The Wedding: Till Death Do Us Part

I gripped the edge of my wedding gown as my uncle offered me his

“You look beautiful, Sofia,” he murmured.

I couldn't bring myself to respond.

It had been so long since I'd seen my uncle, yet I couldn't manage a single word. Not when Enzo was clouding every corner of my mind.

Was he really not coming? Even though Luca hadn’t invited him, he should stil… or did he truly not care enough to stop this wedding?

So he would just let me marry Luca?

I inhaled shakily as my uncle guided me toward the altar.

The music swelled around us. Hundreds of eyes followed my every step. People smiled, admiring me with the kind of wonder reserved for a bride marrying into one of New York's wealthiest families.

They thought I was walking toward my happily ever after.

If only they knew.

I wanted to look back so badly. Just once.

I wanted to see those doors fly open and Enzo storm into the cathedral, ready to fight everyone in the room if that was what it took to get me out of there.

I wanted him to make the whole of New York understand that he was the man I loved. That he loved me, too.

Even dressed in white for Luca Verri, Enzo Verri was the man I wanted.

But with every step toward the altar, the little hope I'd been desperately holding on to crumbled.

Enzo wasn't coming.

My lips quivered.

He wasn't coming to save me. He wasn't coming to stop the wedding. He wasn't even coming to say goodbye.

Perhaps he loved Luca too much. Perhaps their bond was too strong for him to break, even for me.

Maybe Enzo loved Luca more than he could ever love me.

You're insane, Sofia. He doesn't love you.

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

How foolish of me to assume he'd love me enough to choose me when he hadn't even answered my message.

I'd told him I loved him, and he'd given me nothing in return. No reassurance. No promise. Not even a goodbye.

And here I was, still waiting for a reply from the man who had stolen my heart.

Don't cry, Sofia.

My uncle's arm tightened around mine as we reached the altar.

Luca stood waiting in his black tuxedo. I hated how similar his features were to Enzo's. His eyes followed me as though I were the center of his universe.

If only it were Enzo standing there instead.

I would have been smiling by now.

My uncle placed my hand in Luca's, and Luca's fingers immediately closed around mine, holding me as though I might disappear if he loosened his grip.

The priest began speaking, but I barely heard him. I stared at Luca, wishing he were someone else.

“Do you, Luca Verri, take Sofia Jones to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

“I do,” Luca answered without hesitation, his eyes never leaving mine.

My heart twisted painfully.

“And do you, Sofia Jones, take Luca Verri to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

I swallowed and glanced toward the enormous doors.

He wasn't coming.

“I do,” I whispered.

Luca's thumb brushed over my knuckles.

“You may kiss the bride.”

He cupped my cheek and leaned down, pressing his lips against mine.

I felt nothing.

I kept my lips still, wishing the ground would open beneath my feet. But Luca refused to accept my silence. He forced his tongue between my lips, turning the kiss into another reminder that even my wedding day wasn't mine to control.

When he finally pulled away, he smiled.

I couldn't bring myself to return it.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the priest announced, “I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Verri!”

The guests applauded.

Luca slipped an arm around my waist and led me toward them. Congratulations poured in from every direction. People admired my dress, praised our union, and wished us a lifetime of happiness.

I thanked them mechanically, barely hearing a word.

When the photographers called us over, Luca leaned close to my ear.

“Smile, Sofia.”

I stared at him.

“At least pretend you're happy for the cameras, sweetheart.” His smile never faltered. “You wouldn't want everyone wondering why my beautiful wife looks like she's attending a funeral.”

I forced my lips into a smile.

The cameras flashed.

And by the time Luca finally decided to take me home, my cheeks hurt from pretending to be happy.

I settled into the back of the car beside him and exhaled deeply.

The driver pulled away from the cathedral. Several minutes later, I noticed we weren't taking our usual route.

“Where are we going?”

Luca glanced at the window.

“There's an accident up ahead,” the driver explained. “We'll have to take another route, ma'am.”

I turned toward the window, too exhausted to question him.

Then the driver switched on the radio.

“BREAKING NEWS THIS AFTERNOON. A FUEL TANKER HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT NEAR ST. PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL IN MIDTOWN MANHATTAN. AMONG THE VICTIMS IS NBA SUPERSTAR ENZO VERRI.”

My blood ran cold. Enzo?

My Enzo?

“H-he was coming for me?” I whispered, “He was coming for me.” My eyes widened in realization.

Luca remained completely silent beside me.

The reporter continued. “AUTHORITIES HAVE CONFIRMED THAT ENZO VERRI HAS DIED AT THE SCENE.”

MY ENZO! MY BROKEN-HEARTED READERS! 😭💔😭

SOFIA FINALLY SAID “I DO,” BUT AT WHAT COST?!

Please tell me I'm not the only one crying right now. 💔 Did Enzo really die before he could save Sofia? Did a woman who thought with her pussy at the beginning of this story end up costing the love of her life his own life? 😭💔

AND LUCA?! 👀 What do you think he knows about this accident? Do you believe Enzo's death was really an accident, or is something more sinister going on? 🖤

And my loves, **DON'T DITCH THIS BOOK JUST BECAUSE ENZO DIED!** 👀😭 You never know what could happen next. Just when you think you know the truth, everything could change. 👀💔

I NEED YOUR THEORIES, YOUR ANGER, YOUR TEARS, EVERYTHING! DON'T LEAVE ME CRYING ALONE! 😭🖤