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After finishing the tiresome photoshoot, each of Enzo's relatives introduced themselves as they placed money in the satin bag Lily was holding.It was Italian tradition for the guests to give money to the bride and groom, and Lily felt the weight of blood money from both families piling up in her hands."What should we do with all this money?" Lily whispered to her husband."It's yours. Use it however you want." Enzo answered impassively. He doesn't care. Why would he when he makes millions in a week? The money in the bag wouldn't even sum up the tiniest fraction of what he earns.Lily decided it would be best if she donated it to an NGO one of her friends worked in as a nurse. Thinking it will go for a good cause.All of Enzo's aunts (The wives of his uncles) were pleasant people. All chatty and lively, just like the women on Lily's side of the family. They exchanged cheek kisses and pleasantries with Lily, which made Lily feel a lot more safe entering the Salvadori territory. Their
"What are you thinking?" Lily's attention shifted from the mingling guests and met Enzo's stare. He had been watching her for a while. Enzo clasped their hands together, drawing lazy circles on her knuckles.Sizzles of electricity danced in that place. His touch seized to awaken her body with an electrocuting awareness.Does Enzo feel the same too?She couldn't help but wonder."I've been thinking...""About?""My mama and papa," Lily answered softly. "It's hard not having them here.""I see." His long-held stare shrunk the world around her until it was only him and her. The chatting guests, symphonic piano, and guitar played by the band all fade into a distance like a mist.His lids drooped down, holding emotions. Emotions that mirrored hers. As if he dearly missed someone, too. "My mama would have loved you." He said, the rough edges of his voice smoothening down."Why do you say that?" She asked, her hand going up to hold his hand tight. She wanted to comfort him out of whatever gr
Once the reception was over, they headed straight to the register's office to get their marriage certificates. Lily had also insisted on getting his blood tested at the nearby hospital to look out for any infections. Later, he got injected to kill any pathogens left in his body.After a grueling day and night, they finally retired to the Salvadori mansion.Both of them had decided they won't be having a honeymoon because this was merely a marriage of convenience.This was her decision, and Enzo respected it. She didn't want to get physically involved with him until she was emotionally and mentally prepared.She wondered how people could separate sex from love. Fortunately or unfortunately, this wasn't the case for her. If she had sex with no sort of emotional attachment with Enzo, she might feel used by him.She would end up resenting Enzo for that reason.Having a physical relationship with Enzo didn't appall her. It was the exact opposite. She wanted his touch against her skin. The
Enzo stirred as he woke up from his six-hour slumber with a boner hard enough to pound a nail, after feeling Lily's soft body pressed to his chest. Lily's delicious scent of vanilla and roses greeted him first thing in the morning. He hadn't realized when she had rolled over to his side or whether it was a conscious move. When she was close enough, he pulled her to his side, and she nuzzled into him, seeking comfort. He couldn't tell what Lily really felt about him. She liked him enough to let him kiss her but didn't trust him enough to entrust her body to him. Her mind wanders whenever she looked at him. As if she was making a comparison of him with someone else. Lily didn't love him. She loved Ethan Vitiello. Her good-as-dead lover. The thought of Lily loving some other man left a trail of bitter aftertaste inside him. He had never loved a woman before. Apart from his Mama and Nonna. They were family, and he was bound to love them. But getting romantically involved with someone w
Lily got up from the bed and looked around the artless room. She hadn't gotten the chance to explore the mansion last night since she was too exhausted and all she wanted was to get some sleep.She went to the bathroom to wash off the grogginess from her face and brushed her teeth. After she was done freshening, she went downstairs to look for her husband.The mansion was what she would describe as picturesque. Those curious brown doe-eyes of hers explored the place like she was looking around an art museum.She took cautious steps down the black-and-white checkered floor, tracing her fingers against the smooth, pale blue walls that had intricate golden designs on them while peering up at the wide-arched white ceiling. The Salvadori mansion was enormous, and she felt like a Lilliputian in this vast palace-like structure.It felt strange to be here. In a stranger's house. She would not be treated like a stranger in this place, but deep down Lily began feeling homesick.As she strolled
Enzo's promise kept ringing in her ears as they sat down for breakfast. She didn't notice Sasha coming to their table with their breakfast and beverages until Sasha tapped her shoulder and nodded toward her.Lily smiled and gave her head a curt shake and looked over at her husband, who sat next to her at the table. He had gotten ready for the day in his fitted, custom-made black suit that didn't have a single crease of imperfection. He always looked sharp, and the attire served his mature, calm-headed persona.How would a monster make love?Was he planning to force himself on her when his patience ran out?No, Enzo was a man who took a great deal of time in whatever he did.He was a silent, sinister serpent waiting in the grass, and striking at the first opportunity that opened up.She fantasized he was as slow and determined in the bedroom too. Attentive. He must take sex seriously as he took his promises.Enzo wasn't mad at her for refusing him on their first night. If it was any ot
[TRIGGER WARNING: The following chapter contains gore, explicit language, and violence.] *** "A hundred thousand dollars?! That's so generous of you, Lily." Claire, her friend, said on the phone. Claire worked as a nurse at an NGO that provided for disabled children. Lily smiled. "You told me you were running out of donations, so I had to help." Lily pressed her back against the chair while staring at the spreadsheet on the screen of her MacBook. She spent nearly an hour calculating all the money they received at the wedding and her neck hurt from craning over to the screen so much. Meanwhile, Sasha was in the living room watching the rerun of an Italian dubbed soap opera. Angry Italian dialogues of a crying woman drifted by as she talked on the phone. "But you got that money for your wedding. Is your husband okay with it?" Claire asked tentatively. "He is fine with it," Lily confirmed and sensed Claire calm down on the other side of the phone. "Again, you've been a great help
"I feel a burden lift off from my chest," Matteo sucked in a sharp drag of smoke from his pipe.Enzo tilted his head down to look at the old man standing beside him with a noticeable smile. It was raining outside, and the cars were lined up waiting for them."You could have made millions off of those drugs," Enzo said, holding a black umbrella over their heads as he escorted Matteo towards the parked Bently."Drugs never gave me any peace. I lost three of my siblings because of it," Matteo said, his husky voice tipping down somberly."Overdose?" Enzo asked.Matteo shook his head, tightening his chin. His fading gray eyes were vulnerable. "My father killed them before they could become informants and put our whole family in danger." Enzo opened the car's passenger seat for Matteo to climb in.Matteo poked his head out of the window, not giving a damn about the rainwater splattering on his face. "You're nothing like your father, Enzo."Enzo gave an amused smile. "I will take that as a c