Chapter 5

"Ti amo. What kind of question is that?" Lorenzo said it so casually, like he always did, as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

I was about to say something but stopped myself. He was just going to lie again.

"Fine. When is the flight?"

He let out a relieved sigh and reached for me with a smile. "The day after. Shall we have dinner together tomorrow night to celebrate ten years since we met?"

I stepped back and dodged his embrace. Then, I stood and said before leaving, "Okay. Don't be late."

He was rushing to his wedding, and I was rushing toward my new life.

…

When I arrived the next day, I was surprised to find Elena in the private room.

"Cinzia, you're here?" Elena jumped to her feet the moment she saw me. Her eyes were wary, as if I might bully her.

Back then, I had been the first to reach out, helping her escape the abuse of her parents. Her voice was timid, but her gaze carried a challenge.

"I never had foie gras before, so Don Greco told me to come along since he booked the most authentic restaurant in town tonight. If it really bothers you, wait until Don Greco arrives and tell him yourself."

I scoffed and shook my head. "Suit yourself."

Before Elena could continue, she heard footsteps in the hallway and immediately stiffened and murmured repeated apologies.

When Lorenzo entered the room and saw Elena trembling with fear, he frowned at me and hissed, "Don't be mean to her, Cinzia."

I glanced at him coldly and retorted, "And how exactly am I bullying her? You invite me to dinner, pick a place I don't like, and bring someone along. Do you expect me to smile politely? That's your idea of not bullying her?"

"I remember you liked the foie gras and red wine here," he replied.

I scowled and said, "That was because you like it. I was giving in to you."

The atmosphere at the table grew even more awkward.

Suddenly, Elena said with an innocent expression, "When you love someone, you accept what they choose for you. Even if you might not like it, saying it out loud like that feels a little cruel."

She made it sound as though I were the unreasonable one and Lorenzo the tolerant victim. In the past, given my temper, I would never have tolerated his woman speaking to me like that. Now, I merely raised my glass and took a sip of wine.

Elena looked at Lorenzo affectionately and said, "Don Greco arranges everything perfectly."

Lorenzo acted as if he hadn't heard her. He pursed his lips as he watched my calm face.

After the waiter set down the dishes, Lorenzo quietly asked him to add a few more. Every one of them was something I liked.

Elena heard it too and interrupted, "There's already more than enough food. Eating this much at night leads to weight gain, and that's not ideal for a wedding dress."

Lorenzo snapped on instinct, "What nonsense are you saying?"

A flicker of guilt crossed his face as he glanced at me.

I smiled faintly at him. Just as Lorenzo was about to speak, a loud gunshot reverberated outside.

"It's the Babocci family! Protect Don Greco!"

I reached for my gun, scanning for cover. Lorenzo moved faster. Without hesitation, he pulled Elena into his arms and rushed for the armored car outside. He never looked back once.

I stood there, staring, the chaos around me fading into a distant roar. In my mind, another explosion went off—the one from ten years ago.

That day, Lorenzo had been a reckless and defiant young man, not yet the Don. When the kidnappers had shoved me into the crossfire, he had thrown himself over me without a second thought.

From then on, Lorenzo was my beacon of light. Yet, that light now disappeared with his retreating figure.

Ten years ago, he taught me how to fall in love.

Ten years later, he taught me how to fall out of love.

Another blast thundered nearby. Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around me, and the scent of cologne

filled my lungs.

"Stop dreaming!"

I struggled instinctively, but he lifted me off the ground and carried me to the passenger seat of the waiting car.

Suddenly, I recognized the man. "Dominic? What are you doing here?"

Dominic Argento carried me into the car and pulled me into a tight embrace. We drove until we were far from the chaos, and only then did he finally speak, his voice low and hoarse. "I couldn't wait until the wedding to see you. I missed you so much. You're safe now, cara."

…

After settling Elena somewhere secure, Lorenzo immediately texted me.

"Cinzia, tell me when you're somewhere safe. It was an emergency, and I had to protect the weakest first. You're different. You can take care of yourself.

"Answer the phone!"

No matter what Lorenzo sent, there was no reply.

Three days passed without a word. Lorenzo felt anxious and decided to halt the wedding and look for me.

When Elena failed to stop Lorenzo, she kneeled in front of his car, tears streaming down her face.

"I won't stop you after the wedding tomorrow. Please, don't go. My parents don't believe the Don will marry me. If you walk away, they'll sell me to that bastard who tortured his three wives to death!

"If you insist on leaving, you'll need to run me over first! In any case, I might as well be dead. If you don't want me, I'll have to marry that bastard."

Lorenzo's hands tightened around the steering wheel, the veins on the backs of them bulging. After a long while, he let his hands fall.

On the day of the wedding, the motorcade rolled toward the church. The groom's expression, however, was anything but pleased.

Lorenzo became even more infuriated when he found out the church he had booked was hosting a wedding. His baskets of roses had been pushed into a corner to make room for lilies.

"What's going on?" he snapped, grabbing one of the church staff, his face dark. "I paid for exclusive use of this place for the entire day!"

Just then, the wedding ceremony ended. The church doors swung open, and cheers spilled out.

The groom looked familiar. He was the Don of the Argento family from Southern Darvent, Dominic. The possessive way he gazed at his bride left no doubt about his feelings.

And the bride in his arms…

Lorenzo lifted his head, and our eyes met from across the crowd. He widened his eyes in disbelief. His body began to shake.

"Cinzia?"