Chapter Twenty-Two

Luca

As soon as the Walsh family walk into the venue, I feel disappointment spreading through me.

Laura isn't with them.

I greet them kindly, of course. I do enjoy their company, unlike my parents and Eliza. They would have moved on to another family by now if I hadn't expressed my interest in Laura. A more influential family. The Walshes were never at the top of their list, and I'll confess that they weren't at the top of mine either, but things changed on that fateful morning. I looked at Laura and realized that I wanted her.

And I've never been one to give up easily.

"You look absolutely dashing, Luca," Angela tells me.

I thank her for the compliment, then gulp my champagne down. I think of asking her where Laura is, but that will be too obvious. I don't want to make it obvious that I'm interested in her, especially because she hasn't expressed any interest in me. I saw something flash in her eyes today, something that ignited hope deep inside of me. I thought that if she cam