day too. Stop ruining the mood."

I stared coldly at the gown hugging her curves.

I sketched this dress myself. Claiming the boutique delivered the wrong size was a massive joke.

For a Moretti Principessa, an error like this was impossible.

I knew the truth. Either someone told the tailor to make it a size smaller on purpose.

Or someone went behind my back and had a replica made just for Lexi.

The young soldiers outside let out loud whistles. "Ma'am, it's a happy day. Can you stop being such a killjoy?"

"Yeah, we know your arrogant temper. You act like a high-and-mighty Principessa, but don't you still need a husband to run your family?"

"Our Boss is already doing you a favor by marrying you! Know your place, hahaha!"

Rhys chuckled at the crude jokes. "Alright, ignore her. Let's go."

"Let's go! Walk the Boss and the bride to the altar!"

They swarmed around a triumphant Lexi and Rhys, leaving in a grand procession.

Watching them head toward the altar, I scoffed and pulled out my phone to dial a number. “The alliance with the Falcones is off. I need a new groom. Are you in?”

Just seconds after hanging up, a new message popped up from the blank profile picture on my screen.

[Did you really mean what you said about switching grooms?]

I replied quickly.

[Of course.]

Almost instantly, another text came through.

[My car is on the way. If you back out today, I’ll bring my men and drag you to the altar myself.]

I turned off my screen and laughed, looking down the empty hallway.

This time, Rhys completely miscalculated.

My parents were an arranged marriage too, yet they respected each other deeply and eventually fell in love.

Because of them, I never minded a business marriage. I actually thought that even without prior feelings, Rhys and I could build a decent partnership, maybe even love, as long as we maintained mutual respect.

That was why I tolerated his lifelong habit of pampering Lexi. I was willing to maintain the dignity of this union.

But my mother also told me that when it involves marriage and family business, you must keep a clear head.

Since the Falcones didn’t know how to appreciate a favor, I was done playing nice. It was time to remind them who actually held the leash.

It was a pity about the dress I spent three months designing.

I had imagined wearing it countless times, but someone else took it.

Feeling suffocated in the lounge, I walked out for some fresh air.

As I passed a cigar lounge with a half-open door, I heard two Falcone Capos inside.

"If Sienna knew the Boss made the dress smaller just so Lexi could play bride, wouldn't she shoot him?"

I stopped in my tracks.

A casual chuckle drifted through the crack in the door. "Don't worry. The Boss told me the truth. She definitely won't."

"You can't be sure. Remember how ruthless she was at the negotiation table? When our guys disrespected her turf, she brought her men, beat up our guys, and forced the Boss to apologize."

"The Boss said that was before the contract was signed. Now that the alliance is set in stone, she wouldn't dare make a scene."

"Why is he so certain?"

"Because she's an orphan with no real backing, running the family alone."

I stood outside the door, gripping the wall to steady myself.

"Even though she holds power, she's still an orphan. She has no one to protect her. She simply doesn't dare make a scene.

"Plus, the Boss knows she desperately needs a man to stabilize her position. She only talks tough to save face."

"Damn! The Boss is brilliant! He actually tamed the Principessa!"

"That's crazy! He marries the Principessa and gives Lexi a wedding too. He gets his cake and eats it too!"

The man chuckled. "The Boss has spoiled Lexi since they were kids. He's always been biased toward her. Now that her family is ruined, it's hard for her to survive alone in our world.

"A proper wedding was her dream. How could the Boss let his childhood sweetheart down?

"As for Sienna, the Boss said it's just a loveless business marriage anyway. Once he swallows the Moretti family assets, she'll have to bow to him for life."

A burst of vulgar laughter erupted inside the lounge.

Standing in the shadows, I let out a bitter smile.

Rhys thought I was just an orphan he could manipulate. He really acted as if the Moretti family had no one left!

He seemed to forget the Falcone family only climbed to power because of my parents.

He only became Boss through our alliance.

His mother, Donna Rosa, and my mother used to be best friends.

It was a pity Donna Rosa had no mind for business. My parents, on the other hand, were legendary underworld arms dealers.

Back then, my mother convinced my father to supply the Falcones with top-tier weapons at rock-bottom prices.

She even let her best friend use our crucial international smuggling routes for free.

Before my parents passed away, my mother urged me to remember Aunt Rosa was a widow, and it wasn't easy for her and Rhys to survive in the mafia.

As long as the Morettis were breathing, we had to protect them.

That was why the Falcones were my only strategic allies, and why I agreed when Donna Rosa came begging for this marriage alliance.

Everyone thought our families were evenly matched. Only I knew the truth. For every weapon shipment, I paid out of pocket and took a loss.

And those prime routes they used to rake in profits, I lent them for nothing.

My weapon factories constantly complained, saying the Falcone shipping prices were too low to operate.

To keep the alliance, I paid the difference myself.

My only demand was that they provide stable firepower for the Falcones.

They only achieved their status thanks to my family's charity. Yet now they bullied me for being an orphan with no backing.

This was truly the funniest joke in the world.

I looked at the shipping logs on my screen. The light in my eyes faded.

Since you love playing with fire, I'm done with this losing deal.

By now, the church wedding had advanced to the ceremony. The pipe organ music drifted from the main hall.

"On this sacred occasion today, I want to give my beautiful wife a grand wedding gift."

Rhys stared at Lexi affectionately on the altar.

A gold-stamped transfer deed was displayed to the guests. "The core Moretti smuggling routes and weapons cache are hereby gifted to my bride."

I abruptly stood up from the shadows.

That prime East Coast route and Cache Number Three were my private inheritance.