Lahat ng Kabanata ng His Brother's Bride To-Be : Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 20

AISLE OF TWO STRANGERS ••Luciana••The music drifts through the hall like warm smoke, lingering softly and slowly, drawing every gaze in my direction. My fingers clutch the arms of the two individuals I personally selected for this occasion—Matteo to my left and Antonio to my rightThe one thing I decided myself for this wedding without needing anyone's consent, and yes, my wedding dress too.If anyone was going to walk me down this aisle, it would be the two men who shaped my life far more than mere family ties ever could. Matteo supports me with a calm strength, while Antonio's hand vibrates beneath mine, yet his jaw is set with determination, ready to fight the world for my sake.The aisle seems to stretch on infinitely before me. All eyes are fixed on me—some filled with curiosity, others tinged with judgment, and a few wearing those insincere, sly smiles that mafia families often use to feign warmth.My smile feels rehearsed, while my heart seems to be absent from the moment.I t

WALKING INTO SILENCE ••Luciana••For the first time, I woke up as Luciana Orlov.The name tasted strange in my mouth. It is too new and too heavy. It felt like slipping into a dress someone else tailored, hoping it fits with time.I pushed myself up on the bed and stared at the ceiling. What will my life look like from now on? No more lazy mornings where I waited for breakfast like a pampered princess. No more tagging along with Father to meetings, pretending to be interested in business deals just to annoy his men.No more spontaneous ice cream runs with Antonio.No more loud club nights that Matteo always pretended he didn’t enjoy.No more shopping sprees where I lost track of my own footsteps.A quiet sigh escaped me.“I need to shop soon for this new environment,” I muttered. “Before I die of boredom.”My phone buzzed against the nightstand. The screen lit up with messages.Matteo:Did you sleep at all? Text me when you wake.Antonio:Send me a picture. If they stress you, I’ll f

THE WRONG FIRST DAY••Luciana••I managed to navigate my way back to the room, but my legs felt strange, as if they no longer belonged to me. Roman's outburst echoed in my mind, harsh and loud. Since the engagement meetings started, he had hardly exchanged more than a few words with me—just four words here, two there, always delivered in a clipped, controlled manner. And today, when he finally strung together complete sentences, it was only to raise his voice at me.My inaugural day as an Orlov had crumbled before it even got going. The morning was tinged with bitterness, and I felt a tightness in my chest. This whole mess wouldn't have unfolded if it weren't for that relentless message. Who was behind it? Who found amusement in yanking me around like a puppet? What on earth did they want? Why was Pier Twelve involved again? And why me?I would fill Matteo and Antonio in later; they'd have a way of extracting the truth from anyone, even the devil, if need be. But for now, all I craved

THREADS BETWEEN US••Roman••New York had a way of swallowing noise, even amidst its deafening chaos. Cars blared, curses flew, and the weight of towering buildings created an aching groan, yet my thoughts drifted elsewhere.Luciana.I stood at the hotel window with my phone in hand, I found my thumb poised over her contact. It was a moment of pointless hesitation that gripped me more firmly than I cared to admit. I often felt the urge to send something simple, something like:Are you settling in? Did you eat?How ridiculous and weak. This was not behavior befitting an Orlov heir.So, each time, I locked the screen and tucked the phone away, convincing myself it wasn’t necessary. I had assigned one of my security guards to keep an eye on her from afar and send me updates.Logic told me that was sufficient. Emotion… well, I chose not to indulge that notion.His reports came in few times. The first time, he mentioned she barely spoke at breakfast. The next day, he said she spent hours in

THE RESTROOM AMBUSH••Luciana••My heart raced in my chest ever since Roman's fingers brushed against mine, and the longer I lingered in that hall, the more suffocating my surroundings became.“I’m… heading to the restroom,” I said, striving to keep my voice steady. He gave a brief nod, already diverting his gaze elsewhere, and I slipped away before my racing pulse could betray my anxiety.The restroom was eerily quiet—too quiet for comfort.Bathed in soft golden light, with polished marble underfoot and the faint echo of my heels, I approached the sink, turned on the tap, and splashed cool water onto my face. The sudden chill brought a momentary relief, though it was only temporary.I caught sight of my reflection in the mirror—flushed cheeks, my eyes sparkling with tension.“What’s happening to me?” I whispered to myself.Though my breathing steadied, the unease lingered.A subtle shift in the atmosphere made the hair on my arms stand on end, as if the room had exhaled behind me.Som