Chapter 1

Matteo put his hand on the box of black pearls.

"Don't sulk. How could Viola be seen wearing something the jeweler threw in for free?"

I gave him a serious look.

"Then why is it fine for me to get married in it?"

He paused, then laughed.

"You two are different. She's always been the one in the spotlight, and you don't like attention."

It wasn't that I didn't like being seen.

The first time I handled a difficult contract for the family, I secretly practiced a thank-you speech. Then my father said Viola was better with the press and told me to give the speech to her.

As my mother fastened Viola's earrings, she spotted me in the doorway and asked why I hadn't changed into something darker.

"Your sister is the star tonight. Don't take the spotlight away from her."

I hung the new dress back in the closet and never wore it again.

Law school, contracts, cleaning up their messes—I would learn anything. If I made myself useful enough, surely one day they would put me first.

But even my own wedding wasn't mine to decide.

"Matteo, let's call off the engagement."

He looked at me for a few seconds, as if he were still humoring a child.

"Over a set of jewelry? I'll have the jeweler send more tomorrow. Take your time choosing."

Viola took off the sapphires and pushed them toward me.

"Take them. I can wear something else. Don't let this come between you two because of me."

Matteo pushed them straight back.

"These were chosen to go with your gown. Stop passing them back and forth."

Neither of the two sets had ever been meant for me.

I didn't even need to compete with my sister. Before she said a word, he had already chosen for her.

To him, even my anger only meant I was waiting for the next gift.

By then, he already had an arm around my shoulders and was steering me out.

"Let's go to the showroom. You can keep looking until you find something you like."

The private showroom was downstairs. The jeweler had just opened the catalog when Viola said her earrings felt a little heavy and she wanted a different pair.

Matteo took the catalog and went through it with her.

She hesitated between two pairs. He signed the order on the spot.

"Keep them both. Wear the one you like. The other pair goes to Elena, and you can swap later if you want."

He handed me the remaining box.

"See? Isn't that better than the black pearls? Happy now?"

I didn't take it.

A minute ago, he had said it himself. I was the one choosing.

It was almost funny, but I couldn't bring myself to laugh. How many more times would I have to say it before they believed these things mattered to me too?

"You don't need to buy me anything anymore. I'm moving my things out."

His hand finally went still.

"Elena, what kind of joke is this? Stop it."

That evening, he asked my parents to come over.

My mother grabbed my wrist the moment she walked in.

"You're marrying into the Moretti family, and you'd call it off over a few stones?

"Your sister knows how to work a room. She makes this family look good. She's negotiated deal after deal. What can you do besides read a few documents? Matteo is willing to marry you, and that's still not enough?"

I flinched at the pain.

I had heard all of it many times before.

I could secure a full page of rights for them at the negotiating table and still not earn a shred of respect.

Matteo stepped in front of me.

"Don't talk to her like that. Elena's fine. She's just upset right now."

My mother turned on me at once.

"You see? He still stands up for you. If you dare cancel this engagement, don't ever come home again!"

One word in my defense, and I was supposed to forget who had wronged me in the first place?

I answered calmly, "All right."

They relaxed immediately, sure I had finally come around.

Back in the study, I locked the door and took out my law license.

The tears didn't come until I called Noah.

"You said your firm in North Harbor still needed a lead attorney and that you were waiting for me. Does that still stand?"

"Of course. But aren't you getting married next week?"

I looked at the wedding schedule. They had even spelled my name wrong. I laughed, just once.

"What if the bride doesn't show up?"